Curious?

[Bastard File]

I see lots of posts inquiring about certain modifications and reliability enhancements that are made, but often wondered how many here have actually had specific reliability issues with their 870's and what they were. I have several 870's...some with thousands of rounds sent down range without any problems whatsoever. I'm just curious what experiences others have had both positive as well as negative.

Thanks

[Synchronizor]

Only two things I can think of with my 870, and they're fairly trivial.

First, the occasional cheap, steel-base shell (maybe 3-4 per 100-shell value pack) would hang up in the gun's chamber when it was brand-new. Since it was my first shotgun (also my first firearm of any type), I didn't know to clean and polish the chamber before using it for the first time. Even before I read about that though, the issue went away as the gun broke in. Sometimes, with the Federal low-base target loads I use for practice and clays, I'll still get one round per case or two that feels a little tight during extraction; but I feel that one slightly out-of-spec round out of 500 or so is reasonable given that these are the cheapest shells I can find. Factory high-"brass" ammo has never given me any trouble since day one.

I also had some early issues with loading and feeding hang-ups at the joint between the magazine and extension tubes. Once I learned how to install the extension correctly, the problems pretty much stopped. I'd still like to take down the inside corners on the tube ends a hair to make sure nothing can snag, but the hardware store I patronize doesn't carry the right bit, and I haven't gotten around to looking for it elsewhere

[DaveC]

I think the most important modification that can be made is to properly fit the stock to the intended user.
As for mishaps or bobbles or glitches with the 870? Good question.

In the dank, dark forests of the Pacific Northwest, a buddy supplied shotgun ammo that had been stored for a considerable length of time in a dank, damp garage... There was verdigris/green oxidation on the brass. Some shells were difficult to extract. These would jam a semi-auto. Extra hefty shucking of the action with the 870 was sometimes required, and a few times I banged the stock on the ground while working the slide to extract really stubborn shells. There was much consternation about "damaging" the 870 by doing this, but as you probably know, the gun was fine.

I have been chastised by HD firearm cognoscenti to go for a semi-auto because the gun will be much cleaner than an old knockabout police "cruiser" and the semi-auto obviates problems of short-stroking the action or even completely blanking on racking the action in a very high stress/duress situation, but I've stuck with pump actions because of the reliability I've experienced.

I did once observe an inexperienced 870 shooter literally load the shells in backwards... I frankly didn't know that this would even work... They did indeed load. Took some doing to fix, but clearly that was "operator error."

[mercman]

I've got several 870's including my duty SG which has gone through 25 years of torture testing with zero issues. My latest is a 870 Express HD. I've got over 800 rounds through it with no issues whatsoever. That's what I love about these guns. They just work.

[Kentactic]

My Origonal MIM extractor was out of spec or something. The shells ejected very weak and many times didnt clear the port. A new Non-MIM extractor solved the issue. High brass, low Brass, steel etc all jammed in my gun at one time or another. Grinding away the tooling marks on the barrels locking lug tab solved the issue. If you own older 870's you likely wont have these issues.

[crowbar032]

I did once observe an inexperienced 870 shooter literally load the shells in backwards... I frankly didn't know that this would even work... They did indeed load. Took some doing to fix, but clearly that was "operator error."

My uncle is an excitable guy when deer are involved. He drew a bunch of doe tags one year. Early in the season, a group of 5 does crossed right in front of him. He shot 3 does with 5 shots. In a hurry to shoot the other two, he shoved two slugs into the magazine backwards. We had to strip the gun to get them out. At the time he was over 70, so it happens to experienced guys too.

[Bastard File]

I totally understand it can and will happen. In my 25 years as a cop I have seen 870's loaded brass end first, especially during a frantic induced reload scenario. As a rookie I was issued a well worn Model 37 Ithica riot gun. I had an instance during a very tense situation to "rack" it with much authority only to have the weakened shell stop fail and place the entire magazine of #4 buckshot on the ground between my boots! I was rewarded the following day with a brand spanking new 870 Wingmaster Police Model! I used and carried it faithfully for the better part of 25 years. It was a trusted friend...saved my life twice!

[Automag]

I myself have not had any "reliability" issues with my 870 thus far. I am planning on getting a non Mim extractor, and i've already uprgraded my Follower. The biggest gripe i hear about the 870 are the 2 damn little dimples at the end of the factory magazine on the Express/Tacticals. There are easy solutions for that problem w/o leaving holes in your Mag. Other than that, the 870 just works! Thats why i'm buying a second one.