Failure to eject - can not rack

[Synchronizor]

I didn't think ammo was to blame, it sounds like your gun has some problems. Buying used is generally a pretty safe bet when it comes to 870s, but they're not indestructible, and they can develop issues if they're abused badly enough.

Like I said previously, try cycling some of the empty shells that were giving you trouble, and see if you can work out exactly where they're hanging up. Then inspect that area for wear or damage. We may be able to help if you can upload some pictures of the chamber area, or you can take it to a gunsmith for a professional inspection.

[Trader914]

A new info on this issue. While cycling empty shells and examining the chamber and seeing where it gets stuck, I realized that when it gets stuck (when I can't rack), it does not move at all - not even 1/2 inch. It almost feels frozen in place. It might wiggle 1/8 of an inch. When I polished the chamber before, I took time to sand down and polish that semi-circular cutout at the end of the barrel which is located about 1/2 inch into the chamber. Now I know that is not the problem since I can NOT move the fore end at all. When it gets stuck, the fore end simply does not move at all.

Without any shells in it, the gun racks freely, all day long - not one bit of hesitation.

[Kentactic]

Inspect the area directly behind the chamber. Take the barrel off to do this. An imperfection in that area with the notch for the locking lug will cause the failure to extract. The shell goes in smoothly, its fired, the pressure smashes the rear of the shell, that pressure then expands the outside diameter of the shells rim. That causes it to be pressed firmly against the tab behind the chamber. One tiny little bump or notch will cause lots of failure to extracts. Quality of ammo wont keep the rim from expanding which means it wont help the problem.

I suspect this area causes most of the failure to extract issues newer 870's encounter. The whole polish the chamber idea is a half attempt to do something, anything, to correct the problem. I even had a well known local 870 gunsmith swear up and down polishing the chamber would fix it... nope... I figured out the real cause on my own.

[Trader914]

Inspect the area directly behind the chamber. Take the barrel off to do this. An imperfection in that area with the notch for the locking lug will cause the failure to extract. The shell goes in smoothly, its fired, the pressure smashes the rear of the shell, that pressure then expands the outside diameter of the shells rim. That causes it to be pressed firmly against the tab behind the chamber. One tiny little bump or notch will cause lots of failure to extracts. Quality of ammo wont keep the rim from expanding which means it wont help the problem.

I suspect this area causes most of the failure to extract issues newer 870's encounter. The whole polish the chamber idea is a half attempt to do something, anything, to correct the problem. I even had a well known local 870 gunsmith swear up and down polishing the chamber would fix it... nope... I figured out the real cause on my own.

Directly BEHIND the chamber? Do you mean IN FRONT of the chamber where the end of the barrel is at?

[Kentactic]

Inspect the area directly behind the chamber. Take the barrel off to do this. An imperfection in that area with the notch for the locking lug will cause the failure to extract. The shell goes in smoothly, its fired, the pressure smashes the rear of the shell, that pressure then expands the outside diameter of the shells rim. That causes it to be pressed firmly against the tab behind the chamber. One tiny little bump or notch will cause lots of failure to extracts. Quality of ammo wont keep the rim from expanding which means it wont help the problem.

I suspect this area causes most of the failure to extract issues newer 870's encounter. The whole polish the chamber idea is a half attempt to do something, anything, to correct the problem. I even had a well known local 870 gunsmith swear up and down polishing the chamber would fix it... nope... I figured out the real cause on my own.

Directly BEHIND the chamber? Do you mean IN FRONT of the chamber where the end of the barrel is at?

Behind the chamber meaning rearward of the primer end of the shell. The tab that is behind the chamber that has a notch in it. Drop a spent shell into the chamber with the barrel removed from the gun. Notice how it now presses against this tab whereas the unspent shell drops in much easier. Remove any imperfections in this area. Most likely the problem is a raised edge very close the the rim of the shell when it is chambered.



This picture shows before and after. Top one is the after.

[Trader914]

Inspect the area directly behind the chamber. Take the barrel off to do this. An imperfection in that area with the notch for the locking lug will cause the failure to extract. The shell goes in smoothly, its fired, the pressure smashes the rear of the shell, that pressure then expands the outside diameter of the shells rim. That causes it to be pressed firmly against the tab behind the chamber. One tiny little bump or notch will cause lots of failure to extracts. Quality of ammo wont keep the rim from expanding which means it wont help the problem.

I suspect this area causes most of the failure to extract issues newer 870's encounter. The whole polish the chamber idea is a half attempt to do something, anything, to correct the problem. I even had a well known local 870 gunsmith swear up and down polishing the chamber would fix it... nope... I figured out the real cause on my own.

Directly BEHIND the chamber? Do you mean IN FRONT of the chamber where the end of the barrel is at?

Behind the chamber meaning rearward of the primer end of the shell. The tab that is behind the chamber that has a notch in it. Drop a spent shell into the chamber with the barrel removed from the gun. Notice how it now presses against this tab whereas the unspent shell drops in much easier. Remove any imperfections in this area. Most likely the problem is a raised edge very close the the rim of the shell when it is chambered.



This picture shows before and after. Top one is the after.

Yup - this is exactly where I just polished and emery papered. Will go out and check again. The thing that pisses me off is that I have to this AT ALL! How can they sell their products like this? I own 10 diff firearms and I have never ever took to any tools to do anything to any of them. This is totally unacceptable in my book and I would never ever buy another Remington shotgun, although I wonder if brand new ones will have the same issues. I bought this used.

[Trader914]

Inspect the area directly behind the chamber. Take the barrel off to do this. An imperfection in that area with the notch for the locking lug will cause the failure to extract. The shell goes in smoothly, its fired, the pressure smashes the rear of the shell, that pressure then expands the outside diameter of the shells rim. That causes it to be pressed firmly against the tab behind the chamber. One tiny little bump or notch will cause lots of failure to extracts. Quality of ammo wont keep the rim from expanding which means it wont help the problem.

I suspect this area causes most of the failure to extract issues newer 870's encounter. The whole polish the chamber idea is a half attempt to do something, anything, to correct the problem. I even had a well known local 870 gunsmith swear up and down polishing the chamber would fix it... nope... I figured out the real cause on my own.

Directly BEHIND the chamber? Do you mean IN FRONT of the chamber where the end of the barrel is at?

Behind the chamber meaning rearward of the primer end of the shell. The tab that is behind the chamber that has a notch in it. Drop a spent shell into the chamber with the barrel removed from the gun. Notice how it now presses against this tab whereas the unspent shell drops in much easier. Remove any imperfections in this area. Most likely the problem is a raised edge very close the the rim of the shell when it is chambered.



This picture shows before and after. Top one is the after.

I re-polished the area mentioned. I loaded the shells I was having problems with and racked/ejected them without any problems. Now I'll have to go out and shoot them and see if they will work. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[Trader914]

Inspect the area directly behind the chamber. Take the barrel off to do this. An imperfection in that area with the notch for the locking lug will cause the failure to extract. The shell goes in smoothly, its fired, the pressure smashes the rear of the shell, that pressure then expands the outside diameter of the shells rim. That causes it to be pressed firmly against the tab behind the chamber. One tiny little bump or notch will cause lots of failure to extracts. Quality of ammo wont keep the rim from expanding which means it wont help the problem.

I suspect this area causes most of the failure to extract issues newer 870's encounter. The whole polish the chamber idea is a half attempt to do something, anything, to correct the problem. I even had a well known local 870 gunsmith swear up and down polishing the chamber would fix it... nope... I figured out the real cause on my own.

Directly BEHIND the chamber? Do you mean IN FRONT of the chamber where the end of the barrel is at?

Behind the chamber meaning rearward of the primer end of the shell. The tab that is behind the chamber that has a notch in it. Drop a spent shell into the chamber with the barrel removed from the gun. Notice how it now presses against this tab whereas the unspent shell drops in much easier. Remove any imperfections in this area. Most likely the problem is a raised edge very close the the rim of the shell when it is chambered.



This picture shows before and after. Top one is the after.

Ok...So I polished and emery papered this area really well and it fixed everything!!! Fired 50 rounds of cheapo shells I was having issues with and they racked/ejected flawlessly. I think I know where the problem area is now. Just to be certain I am not messing up something, exactly what function does that semi-circular dimple/cutout serve? That is the area that I dround down and it seemed to solve the problem but i don't want to mess it up by taking off too much.

[Kentactic]

Your image isn't working but dont remove too much material. That notch is what the bolt locks into when the gun goes into battery. You shouldn't have to remove much other then protruding flaws which will result of course in loss of some additional material around it. So a general once over and polish if you feel inclined and call it good.

I feel your pain on the 870 quality. Mine was brand new and had the same issues. Needed an upgraded extractor aswell. Its unfortunate that this is required to get them running reliably but the design is still one of the best and tactically speaking its the best pump shotgun there is.