Brownells Gunsmith Kinks® - September 2008

-- Shannon Jennings (gunsmith, Coal Creek Armory, Knoxville, TN) Corryton, TN

Brownells sells all of the tools needed to install an ejector and spring into a Remington 870. I have made a block to hold the receiver for the rivet staking. Mine is made from an aluminum block that is 10" x 6" x 2". The block I used could have been narrower and thinner. The easiest way to get the holes in the right spots is when you have an ejector to install. I have installed a front trigger plate pin into the block to act as a guide. I have a 1/4" cap screw with brass washer that goes through the rear trigger plate hole in the action. (To locate the holes) Remove the old ejector. Place a layer of tape onto the left side of the action and put it onto the block. With the rear screw tightened, spot drill the block through the rivet holes in the receiver. Remove the receiver and drill the holes through the block. I have relieved the back of the block for the heads of 1/4" cap screws and tapped the top of the block 1/4-20. I have turned the two screw ends a little smaller than the rivet heads and polished the ends.

The reason there are four holes is that the Supermag receivers have the rivet holes further back. I have a simple clamp for the front of the receiver made from another 1/4" cap screw and a shaped piece of brass. I usually leave the stock on, so the block is well clearanced for it. To install the new ejector, place the rivets in the holes, tape the left side of the receiver over the rivets, (with the support screws backed off ) clamp the receiver down, then tighten the support screws until they are snug and use the Brownells rivet punches. I also use this when I'm just replacing the ejector spring to keep from pushing the front rivet out when staking, Yet another use is when converting an old 2 3/4" gun to a magnum. For this, using the Brownells rivet cutter remove the ejector spring only, place the action in the block and mill the ejector's shoulder back 1/4" and install the magnum spring. The block makes it a lot easier to hold the action in the mill vise. With the original rivets used, there is no need for refinishing the receiver. I have included photos of the block. The hole at the top of the block is just a hole. It isn't used for anything.