shells not loading sometimes

[Nightowl]

870 wingmaster: wont chamber shell after shot. how far should the right shell latch protrude out from the follower ? with shells in magazine it looks like a heavy 3/8". if you have any ideas on how to fix the problem i think the gun was mfg in the early 70's
also gun will dry fire with no shell in chamber after not loading have to repump to get shell to load

[rythomas0704]

If you could post a picture that would help quite a bit. A pic of a shell in the tube after it has NOT loaded would be great. It sounds to me that there is either something hanging the shell up on its way out of the tube.

[Nightowl]

ill try to get a pic tomorrow

[Synchronizor]

870 wingmaster: wont chamber shell after shot. how far should the right shell latch protrude out from the follower ? with shells in magazine it looks like a heavy 3/8". if you have any ideas on how to fix the problem i think the gun was mfg in the early 70's
also gun will dry fire with no shell in chamber after not loading have to repump to get shell to load

I'm not sure I understand what the problem is. Are you saying shells aren't being released from the magazine when you work the action?

[rythomas0704]

You say that the right shell latch sticks out over the follower almost a heavy 3/8"?!?!?! Pretty sure that is too far. I just double checked my 2009 Express and my right shell latch is no where near that. That is almost 1/2" and a shell isn't even an inch across. So if that measurement is true than yeah... I would definitely replace that latch ASAP.

One quick question:

Your first round fired... is it placed into the open chamber and then bolt closed? Or are you putting it in the tube and then racking it? If it is the latter then I am not sure what is causing it. I would maybe first clean the ever loving heck out of the chamber and replace the shell latches. They are pretty cheap on Brownells.

[Nightowl]

i put a shell in chamber then fire it and sometimes it wont chamber another shell. maybe my measurement wasnt that strong its about a small 1/4 .

[rythomas0704]

Ok, so let me get this straight.

You are opening the bolt and manually loading a shell into the chamber through the ejection port then closing the bolt and firing. After you fire the gun you rack the gun and you are unable to load a shell?

I would do a few things, which do not cost very much money. I would get on Brownells.com or Midway and order a new mag tube spring, a quality follower (does not have to be a fancy steel or aluminum) with good reviews, some new shell latches (if your original latches are from the 70's then you can expect inconsistency as steel as well as most metals will lose its properties over such a long amount of time) and replace your old ones. Also... clean the ever loving crap out of the mag tube. You can use a little trick for this that I use for cleaning and polishing the bores on my shotguns for your mag tube as well.

http://www.rem870.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=614

It may have some rust and or debri that could be holding up your spring and follower. Always remember to swab it down with oil afterwards.

I hope this helps man. I hate to know that a fellow shotgunner (especially the 870) can't enjoy his gun.

[Nightowl]

i found the right side shell latch is not staked anymore.

[rythomas0704]

i found the right side shell latch is not staked anymore.

Good I am glad you found the problem. Now just fixing it

Most gunsmiths could do it for a pretty reasonable price, otherwise if you feel up to it its a relatively simple fix from what I understand (with the right tools and know how). I have never had to do this so I can't help you there. Good luck.

[Banshee]

Staking shouldn't have anything to do with it. The staking just holds the latches in place when you remove the trigger group. I run two of my 870s without the shell latches staked and they run just fine. Are you sure the latch is not broken?