Author Topic: 870 failure to eject problem (Read 920 times)

redhawk44 · « **on:** July 10, 2005, 08:30:43 AM »

I have been shooting an 870 Special Field 12 gauge at skeet and I find it just fine as far as the shooting goes, but......

About one time in every other round (of 25) I get a failure to eject on doubles. This, of course, screws up the chance for the second target.

Is this a typical problem with the 870? I have hunted and shot trap with the 870 ever since there were 870s but I do not remember having this trouble in hunting.

As a trap gun, the second shot is no problem either as I do not shoot doubles trap.

Perhaps there is such a thing as an after market ejector for the 870?

mjbgalt · « **Reply #1 on:** July 10, 2005, 10:18:42 AM »

sounds more like the ammo youre shooting. try a different brand.

-Matt

Lawdog · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2005, 12:07:56 PM »

redhawk44,

If you find out the answer to that problem post it here PLEASE. I had the same problem with a 870 Marine Magnum I bought for a duty weapon. Sorry Matt but changing ammo didn't make any difference either. I finally sold it to some other sucker and now it's his problem(and yes it still fails to eject). Lawdog

dukkillr · « **Reply #3 on:** July 10, 2005, 12:24:01 PM »

i'd bet 5$ you're short shucking it... i'd make that 10$ if it's a 3" gun. I've got an 870 in 3 1/2" that i short shuck constantly because the pull is longer than the guns i'm used to. The problem is amplified when you're hurried like in skeet, sporting clays, or quail hunting.

redhawk44 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2005, 12:35:25 PM »

It is indeed a 3" frame gun. However I am shooting 2-3/4" shells.

I have wondered myself if I wasn't short shucking it but why doesn't to go ahead and eject when I jerk it back again and again?

I've about convinced myself that it just overrides the ejector without tipping it out of the receiver.

That ejector doesn't look very aggressive to me, but what to do about it, if indeed that is ther problem?

dukkillr · « **Reply #5 on:** July 10, 2005, 01:02:26 PM »

i don't have an answer for how to stop short shucking... I've noticed that i hardly ever short shuck a 3" BPS (i think it's a slightly shorter pull) but i will occasionally double shuck it. Mostly i shoot a 2 3/4" model 12 that has such a short pull that i never have trouble. I owned a 3" 870 that i sold for a variety of reasons, one of which is that i couldn't get the consistancy i wanted. It may have been my own fault, in fact i bet it was, but i changed guns and don't have the problem any more.

The other thing that drove me mad about the 870 that you never encounter with either the BPS or the M12 is the jamming from not pushing the shells far enough into the magazine. It probably doesn't make any difference on the skeet range but it gave me fits during furious dove shooting.

mjbgalt · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2005, 01:15:49 PM »

just offering a suggestion on the ammo, lawdog. i dont know it all, just tryin to help.

i know a few times people have had problems with ejecting in a pump and it was traced to reloads or to cheaper factory shells which swelled or bulged too much and stuck and the ejector skipped over the rim because it just couldnt pull it.

-Matt

redhawk44 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2005, 02:07:07 PM »

Quote from: mjbgalt

just offering a suggestion on the ammo, lawdog. i dont know it all, just tryin to help.

i know a few times people have had problems with ejecting in a pump and it was traced to reloads or to cheaper factory shells which swelled or bulged too much and stuck and the ejector skipped over the rim because it just couldnt pull it.

-Matt

That sounds like the extractor that you are talking about.

My gun pulls the emptys out of the chamber just fine. It just doesn't eject them out of the receiver is all. And then only occasionally.

They are reloads, but they are sized down to the point that they drop into my BT99 just like new ones do.

I am using a MEC Grabber 8567 loader.

smoji · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2005, 02:51:29 PM »

You might try replacing the extractor. If the claw is worn or damaged, it may not be holding the cartridge long enough for it to engage the ejector.
Also, make sure the ejector and ejector spring are tight.

JPSaxMan · « **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2005, 04:44:31 PM »

And if all else fails go to a gunsmith :lol:

Either any of the above or your action springs need to be replaced :? . Good luck!

redhawk44 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 11, 2005, 04:01:58 AM »

It looks a lot like operator error as the ammunition is of good quality and this is not a problem typical of this model of shotgun.

I will concentrate of being a little more forceful in the ejection phase of the shot and see what happens.

Thanks to all for the advice.

JPSaxMan · « **Reply #11 on:** July 11, 2005, 04:07:03 AM »

Quote from: redhawk44

I will concentrate of being a little more forceful in the ejection phase of the shot and see what happens.

You shouldn't have to be forceful though. You say you have a 12 gauge, no? That 12 gauge should have enough power to be driving the gun back into you, therefore as you're holding on to the grip it should pull it back quite a way for you anyway, therein you should only have to pull it back maybe two inches if you're ejecting. I have an 870 Wingmaster that takes 2&3/4" shells and I'm not sure what the chambering on your gun is but as far as I'm concerned, you shouldn't have to be forceful.

That's why I said something about the springs. If the springs are dead, you're not going to have the recoil help you in the process. I'd check them out if I were you :?

dukkillr · « **Reply #12 on:** July 11, 2005, 07:46:16 AM »

too me the test will be, does it happen when you focus on pumping all the way back. if it's still happening and you're focusing on a good smooth stroke it could be something in the gun. I doubt it's the ammo, i've had ejection troubles with the cheaper winchester guns but never with an 870, nor have i ever heard of an 870 that hung up on certain loads.

Lawdog · « **Reply #13 on:** July 11, 2005, 10:46:57 AM »

Quote from: mjbgalt

just offering a suggestion on the ammo, lawdog. i dont know it all, just tryin to help.

i know a few times people have had problems with ejecting in a pump and it was traced to reloads or to cheaper factory shells which swelled or bulged too much and stuck and the ejector skipped over the rim because it just couldnt pull it.

-Matt

Matt,

Please, no offense. :toast: I saw where you commented on the ammo and I wanted to let everyone know we tried many different types9and brands) of shotguns shells from 2 3/4" trap/field loads to heavy 3" magnums. Nothing helped. Took it to a gunsmith friend and he could find nothing wrong. Working unfired shells thru the action and everything worked perfectly. Fire a shell or two(usually it took only one) and it would hang up(as I said earlier it still does). Having had my fill of dealing with Remingtons Customer Service I choose to sell it instead of dealing with them again. The guy I sold it to hasnt been able to fix it either but he still carries it on his Salmon boat(he loved all the plastic/stainless steel) as a boat gun. Lawdog

mjbgalt · « **Reply #14 on:** July 11, 2005, 11:53:48 AM »

ok lawdog. i just thought you were being sarcastic or something. my fault for even attempting to read anything into a typed post.

i guess i should have given you the benefit of the doubt since youve always been the consummate gentleman on these boards.

i apologize.

now lets get back to talking guns and piling the BS a little higher

-Matt

JPSaxMan · « **Reply #15 on:** July 11, 2005, 05:13:30 PM »

Yea this problem is throwin me for a loop :? . Then again I guess that's why redhawk44 came to us :lol:

So let's see, we have mechanical problems such as dead action springs (I think that's it, but...) or a bad extractor. Redhawk44 thinks he might be not pulling enough...well I guess we have to look at all angles on this one :?