Mossberg 500 quirks?

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twoshots

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I picked up a new mossberg 500A parkerized synthetic police style shotgun. It doesn't want to eject some rounds. Also drops a round on the ground when cycling once in a while.

The gun allows you to manually press ejector to remove stuck cartridges and it's better to drop a round on the ground than miss feed and jam, however I'd still like to fix the issues.

Winchester buckshot and slugs used.

Any one have suggestions/ simmilar experiences?:confused: :confused:
 
I've had a shell fall out when I have had the action open and a shell sitting on the elevator. I have never had mine drop one while cycling normally. No ejection issues at all with mine, mostly Winchester 3" steel loads and Federal 2-3/4" lead shot, no buckshot or slugs.
 
basicly the shell releases from the magazine tube, but doesn't make it onto the elevator.The elevator goes up empty and then the shell pops out of the tube and drops to the ground, sorry if the terminology isnt bang on.

I thought I might be short stroking it but after a few repeats and tests eliminated that.
 
Never had that problem with my cranky 500. did have a problem with the follower jamming at the top of the tube when loaded with 3” slugs. Also it would jam at the receiver end when firing 3” magnums. Solved the problem by loading 2 ¾”,3”,3”3” and 2 ¾”. Another time had my trigger assembly stop working, took it out gave it a cleaning and it worked, although it wasn’t very dirty.
 
if the follower is sticking it could delay the the shell coming out onto the elevator, too bad you can't get into the magazine tube like most shotguns.I sprayed it well with wd 40.

also, the safety is extremely tight. I wore the skin off my thumb in an hour of shooting. The screw is the anti reverse. Do they loosen up, or is mine weird.

thanks for the replies
 
Same problems with mine, I don't even bother with the safety anymore, had Reliable look at it, but they didn't have any luck either. Had them disassemble the gun cleaned the mag tube for me and now I spray every so often, but it is annoying lack of a simple feature.
 
overall it still worked o.k.

I will spend some time on it, see if I can get things sorted. I picked it up new for $280 tx inc. and wanted to compare it to my 1300 defender. The 1300 will be my user for now.

Anyone have these problems with the 590? I can't stop thinking about them:)
 
The likely cause of your problem is a bad case of gunnutus not lockemupus. The 500 is a light gun. Combine that with a short barrel and there is a fair bit of free recoil. While rolling back with the recoil, the pump has become unlocked and the bolt can and will move back a bit. Inertia on the other hand has the remaining rounds pushing against the mag follower and spring.

Essentially what can happen is;

1) The pump unlocks and you continue the rearward motion. However, at that instant the next round is still reacting to recoil and is not being pressed up against the cartridge stop which has just been opened.

2) Depending on the timing, either the case is missed entirely, or it skips over one catch only to be trapped momentarily by the second. It's either going to miss a round or spit one on to the ground.

The solution is to either add some mass to the gun, or preferably solidify for stance and hold on the gun and the pump.
 
I'm sure my form is not perfect. I see what you're saying with regards to the physics.

Are you recommending a more solid stance and firm pressure on the pump, keeping it forward? than solid rack after recoil subsides? Or are these mechanical problems caused by physics and human operation is irrevelant?

Still, I havent had any of these problems with any other shotgun other than the occasional missfeed. I don't think the 500 is lighter than the 1300. the 1300 has the recoil assist action though so I guess that isnt comparing apples.
 
I have not had any problems with my 590, but I have only had about 120 rounds through it so far. I have run (all 2 3/4") Winchester slugs, Winchester buckshot, Remington sluggers, and remington buckshot through it without a hitch.

I noticed my buddy was having trouble with the feeding, but he was letting the action cycle partially due to recoil and I think this is what was causing some of his problems. Once I told him to pull back with his trigger hand and push forward with his support hand he seemd to be okay.

Geologist, how old is your 500? My father had a problem with his similar to yours, but it had about 500 boxes through it. The problem ended up being a burr in the chamber that cleaned up fine with some emory cloth, although Repete recommends steel wool.
 
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geologist said:
With heavy loads, my 500 often won't unlock after I fire. It takes 2 or 3 stout pulls on the forend to free it up.

Works like a machinegun with birdshot though.
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Best guess is the gun is actually unlocking under recoil, and you are returning it to battery before trying to pump the action to the rear, causing it to lock.

Just for ####s and giggles, load up a stout shell. Use your support hand to cup and support your trigger hand, pulling the gun firmly into your shoulder.

My guess is you will find the action partly open after firing.
 
Geologist, how old is your 500? My father had a problem with his similar to yours, but it had about 500 boxes through it. The problem ended up being a burr in the chamber that cleaned up fine with some emory cloth, although Repete recommends steel wool.
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It's an old 500A, bought in 1987. It's done this since it was new. It's been to my gunsmith and he replaced the lower block and slightly radiused a few corners. That helped a bit as it doesn't fail to extract as often.

I'll try scrubbing the chamber again but I don't think that's the culprit.

Best guess is the gun is actually unlocking under recoil, and you are returning it to battery before trying to pump the action to the rear, causing it to lock.

Just for s**ts and giggles, load up a stout shell. Use your support hand to cup and support your trigger hand, pulling the gun firmly into your shoulder.
Click to expand...

No I'm not closing it on recoil. 1 in 4 rounds, after firing a heavy load, when I pull back on the forend, the action comes back maybe 1/2" and locks there, pressing the action release does nothing. I just have to reef 2 or 3 times on it and then it opens. Half the time it ejects the hull, the other half of the time the extractor slips off the rim of the hull and leaves it in my chamber.

Needless to say, I do not use this POS for bear defense. I use a Marlin 1895 GS and CRF bolt action rifles.
 
geologist said:
It's an old 500A, bought in 1987. It's done this since it was new. It's been to my gunsmith and he replaced the lower block and slightly radiused a few corners. That helped a bit as it doesn't fail to extract as often.

I'll try scrubbing the chamber again but I don't think that's the culprit.



No I'm not closing it on recoil. 1 in 4 rounds, after firing a heavy load, when I pull back on the forend, the action comes back maybe 1/2" and locks there, pressing the action release does nothing. I just have to reef 2 or 3 times on it and then it opens. Half the time it ejects the hull, the other half of the time the extractor slips off the rim of the hull and leaves it in my chamber.

Needless to say, I do not use this POS for bear defense. I use a Marlin 1895 GS and CRF bolt action rifles.
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OK, from what you are describing, I'd say my first opinion was completely wrong. If the action bars are coming back the 1/2 inch you mention then meeting stiff resistance, I'd look for a problem with the bolt and locking plate. Perhaps you've got a burr of foreign matter trapped.
 
It seams odd to me that there are so many problems with something that is close to if not completely mil-spec. bad day in the factory?

Can the spring behind the extractor claw be replaced to stiffen it?
 
twoshots said:
if the follower is sticking it could delay the the shell coming out onto the elevator, too bad you can't get into the magazine tube like most shotguns.I sprayed it well with wd 40.
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I can completely disassemble my mag tube, it unscrews from the action. I've never had good results from using WD-40, better off with a quality gun oil.
 
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