870 Police Magnum Pump Slides By Itself

[Rafiki76]

I was practicing with snap caps with my new to me "OM" 870 Police Magnum and I noticed the pump will slide back about a quarter inch when the gun is slightly moved while the action is unlocked. The pump does not move when the action is locked i.e. a round is chambered, but the slide moving back makes it difficult to load.

This is my first 870 and first pump shotgun in general so I am not sure if this is normal or if it needs repair.

Edit: I am also trying to date this shotgun. The decoder translated the barrel code to July 1992 or 2019 but it has a super cell buttpad but is an 18" model with a 4rd tube and bead sight on pedestal with a speedfeed stock and forend.

I appreciate the help!

[Scorpion8]

Sounds to me like your action latches may be worn. SO if you stand the gun upright and unlock the action, will the slide action move and fall-downward on it's own weight?

[Rafiki76]

Sounds to me like your action latches may be worn. SO if you stand the gun upright and unlock the action, will the slide action move and fall-downward on it's own weight?

The slide action will not fall down on its own weight when the gun is upright and unlocked if raised slowly, it will slide down if moved quickly in any direction. But it will slide back about a1/4” with the slightest amount of pressure on the forend with the shotgun held in any direction. To move it further than that 1/4” requires conscious effort.