Changed the barrel and now I have issues

HALLAUSTIN

New member
I have a maverick model 88 that came with a 24" smooth bore slug barrel, bought a 24"ish barrel with a c-lect choke and at first it gave me no problems. On my last trip out though, it has problems with game loads, darn pump locks up every now and again. I dont know how, or why. Anyone smarter than I know what this is?
 
Maybe no help and I'm no expert, but I have had troubles changing some barrels on some shotguns. That is until I re-read the manual and found a step or two I was overlooking. In the recent case, I had to open the action about half way before everything fell into place and all the parts aligned right before tightening.
 
sounds like a rough chamber possibly...
Rem Express models caused many owners to learn to polish the chamber...

The soft steel bases seem to expand when fired and conform in the roughness causing a hung spent shell...

Brent
 
darn pump locks up every now and again.
Does it truly "lock-up" or just get stiff to operate? Every pump locks as the final step of loading and unlocks with the firing of that cartridge or by pressing the unlock button/lever. If you gun is stiff, then as hogdogs suggests, it may be a rough chamber or an ammo problem. Another possibility, suggested by SteelChickenShooter, is an incorrect assembly with the new barrel causing some internal friction. On the other hand, if it truly doesn't unlock after firing, then it needs to see a gunsmith. Has it worked properly with the original barrel since you had problems with the new one?
 
Might be sloppy assembly, or could be shell length problem. A shotgun shell is measured after firing. I have had problems with a few guns with certain brands of ammo being too long and the chamber length on the minimum. Sometimes it is just enough to melt it in. I have a single-shot I use for slugs and have used it with bird shot and no problems. Certain brand slugs and some buck shot jams after firing. It is really jammed in there. The only difference I can see is that when standing up the empties along side of each other, the jammed ones are slightly longer.
 
Ya, it becomes really stiff. And I havent shot with the original barrel in a while, but last I shot it it worked just fine. I guess I will reinstall the barrel after polishong the chamber, now do I just use steel wool to polish the chamber?
Ps- It isnt a shell length issue, its a 2 3/4" and 3" chamber.
 
Ya, it becomes really stiff.
Does it become stiff with an empty chamber? If yes, then it's not an ammo nor chamber problem -- more likely metal-to-metal friction.

Are there any unusual signs of wear on the extractor or bolt (from rubbing the receiver)?
 
I'm not familiar with the Mav-88, but here's a possibility that applies to a typical pump/auto action: Let's assume it's the extractor binding. Without a shell, the back of the extractor catches the receiver. But, when a shell is present, the front of the extractor is pivoted outward, and the rear inward so the clearance problem is eliminated. There might be a difference in tang thicknesses between the two barrels so that only one causes the extractor to bind.
 
Then a chamber polishing is goin' to fix it most likely...
There are several 870 express threads where directions were given....

Brent
 
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