Following Cap

[Phattkopp]

I will absolutely try those! I knew a bunch of 870 nuts like myself would be informative!! Stay tuned....

Phattboy

[Phattkopp]

Okay B.B. was right! The brand new spring follower didn't do a darn thing. I should clarify that I think it is the shell hanging up right upon entry of the brass into the magazine tube. I talked to another 870 nutjob today and he seemed to think there could be some debris behind the extractor/clasper arms stamped in the reciever. (Please forgive me butchering your gunsmith verbage!) Does this sound feasible? I ultrasonically cleaned every part, but the barrel and receiver. Should I remove the wooden stock and shove the receiver in bath also? That is next step!!

Phattso

[Phattkopp]

I completely disassembled the gun and shoved receiver in the ultrasonic bath. The extractor(?) arm was a little stiff and gritty feeling prior to cleaning. After ultrasound and reassembly IT IS STILL really stiff when shoving in the second half of every shell. Guess I will visit the gunsmith to replace (re-stamp?) extractor/clasper(?) arms. Unless you boys have any more suggestions?

Phattboy

[Synchronizor]

Are you talking about the shell latches?

[Phattkopp]

Yes. Just ordered a set of them.

Phattso

[redgoat]

Each and every point that Synchronizor makes is valid. His advice about swapping parts until the problem is resolved is very good.

Expanding upon his advice, here's what I'd recommend to do:

1. Make certain that the magazine tube is spotlessly clean.
2. Pull all the magazine tube parts (follower and spring in particular) from a gun that's functioning correctly and place them into the problem gun. If the problem gun then works, then start changing out the parts one at a time, checking function after each part swap. Don't get in a hurry and be tempted to swap multiple parts without testing! One change, one test! When the problem occurs again, you've probably isolated the part causing it. (Unless you are experiencing a "stacking" situation in which the cumulative effect of two or more parts are "stacking" to cause the problem)
3. If the problem remains with all "good parts" from a working gun installed into the problem gun, then something has to be amiss with the magazine tube or a shell latch.

[Phattkopp]

I will have the new shell latches staked in this week. I feel pretty confident that is my issue. One of them looks warped/bent, and I feel it is putting higher that normal pressure on the lip of the shell being shoved into the magazine tube. Stay tuned. I TRULY appreciate the words of wisdom from you boys.

Phattso

[Banshee]

I dont think staking the latches will change anything. All staking does is hold them in place when the trigger group is removed. I didn't restake the latches in one of my 870s when I replaced them and it runs just fine. They do fall out when i remove the trigger group for cleaning.

[BurstBarrel]

...

and by no means a gunsmith ...

...

Keep in mind that I am not a gunsmith.

Phattso

Looks like you are learning real quick to be a Gunsmith!