Do pump actions need to "break in"?

[Guvnor]

I just took out my new mossberg 500 for the first time and a couple peculiar things happened. One time I loaded up the mag tube, then went to pump it and a shell came falling out the bottom.

Later that session I had another instance where I loaded the tube, pumped it, then "click"! Apparently the shell didn't chamber.

I put about 30 shots through it and it functioned fine except for those 2 instances. Im wondering if it was operator error or if the gun just needs to "break in" or something.

Maybe im not pumping hard enough?

 

[9mmepiphany]

it sounds like you might be "babying" the gun

first round wasn't shoved in far enough

2nd round...short shucked

rammed those shells in and slam that foreend all the way back

 

[Yo Mama]

^ +1

Pump it hard, and no you're not going to break it. Try alot more than 30 rounds, just cheap birdshot.


ALSO, try ammo that you plan on keeping in the gun if that is your plan. For some reason my Mossy hates 3" magnum buckshot shells, but has never had a problem with the 2 3/4".

 

[oneounceload]

For some reason my Mossy hates 3" magnum buckshot shells, but has never had a problem with the 2 3/4".

If that is for HD, there is no need for 3" 00 buck - why beat yourself up with that?

 

[mnrivrat]

I love the Mossberg 500 guns and once tuned they will run forever and give great service. They are a bargin for the prices you can get them for.

That said, the most frequent problem with the 500 out of the box in cartidge feed issues as you discribe. It is not a matter of break in so much as a problem with fine tuning (adjusting)the gun at the factory. There is differences in the rim sizes of ammo and a slight difference can make an untuned 500 exibit poor cartridge feeding. The cartidge stops that control the feeding of shells from the magazine tube can be adjusted to correct the problem - it's not hard to do, but you need an understanding of their function.

It is not a good idea to live with the problem or simply change to a brand of ammo that functions better. The reason I say this is that an out of adjustment cartride stop can cause damage to the operating rod that activates it. There is a ramp on the operating rod that mates with one on the end of the RH cartridge stop - that ramp pushes the stop to the outside allowing a shell to feed out of the magazine. I have seen a number of cases where the ramps have met head on, causing damage.

Bottom line - take the time and get it fixed .

 

[chevyforlife21]

theyll run smoother the more rounds you get through it

 

[bigalexe]

Mine runs better the more rounds I put through it, the harder I run it. Also it does not like slugs and buckshot in that if I fire at least 5 shells of either of those and then let the gun sit it will not be as smooth the next time out unless it gets cleaned.

So basically, a new 500 needs you to use it and fire it as much as possible. Also clean your gun after using Buckshot or Slugs and you should never have a problem.

BA/UU/R

 

[Youngster]

Mine runs better the more rounds I put through it, the harder I run it. Also it does not like slugs and buckshot in that if I fire at least 5 shells of either of those and then let the gun sit it will not be as smooth the next time out unless it gets cleaned.

It shouldn't be doing that, do you have a chamber cleaning tool?

 

[oletymer]

It is not as smooth the next time unless it is cleaned????? Duh!!!

 

[bigalexe]

Youngster let me clarify a bit here.

-If I go shoot light target loads (normally 2 3/4" #7 3 dram), pretty much any number of them. I can let the gun sit and get it out again later in the week or even a week later and it feels exactly the same. I can usually shoot 3 or 4 times, if that's twice a week before needing to clean the gun before the action starts to stiffen up.

-If I shoot buckshot or slugs (anything with considerable recoil). I need to clean and oil the action fully when I go home or else the action will stiffen up in a day if I let it sit.

-I do not make a habit of not cleaning the gun for this reason.

The reason I discovered this is because I was used to my regular routine of cleaning every other week while shooting trap during the summer. I took out some buckshot and slugs for experimentation (had never run either through the gun) on an off day and because of my usual routine didn't clean the gun afterward. Next time out to trap it was running noticeably stiff and so now it gets cleaned after shooting heavy loads.