New Remmy 870 Express won't cock

[Radiant]

I recently purchased a Remington 870 Express that was advertised as "Brand new in box" from a nearby gun club."

It is my first firearm.

When I got it home, I tried dry firing it and found that it would not always cock when moving the action forward.

A close look at the shotgun showed that the extractor pawl was jamming into the leading edge of the barrel notch preventing a full travel of the forend.

Misalignment of the extractor pawl has damaged the barrel. A look at the breech bolt assembly shows that there is an "X" engraved on the underside.

So I am wondering if this shotgun isn't really brand new and/or has been tampered with.

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[Romulus]

Is the extractor assembly complete with spring and plunger?

[Scorpion8]

Is the barrel seated properly?

[Banshee]

Take the trigger group out and see if you push the hammer down and it will lock down

[Radiant]

I think trigger is OK and barrel assembled OK and breech bolt complete.

The extractor was misaligned to the barrel ramp and damaged the edge.
Depending on the orientation on the gun when the action is moved, the breech bolt would end up with the extractor situated in this way.
I sent the gun to Remington warranty service because the barrel ramp edge was damaged and it would not allow full travel of the action.
I got the gun back with a new barrel and breech bolt.

I looked closely at the problem area and was able to position the breech bolt in the same situation.

So it looks like they repaired the gun but depending on how the gun is handled the problem can still occur.

I called Remington and they tried to tell me that this is normal for the gun and I was improperly dry firing the gun.

I don't buy it.

There is nothing in the manual that says anything about that and no "expert" seems to agree about dry firing.

Logic would have it that you should not be able to damage the gun moving the action regardless of position or if you have a shell in it or not.

Here is a picture of the problem area after I was able to get the breech bolt in the wrong position.

[Scorpion8]

There is a bit of slop in how the barrel flits, and a good deal of movement in how the breech bolt rides on the rails. It is normal, and it's part of what makes the shotgun so reliable. Mossberg 500's use a similar system. Don't be inching the breech bolt forward millimeter-by-millimeter, anyone can cause the two parts to misalign. Rack the bolt forward like you were using it in sport or field, and tell us how that works.

[Radiant]

That is what I did when I first got it - did some dry firing and ended up damaging the barrel ramp and then the extractor would always dive under the ramp.I took it to a repair tech and he said the extractor drooped too much. Now that it has been repaired it looks the same as before and I am afraid of damaging it again. I only inched the bolt up to the barrel to replicate the problem. I would normally just move the action the way it is supposed to. What the heck was i doing wrong?

[Scorpion8]

...and he said the extractor drooped too much.

The only way for the extractor to "droop" is for the bolt to be turning as it slides forward, or to have the wrong extractor installed. Does the extractor wiggle any installed in the bolt? It looks fine from your pics. The barrel slot that guides you onto the ejector ramp as you install the barrel might be worn, so does the barrel turn back and forth much if you loosen the magazine retaining nut? Is that nut seated all the way down, ratcheting against the magazine tube mount?

Here's a pic of my 870 Express slug gun, and as the bolt almost engages the extractor cut. Have you tried a different barrel, or install the Volquartsen non-MIM extractor?

[BKinzey]

I'm not a gunsmith. So for what it's worth.

I tried with thumb pressure on the bolt and I can't get mine to line up like that. I ain't gonna try a screwdriver for more leverage The bolt is fairly loose until the last couple of millimeters and then it firms up and the extractor lines up with the cut.

Before I sent it back to Remington I'd see if a local gunsmith, store, or anybody I was friendly with that has an 870 that I could temp swap parts with and see if they do the same.

[Radiant]

Scorpion, thanks for the excellent picture. That looks better than my situaton. The extractor seems firm but the bolt does seem to perhaps turn depending on the orientation. The gun is completely stock and under warranty. The gun is new so nothing should be worn. Never been fired with any ammo.

BKinsey, that is interesting. I need to investigate that.