870 not feeding from magtube-

BusGunner007 · February 4, 2002, 02:15 AM

My Remington 870 Express Super Magnum Synthetic is not allowing the next shell to feed from the magtube.
If I stick my finger in and press the tab on the side, it'll feed that round; after I remove my fingers...

I did a couple of modifications and returned it to standard configuration. It does it regardless.
I 'dremeled' the nubs out of the magtube to insall an extended tube and spring/follower.
I put on the Choate forend/pistolgrip and full pistolgrip buttstock.
I put on a SideSaddle.
I installed a Millett scope mount/ringset and NIKON shotgun scope.
Nothing I did would indicate it should cause a problem.
I reconfigured the magazine back to stock parts, minus the little nubs I smoothed out.
If I remove the 'accessories', I expect to end up with a shotgun that doesn't feed correctly, so, before I go to the time and trouble of removing/replacing anything---
Should I take it to a gunsmith for a simple fix, or send it back to Remington?

Hawkaaa53 · February 4, 2002, 04:19 AM

Evening -- OOops Morning BusGunner007 ,

I think you have a bad latch - - but with the info given , which one is still a question . When you load the magazine , where is the
next round relative to the carrier ? As I recall , the latch on the left side of the receiver releases the "next' round when the
the bolt is at /near its backward travel ; the right latch keeeps the
3rd round from being released until the bolt is almost/ closed ,, then it passes the 3rd round to the left latch to hold until the action is cycled again .

The movement of the "tips" of each latch is prompted by the bolt
contacting a "bulge" that is toward the "butt" end of the gun .
If the tip is bent inward , usually you relaese rounds too early in the cycle ; if the "bulge" has been reduced , it won't move the tip of the latch enough to release the round .

You may have to take out the latches and compare them to a
spare to detect damage . If the latches aren't staked properly ,
reassembling the gun can be challenging - - - but can be done .

Start on the left , unless you can tell for sure that it's not the problem . If YOU really want to fix it , you CAN . Hawkaaa53

Dave McC · February 4, 2002, 05:32 AM

I've heard enough horror stories to not want to send mine back to Remington. I'm no smith, so a local smith would be the best option for me.

It does sound like a shellcatcher prob, and fixable.

BusGunner007 · February 4, 2002, 10:33 AM

Wow, that was fast.
It is the left side latch.
I either have to stick my finger straight in through the ejection port with the shotgun oriented 'up'; or I have to roll it to the left a bit to go in from the bottom.
I really don't want to send it back.
I'm a member of a range that has a shotgun course and there's someone there that might know what to do. I'm sure it's not the first one to do it.
Is there a special tool to r&r the latch? Don't know.
I'll visit the range and ask around to see if there's a Rem 870 mechanic on board.
Thanks.

February 4, 2002, 02:15 AM	#1
BusGunner007 Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2001 Location: Upper Left Coast Posts: 2,116	870 not feeding from magtube- My Remington 870 Express Super Magnum Synthetic is not allowing the next shell to feed from the magtube. If I stick my finger in and press the tab on the side, it'll feed that round; after I remove my fingers... I did a couple of modifications and returned it to standard configuration. It does it regardless. I 'dremeled' the nubs out of the magtube to insall an extended tube and spring/follower. I put on the Choate forend/pistolgrip and full pistolgrip buttstock. I put on a SideSaddle. I installed a Millett scope mount/ringset and NIKON shotgun scope. Nothing I did would indicate it should cause a problem. I reconfigured the magazine back to stock parts, minus the little nubs I smoothed out. If I remove the 'accessories', I expect to end up with a shotgun that doesn't feed correctly, so, before I go to the time and trouble of removing/replacing anything--- Should I take it to a gunsmith for a simple fix, or send it back to Remington? __________________ "...if you're not havin' fun, you're workin'..."

February 4, 2002, 10:33 AM	#4
BusGunner007 Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2001 Location: Upper Left Coast Posts: 2,116	Wow, that was fast. It is the left side latch. I either have to stick my finger straight in through the ejection port with the shotgun oriented 'up'; or I have to roll it to the left a bit to go in from the bottom. I really don't want to send it back. I'm a member of a range that has a shotgun course and there's someone there that might know what to do. I'm sure it's not the first one to do it. Is there a special tool to r&r the latch? Don't know. I'll visit the range and ask around to see if there's a Rem 870 mechanic on board. Thanks. __________________ "...if you're not havin' fun, you're workin'..."

February 4, 2002, 04:19 AM	#2
Hawkaaa53 Member Join Date: January 4, 2002 Location: Deep South Posts: 45	Evening -- OOops Morning BusGunner007 , I think you have a bad latch - - but with the info given , which one is still a question . When you load the magazine , where is the next round relative to the carrier ? As I recall , the latch on the left side of the receiver releases the "next' round when the the bolt is at /near its backward travel ; the right latch keeeps the 3rd round from being released until the bolt is almost/ closed ,, then it passes the 3rd round to the left latch to hold until the action is cycled again . The movement of the "tips" of each latch is prompted by the bolt contacting a "bulge" that is toward the "butt" end of the gun . If the tip is bent inward , usually you relaese rounds too early in the cycle ; if the "bulge" has been reduced , it won't move the tip of the latch enough to release the round . You may have to take out the latches and compare them to a spare to detect damage . If the latches aren't staked properly , reassembling the gun can be challenging - - - but can be done . Start on the left , unless you can tell for sure that it's not the problem . If YOU really want to fix it , you CAN . Hawkaaa53

February 4, 2002, 05:32 AM	#3
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	I've heard enough horror stories to not want to send mine back to Remington. I'm no smith, so a local smith would be the best option for me. It does sound like a shellcatcher prob, and fixable.