Problem ejecting shells?

Question

I have a old JC Higgins 12ga pump that was my fathers, I shoot only low base shells in it due to its age. The shotgun will not freely eject the rounds after each shot it is like the slide is jammed, but it is actually the rounds are getting stuck in the chamber. I generally have to use a rod and push the shell out of the chamber but the brass base looks as if it has expanded. The chamber does not appear to be damaged or out of shape but it is hard to tell with eyes only. The gun is priceless to me for sentimental reasons I would just like to know what this could be or if it is common and if there is a fix.

Answer 1

It should be inspected by a qualified gunsmith or armorer. Just from what you've said it sounds like it could be a very dirty chamber and/or bad ejecter. If the slide is sticking after each shot it's 1 sign of over-pressure. DO NOT shoot it any more until it's been inspected and repaired by a qualified person.

Answer 2

the early shotguns were chambered for 2" shells not 2 3/4"
the shotgun can chamber and fire the longer round but would not have enough clearance to eject the empty. Check on the side of the barrel. It should have what the barrel is chambered for.
If it is the 2" the over pressure of the 2 3/4" can cause to the gun to fail and possibly come apart.

If it is chambered for the 2 3/4 then there is other things that can cause the problem and a gunsmith would be able to check.

Answer 3

i bought a used 12 gauge pump a while back that was at least 50 years old and had seen better days. it jammed almost every shot and several times it missfired. when it fired 5 seconds after pulling the trigger i took it to a gunsmith and told him it was unsafe so he broke it down and used it for parts. older pump shotguns sometimes just where out. the one i had didnt have any value to me as it was a $40 gun but with yours if a gunsmith cant fix it id consider just putting it up for show in your house.

Answer 4

You may have a worn cylinder,where the rim of the shell stops entering the chamber. I had a remington 270 and it was doing the same thing, I took it to a gunsmith and he grounded it and polished it, this will help as long as it is not to far gone.

Answer 5

some good info right here. Mine worked wonderful the 1st day out. 2nd time some weeks later and each around became no longer extracting. i think of the rifle cleansing snake isn't sufficient sufficient by itself. i desperate to scrub it with the bore snake element and then used my .40 5 brush merely on the the fairly commencing off for the shell. So appropriate to the 1st a million inch. wiped sparkling and scrubbed good and ran the cleansing snake by back a pair cases. Will attempt it out next weekend and notice. My even with the fact it incredibly is the a number of rounds. I used the undergo sort the 1st time. 2nd time it became another sort from Academy. After that no longer something extracts. My guess is the coating on the recent sort is inflicting the undertaking. properly that or i did no longer get a good cleansing out of the bore snake.

Answer 6

I would definately take it to a gunsmith. Dont try to fix it yourself unless you know more about it. Tinkering leads to breaking...I know.

OR you could just keep it up on like your mantle or hang it on the wall, and buy another shotgun, maybe an 870 or 500 to use for shooting/hunting or watever.

Answer 7

Take to a gunsmith to get in machined out and fixed.

Answer 8

I would take it to a gunsmith. It sounds like it could be worn just enough to allow for expansion.

Answer 9

I would ensure that the action in clean. A good cleaning. Break it down and clean it.

It may be due to age though and you may have to just dsplay it instead of use it.

Answer 10

I'm surprised no one has mentioned to get the headspace checked by a gun smith...