SLR15 LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOTGUN ARMORER COURSE
When: December 17-18, 2015
Where: Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy in Douglas Wyoming
We conducted a 2-day (16-hour) Law Enforcement Shotgun Armorer Course at Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy. This 2-day course was held part of an Armorer Week that we have been doing at this location for several years. During the week we also did a 1-day 1911 Pistol Armorer Course, and a 2-day AR15 / M16 / M4 Armorer Course. The onsite facilities are excellent for multi-day courses, as there are classrooms, gun ranges, students can stay in the dorms, and eat meals onsite. We used a large classroom with plenty of table space, decent lighting, and a large screen that we were able to project animated graphics of the weapons system, powerpoint detailed pics of gun parts, and especially when looking at finer detail things like machining, stress cracks & wear. In this course we cover the Remington 870, Mossberg 500/590, and Benelli M1-90/M2. Shotguns represented were mostly Remington 870's, Mossberg 500 & 590's, and a couple of Benelli M1-90's. Students were Law Enforcement Officers from Wyoming, Colorado, and South Dakota.
The day started with an introduction of all present. We started with going through the course manual that all students are given. Students were supplied with their own set of basic tools that are necessary to do most of the general work on the shotguns, and we also supplied specialty tools for ejector replacement, restaking shell latches, magazine tube repair, etc.
We started the day with an overview of all three weapons systems. A short session of nomenclature was covered, at which time covered every feature and exterior piece of the shotguns was covered, to include all the hidden design features that most people are not aware of. Everyone was taught the procedure series of checks that we recommend. Everyone was taught a hands on session of the eight basic functioning cycles of the shotguns. For this everyone was supplied with action proving dummy rounds, we prefer these over range dummy rounds, as the action proving dummy rounds offer the same feel and weight as live ammunition. From there we broke the same eight functioning cycles down further, it is amazing how much you can feel in the mechanical action of the locks, latches and levers, as you slowly cycle the action.
Everyone was shown the proper way to field strip each of the three shotgun systems. Once field stripped, we inspected the barrels, where many of the barrels present were fouled. The fouling inside the barrel is generally plastic from the shot wadding, mixed with powder and shot residue. Everyone was shown that they needed to clean the chamber and bore, as these are different diameters and require different brushes. We also showed all the other hidden areas of the barrel that need to be kept clean for proper functioning of the bolt assembly and barrel to receiver fit for lock up etc. Also shown were a multitude of tools, brushes, and jags for cleaning the barrel. Everyone with fouled barrels were allowed to clean them, as a hands on session of trying the different methods and tools shows what works better. Everyone was supplied with Slip2000 #725 Cleaner/Degreaser & Carbon Killer/Cutter, which help to cut through the fouling rather quickly. Barrels were inspected for damage,stress, missing parts etc. Once overall maintenance, field stripping, nomenclature, and inspections was covered, it was time to get weapon system specific.
An Officer from Colorado that he thought had a build up inside of lubricant residue or damage to the finish of a barrel, stating that one of his Officers who is in charge of firearms maintenance has been spraying some magic stuff into the barrel that supposedly keeps it from fouling, but that there is something inside the barrel where it looks corroded. He was supplied with some of the cleaning gear & and some Slip2000 Choke Tube Cleaner, and with a little work he was able to remove a large amount of plastic build up from the shotgun wads. Once clean the barrel was smooth, so whatever the magic stuff that was being applied before didn't seem to work as previously thought.
We went through barrels in great detail, looking at the barrels machining and design inside and out, how they are mounted and retained. We showed variations of 870 barrels with and without the magazine cap retaining detent style barrels are retained, versus the traditional style, and how these parts should not be intermixed. We had 2 barrels on Express models without the retaining detents, and there was another barrel where the detent was loose and unstaked. We showed how the detents work, how they are replaced, and staked into place. The 2 barrels present that didn't have the detent, now do, and the barrel where the detent had come loose was fixed. We showed how the non-detent style parts, bow these work, and why some of these cannot be intermixed.
We moved into magazine tubes. Magazine springs and followers were removed. Almost every shotgun in this class had heavy debris built up inside the magazine tube, and they were shown the need for a magazine tube brush. We showed several examples of magazine springs and followers, and why there is a need for the 870P spring or a heavier aftermarket version (I have a preference for heavy duty aftermarket springs from companies like Wolff). We also showed several examples of extended magazine tubes, and the feeding issue than can happen if they are not mounted properly, and discussed why the clamp is used. We covered the Mossberg 500 series magazine tubes for maintenance, replacement & upgrades.
We moved into the bolt assemblies, slides, action bar assemblies, and how they integrate together. Bolts were disassembled and reassembled, and inspections were done, showing where debris and corrosion is found. Most of the 870's present had rust and/or crud in the extractor channel, this is why we recommend that these be removed on a regular basis, cleaned and lubed. We demonstrated how to remove the firing pin and locking block assembly, at which time everyone was introduced to splined pins, and shown the proper way to remove and install them. We went through the extractor assembly, and showed the different types, which also let us into the differences in forged and MIM parts as we see both styles. Once everyone disassembled their bolt carrier assemblies, everything was cleaned and inspected. The firing pin was replaced with a new one. On the final assembly of the bolt group, everything was properly lubricated, and inspected for function.
Next we worked on the Mossberg 500/590 bolt assemblies. We removed firing pin assemblies, and did a comparison of the different eras and changes on these. Locking block assemblies we inspected and we covered replacement issues. From there we went through the twin extractor system, covering changes in design and proper use & fit.
The Benelli bolt assembly was gone through, showing its simple design. We showed how to break these down and inspect them. We covered firing pins & springs, retaining pins with changes and replacement issues, the extractor system, along with era changes and integration.
The action bar assemblies (foreends) were removed and disassembled. The action bars were inspected. Everyone was shown what happens when you use the wrong method or tools, where these foreend assemblies get damaged. It is lucky for one agency that was present, as they are just switching a fleet of shotguns over to orange furniture and had been having trouble using the aftermarket stock makers supplied tools, and found the foreend wrench wrenches that we provided work much better. Everyone was shown several different wrenches for working on the foreends, and we recommend that they have a wrench for this instead of the flat piece of metal that come from some aftermarket supplier. The Foreends were removed, and the action bar assembly was inspected. We had a student who brought a shotgun that his agency was having trouble with it feeding shells from the magazine tube. An inspection showed that his foreend nut was loose, and the foreend and action bars weren’t in alignment, which was causing the action bars to twist. Once this assembly was realigned and tightened down, the feeding problem went away.
Stocks were disassembled and removed, inspected for stress, repair and modifications of them was also shown. Stock bolts, washers, stock bearing plate, and studs were inspected, and replacement of the stud was also shown. We showed the need for a stock bearing plate, and everyone that needed them had them. We showed several types of aftermarket stocks, slings and mounts, which we had several variations of Knox stocks present. There was a group consensus of liking of the shorter length of pull on the Hogue youth stock. Stock assemblies were remounted. We had one of the Officers Remington 870’s that they were trying to put a new stock bolt onto, that wouldn’t tighten down, upon inspection it was found to have damaged threads on the receiver stud, of which we supplied the Officer with a replacement which was installed. We went through the Benelli stock system, showing different factory stocks, their repair, and we went through the recoil tube assembly.
Day-2 started with a review of everything we have covered the previous day. From there we moved into trigger groups. We started with the 870. We showed how the clean the trigger group. We removed safety assemblies, inspected the triggers. Everyone removed the rear bushing, and how the rear pin is retained. We went through sear springs and showed 4 different types, everyone had the correct heavy Police springs. Carrier assemblies were also removed, cleaned, and inspected. Trigger groups were reassembled and gauged. We went through trouble diagnosing on the trigger group, and showed how mistakes can be made when cleaning which makes it so it doesn't function. We also showed the key out trigger groups and parts, and showed why it is our recommendation that these not be used on a combat shotgun for Law Enforcement purposes. After the trigger groups we reassembled, we checked them for function, and showed how the trigger groups work with the locking & unlocking cycles. The next thing we went through was the flex tab trio system. We showed how the flex tab trio works, and why we recommend that it be in all Law Enforcement shotguns.
Mossberg trigger groups were gone through, showing how these trigger group works, inspecting it for issues, and what & when to repair versus replace. Lastly we went through the Benelli trigger group, showing the two stages. We had a Colorado Officer who brought his competition Benelli, and he installed a few aftermarket competition parts.
We went through shell latches. We showed how to inspect, replace, and repair the shell latches. The 870 shell latches are supposed to be staked. We had one student’s shotgun with a shell latch that was misaligned, we showed why this happened. We also had two other shotguns that students brought that had loose shell latches. All of these were repaired using the different tools that we supplied.
Next we inspected the ejection systems. We went through the 870, showing how these are staked, how to tune and replace them. We showed a couple examples of broken 870 ejectors, and went through how these get broken. The Mossberg ejector system, was gone though, showing its how to replace them, and covering aftermarket issues, simplicity in design, and troubleshooting. We showed the process for tuning and replacement of ejectors and ejector assemblies. One student had a new 870 that had a crack in the ejector track at the front stud, he was offered the parts to replace it, but opted to contact Remington direct to see if their customer service will handle it under warranty.
All guns were then reassembled, everyone checked for proper function, and gauged everything to make sure everything was in spec and ready to put into service.
CY6
Greg Sullivan "Sully"
SLR15 Rifles
TheDefensiveEdge.com
(763) 712-0123