870 Disassembly Problems

[rkh]

High roaders:

I recently purchased my first shotgun, a Remington 870 Express, and am having difficulty disassembling it for its first thorough cleaning.

The gun came equipped with a factory installed magazine extension. I can remove the clamp that links the magazine to the barrel, unscrew the extension, and remove the magazine spring and follower--but I can't then remove the barrel.

It looks like there's a piece of hardware that links the magazine to the extension unit, but it doesn't want to unscrew and I'm not comfortable applying more force. Is it threaded, and if so, are the threads reversed? The manual doesn't discuss this.

help!

 

[Panthera Tigris]

On my Express, I don't think I'm supposed to remove the magazine assembly. I just make sure the it's unloaded, slide the fore-end halfway forward, unscrew the magazine cap and remove the barrel. You're not supposed to remove the magazine.

 

[rkh]

There's a piece of plastic that the magazine extension screws into that sits just in front of the piece of metal connected to the barrel that slides over the magazine tube. I think this plastic coupler is preventing the barrel from sliding out, but I can't figure out how to remove it. My guess is that this problematic piece of plastic simply replaces the magazine end cap of a standard 870 express. If it screws in, though, it feels like Remington torqued it down with an air wrench.

Anybody have experience with these factory extensions?

 

[Panthera Tigris]

I'd call Remington on Monday and ask them if no one has any answers. You also might go to www.shotgunworld.com, get on their forums and look around.

 

[dfariswheel]

Here's the problem.

For reasons unknown, 870's with the factory magazine extension have been shipped lately with the extension coupling on so tight, owner's have had to use padded pliers to get it off.

The magazine extension tube is screwed into a coupling or collar that is screwed onto the gun's magazine.
This collar or coupling retains the barrel.
After removing the barrel clamp, unscrewing and removing the magazine extension and magazine spring, you have to unscrew the grooved collar.

As above, these collars have been screwed on so tight, you may have to get a pair of pliers and pad them with leather, or heavy canvas to protect the collar from getting scarred.

After you get it off with the pliers, to reinstall it, put the barrel on, then screw the collar on until it gets snug, then give it ONE more "click".
You should be able to remove the collar with just your fingers.

If you scar up the collar, contact Remington and demand a new one.
You might also give them a "what the hell" as to why they're not watching this.
I have NO idea why Remington is allowing this to happen, since screwing the collar on that tight can actually cause problems.

Last, please double check the collar. It SHOULD be grooved steel, not plastic.
If Remington has gone to a plastic collar, this may be why there's a problem.

 

[Fred Fuller]

What dfariswheel said.

The collar is threaded in the normal manner, and should unscrew with the addition of a little more torque (left = loose). A pair of slipjoint pliers padded with leather or several layers of terrycloth should give you enough grip to get the collar loose without marring the finish. Once you get the collar off, then you can get the barrel off and follow the rest of the instructions in the owners manual for fieldstripping and cleaning.

Stay safe,

lpl/nc

 

[saands]

I recently got an 870 Express and I had to post the same "Are these threads reversed?" question with respect to the nut that holds the forearm on ... I had to order the special tool to get it off --- thanks to all the folks here who convinced me not to try further attempts at improvising!!! --- anyway, someone else mentioned finding wod splinters in the threads on their forearm nut and I found the same to be true with mine. I don't know if that is what is making these so difficult to remove, but whatever the reason, the folks at Remington should know that they are tightening these parts TOO DARN TIGHT! The forearm nut is almost pardonable, as I'm sure that most 870's don't ever have their forearm replaced, but the barrel nut is inexcusable!

Good luck,

Saands

 

[Banshee]

a strap wrench will remove it without damage. Sears sells them.

 

[rkh]

got it off!

Thanks everybody!

 

[dfariswheel]

Was it plastic or steel??????

 

[rkh]

It was steel.


The rough finish mislead me into believing that it was plastic.

 

[RTFM]

What dfariswheel said

Yup.
My new 870 had your same problem when I got it a few months ago.
Some penetrating oil, an over night wait, slip jaw pliers with cover to prevent scratchers.
All was well.