Loose Barrel Remington 870

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Diesel9

New member
While shooting trap late last summer I noticed that the barrel on my 870 Wingmaster was a little loose. Turns out the little spring-loaded (?) ball detent thing that keeps the magazine cap screwed on tight was not "springy" anymore. I assume due to corrosion.

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I've been soaking it in Kroil for a couple of months now, but it won't budge.

Anyone know if this can be fixed, or am I gonna have to break out the wallet and get a new barrel?
 
You said nothing about the magazine sleeve that fits over the upper end of the magazine spring, that sleeve uses the mag spring's upword pressure to lock the barrel to the receiver. If your shotgun magazine tube doesn't have one that may be your problem. Google 870 Remington Wingmaster schematic and you'll get an exploded view of how everything should look! William
 
Thanks, I'll take a look at that.

I don't know if it matters but I also have a slug barrel for the gun (installed on the gun in the first picture I posted). That barrel tightens down nicely and the little spring loaded ball thing in that barrel has lots of spring to it.

I guess that is why I believe that the problem is in the barrel, specifically the spring loaded ball, and not something else.
 
The 870's barrel is held in place by the magazine cap, which is retained by the ratchet surface on the bottom engaging with the detent ball you are describing on the front of the barrel lug. The detent ball has little or no spring to it, it engages the ratchet surface and holds the mag cap tight. Just crank down on the mag cap, you will keep the barrel in place.
 
The detent ball on the slug barrel has a noticeable spring to it. I can push it down with my thumbnail and it springs back up. It probably moves in and out at least 2 or 3 millimeters. The ball on the other barrel will not move at all, no matter how hard I push. I've tried tightening the magazine cap down harder and that hasn't helped. I actually think the detent ball, because it is stuck in it's most extended position, is preventing the magazine cap from screwing on far enough to seat properly and therefore it can't hold the barrel securely.

I would take it to a gunsmith, but I don't know of any in my area. I live in a rural location so I'd like to see if anyone else has had this issue and how they resolved it before I make a long drive into town.
 
The ball on your barrel is not stuck extended, it is stuck compressed. There is a small spring behind it which may be broken, but most likely is stuck as you thought from rust or just dried oil and dirt. I use 50/50 acetone and ATF, best penetrant I have ever found. If that doesn't work, I think Brownells has a wave washer that will solve your problem. GW
 
Thanks Goatwhiskers. I'll take a look at that wave washer. I'd really like to get this barrel fixed though, if it can be fixed. Otherwise I may just pay the $ for a new barrel.
 
I can think of several ways to fix that detent, but I would first try calling Remington; they might be able to fix the problem if you send the barrel to them.

Jim
 
Jim, I'd be interested to hear your ideas about how to fix it. I can't even figure out how to get it apart. The only idea I've had beyond soaking it in Kroil is to heat the barrel lug to the point that the ball will drop out. I'm not at all sure that idea would work though, and it seems likely that it would do more harm than good.
 
Well, one would be to drill a smaller hole through from the back and drive the detent ball out, then replace the spring and ball and re-stake. Another is just to drill another hole on the other side and put in a spring and ball and stake it. Or drill a bit larger hole all the way through and install a spring and plunder held in by a crosspin.

You don't need a lot of spring tension, only enough to keep the cap from unscrewing due to vibration.

Jim
 
Thanks Jim. I hadn't thought about doing that kind of "machinist" type work on the barrel. That's definitely a job that I will leave to a gunsmith. I am going to give Remington a call as you suggested.
 
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