870 action - how loose?

9mmMike · August 13, 2001, 03:12 PM

Well now that I have my 870 and I'm trying to learn as much as I can, I have another question.
How loose or free should the action be? I'm talking about racking the slide here. Should it drop fairly easily if I hold the shotgun upright and press the release?
I was reading something on fine-tuning that sort of implied that it should almost drop by itself with perhaps just a hint of a downward jerk.
Mine is a bit stiff but I figured that is because it's new. Should I put any effort into stripping it and trying to smooth the action or will it "break-in" after a few million rounds.
Thanks,
Mike

johnbt · August 13, 2001, 03:37 PM

I'd say a bit stiff is normal. Unless you're talking about an 870 Express and then I would think it would be even stiffer.

If you hold the release in on yours, with the muzzle up, and shake it down once, will it open? Will it open if you bang the pad on the floor? Don't worry, it'll get better.

My Exp. Mag. took a thousand or two cycles to smooth up, but it still wasn't a Winchester Model 12. I did help it along some with some Flitz polish used sparingly on a few of the moving parts. It would have smoothed out eventually without the polish, but I needed it for duck season and didn't have time to break it in by shooting it every other day for a couple of weeks.

John

S.F.S · August 13, 2001, 06:05 PM

I have an 870 Express and a gunsmith recommend putting some rem-oil on the action bars and just keep working the action and thats what I did and mine smoothed up pretty good. I also like the sound of the action being racked

I recently started using some stuff called Slip 2000 and after the first time I used it I noticed a difference in smoothness.

Dave McC · August 13, 2001, 07:47 PM

Make SURE it's empty and...

Sit in front of the TV .Use a good oil or CLP, put one drop on each action bar where it meets the receiver when the action's closed.Hold the slide release down and rack it until you're tired.Switch hands, repeat.

A few sitcoms or gameshows later, it's smoother...

HarryB · August 13, 2001, 10:37 PM

there's a good joke in there, somewhere...

August 13, 2001, 03:12 PM	#1
9mmMike Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2000 Location: SE PA Posts: 1,049	870 action - how loose? Well now that I have my 870 and I'm trying to learn as much as I can, I have another question. How loose or free should the action be? I'm talking about racking the slide here. Should it drop fairly easily if I hold the shotgun upright and press the release? I was reading something on fine-tuning that sort of implied that it should almost drop by itself with perhaps just a hint of a downward jerk. Mine is a bit stiff but I figured that is because it's new. Should I put any effort into stripping it and trying to smooth the action or will it "break-in" after a few million rounds. Thanks, Mike __________________ "Freedom is not free" Visit TheRallyPoint.org TheRallyPoint at LRGC- Saturday August 26th IF YOU LIVE IN PA AND DID NOT VOTE, YOU DESERVE TO LOSE YOUR GUNS!

August 13, 2001, 03:37 PM	#2
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,004	I'd say a bit stiff is normal. Unless you're talking about an 870 Express and then I would think it would be even stiffer. If you hold the release in on yours, with the muzzle up, and shake it down once, will it open? Will it open if you bang the pad on the floor? Don't worry, it'll get better. My Exp. Mag. took a thousand or two cycles to smooth up, but it still wasn't a Winchester Model 12. I did help it along some with some Flitz polish used sparingly on a few of the moving parts. It would have smoothed out eventually without the polish, but I needed it for duck season and didn't have time to break it in by shooting it every other day for a couple of weeks. John

August 13, 2001, 06:05 PM	#3
S.F.S Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2001 Location: Delaware, USA Posts: 469	I have an 870 Express and a gunsmith recommend putting some rem-oil on the action bars and just keep working the action and thats what I did and mine smoothed up pretty good. I also like the sound of the action being racked I recently started using some stuff called Slip 2000 and after the first time I used it I noticed a difference in smoothness.

August 13, 2001, 07:47 PM	#4
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Make SURE it's empty and... Sit in front of the TV .Use a good oil or CLP, put one drop on each action bar where it meets the receiver when the action's closed.Hold the slide release down and rack it until you're tired.Switch hands, repeat. A few sitcoms or gameshows later, it's smoother...

August 13, 2001, 10:37 PM	#5
HarryB Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 1999 Location: Mesa Arizona Posts: 330	there's a good joke in there, somewhere...