Remington 870 20-gauge likes to get rounds stuck

[Disgruntled870]

I have searched through the forums and haven't found any similar issues.

This 870 Magnum Express was purchased as a gift for my mother by my ex-stepfather. He supposedly bought it at a gun show in the mid-90's. She has never shot it, and recently gave it to me. I gave it a light cleaning. Barrel had a fair amount of stuff in it.

I cycled one snap cap through it no problem. When I tried cycling multiple any that were pushed fully into the magazine would not come back out unless I disassemble the magazine and slide them out the front of the magazine. (Remove the cap, remove the push retainer, remove the spring and follower. Then they will slide out, but some the rim is stuck right at the opening of the magazine. I thought maybe the new snap caps were incorrectly sized, but tried in the backyard with live rounds - two different brands. Same thing.

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[Oldbrass]

I had similar issue with my 20 gauge express ,the shells stuck in the tube. It had a plastic follower that I replaced with an aluminum one and it's been flawless since.

[Scorpion8]

I had an issue on one 870 like that and one of the latches was sliding forward and backward with the bolt. It needed to be re-riveted, but it stayed in place and would often function just fine. Most of us do replace the cheap OEM followers, and there are many, many options available.

[Illawdog]

I am having the same issue. The bar on the bolt opening side is freezing shut and will not move and allow the shell to spring out onto the carrier. It appears the slide bar is getting stuck under the bar and not allowing it to move. I have checked and the bar and it is riveted in the correct position. I had a gunsmith look at it and he cannot understand what is wrong. Anyone have any thoughts.

[Scorpion8]

The bar on the bolt opening side is freezing shut and will not move and allow the shell to spring out onto the carrier.

Look for burrs or shiny metal-on-metal contact if the latch is getting stuck and won't pop out. There might be a burr causing it to stick. See if you can press it inward by hand and if it springs freely.

[Disgruntled870]

To follow up.

The rim of the shells is catching on the edge of the magazine tube. As I looked at it with an endoscope I see some raised solder marks. If I load one shell and do not push the rim into the magazine tube it cycles fine. If I push a shell into the magazine tube, any shell that goes into the magazine tube won't come back out without removing the cap.

[Disgruntled870]

Really crazy thought - could somebody have taken a 28 gauge receiver and put a 20 gauge barrel on it?

[JeffCooper]

Notice the notch cut in to mine. I'd read that this was a FTF remediation that Remington came out with. Could this be the problem?

[Scorpion8]

Notice the notch cut in to mine.

That squared-off U-shaped cut? That is a formal mod called the "flex tab" IIRC done by Remington to fix shells binding in the receiver.

[JeffCooper]

That's the cut. I'd read that it was to keep shells from binding, but I thought I'd post just in case. Thanks Shipmate!