I know, I know I should read the instructions first but with the barrel removed, I pumped the action back and forth several times and the bolt assembly dropped down. I re-assembled the barrel and things seem to be back in order. What the heck happened??
Just heard back from my gunsmith, a Remington authorized repair station - all is well but he didn't elaborate.
Postscript: Turns out it was nothing I did at all but a defective shell latch that was not cut correctly at the factory. And here I thought I was to blame. Of course, it begs the question why this wasn't caught at the factory but I guess stuff happens. Interesting too, that the Rem 870P Super Magnum (mine doesn't say "Super" just Police Magnum) has its own dedicated shell latch, left and right.
I'm glad your 870P has 2 dedicated shell latches, since all 870's do. The left shell latch holds the shells in the magazine when the action is closed. The right one holds the shells in the magazine when the action is brought to the rear, except for one brief moment when it trips to allow a shell to pop out of the mag tube so it can load--then it snaps back before another shell can cause a double feed.
TIP: To disassemble the bolt, remove the barrel, then reach in and manually activate the left shell latch so you can pull the bolt out by going forward with the fore-end. Try to catch the bolt and slide assembly before it falls out of the action bars.
To reassemble, you properly place the action assembly into the action bar, set the bolt on top of it (firing pin forward, of course), then start it into the receiver. It will come to a stop. Then trip the right shell latch--push in slightly till it stops, then operate the left latch and push the bolt in further. Then depress the action bar lock next to the trigger guard and bring the action all the way to the rear. DO NOT FORCE. If it doesn't go, then repeat above steps until you get it.
"I'm glad your 870P has 2 dedicated shell latches, since all 870's do."
LOL. What I meant to say is that the 870P Super Magnum shell latches are of a different design than the 870 Express' according to the parts list. Now the question I have is: is the 870P Magnum (which I have) the same as the 870P Super Magnum?
Thanks and I do appreciate the information provided. This is a great site.
