If you’re as big a fan of the Remington 870 as we are, you know just how important regular maintenance is when it comes to the safe use of the firearm and increasing the longevity and value of the unit. So, learning how to clean a Remington 870 is an absolute must.
Understanding the Basics of Remington 870 Maintenance
Before we can dive into learning how to clean a Remington 870, we must take the time to review all the basics of properly maintaining this rifle.
How Often Should I Be Cleaning My Firearm?
One of the most common questions asked by enthusiasts is how often they should clean their rifles. The answer to this will depend on many factors, including:
- The type of firearm
- The firearm’s application
- How the firearm is stored
- How often the firearm is used
- What conditions to use the firearm in
If you use your gun regularly, then you’ll want to give it a good clean at least once or twice a month. However, if you only use it occasionally, you’ll likely only need to clean it once a month to keep it in proper working order.
We highly recommend checking your rifle’s manufacturer’s user manual and following their suggested cleaning instructions.
The Remington 870 Pre-Clean Checklist
Before you begin your Remington 870 maintenance, you’ll want to make sure you check the rifle for any remaining ammunition in either the chamber or magazine. If there are any leftover rounds in either, you must remove them before you begin to disassemble your firearm.
Once you’ve removed all ammunition, store it somewhere away from your cleaning station. If you have a dedicated safe for your firearms, it’s recommended you go ahead and lock it up in there until you need it next.
Disassembly instructions for Remington 870 Maintenance:
- Remove the nut on the end of the magazine tube
- Remove the barrel of the Remington 870
- Push up on the liftin arm and push the shell stop on the left of the receiver in and pull the slide forward, allowing you to remove the bolt off the top of the slide
- Tap out the two pins holding the trigger assembly so you can remove that from the frame as well
Please remember to take your time when disassembling your Remington 870 to ensure you don’t damage any parts of the rifle or hurt yourself in the process.
What Do I Need to Clean a Remington 870?
Before you can start cleaning your Remington 870, you need to make sure you have all the right tools on hand, including:
- Bronze brush head
- Cleaning rod
- Cleaning Patch
- Hoppe’s No. 9 Gun Bore Cleaner
- Lubricating Gun Oil
- Utility Brush
- Gun Cleaning Pick
We highly suggest the Legend Cleaning Kit for those interested in purchasing an all-in-one kit with everything you need to clean your Remington 870 rifle.
How to Clean a Remington 870 in 7 Simple Steps
Now that you’ve collected all the necessary equipment and disassembled your rifle, it’s time to get down to learning how to clean a Remington 870.
1. Clean the Inside of the Barrel
Once you’ve disassembled your Remington 870, you’ll begin the cleaning process by attaching a bronze brush head to your cleaning rod. Saturate the brush with Hoppe’s No. 9 Gun Bore Cleaner and run it through the barrel from breech to muzzle. This will help break down those hard to reach spots and remove any excessive buildup within the barrel.
Once you’re satisfied, remove the brush head and reattach the rod’s original head and attach a cleaning patch that has been saturated with Gun Bore Cleaner and push it through the barrel. Follow this process with a clean, dry patch several times until the patch comes out clean.
2. Lubricate the Inside of the Barrel
Once the barrel is sufficiently clean, you’ll want to saturate a new cleaning patch with lubricating gun oil and push it through the barrel, breech to muzzle.
3. Clean the Exterior of the Barrel
After you’ve lubricated the interior of the barrel, take a new cleaning patch, and saturate it with lubricating oil. Use this patch to clean the exterior of the barrel. Not only does this clean the exterior, but it provides a nice protective layer to it.
4. Clean all Smaller Components with Lubricating Oil
Next up, you’ll want to take a utility brush and some lubricating oil and clean all the smaller components you removed from the Remington 870 during the disassembly process. With some of the smaller or more compact parts, you may need to use a cleaning pick to allow you to get into the tighter nooks and crannies. You want to make sure you get in there and remove any debris or other buildup that could later lead to a misfire.
5. Add Lubricating Oil to All High Friction Areas and Moving Parts
Once each component has been cleaned and lubricated, you’ll want to take a cleaning patch and saturate it with lubricating gun oil once again and wipe down all high friction areas and moving parts. This will ensure that all your parts are moving as they should and help keep your firearm from malfunctioning next time you fire it.
6. Reassemble the Remington 870
Once everything has been cleaned and lubricated correctly, you can start to reassemble your Remington 870. To do this, follow the disassembly procedure in reverse.
7. Perform a Function Test and Safely Store it Away
After appropriately reassembling the gun, you’ll want to make sure you perform a full functions test on it to make sure everything is in working order. To do this, start by pointing your gun away and pumping the slide and pulling the trigger. Do this a few times to ensure that both are moving and firing appropriately. You’ll then want to engage the safety and confirm that the gun doesn’t go off when you pull the trigger to ensure the lock is properly working.
Now that everything has checked out, you can safely store it as your manufacturer recommends until you’re ready to take it out once again.
Choose Hoppe’s Gun Care Products for Your Remington 870 Maintenance Needs
Taking the time to learn how to clean a Remington 870 and keep it in proper working order is an absolute must if you want to include it in your gun collection. With this easy to use guide and the best Hoppe’s gun care products at your disposal, you can adequately maintain your Remington 870 for a very long time.
Need to stock up on your Hoppe’s gun care products? Then check out our online catalog today!
