[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by DbeforeD

I’m sorry for awaking a old thread, but I used the ‘search’ button and this one popped up. After I polled the QP’s, regular Army, Combat Control, PJ’s, and LEO’s I know about what kind of shotgun to buy for home defense; they recommended that Remington 870 or a Ithaca. So away I went to a local gun store to add to my small collection. When I arrived at said gun store I asked to see an 870. They asked me what I was going to use it for, hunting or home defense. I told them “I have an old Smith and Wesson 20ga. for bird hunting, so show me the meanest looking tactical shotgun you have. You know, before I can’t buy one anymore.” The guy behind the counter handed me a 870 desert recon, with guess what, a ‘breach barrel’. I have no problem with the barrel besides the fact that it scratches everything it touches. However, when I took it to try it out and shoot clay pidgins when I went to Utah, it would freeze after I discharged a round. I would get one, maybe two rounds off before the slide wouldn’t come back. It took me grabbing the slide in both hands and slamming the butt on the ground just to eject the spent shell. I cycled it without rounds, no problems. I cycled it with rounds without shooting it, no problems. Went back to the line and shot at some pidgins, bang, and frozen. I took it apart and lubricated the action, still sticks after discharge. The breach release in front of the trigger wouldn’t depress unless with some force, but even with it depressed, wouldn’t cycle. Now my friends joke saying that if I know how to shoot it, I should only need one shot, but anyone can see that this is a problem. Any help with this would be appreciated. Oh, and I haven’t tried to use any other kind of ammunition with it beside the bird shot we used at the shoot. I don’t know if that is a variable of not.


Sgt. V

SGT V,

I've never heard of an 870 "freezing".

Sounds like some thing is stuck in the action or breech etc. Have some one that knows 870's take it apart and take a look.

Do not shoot it again until you do so.

Team Sergeant