870 express super mag help

[cmgee67]

Howdy guys I have a Remington 870 express super mag that is made to shoot everything from 2 3/4 to 3 1/2 inch shells. I have had the gun for about 9 years and I have never had any issues with the gun until last year. It has been my duck and dove gun and has had several thousands of shells put through it. The problem I am having is that it doesn't like to take 3 1/2 inch shells in the magazine tube anymore and what I mean by that is it will let me insert the shell have way and stop like its hung and I have to try several times before it will go. It accepts the 2 3/4 inch and 3 inch no prob at all but it just started doing that with the 3 1/2 which is disappointing because that's what I prefer to duck and goose hunt with. Also it started to lock up on me after I shoot the shell in the chamber and it takes all I have to rack to pump to eject the shell. It does this with all sizes of shells. It doesn't do it every time but does do it. Could it be that the gun is just so well used and worn out that I need to look at replacing some parts? Or no? My dads 870 express super mag has more rounds through it and has never had these issues. The gun is clean btw and I always clean it after I shoot. It's not my primary shotgun anymore as I shoot an Benelli super black eagle gen 1 that was made by H&K but would still like the 870 to be my back up in case I need it.

[cmgee67]

Pump

[flowrie]

870's are pretty easy to disassemble, I would take it completely apart and clean everything and look for worn parts.
Youtube videos are available in case you need assistance with disassembly and tips.

[jason812]

Parts I've seen broken on pumps are the extractor and the fingers that are welded to the forearm tube that hold the bolt. Both problems showed hard to pump symptoms. Tear it completely apart.

[cmgee67]

I have and nothin looks out of the ordinary just a well used gun

[Jusme]

I don't own an 870 so I doubt I can be much more help than other posters, what has me scratching my head is the fact that 2-3/4" and 3" shells load into the magazine with no problem, but the 3-1/2" don't. The only thing that comes to mind, is perhaps the extra length, pushes the plunger too far upwards, causing it to drag, or hang on the inside of the mag tube, or maybe the shell itself is catching on something like a burr. Again, it's all conjecture. Are you able to rack the slide to unload, without firing? If not then it may be a slightly bent forearm rail, Sorry I can't be more help.

[cmgee67]

Ok guys here's what I found out. I completely ripped apart the gun and there is nothing wrong with the gun itself I compared it to my dads nothing is wrong so I cleaned it religiously and put it back together and functioned the 2 3/4 and 3 inch and it worked perfectly. I grabbed some 3 1/2 for the moment of truth and it worked but sometimes when i would load them it would hang so I got two sets of eyes and what I found out was this: I switched to some high brass Kent 3 1/2 a couple years ago and what I noticed was with the extra length of the 3 1/2 I was putting the shell in at too steep of an angle causing the bottom of the shell to hit the top of the mag tube keeping it from going in properly my dad was watching and he confirmed it. so nothing is wrong with the gun something was just wrong with the handler lol. Good to know its alright. I now know what I was doing wrong and it blows me away on how just some weirdness on my part caused it. Thanks for the help all. I feel dumb but hey we all learn everyday.

Also it ejected everything perfectly. There was a bunch of gunk built up over time in the gun that I have never seen since all I have ever done is field strip it and I got the gun factory clean and she's running like a top and ready for season. I even removed the trigger group and cleaned it for the first time in 9 years. So I'd say after close to 10,000 shells through it, it was about time to do a completely break down

[Will Beararms]

I used a Supermag for three or four years here in TX and in AR duck hunting. I had issues with it accepting 3.5" shells. I removed the trigger group and it was full of mud and twigs. It received a deep cleaning. It shucks and jives with anything I feed it now. I still have it and a 3" 12 gauge Express. Both are excellent shotguns. As soon as I get them, I take them down to the pins. Then I soak the metal parts with Rem Oil Spray repeatedly for two or three days. When I am done, they will bead water like they've been treated with carnuba wax. I know if my Super X 3's take a dive, I can depend on the 870.