Mossberg 320B

[John Peddie]

WRONG FORUM

I posted this in Shotguns, as that's what I always visit. Should be Rifles, but I don't know how to move it.
I have a model 320 B, bought about 1960. It's an inexpensive single shot, bolt action .22. It’s been in storage for years, now I want to reactivate it.

The bolt and plastic retainer were removed for storage. When I tried to put the bolt back in, it was blocked by part of the trigger mechanism which has popped into the up position inside the receiver. It will not go forward.

I can push it back and it goes down, but I can’t lock it down so I can put the bolt in.

This should be simple, but I’m stuck.

Suggestions?

 

[Mountie855]

IIRC, just hold the trigger back and slide the bolt in- works on all my Mossbergs!

 

[Ash]

No, what you have is the hammer that is blocking the way. The 320 (and all 22's based on that platform) are hammer-fired. You will have to insert a screw driver from the receiver just in front of the hammer and carefully push it down. It will slip off a few times before you get it, so be patient. IF you have something with a non-slip rubber tip, it may go easier. Once you push the hammer down, you can easily slide the bolt back in (make sure the front is aligned with the bottom of the receiver or it won't go in all the way) and then slide the cap into place until it clicks shut.

If for some reason the hammer will not stay down (make sure you are not touching the trigger) you may have a worn sear. But it really requires some pushing down into the action to keep it down so don't give up yet.

Yours probably has the automatic safety, which is a bar connected to the safety that the bolt handle activates when you open it, so that when you close the action it is automatically placed on safe. If you have this (it is merely connected to the safety on the outside and looks like a thin piece of metal just behind the safety switch) then make sure it is pulled as far to the rear as you can so that you can clear it and get the bolt handle in.

Ash