Shells getting stuck, make barrel bigger?

[Djnardu]

Just bought a Remington 870 express for my brother so when we go clay shooting he doesnt need to continue to use my 1100. I noticed that shells are getting stuck in the barrel after being shot. "Looks like the steel expands a bit" these are winchesters and I might switch to another ammo but still it kinda bums me. Here are some pictures between an empty case and loaded shell.

Loaded



Empty

[normanvin]

Do they seem to shrink after they cool?

[Djnardu]

These are cooled shells so I would assume. Dont know if they get hot enough to actually be bendable in the chamber would you think?

[knight0334]

Polish the chamber with a 12ga bore swab mounted in a handheld drill covered in Flitz metal polish. Smooth chamberwalls make nice extractions even with hot loads.

In fact all chambers should be polished to help eliminate rough machine marks that brass/steel expand against and into thus causing stuck cases. Always stay away from the throat though when polishing chambers or bores.

Also, if that 1100 isn't cycling correctly to extract the empties - you might want to check out the gas system. If its fouled up, or if it was improperly cleaned allowing solvents, lint or other fluids into the gas ports it could very likely cause cycling issues.

[Djnardu]

Ok will do that. I was hoping to go shooting early tmrw morning and wont get out of work until most stores are closed. Think these are items id be able to find at wally world?

[knight0334]

You should be able to find a 12ga bore swab at wally world. It will be about 3/4" in diameter and about 2-3" long - sorta looking like a kotex.

The mag/wheel/metal polish should be there too. Advance Auto carries other metal/wheel/mag polishes.


Keep in mind, many semi's shotties are "tuned" for a certain range of loads and dont operate reliably out of that range. Or they are finely tuned to a specific load level. Some light trap/clays loads dont cycle the guns properly due in part to heavier recoil springs and smaller or lessor number of gas ports in the barrel meant for heavy loads.

[Djnardu]

Thanks alot any idea on how long I should let the bore run in the barrel?

[ar15jules]

You are having problems with the 870, not the 1100 right?
Jules

[normanvin]

Polish the chamber with a 12ga bore swab mounted in a handheld drill covered in Flitz metal polish. Smooth chamberwalls make nice extractions even with hot loads.

In fact all chambers should be polished to help eliminate rough machine marks that brass/steel expand against and into thus causing stuck cases. Always stay away from the throat though when polishing chambers or bores.

Also, if that 1100 isn't cycling correctly to extract the empties - you might want to check out the gas system. If its fouled up, or if it was improperly cleaned allowing solvents, lint or other fluids into the gas ports it could very likely cause cycling issues.

I had a 22mag revolver I had to polish this way. It solved my problem.

[knight0334]

Thanks alot any idea on how long I should let the bore run in the barrel?

Just put the swab in the chamber and let it spin for a couple minutes evenly around the chamber. You will see the swab start to get black looking from the old residue and from the metal attaching to the swab.