[s2mason]

I just picked up a 12 gauge Mossberg 500A. The manual says I should be able to load 5 +1 in the pipe. However, I can only load 4 +1. Any ideas?

[supercopjason]

shell size? maybe it will fit 5 2.75" shells

[miamivicedade]

Magazine Plug? Wooden Dowel inside?

[s2mason]

It says it will fit 5+1 2.75 shells. I can only get 4 +1 in it...

I'm not familiar with the "magazine plug". What do I check?

[miamivicedade]

I have a mossberg 500 (not an A) and there is a wooden dowel in the magazine tube. I am not sure if it is the same for yours.

to check,

1) CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE GUN IS NOT LOADED
2) DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE GUN IS NOT LOADED
3) push the slide about half way up
4) remove the barrel.
5) point the gun down (stock up) and shake it and see if a dowel comes out of the magazine slide.

It looks like this http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/djtate/Misc/dowel.jpg

[jmr40]

On a Mossberg there is a small wooden rod in the magazine tube that limits it to 2 +1 to be legal to hunt with. If you are getting 4+1 the plug has been removed already.

To check, remove the barrel and hold the gun with the butt in the up position. There is a small hole in the end of the mag tube. By shaking the gun back and forth you will hear the plug moving around and get it to slide out of the small hole in the mag tube.

Unless some one has installed a very short plug in your gun I believe it has already removed or you would not be able to get more than 2 rounds in the magazine.

Other than that I have no clue.

[s2mason]

I did remove the plug. I'm sure stumped on this one.

[shiftyer1]

Unload it and shake it, if you hear a woody sound rattleing, the plug is in the magazine. The plug restricts shell capacity to......three plus one I believe. I actually bought a used 500 with a pistol grip and it had the plug in. That seemed strange to me, to limit the capacity of a defense weapon. I guess the previous owner was unaware of the plug.

[Jorg]

The plug restricts shell capacity to......three plus one I believe

If it did, there wouldn't be any point in having it. The plug is designed to bring you to 3 shots total, 2 in the mag and one in the chamber to comply with federal law based on international treaties.

[mgregg85]

I had this problem with my 590, it turned out that I just wasn't pressing hard enough as the last shell fit in there rather tightly.

[shiftyer1]

Thank you for correcting me jorg I wasn't possitive on the number, I always take them out and set aside. I've never used a plug.

[1911user]

Some 2-3/4" shells are slightly longer than others. That can turn a 5 round mag into a 4 round mag. What shells are you trying to load?

[Dragk913]

Some 2-3/4" shells are slightly longer than others.

I believe those are called 3" Shells :D

[lipadj46]

Push hard(er)?

[mbpautz762]

you know, I'm having a similar problem with a 590a1 I recently got. I'm new to shotguns, but you're supposed to be able to fit 8+1 with 2.75" shells, and I can only fit 7+1, no matter how hard I push. are there really minor differences between brands of the length of the unfired shell?

[Lee Lapin]

are there really minor differences between brands of the length of the unfired shell?

Yep, even in the supposed 2 3/4" ones. Sometimes roll-crimped shells like S&B buckshot are a bit longer than the star crimped types. That can make a difference in how many will fit in some tubular magazines.

lpl

[jmr40]

The length printed on shells is how long they will be (AFTER) they are fired. Before firing they may vary a little. The 3" steel loads I duck hunt with are actually about 2 1/2" long before firing.

[SwampWolf]

The length printed on shells is how long they will be (AFTER) they are fired. Before firing they may vary a little.

Excellent point! But it's hard for me to believe that the shell length would vary to the degree that the magazine would refuse to accept the manufacturer's stated maximum capacity. Yet, that seems to be the case here. Try a different brand of shells and see what happens.

[chas08]

How much does it miss accepting the fifth shell by? half a shell length? A quarter shell length? Maybe it's a mag spring / shell follower issue. I'm not that familiar with Mossbergs but I have seen guns with tapered mag springs, so the spring would fit in the shell follower properly.

[oneounceload]

Let's also remember that the 2-3/4" length belongs to the FIRED HULL LENGTH, NOT the UNFIRED LENGTH.

If you measure a regular 2-3/4" shell, it will actually be about 2-1/2"