Loose barrel on 870 mag...

[augustino]

The local pawn shop has a nice looking Remington 870 Magnum pump with what appears to be a 20" barrel. Great looking black synthetic stock & forearm. Would make an excellent HD SG. I picked it up, shouldered it, racked it back & forth a few times, felt great.... THEN I took hold of the stock with one hand, the barrel end with the other hand and noticed the barrel moves clockwise-counterclockwise (EAST-WEST DIRECTION) about 1/4 to 1/2 inch??? It also has about 1/16" play up & down (NORTH-SOUTH) in the direction of the barrel end to stock.

So I broke it down, removed the barrel, then re-inserted it. Tightened it up but still a loose barrel???

Now I'm no expert but a 12 gauge pump shotgun barrel shouldn't have any movement "EAST-WEST or NORTH-SOUTH" correct??? I've handled a few shotguns in my days on this earth, and none have had a barrel behave this way.

I pointed this out to a friend that manages the shop and she is going to have her 'smith look it over.

They had a 249 price on it but I said as is, that just isn't worth it. I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this type of movement on a Remington 870 Magnum???

Should I stay away from this SG???

 

[Virginian]

The ejector is supposed to fit into a notch in the barrel extension and prevent rotation. Sounds like the front of the ejector may be broken off, or possibly someone shot the heck out of it with the magazine cap not secure and peened things. No front to back movement should be present either. I also wonder if it's got the right magazine cap on it, or possibly the barrel hanger got broken off and put back in the wrong place. Something is wrong, that's for sure. I wouldn't touch it for that price.

 

[ultradoc]

That doesn't sound good. I would return it.

 

[augustino]

That doesn't sound good. I would return it....



Hey ultradoc, fortunately my better judgment kept me from buying this SG. Like I said I did let management know something was wrong and they said they would let their 'smith check it over and repair if possible.

But the bottom line is yes it is a problem... BUT it's not MY problem.

I'll check back with them in a week or so and if I can get it for a dratistically reduced price or if it's been repaired then I may reconsider.

Thanks and what might a fair price for this SG be one price with the barrel as is and I repair?

And another price with the barrel in good shape???

Thanks to all!!

 

[mnrivrat]

Thanks and what might a fair price for this SG be one price with the barrel as is and I repair?


You will have to determine where/what the problem is to access the cost of repair. If the ejector has to be replaced (for example) the new replacement requires either a receiver re-finish, or touch up where the rivets come thru the receiver. If the barrel is bad, a replacement is $100 and up depending on what and where you buy. If something has opened up the front of the receiver (unlikely but ?)then repair might not be even possible.

Start by checking the front of the ejector where it slides into the barrel extension. If that is OK, then see if they have another 870 and swap the barrels to see how much difference that makes .

 

[augustino]

YUP... Something ain't right...


Something isn't right with this SG that's for sure. I'll check back in a week or two to see if it's still available and if that barrel still has that "play" in it.

IF I can get it for lets say 125 - 150 OUT THE DOOR... Well I might but then again I might not, cash is tight these days and with gas going up, well 'nuff said by me!

 

[augustino]

Loose 870 barrel...


To close the case on this 870 with the loose barrel, I returned to that pawn shop today. Didn't see that 870 so I asked my friend about it, she manages that store as is as straight as a dogs rear leg! She couldn't really look me in the eye as she said she had two people look at it and they said is was fine.
I smiled at her sheepishly and in a very low voice said I don't know about that, I've never had nor do I ever want a SG with a barrel that's as loose as that one is. She tried to BS me with some sort of BS about once a round is chambered it goes up into this, hooks up to that, makes that widget tighter as it makes this do-hickey better blah BS blah BS blah BS blah!!!
I said I don't know about that, I wouldn't trust it! I can't stand it when someone, especially someone I know as a friend, attempts to sell me a pigs ear as a silk purse. Can't trust them any longer after that.
I suspect they tried to and probably will pawn it off on some unsuspecting Joe who doesn't know any better. They're in it only for the quickest buck possible and I'm not talking 'bout deer.