Changed the barrel and now I have issues

HALL,AUSTIN · May 8, 2012, 06:29 PM

I have a maverick model 88 that came with a 24" smooth bore slug barrel, bought a 24"ish barrel with a c-lect choke and at first it gave me no problems. On my last trip out though, it has problems with game loads, darn pump locks up every now and again. I dont know how, or why. Anyone smarter than I know what this is?

oneounceload · May 8, 2012, 06:50 PM

Do you get the same results with your original barrel?

HALL,AUSTIN · May 8, 2012, 07:55 PM

It never, ever acted up with the original barrel.

SteelChickenShooter · May 8, 2012, 09:28 PM

Maybe no help and I'm no expert, but I have had troubles changing some barrels on some shotguns. That is until I re-read the manual and found a step or two I was overlooking. In the recent case, I had to open the action about half way before everything fell into place and all the parts aligned right before tightening.

hogdogs · May 8, 2012, 10:19 PM

sounds like a rough chamber possibly...
Rem Express models caused many owners to learn to polish the chamber...

The soft steel bases seem to expand when fired and conform in the roughness causing a hung spent shell...

Brent

zippy13 · May 9, 2012, 12:45 AM

Quote:

darn pump locks up every now and again.

Does it truly "lock-up" or just get stiff to operate? Every pump locks as the final step of loading and unlocks with the firing of that cartridge or by pressing the unlock button/lever. If you gun is stiff, then as hogdogs suggests, it may be a rough chamber or an ammo problem. Another possibility, suggested by SteelChickenShooter, is an incorrect assembly with the new barrel causing some internal friction. On the other hand, if it truly doesn't unlock after firing, then it needs to see a gunsmith. Has it worked properly with the original barrel since you had problems with the new one?

Gunplummer · May 9, 2012, 01:15 AM

Might be sloppy assembly, or could be shell length problem. A shotgun shell is measured after firing. I have had problems with a few guns with certain brands of ammo being too long and the chamber length on the minimum. Sometimes it is just enough to melt it in. I have a single-shot I use for slugs and have used it with bird shot and no problems. Certain brand slugs and some buck shot jams after firing. It is really jammed in there. The only difference I can see is that when standing up the empties along side of each other, the jammed ones are slightly longer.

HALL,AUSTIN · May 9, 2012, 01:19 PM

Ya, it becomes really stiff. And I havent shot with the original barrel in a while, but last I shot it it worked just fine. I guess I will reinstall the barrel after polishong the chamber, now do I just use steel wool to polish the chamber?
Ps- It isnt a shell length issue, its a 2 3/4" and 3" chamber.

TheKlawMan · May 10, 2012, 02:06 PM

This is for polishing the chamber on an 870 but should work the same for a Mossberg. http://www.aiptactical.com/Page_2.html

zippy13 · May 10, 2012, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Ya, it becomes really stiff.

Does it become stiff with an empty chamber? If yes, then it's not an ammo nor chamber problem -- more likely metal-to-metal friction.

Are there any unusual signs of wear on the extractor or bolt (from rubbing the receiver)?

HALL,AUSTIN · May 10, 2012, 08:29 PM

Only on empty chambers.

hogdogs · May 10, 2012, 10:16 PM

So it stiff without a loaded or fired hull in the chamber?

Brent

zippy13 · May 10, 2012, 10:32 PM

I'm not familiar with the Mav-88, but here's a possibility that applies to a typical pump/auto action: Let's assume it's the extractor binding. Without a shell, the back of the extractor catches the receiver. But, when a shell is present, the front of the extractor is pivoted outward, and the rear inward so the clearance problem is eliminated. There might be a difference in tang thicknesses between the two barrels so that only one causes the extractor to bind.

HALL,AUSTIN · May 11, 2012, 12:19 PM

I ment empty hulls. Sorry about the mix up.

hogdogs · May 12, 2012, 12:59 PM

Then a chamber polishing is goin' to fix it most likely...
There are several 870 express threads where directions were given....

Brent

May 8, 2012, 06:29 PM	#1
HALL,AUSTIN Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2011 Location: asheville north carolina Posts: 556	Changed the barrel and now I have issues I have a maverick model 88 that came with a 24" smooth bore slug barrel, bought a 24"ish barrel with a c-lect choke and at first it gave me no problems. On my last trip out though, it has problems with game loads, darn pump locks up every now and again. I dont know how, or why. Anyone smarter than I know what this is?

May 8, 2012, 06:50 PM	#2
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Do you get the same results with your original barrel?

May 8, 2012, 07:55 PM	#3
HALL,AUSTIN Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2011 Location: asheville north carolina Posts: 556	It never, ever acted up with the original barrel.

May 8, 2012, 09:28 PM	#4
SteelChickenShooter Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Posts: 863	Maybe no help and I'm no expert, but I have had troubles changing some barrels on some shotguns. That is until I re-read the manual and found a step or two I was overlooking. In the recent case, I had to open the action about half way before everything fell into place and all the parts aligned right before tightening.

May 8, 2012, 10:19 PM	#5
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	sounds like a rough chamber possibly... Rem Express models caused many owners to learn to polish the chamber... The soft steel bases seem to expand when fired and conform in the roughness causing a hung spent shell... Brent

May 9, 2012, 01:15 AM	#7
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	Might be sloppy assembly, or could be shell length problem. A shotgun shell is measured after firing. I have had problems with a few guns with certain brands of ammo being too long and the chamber length on the minimum. Sometimes it is just enough to melt it in. I have a single-shot I use for slugs and have used it with bird shot and no problems. Certain brand slugs and some buck shot jams after firing. It is really jammed in there. The only difference I can see is that when standing up the empties along side of each other, the jammed ones are slightly longer.

May 9, 2012, 01:19 PM	#8
HALL,AUSTIN Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2011 Location: asheville north carolina Posts: 556	Ya, it becomes really stiff. And I havent shot with the original barrel in a while, but last I shot it it worked just fine. I guess I will reinstall the barrel after polishong the chamber, now do I just use steel wool to polish the chamber? Ps- It isnt a shell length issue, its a 2 3/4" and 3" chamber.

May 10, 2012, 02:06 PM	#9
TheKlawMan Junior member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 2,149	This is for polishing the chamber on an 870 but should work the same for a Mossberg. http://www.aiptactical.com/Page_2.html

May 10, 2012, 08:29 PM	#11
HALL,AUSTIN Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2011 Location: asheville north carolina Posts: 556	Only on empty chambers.

May 10, 2012, 10:16 PM	#12
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	So it stiff without a loaded or fired hull in the chamber? Brent

May 10, 2012, 10:32 PM	#13
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	I'm not familiar with the Mav-88, but here's a possibility that applies to a typical pump/auto action: Let's assume it's the extractor binding. Without a shell, the back of the extractor catches the receiver. But, when a shell is present, the front of the extractor is pivoted outward, and the rear inward so the clearance problem is eliminated. There might be a difference in tang thicknesses between the two barrels so that only one causes the extractor to bind.

May 11, 2012, 12:19 PM	#14
HALL,AUSTIN Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2011 Location: asheville north carolina Posts: 556	I ment empty hulls. Sorry about the mix up.

May 12, 2012, 12:59 PM	#15
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Then a chamber polishing is goin' to fix it most likely... There are several 870 express threads where directions were given.... Brent