Mossburg 500 feeding issue, shell lifter

[Steve Roberts]

I have a Mossberg 500 20 ga and I am having issues with the shells sticking on the shell lifter. The shells feed out of the magazine just fine but once in the receiver the pump action sticks, seemingly from the shell in the back of the lifter. I have tried it with 2 3/4 and 3" shells and have the same issue. I have disassembled and did a thorough cleaning as well. Problem is worse when the muzzle is pointed up so it seems that if the shell is in the very back of the lifter it causes the action to stick. I would appreciate any help or suggestions. Thanks

 

[1KPerDay]

try removing the extractors. If it feeds fine after that, radius the lower inside edges of the extractors, where the rim has to slip up between them.

 

[1KPerDay]

also try some different brand shells.

 

[Steve Roberts]

also try some different brand shells.

Thanks for the suggestions. Ill try the extractors and see how that works. I have already tried 3 different brands of shells and at different lengths but I will put a couple other different types that I have.

 

[1KPerDay]

ah, then do the extractor test first. Did it previously work properly and stop working?

 

[Steve Roberts]

ah, then do the extractor test first. Did it previously work properly and stop working?

I am not sure about how it worked previously since I just recently picked it up (used). I cleaned it really well when I first got it and then took it out to shoot it a couple times and had the issue. Then I cleaned it more thoroughly and tried it again with the same issue.

 

[1KPerDay]

The couple I've seen with this issue have been remedied by removing/cleaning the extractors and springs and polishing and radiusing the lower inside edges of the extractors, where the brass slides up between them. As you chamber a shell, remove it and see if the tips of the extractors are gouging the brass in front of the rims. if so you might need to carefully shorten the extractor tips also.

 

[George P]

Personally, I'd call Mossberg and explain things - they just might fix it for free.

 

[RecoilRob]

Sounds like you might have found why the original owner got rid of it....got to love used guns. I got a Rossi 45 Colt rifle (92 clone) for a very good price because 'it doesn't work'...and similarly it hung up when trying to feed a cartridge. Problem was simply a little burr where it didn't belong and once it was stoned away the gun ran flawlessly. The Mossberg 500's are a very good design that is robust and long living so something obvious should be at work here on yours.

Do you have a blow-up diagram of the internal bits? https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/mossberg/shotguns-mossberg/500-moss/parts-list-mos-500 I really doubt that a malfunctioning gun left the factory...but someone before you might have taken out everything in the receiver and not gotten things back in place properly. Pay particular attention to parts 26 & 27, and 42 & 43 which are the ejector w/screw and cartridge interrupters. When the lifter tries to rise and feed the shell it must pass the things on either side of the receiver....if anything is sticking out too far it's going to catch either on the lifter itself or the rim of the shell.

As 1KperDay said.....the shell must force its way between the ejectors and if they're sharp edged this can take more force than it should. Question: are you racking the thing with 'gusto'? Some guns won't run if you try to do it slowly and gently. If you really rack it HARD...will it work? (I mention this as my ex-wife couldn't load my 500's if her life depended on it...just couldn't muster the force to do it though they ran fine for me) If so...cleaning up the ejectors sounds like a good plan....this is assuming that you find nothing else within the receiver to be causing your problems. Good luck!

 

[Steve Roberts]

Ya!! - I have had issues with used guns as well but I can usually take them apart and put them back together so they work correctly but not so with this one. I have completely disassembled the bolt assembly and cleaned it and put it back together but it still has the same issue. I think my next move goes with George's suggestion and a call to Mossberg is appropriate. I'll check back in and let you know what Mossberg says. Thanks for the suggestions.

Thanks for the parts diagram link - that's a great resource.