Low-brass hulls sticking in the chamber on 870 Express.

[PRegner]

I'm on my second 870 Express shotgun, and have noted that on my newer model (purchased in 2006, my first Express was purchased in the eighties), anything I feed it with low-brass hulls tends to frequently stick in the chamber; on the average of one round in four. My older 870 Express has never done this, but it has had a Mossberg slug barrel on it since I bought it (I bought it second hand, and it came to me with the Mossberg barrel). I also know of one other person with the same issue with their newer 870 Express.

Is there a way to correct this (other than laying out the cash for a Mossberg barrel)? I've tried polishing the chamber until the witness marks left by the low-brass are no longer visible, but the problem quickly returns.

The thought has occured to me to use nothing but high-brass ammunition, but I don't think I'm being unreasonable in expecting my 870 to digest anything I feed it.

[cv0lv0g0]

Do you still have mim extractor???

[PRegner]

Do you still have mim extractor???

If the 870 Express came with one in 2005, then yes; it's the extractor that came in it. I'm guessing an older steel (instead of metal injection molded) extractor will alleviate the issue?

[Vitaly]

I'm on my second 870 Express shotgun, and have noted that on my newer model (purchased in 2006, my first Express was purchased in the eighties), anything I feed it with low-brass hulls tends to frequently stick in the chamber; on the average of one round in four. My older 870 Express has never done this, but it has had a Mossberg slug barrel on it since I bought it (I bought it second hand, and it came to me with the Mossberg barrel). I also know of one other person with the same issue with their newer 870 Express.

Is there a way to correct this (other than laying out the cash for a Mossberg barrel)? I've tried polishing the chamber until the witness marks left by the low-brass are no longer visible, but the problem quickly returns.

The thought has occured to me to use nothing but high-brass ammunition, but I don't think I'm being unreasonable in expecting my 870 to digest anything I feed it.

Possible solutions:
1. Polishing chamber (you have already done that)
2. Non-MIM extractor
3. Change ejector spring

Please let me know if this helps.

[PRegner]

I appreciate the input! I just ordered a non-mim extractor from Brownell's; it should be here by the end of the week. I'm planning another trip to the range next Saturday, I'll let you know how it works.

[jeffcneal]

PRegner:

I'm willing to bet that the new extractor along with the polished chamber solves the problem, but please let us know. Also, what brand of ammo are you having the problem occur with? And no, it's certainly NOT unreasonable to expect your weapon to function correctly with the ammunition it's designed to fire.

regards,
Jeff

[PRegner]

Most recently, I've been having problems with Federal field & target multi-purpose loads, but the problem occurs with any brand of low-brass hulls. I've run about every brand of high-brass through it without issue (loads ranging from bird & buck shot to slugs; hundreds and hundreds of rounds, commercial and reloads).

Having had years of experience with Remington shotguns (870 Wingmaster, 870 Express and 1100), this really disappoints me. This newer Express is the first 870 of any flavor I've had that hasn't run on everything I've put through it without a hitch.

Brownell's confirmed my order; hopefully I'll be able to try another couple hundred rounds next weekend with the non-mim extractor, and I'll keep you posted.

[jeffcneal]

PRegner:

Had I read your original post more carefully, I would've seen that it was'nt a particular brand. Sorry about that. Please be sure to let us know how it turns out.

thanks,
Jeff

[PRegner]

Update:

I received my non-MIM extractor claw from Brownell's yesterday and installed it. This morning I ran 50 rounds of the low-brass ammunition that had been vexing me, and with the exception of two hulls that stove-piped on their way out, I suffered no extraction issues today (compared to last week when 1 round in 4 would be difficult to withdraw from the chamber). I'll be picking-up another two hundred rounds tomorrow, and will judge the effectiveness of the actions taken after firing those through. So far so good; I'm optimistic about having cured the extraction issues I was suffering.

[Vitaly]

Update:

I received my non-MIM extractor claw from Brownell's yesterday and installed it. This morning I ran 50 rounds of the low-brass ammunition that had been vexing me, and with the exception of two hulls that stove-piped on their way out, I suffered no extraction issues today (compared to last week when 1 round in 4 would be difficult to withdraw from the chamber). I'll be picking-up another two hundred rounds tomorrow, and will judge the effectiveness of the actions taken after firing those through. So far so good; I'm optimistic about having cured the extraction issues I was suffering.

PRegner, thanks for letting us know! It's great that the problem was fixed.