“Short-shucking” happening more frequently. Ideas?

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I love my Mossberg 590 Marincote from the mid 90s and I’ve been running it in multigun competition the past few years. Initially I could run the slide as fast as I could shoot and it would keep up with me, but the last few times I’ve gotten clicks on an empty chamber several times per match. I haven’t changed my technique and I’m running the slide back all the way, just quickly.

I replaced the magazine spring with a Wolff extra power one a couple matches ago but it doesn’t seem to have helped. I do keep the mag fully loaded at home if that matters.

Do I need to try a new interrupter or shell catch?
 
I happened to watch a Miculek video recently where he had a misfeed and said it was due to soft shouldering while cycling the action at the same moment, he also had a weak mag tube spring. Could the mag tube be dirty?
 
A shorter stock helped me, prescribed my a firearms instructor. I was in my fifties, so a gimpy shoulder may have been a factor. The short stock, a Magpul, plus plenty or reps, did cure the problem, but my long neck and long arms “want“ a long stock, so I switched to the Benelli M2.
 
I happened to watch a Miculek video recently where he had a misfeed and said it was due to soft shouldering while cycling the action at the same moment, he also had a weak mag tube spring. Could the mag tube be dirty?
Well I cleaned it well when I swapped the spring and I don't feel like I'm soft-shouldering, but thanks for the ideas. I'll check it out. Usually it runs like this:
 
A shorter stock helped me, prescribed my a firearms instructor. I was in my fifties, so a gimpy shoulder may have been a factor. The short stock, a Magpul, plus plenty or reps, did cure the problem, but my long neck and long arms “want“ a long stock, so I switched to the Benelli M2.
Interesting. This one has about a 12" LOP compared to the polymer OEM stock and it seems suitably short, but I'll look into it. thanks
 
No idea. I'm fast. I shoot trap doubles and skeet with an 870 or M12 and have never short shucked. And I carry a high average. Maybe I'm not that fast, just lucky. Wish I had some internet wisdom to impart. I pull back hard enough to feel the bolt bottom out but don't think about it. Hold hard against the shoulder and pump hard is all I can say. Down the road, parts will fail. I know.
 
There are a number of springs in that gun besides the magazine spring. One of them may have weakened or was just poorly tempered. I would replace them all. The carrier/lifter spring may not be keeping up with your hands.
 
I use a Browning BPS for sporting clays and I am told that I am really fast. I do short shuck it periodically. Maybe 1 out of 4-500 rounds. I’m convinced it’s me and not the gun.
 
Keep in mind that you have to get the old one out before you push the new one in. A good man can shoot a pump faster than a semi. Ask Jerry.
 
I am recalling something I read a while back and I might not be recalling it correctly.

In normal operation, the interrupter allows one shell to pass, to be blocked by the shell stop. The interrupter blocks the following shells. Later, the shell stop releases that one shell it has on-deck at the appropriate part of the cycle.

During recoil, the shell in the on-deck location can be pushed back up into the magazine, getting past the interrupter. With no shell left on deck, the result looks and feels like a short stroke.

Obviously, a nice stiff magazine spring helps, and I see that you've replaced it. Keep track, and see if it only happens when the magazine is mostly empty. Shorter, heavier shells, and heavier recoil, make it more likely.
 
Many years ago I had an 870 Wingmaster I would shortshuck continuously. Never did figure it out but it must have been fit cause I sold it to a shorter guy and he never did it. It was a 20 by the way. Moved up to a 12.
 
I am recalling something I read a while back and I might not be recalling it correctly.

In normal operation, the interrupter allows one shell to pass, to be blocked by the shell stop. The interrupter blocks the following shells. Later, the shell stop releases that one shell it has on-deck at the appropriate part of the cycle.

During recoil, the shell in the on-deck location can be pushed back up into the magazine, getting past the interrupter. With no shell left on deck, the result looks and feels like a short stroke.

Obviously, a nice stiff magazine spring helps, and I see that you've replaced it. Keep track, and see if it only happens when the magazine is mostly empty. Shorter, heavier shells, and heavier recoil, make it more likely.
Yeah, I've actually been wondering if it has something to do with the timing/recoil. Like I happen to be hitting the back of the stroke just as the column of shells is bouncing forward and taking pressure off the shell catch or something. I cycled live rounds (on the range, safe environment) through it as fast as I could physically move and had zero feed issues. But during shooting/matches it's becoming more common for the bolt to close on an empty chamber.
 
Try a remington police model. The springs and parts are made to keep up even running it extremely quickly.
 
A good man can shoot a pump faster than a semi. Ask Jerry.

I used to tell people this, also. Then a couple years ago I got a new Mosberg 930 automatic and did some testing versus my 870. Not only am I faster with the automatic, I’m more reliable too. Trying for all out speed to beat the 930, I occasionally end up short shucking a round with the 870. So I don’t / can’t say that anymore.

Jerry M uses a 930 for 3 gun still, I’m pretty sure. The only way I can get the 930 to mis-fire is to soft shoulder.
 
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Some of the Beretta-style autos are faster than, for instance, the 1100. I could fire faster with my 870 faster than my best friend back in the day with his 1100, but I'd be willing to bet an a303 would be faster.
 
Some of the Beretta-style autos are faster than, for instance, the 1100. I could fire faster with my 870 faster than my best friend back in the day with his 1100, but I'd be willing to bet an a303 would be faster.
My Beretta can empty the magazine with all the empties still airborne; not happening with a pump
 
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