I recently bought a new Remington 870 Turkey Express shotgun and the pump action seems to be very loose. When shooting I like to grip the forend, or pump, and using 3" loads under recoil the empty case is ejected before I am even recovered from the shot. I set the gun in the cabinent and the pump drops a little, the action starts to open. Is this a concern, or are they just built this way? My old BPS is not nearly so loose jointed. Thanks for any help and comments.

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I like to grip the forend, or pump, and using 3" loads under recoil the empty case is ejected before I am even recovered from the shot. I set the gun in the cabinent and the pump drops a little, the action starts to open. Is this a concern, or are they just built this way?

Sounds like you got a good one! Usually they take a bit of breakin to get that way.

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The bolt does not lock into battery?

They are not supposed to open until the lock drops out of the way when the hammer is in the fired position.

Cycle the action like you've fired it and make sure to push the forearm all the way forward.
If it does not lock up there is a problem.
The action bar lock might be a bit long and is sitting under the bolt instead of popping up behind it to block movement.
It's easy enough to file a small amount off the lock for clearance if that is the problem.

I've had several of the new ones recently that wouldn't unlock.
Had to take a little off the point of the lock to let the bolt clear.

If it is locking up, a new spring for the bar lock might be necessary. The one that's in there now might be too weak and does not have the strength to function properly with the heavy load.

Get on Numrich Gun Parts site and look for a diagram if you're not familiar with the internal parts.

That's my best guess at this time.

The gun locks up fine, everything works. The action does not want to stay locked after firing. I can see this in an old gun, but to buy a brand new one that acts it has fired a million rounds is a little ridiculous.

Sounds to me like your pulling back on the forend during firing.

Doesn't sound broke to me just smooth.

When the hammer is down the disconnector is not holding the action closed. Weight of the forend is pushing the bolt back against the hammer.

Have no worries about your 870, I have several of them and have shot 1000's of rounds through them, they are not supposed to stay locked after the shot, and they never get any looser.

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Originally posted by m77lewis:
Have no worries about your 870, I have several of them and have shot 1000's of rounds through them, they are not supposed to stay locked after the shot, and they never get any looser.

You got it that's how mine works, and that's the way they are supposed to work.

If your 870 was made in the last half-dozen years, then I'd be leary of it. I bought an Express youth model (for its overall compactness) about five years ago and found its materials and workmanship so shoddy that I turned around and sold it right away. The gun was rough in a number of ways (which is to be expected at that price point). But the intolerable problem is that it had the "key"-type safety, which had a way of getting itself into the non-shooting locked position without ever touching it. Not good in a gun kept at ready access for contingent situations.

The 870 is a great design, but if it doesn't say "Wingmaster" on it, forget it.

Your 870 sounds fine, bought a 3 1/2 inch Express that acts the same way. Happens when I shoot the 3 1/2 inch shells; I'm holding it down and back pretty hard, the gun is just reacting to the pressure you are putting on the forearm. My new Express is very smooth for a new Remington, I really like the gun and dont worry about it on the floor of the truck or in the boat. Used to see this automatic "unlocking" a lot with new cops learning to shoot buckshot with 18 inch barreled 870s.

The action slide lock is released as soon as the hammer falls, so if you are pulling the shotgun back into your shoulder while shooting it will definitely eject the fired case. If the slide drops slightly when the fired gun is placed standing in the cabinet- I consider that a good thing, usually with the express I have to polish parts to make them work that smoothly.