My Rem 11-87 had its first hick up in 15 yrs. Fired around and the bolt stuck open, would not release at all , removed action , and completely cleaned, no visible issue, cycled the action , open hit release sveral times, I got it?? nope when I then fired it and pulled the bolt open would not release manuely, took backapart, Im not schooled enough to see what internal part actualy holds the bolt open, see no wear or, bent , spring seem fine ,,,, sooo any help, Bob

I can't help but there are some sharp semi-auto men on here who will be along soon!

Is the buffer still in there?

If not could the action be coming back too far and essentially hanging it open?

Just a couple of thoughts but I am not semi auto mechanic either.

With the action closed, insert one shell in the magazine, pull the bolt back to chamber the round,
does the bolt stick then, or just on an empty gun?

With the trigger group removed, does the bolt slide back and forth freely?

We finally got it, local gunsmith and I took it apart and put it together more than once , not an obvious issue ,to us at least..Pulled back freely cycle shells fine manually,,,,but when fired stay stuck open,A lot of HMMMM.Long story, somehow the super small snap ring that hols the arm that keeps your round in Mag, was missing, with the arm firm against the side of reciever ,great but when fired ,there was enough tok sideways the small wire tension spring on back of arm assembly would slip out away from side of reciever, without the small snap ring and catch on the trigger group, not allowing bolt to go forward, only solved as we were checking , like 1187 20 ga to checkfiring pin, dropped the asembly out and then noticed the small snap ring on that gun, the light came on, long time gunsmith, but never caught it, some would have I suppose, shotguns not his thing, how that ring could come off is a guess, ones on order, so rare probably never need this info. Thanks All

Good information.........another reason tohave two of every gun LoL.

Spoke too soon, didnt totaly solve it, were at at loss , might might not cycle next round, so off to a gunsmith that supposed to know
. remingtons

I was actually wondering if it was really solved... That snap ring has bupkis to do with locking open... First thing I would check is that little tab on the upper surface of the bolt release button that interacts with the latch trip.. If off a bit (angle) it can do what you describe.. Could be a few other things: bent pin on the latch pivot.. The need to remove a couple .000s where the carrier release tab locks into place..

In any case, IMHO the problem is in that area - between the release button and the carrier latch system..

I bought one cheap, guy (not a reg at LGS) came in and sold it.
Figured out why.

New trigger group, buffer (it came with) and it was a single shot.
Yup, interrupter latch snap ring gone.
Think I paid 8 bucks to get the part.

Ran great after, Top gun at F&W area more than once in dove field.
A little too light so dumped it.

Eh I have an 1100 SP w a steel shot bbl.

I'd swap trigger groups w a known good one and see what it does.

Redneck and Hookeye, bothe senarios, were considered and we let another smith look at it right now,, Redneck, with the snapring gone it was allowing the arm to tip out and catch the receiver coming forward, myself I thought about the latch trip set up but didnt know just how it could be off sooooo. we'll see if the new guy knows his stuff, Thanks, also I seen another1187 on his rack and suggested the trigger group swap, it was next , didnt get there, again Thanks

I had the same issue. The tab on the bolt release button was not playing nice with its interacting piece. Was looking to replace it anyway with a longer release button. Took three hands to get it back in but, problem solved.