maintaining the M870 shotgun, perform the
UNLOADING THE GUN.--Push the safety to
maintenance according to the MRCs for the weapon.
the SAFE position. Press in the action bar lock; pull the
fore-end (fig. 2-30) slowly rearward until the front end
Before you begin disassembling the weapon, be
of the shell from the barrel is even with the ejection port
sure no shells remain in the chamber or the magazine
in the receiver. Lift the front of the shell outward and
BARREL.--To remove and clean the barrel, push
remove it from the ejection port. Continue pulling the
the safety to the SAFE position. Open the action,
fore-end back fully until the next shell releases from the
magazine. Roll the gun sideways to allow the released
unscrew the magazine cap, and pull the barrel from the
shell to drop from the ejection port. Close the action by
receiver. Replace the magazine cap on the end of the
pushing forward on the fore-end. Continue this
magazine tube. To clean the barrel, use a cleaning rod
procedure until the magazine and the gun are empty.
with a lightly oiled cloth. If powder fouling remains in
the barrel, use a powder solvent to scrub the bore. After
using solvent, wipe the barrel clean and re-oil it very
CAUTION
lightly. Replace the barrel by removing the magazine
cap, inserting the barrel in the receiver, and replacing
Open the action and check the shell
the magazine cap.
chamber in the breech and the magazine to
make sure no rounds remain in the gun.
TRIGGER PLATE ASSEMBLY.--With the
safety pushed to the SAFE position, cock the action.
UNLOADING THE BARREL ONLY.--Push
Tap out the front and rear trigger plate pins (fig. 2-28).
the safety to the SAFE position. Press in the action bar
Lift the rear of the trigger plate from the receiver, then
lock and pull the fore-end rearwarduntil the front end of
slide it rearward to remove it from the gun. Clean the
the shell from the barrel is even with the front end of the
trigger assembly as a unit by brushing it with a solvent.
ejection port. Lift the front end of the shell from the
Wipe the trigger assembly dry and re-oil it very
receiver as described previously. You can now place a
sparingly. As you replace the plate assembly, make sure
shell with different powder and shot combination into
the action bar lock enters the receiver easily and
the chamber and close the action without disturbing the
operates in position.
shells in the magazine.
FORE-END ASSEMBLY UNIT.--Push the
Remington M870 Operating Cycle
safety to the SAFE position. Close the action and
remove the magazine cap and the barrel. Reach into the
The entire operating cycle of the M870 shotgun is
bottom of the receiver and press the left shell latch
completed by pulling the trigger, sliding the fore-end
inward. Remove the fore-end by sliding it forward off
rearward to open the action, and sliding the fore-end
the magazine tube. After you have removed the fore-
forward again to close the action. The fore-end is
end assembly from the gun, you may remove the breech
mounted on double-action bars and is fully controlled
bolt parts and the slide from the ends of the action bars.
and operated by the shooter.
Maintenance
NOTE
The following discussion on maintenance of the
The top right edge of the slide may bind on
the bottom front edge of the ejector port in the
M870 shotgun covers only action necessary for routine
receiver. To free the slide, push downward on
maintenance of the weapon. If you become involved in
the front end of the bolt.
It is not necessary to disassemble the bolt for
routine cleaning. Brush it with solvent to clean it; then
wipe it dry.
To reassemble the weapon, reverse the disassembly
steps. The following procedures will help make
reassembly easier.
When you assemble the fore-end parts, be sure the
gun is cocked. During this assembly, place the slide in
Figure 2-30.--M870 fore-end assembly.
2-16
