Marlin Pump Sticky Chamber

Dwight55 · July 5, 2004, 03:30 PM

My son has a Marlin 12 ga pump. It is really a great shotgun except for one small thing: when shooting almost any birdshot type load in it, . . . the empty shell does not want to come out. It takes a full length (stout) rod to punch the empty out. Shooting deer slugs and it doesn't seem to do it as much.
Anybody got a clue?
Thanks for your help, may God bless,
Dwight

Runngun · July 12, 2004, 10:36 PM

Are you using the steel based "Wal-Mart" value packs, or for that matter, any steel based ammo? I ask because my 870's hang up about 40% of the time with the cheap birdshot loads, but the slug loads you use are brass headed I'm sure. If the shells you are using have a silver colored base, that is steel. You can try polishing the chamber with 0000 steel wool wrapped around a bore brush, but I have done this to my pumps with no appreciable improvement. I am going to shoot up the rest of my steel base loads and spend a little more for good ammo from here on out.

Pat Brophy

paul salchow · July 14, 2004, 08:15 PM

what does the base of the hull look like after firing,is it like new or flared or other.

Dwight55 · July 16, 2004, 09:12 PM

Runngun: we've used everything from Odd Lots specials ($3.00 a box) to WW Super X, . . . all seems to be the same except the slugs.
Paul: they look pretty much like they came out of the box. I looked for a swelled brass or casing and could not find either.
I thought about polishing the chamber with some very fine valve grinding compound but was a bit afraid as I don't want to take off too much. Have never done that except to valves in a small engine.
Anyway, . . . thanks for the suggestions, . . . let me know if you have any further thoughts.
May God bless,
Dwight

K80Geoff · July 18, 2004, 05:07 AM

Check the chamber length. Depending on the age of the gun you may have short chambers (less than 2 3/4")

Also check the extractor, it may not be functioning properly.

July 5, 2004, 03:30 PM	#1
Dwight55 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 2,568	Marlin Pump Sticky Chamber My son has a Marlin 12 ga pump. It is really a great shotgun except for one small thing: when shooting almost any birdshot type load in it, . . . the empty shell does not want to come out. It takes a full length (stout) rod to punch the empty out. Shooting deer slugs and it doesn't seem to do it as much. Anybody got a clue? Thanks for your help, may God bless, Dwight

July 14, 2004, 08:15 PM	#3
paul salchow Member Join Date: July 2, 2004 Posts: 64	what does the base of the hull look like after firing,is it like new or flared or other. __________________ simmons gun repair/law enforcement

July 18, 2004, 05:07 AM	#5
K80Geoff Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 1998 Location: NE Pennsylvania Posts: 3,639	Check the chamber length. Depending on the age of the gun you may have short chambers (less than 2 3/4") Also check the extractor, it may not be functioning properly. __________________ I am no longer a member of this forum. Bye!

July 12, 2004, 10:36 PM	#2
Runngun Member Join Date: May 27, 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV. Posts: 41	Are you using the steel based "Wal-Mart" value packs, or for that matter, any steel based ammo? I ask because my 870's hang up about 40% of the time with the cheap birdshot loads, but the slug loads you use are brass headed I'm sure. If the shells you are using have a silver colored base, that is steel. You can try polishing the chamber with 0000 steel wool wrapped around a bore brush, but I have done this to my pumps with no appreciable improvement. I am going to shoot up the rest of my steel base loads and spend a little more for good ammo from here on out. Pat Brophy

July 16, 2004, 09:12 PM	#4
Dwight55 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 2,568	Runngun: we've used everything from Odd Lots specials ($3.00 a box) to WW Super X, . . . all seems to be the same except the slugs. Paul: they look pretty much like they came out of the box. I looked for a swelled brass or casing and could not find either. I thought about polishing the chamber with some very fine valve grinding compound but was a bit afraid as I don't want to take off too much. Have never done that except to valves in a small engine. Anyway, . . . thanks for the suggestions, . . . let me know if you have any further thoughts. May God bless, Dwight