snoopy2u

Chris - Just tried loading both my Westernfield and Riverside 520's. With the both forward and closed, the rounds rest about 1/4 inch outside the tube, on the lifter as you described. This was the correct operation and design feature as you stated earlier. with the bolt to the rear, the lifter is up against the bolt, but - the bolt has now, in its return rearward, operated the back of the cartridge stops "hump" and has pivited the cartridge stop up, and on the forward receiver screw behind the cartridge stop, pushing out the cartridge stop from the inside of the receiver. This appears to be the correct timeing of the bolt and cartridge stop. Now - since the cartridge stop has been pivioted up and outward from the receiver, the rounds had to be pushed hard past the leading edges of the cartridge stop. Once the rounds were clear of the +cartridge stop, into the tube, YES - the cartridge stop did in fact retain every round inside the tube. From there, the timeing was slightly different on each of my shotguns. On one ,I had to bring the lifter down before pulling the bolt closed. The Western field operated better, in that bringing the bolt closed, the cartridge stop pivited downward, off the receiver screw, and back against the inside receiver wall. When this happened, the semi-circular cut in the cartridge stop allowed the round in the tube to feed. the lifter quickly dropsped during this bolt closing process, allowing the need round to pass by the semi-circular cut in the cartridge stop, and rest on the lifter's forward edge, as you describe. This loading was easiest done with the muzzle on the ground ( not your foot). I have seen multiple variations of these internals, even for the 520's. While playing with my Stevens 620, I found that the trigger spring is different than on my 520's, trigger was different, bolt appeared more rounded, safety was still inside the trigger housing, and the cartridge stop was the same as my 520's, and operated the same. However - many cartridge stops for the 620 are shown as a long flat peice, with a square hump. And since i do not have a 620 with the safety on the upper rear of the receiver - i do not know if the cartridge stop on these newer models operated the same as the apparent older models that i have. do you know of anyone else with one of these shotguns, or does someone have a copy of a Tm9-2117 that might explain how these things were designed to work.

Chris - Thank you. And, I will try loading both ways. But - in a couple of places in your reply, you stated that the round "stayed fully in the tube". In playing with my 520, I found that when the bolt is forward, the lower ( holding the shotgun upside down) rim of a round, when loading into the tube, would catch on a portion of the bolt. Though, I do not feel this is a design feature, rather of fluke - when you mention that the round stays fully in the tube - why does it stay there? What is the round caught upon that keeps it in the tube. I have read this before on other researches, that the round rests upon the lifter as you described. That this is the design feature of loading the tube on this shotgun. But - while you are playing, you are finding that the round can actually be retained in the tube - for some reason. Trying to understand if my shotguns are functioning as designed, and correctly. If i need to replace a part. What is the function of the cartridge stop, if not to stop the cartridge? Chris Weddington,NC

OK - So, you are saying that the shotgun is designed so that the next round in the magazine tube, and each round, there after, is intended to rest on the lifter? Help me again, These shotguns are a bugger to load. I have been loading empty shells for testing, and it is a pain in the rump. Does one load the tube with the bolt forward, or with the bolt to the rear? Chris Weddington, NC

I am new to this forum, hope I do this correctly! In searching links and info on my Stevens 520 - I ran into your site showing numberous Stevens 520's, and 620 shotguns. I am hoping to connect with one of these members whom can assist me. Though, my 520's have long barrels, and certainly can not be termed "trench guns", they nonetheless function the same and have the same internals. I have not fired a live round from my Stevens as yet, but - I have played with it enough at this point to beleive that it would operate fine under battery. with one exception - the cartridge stop lever. It is my belief that a cartridge stop would hold the next round in the tube, until the fired round was ejected, and the action brought forward to load the next round. That this cartridge stop would hold this next round via small lips on the upper and lower portion of the stop. This does not happen on my 520's. When I load my magazine, the rounds protrude from the tube about 1/4 inch and rests on the lifter. I can still action, load, and eject a full magazine without problem, but - is not the cartridge stop intended to hold this next round in the tube until ready? The stop has a bump towards the rear of the stop, so that when the breech/ bolt moves rearward, the bolt rides on this bump thus piviting it upward. There is also a screw in the receiver towards the front of the stop, and the stop has a bevel cut in the back of the stop, so that when the bolt rides the rear stop bump, and the stop pivits upward, it hits this screw head, and moves outward a small bit. Then the bolt is actioned forward to pick up the next round, and the stop returns downward, back against the receiver's inside wall. I see this happening as i play with the action - but, no where do I see the stop holding a round in the tube. Nor, do I understand which edge of the stop is susposed to hold to round in the tube. and, of course, How the stop's piviting is susposed to function in relation to the stop's ability to retain a round in the tube and guide a round into the breech area. Does anyone understand what I explained? Given that these shotguns or old, and parts are worn, one of my 520's has a cartridge stop that appears to be well defined, sharp and should function. The other shotgun's stop is well worn - and I could swap it out with a better one, but - i'd expect that it would not operate any differently. rounds would still rest on the lifter. Can one of you more knowledgeable members help me out here. And, explain the proper operation of the cartridge stop, how to fix mine, and what to look for in repairing my rifles. Note this cartridge stop's definition and clarity. I presume that this stop is in sufficient shape to function correctly. Breech is towards the rear of the receiver, the stop has pivited upward on the receiver's stop screw, and the stop has moved outward from the receiver. If the bolt was brought forward, the stop would pivit downward, off the stop screw and rest closer to the inside of the receiver.