FTE - Carlson Barrel - 870

[Synchronizor]

Sorry in advance for breaking the page, but here are high-res images of the extractor notches on two Remington barrels:

EX_01.JPG (240.71 KiB) Viewed 6418 times

EX_02.JPG (249.43 KiB) Viewed 6418 times

To see the whole picture at once, hold down Ctrl and use your mouse wheel to zoom out.

The only time I've ever had shells fail to extract from these is when the shell rims themselves tore or failed. It really sounds to me like your problem is your extractor, or some related part. Hopefully the new parts will fix the problem (though you could have gotten them cheaper from Remington).

The extractor is supposed to ride up on these ramps. It doesn't grip the shell rim when it's in battery, but it slides down to grab it when the bolt starts to move back. Compared to these, a full notch weakens the barrel and doesn't support the case as well when it expands during firing.

[TYFOON]

Better photos...sort of.

I am pretty confident that with the polishing of the barrel and new extractor I will be gtg:) Will report back.

Remington barrel 1992 manufacture date:

Carlson I trimmed:)

[JSwenson]

Has anyone else ever sloted the barrel's extractor notch like TYFOON did so the extractor can make contact with the shell base? Looks like good mod for reliability, if no danger of a weak chamber.

[Kentactic]

If your chamber was snagging the shell in some way then the only way youd get the bolt to move rearward would be ripping the rim of the case off. If yours is just not pulling the shells then polishing wont do anything.

[Kentactic]

nevermind...

[Synchronizor]

Has anyone else ever sloted the barrel's extractor notch like TYFOON did so the extractor can make contact with the shell base? Looks like good mod for reliability, if no danger of a weak chamber.

The extractor isn't supposed to grab the shell rim when the bolt is closed. The barrels were designed that way for specific reasons, and that design has worked reliably in millions of 870s since the 1950's. No need to mod your perfectly functional part just because someone else's is having problems.

Cutting holes in your chamber is not something you should be playing around with.

[TYFOON]

chamber.

The extractor isn't supposed to grab the shell rim when the bolt is closed.

Mine clearly does not rest on the shell. It slides up the ramp as it should.

... No need to mod your perfectly functional part just because someone else's is having problems.

I don't think that is not what was being suggested.

Cutting holes in your chamber is not something you should be playing around with.

"Cutting holes" is not exactly what I would classify it as. Remember, the Carlson is not an OEM part it is an aftermarket part I am confindent in my abilities to "fit" to my liking. The fit of the extractor is much better now.

[Synchronizor]

"Cutting holes" is not exactly what I would classify it as. Remember, the Carlson is not an OEM part it is an aftermarket part I am confindent in my abilities to "fit" to my liking. The fit of the extractor is much better now.

I was responding to what JSwenson said there. Any modification that affects the structure of a firearm's chamber is potentially a very dangerous prospect, and that element of the 870's barrel works just fine without being modified.

I still don't think your approach was the best first step in troubleshooting your problem, but your updated pictures do show that your modification was not nearly as extreme as it seemed in the image in your original post.

[TYFOON]

For those interested I got the non-MIM extractor installed.

Went to the woods, ran 50 or so of the offending shells through without a hick-up.

Gun runs now.


But I am 50% inclined to toss it because of the failure issue. I have had several over comparable guns and never had a problem. If this gun did not have sentimental ties it would probably leave.

[Synchronizor]

But I am 50% inclined to toss it because of the failure issue. I have had several over comparable guns and never had a problem. If this gun did not have sentimental ties it would probably leave.

It really sounds to me like the extractor and/or barrel was out-of-spec. Normally 870's have no issues with extraction; sorry to hear you had a rare, bad experience.

Many fit & function issues on new 870s tend to take care of themselves as the parts are broken in; hopefully this'll be the case with your new parts as well.