Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing 11-87 Shell Latch - Removal/Install

I'm messing with an 11-87 and the shell latch seems to be holding the shells in the magazine too far into the magazine. That last 1/16" or so of the shell isn't coming rearward. This is locking the gun up and obviously keeping it from feeding the next shell.

My question is, how does the shell latch "grow" to cause this problem? And how do gunsmiths go about fixing it?




Travis

http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=100&t=395585

Anything in here give you any ideas?

I don't have a clue what made it grow other than getting bent a little bit. You will probably need a staking tool if you try to fix it. I think I have got one if you need to borrow it.

I think you're right Allen.

Thanks for the offer. I may need to take you up on it.




Travis

No.

They're stupid. I'm smart.




Travis

Don't know if this will work every time but I reinstalled one and used one of the "superglues", can't remember which one, to hold it in place. Degreased the feed latch and the area it fits in first. I thought it would be a temporary fix till I could borrow a staking tool but it's been a few years and several cases of shells and the glue's still holding it in place.

The shell latch is held in place via the front trigger guard assembly pin. It can't possibly 'grow' 1/6"..

If you remove the trigger assembly and the latch stays on the receiver, then you won't need a staking tool. Methinks something else is afoot..

Re-reading your description.. You say it's the 'last 1/16" inch that's not coming out'.. So, the carrier's trying to raise but the front edge of the shell's catching? IF so (and I'm thinking 'not') then that would have nothing to do with the shell latch.

One way to examine the operation is: remove the trigger group, then re-insert the front guard pin. Turn the action upside down, load a couple into the magazine and slowly work the slide as you observe the shell latch and feed latch work in tandem..

What are you seeing?

I'll probably have to take a picture of it to fully describe but it basically looks like that latch got bent inboard, so the shell is not coming all the way back.

If you look at the latch at the very end, there's a step after that, that the shell typically rests on. Instead of it resting on that step, the shell is being held in the mag by the tip of the shell latch.




Travis

Now - I'm just gonna ask this 'cause some people miss it.

Are you certain you retained that latch with your finger before you re-inserted the bolt into the receiver?

At times, some owners will miss that and the action bar goes behind it - therefore causing blockage..

Wish I could see it here - I could tell you in two seconds what the issue is..

RN,

I will take it apart and try that again this evening.

If I'm sober enough I will snap pics.

Thanks for your help.




Travis

When you remove the bolt and action slide, take a good peak at that feed latch - it should have a small, thin tip at the very end.. Many times those break off and then shells won't release from the magazine.. If you don't see that tip, the latch needs replacing..