Mossberg 500 Barrel ?

[461]

Hi All,
I bought an 18.5" barrel for my sons 20ga. Mossberg 500 and when I put it on I noticed something. There is a slight gap between the barrel lug as it screws into the mag tube. I thought it looked odd so I put the longer 24" barrel back on it and noticed the same gap. Was the gap always there and I just didn't notice or is something messed up?

 

[Blue .45]

I have a 12ga. 500 and it also has the gap.

 

[mnrivrat]

Gap is normal - the rear of the barrel extension seats into the frame - this is help tight wth the lug screw and a slight gap between the lug and end of the magazine tube is as I said - normal.

 

[Harvster]

461-

Can I ask where you purchased your barrel? I am looking for a 18.5" for the wife's 20 ga and am having trouble finding one.

 

[713832281]

me too, i been looking for a 18.5 inch barrel for my gals 20 gauge also.

 

[461]

Thanks for the answers all. I was lucky enough to find two of them in the last three years locally through private parties. You can find them online at Gun Parts Corp.

http://www.e-gunparts.com/DisplayAd.asp?chrProductSKU=67590&chrSuperSKU=&MC=

 

[Harvster]

Thank you. I've searched off and on for the last year and hadn't found them.

 

[EHCRain10]

is that a smooth bore or rifled barrel?

 

[foghornl]

Mossberg states in the manual that a small gap between the barrel lug and takedown screw is normal.

Ahh here it is...from page 6:

500®, 505™ and 535™ Models: Slide the barrel into the receiver and tighten the takedown screw, finger tight only. DO NOT use pliers or a wrench to tighten the takedown screw.
A little space between the magazine tube and the takedown mount is normal.

Both my 1990 vintage Maverick 88 and 1960's Mossy 500 have a smalll gap, less than 1/8", but it is there.

Hmmm Mossberg only seems to offer a 24" or 26" barrel in 20Ga.

 

[461]

The two 18.5" ones I've got are both smooth bore and both made by Mossberg.

They are out there and make a really nice little gun when mated with the youth stock. I think I shoot it more than the kids do.

 

[blindeye_03]

Sorry for bumping an old thread, but I just got a 500a used yesterday and noticed I have this gap also on mine. Ive been told by a few people that its excessive. What do you think?

 

[RetiredLawman]

Mine has as much or more gap. I'd say yours is perfectly normal. Better than most I've seen. The gap is a non-factor. Headspacing is. That gap has nothing to do with headspacing. If it shoots, not to worry.

 

[steveracer]

I added a washer to mine. Easy fix.
Steve

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Good find!

The moss has that gap in the front of the tube, no worries.

NOW... what is really important is that the back of the barrel fits perfect into the reciever.

 

[maxxwilde]

I'm not a gunsmith, so take this for what it's worth...
From what I've read and heard that gap isn't just normal, but also neccessary. Without the gap there the barrel lug when fired will beat on the top of the mag tube too much and eventually crack. I'm not really clear on how this could happen since the barrel fits tight into the receiver. But, I've always left the gap there and never had a problem...


Mike

 

[blindeye_03]

Good to know, mainly because I havent shot it yet. I measured the gap between the lug and the mag tube to be 1/32" and the gap between the vent rib and the receiver is 1/64".

 

[peck1234]

I just recently checked my 500 and there is no gap, it fits perfectly...

An easy fix as stated above would be a washer, or if you really want you could (very carefully) hack a few threads off...

 

[wrc376]

sometimes they dont quite seat right- might try loosening and repositioning

 

[Old Guard Dog]

Out of 5 500's I just checked, 4 have a gap and one doesn't. All shoot good.

 

[Buster95]

Is it normal to have a slight play with the barrel of a brand new unfired 590a1? I mean very very little movement less than 1/64".

 

[natman]

I just recently checked my 500 and there is no gap, it fits perfectly...

An easy fix as stated above would be a washer, or if you really want you could (very carefully) hack a few threads off...

I don't know what you're proposing "hacking a few threads off" of, but I can't think of anywhere where it would be a good idea.

 

[bigalexe]

My Mossberg 12ga has the gap, so does my friend's Mossberg .410 and also both his Remingtons. I actually upon considering it think that may be intentional because an exact fit would possibly lead to people over-tightening and locking the barrel on so hard it would be a bear to get off again.

Shotguns in general I've noticed aren't extremely tight fitting.

 

[RandKL]

Old time Mossy's used to have a rubber washer/disk there to fill the gap. They would get old after a few years and dry up and crack. Haven't seen one of those in about twenty-five years, though. When they stopped being made and we couldn't order anymore of them, a wadcutter punch on a bicycle tire innertube worked just as good. These days, you can buy sheets of flat rubber gasket material.

rich