870 wont lock up

USCG · April 30, 2012, 01:44 PM

I searched for and could not find a thread, so please bear with me if this is a repeat but...
I have been having trouble finding out why my remington 870 will not lock up when i load it up... the forend will just move freely forward and back... any suggestions?

Scimmia · April 30, 2012, 03:15 PM

Had this happen with a mossy 500 once. There was a pellet in the action from a bad crimp. It was holding the release down.

James K · April 30, 2012, 04:44 PM

Will the bolt move? If not, it sounds like the action bars are not engaged with the carrier (what Remington calls the slide assembly). Check out the owners manual or order one from Remington.

Jim

USCG · April 30, 2012, 05:17 PM

the bolt moves, it just wont lock in the forward position

Dfariswheel · April 30, 2012, 07:43 PM

Remove the trigger group and inspect the function of the bolt lock assembly.
If the lever is stuck or improperly assembled the lever will stay down and the bolt will not lock up.

The bolt lock operates by tilting up so the front end of the lock rests against the rear end of the left action bar.

Here's an exploded view of the 870:

http://www.stevespages.com/ipb-remington-870.html

The lock is part number 56.
Check to see if it moves freely under spring pressure, and that the rear end is properly interlocked with the trigger bar.
The trigger bar connector must rest ON TOP of the action lock.

Here's an 870 owner's manual. Check page 14 for how these parts must be positioned.

http://stevespages.com/pdf/remington_870.pdf

drail · April 30, 2012, 11:14 PM

Dfariswheel, you are such a handy guy to have around. Thank you for all those you have helped on these forums.

USCG · April 30, 2012, 11:21 PM

dfariswheel, i think that might be it, the release on the front of the trigger guard is stuck in the up position, and will not go down unless i take the whole thing apart and physically push it down from the inside.

USCG · May 1, 2012, 12:08 PM

do you have any idea what would cause that? the only thing that i noticed is that the hammer doesnt automatically lock up so im wondering if there is a spring missing...

USCG · May 1, 2012, 01:12 PM

turns out the sear spring was missing, easy fix at least. also found out that the mag cap detent and spring were missing too

Dfariswheel · May 1, 2012, 06:51 PM

also found out that the mag cap detent and spring were missing too

It's more likely the barrel is an older Express barrel and never had the detent.
The older Express barrels were drilled for the spring and detent but didn't have one installed, leaving an empty hole.

April 30, 2012, 01:44 PM	#1
USCG Member Join Date: June 9, 2009 Location: RI/CT/MA Posts: 74	870 wont lock up I searched for and could not find a thread, so please bear with me if this is a repeat but... I have been having trouble finding out why my remington 870 will not lock up when i load it up... the forend will just move freely forward and back... any suggestions?

April 30, 2012, 03:15 PM	#2
Scimmia Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2011 Location: Eastern IA Posts: 428	Had this happen with a mossy 500 once. There was a pellet in the action from a bad crimp. It was holding the release down.

April 30, 2012, 04:44 PM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Will the bolt move? If not, it sounds like the action bars are not engaged with the carrier (what Remington calls the slide assembly). Check out the owners manual or order one from Remington. Jim

April 30, 2012, 05:17 PM	#4
USCG Member Join Date: June 9, 2009 Location: RI/CT/MA Posts: 74	the bolt moves, it just wont lock in the forward position

April 30, 2012, 07:43 PM	#5
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,555	Remove the trigger group and inspect the function of the bolt lock assembly. If the lever is stuck or improperly assembled the lever will stay down and the bolt will not lock up. The bolt lock operates by tilting up so the front end of the lock rests against the rear end of the left action bar. Here's an exploded view of the 870: http://www.stevespages.com/ipb-remington-870.html The lock is part number 56. Check to see if it moves freely under spring pressure, and that the rear end is properly interlocked with the trigger bar. The trigger bar connector must rest ON TOP of the action lock. Here's an 870 owner's manual. Check page 14 for how these parts must be positioned. http://stevespages.com/pdf/remington_870.pdf

April 30, 2012, 11:14 PM	#6
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	Dfariswheel, you are such a handy guy to have around. Thank you for all those you have helped on these forums.

April 30, 2012, 11:21 PM	#7
USCG Member Join Date: June 9, 2009 Location: RI/CT/MA Posts: 74	dfariswheel, i think that might be it, the release on the front of the trigger guard is stuck in the up position, and will not go down unless i take the whole thing apart and physically push it down from the inside.

May 1, 2012, 12:08 PM	#8
USCG Member Join Date: June 9, 2009 Location: RI/CT/MA Posts: 74	do you have any idea what would cause that? the only thing that i noticed is that the hammer doesnt automatically lock up so im wondering if there is a spring missing...

May 1, 2012, 01:12 PM	#9
USCG Member Join Date: June 9, 2009 Location: RI/CT/MA Posts: 74	turns out the sear spring was missing, easy fix at least. also found out that the mag cap detent and spring were missing too

May 1, 2012, 06:51 PM	#10
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,555	also found out that the mag cap detent and spring were missing too It's more likely the barrel is an older Express barrel and never had the detent. The older Express barrels were drilled for the spring and detent but didn't have one installed, leaving an empty hole.