870 action bar lock

[shephard19]

I was reading the owners manuel and it said you are supposed to push upward on the action bar lock when loading the firearm(pushing the fore end forward)...why? I asume there is some safety principle involved. I thought push on the action bar lock was only in order to unload the gun....
I am a ignoramus when it comes to pump shotguns internal workings so can someone please fill me in on how the action bar lock works?

 

[Virginian]

I just read it again to check, and all I can find is where it said to push up on the action bar lock and pull back on the forend back to open the action, which is right. Pushing the action bar lock unlocks the action. You don't need to push it again, just drop a shell in the port and close the action. If the action is already open you don't have to use it. Clear?

 

[shephard19]

So does Remington assume you store and move the weapon empty with the gun cocked and locked? I store my gun with the magazine loaded and the gun uncocked(the forend is 'unlocked' and ready to be pulled). The action bar lock is already in the upward position.

 

[rcmodel]

They assume you store your gun empty with the slide closed to keep the spiders from building a nest in it.

It also locks the action closed so the slide won't jar open and half-load the gun when you set it down, then finish loading it when you pick it back up by the forearm.

Nothing wrong with leaving the hammer cocked, safety on, with the chamber empty. Probably better for the gun then dry-firing it to uncock it all the time.

rc