Mossberg 500 ejection a bit sticky at end

[Brian]

I have a concern about my 12 ga Mossberg 500 that I just bought. (It was $260+tax at Big 5 and came with 18" and 28" barrels, Seattle.) I'm relatively new to guns/shotguns, so bear with me as I try to explain it.

If I push the slide release and slowly pull the forearm back, the entire slide mechanism comes to a 'stopping point,' past which I have to really pull hard to fully bring it back. The 'stopping point' is about when the elevator is on its way down and only the tab that is on the bolt assembly is visible through the ejection port.

It's not really an issue if I pump quickly.

This happens with or without a shell loaded.

Can anyone tell me if this is normal? Thanks.

 

[hub]

Well I'm not sure how hard you mean by pulling hard but I would just say it's because it's new and needs to be broken in some. That point in the cycle needs a little more power to move the elevator.

Lube it up a little and work the action until it smoothes out. If that doesn't work take it apart and see if there are any burs or defects on the sliding surfaces. (action bars, receiver groves, etc.)

 

[RandKL]

It's normal.

If you strip it down, you can take the elevator out and examine it. The elevator has the cams machined into it that time the entire action and allow it to work in sequence. Those are the four curved areas on the lifter (the elevator). Those cams/curves take one linear pump motion and convert it to another direction etc. As the bolt and bolt carrier move backward on the pump stroke, the bolt carrier has matching curves that hit the front two cams on the lifter and cause it to drop down for the next shell. That motion of taking one back and forth pump motion and turning it into the lifter going up and down in an entirely new direction is the sticking point. The last little hesitation on the pump is the bolt carrier moving the shell stop out of the way so the next shell can pop out. You can see that happening by looking into the ejection port behind the lifter as you finish the stroke. Stick a shell into the mag so you can see it pop out....but be sure to remove it before closing the action!

The elevator/lifter on a new gun simply hasn't been broken in. It'll smooth up a lot as you pump it. Find a good movie on tv and work it for an hour or two or six. Pump it fast! Slow pumping is for weenies and Democrats.

richard

 

[foghornl]

That shotgun needs 2 things...
1. Good strip/clean/lube/assemble
2. "Work Polishing" It will smooth up some as it is used.

 

[MCgunner]

Back about 15-20 years ago, my mossy was ejecting rough. It was 3" loads from Remington, fired length a little too long. I haven't used Remington 3" since. Now days, the new fast steel stuff, I've gone to 2 3/4" 3s for ducks and am living happy. Those work in my Winchester auto, too.

My mossy was new when I found that problem. It's well broke in now, needless to say. It wasn't the gun, though, but the load.

 

[Brian]

Found the issue

I found the issue. I've posted a pic that shows what's happening.



The ejection port-side of the elevator is hitting the edge of a groove. I can verify this by gently pushing the elevator away from the ejection port when it gets stuck -- and then the slide easily moves back.

Any suggestions? I can't see this fixing itself by doing 1000+ pumps without stripping away possibly vital metal.

 

[RandKL]

Any suggestions? I can't see this fixing itself by doing 1000+ pumps without stripping away possibly vital metal.

Perfectly normal. That spot will be polished on the edges with breaking in. There is no vital metal in that spot. It's common.

If it bothers you, Brian, do this....strip it down like you have it in the pic, and take out the lifter. With the lifter out, squeeze the arms together to bend them SLIGHTLY and then replace it in the receiver. Do that two or three times til the lifter moves perfectly smooth up and down in the receiver....but also, slide the bolt back and forth between the lifter arms with it in the receiver. There's one perfect place where the lifter will swing smoothly inside the receiver but the bolt will slide smoothly in and out of it, too. Find that spot and reassemble it. I often use a shell between the lifter arms as a spacer when I squeeze them.

That's not something I recommend to a beginner, but it's a $5 part if you need to replace it. If you damage it, I'll deny ever knowing you

That lifter trick is the first and easiest means to smooth that Mossy 500 action.

But honestly, I can tell you it's normal and it's nothing. It's in need of breaking in, nothing more. There is no possible way you can wear the gun out or damage it by working it. Simply oil it and pump it. That's all you really need to do.

rich

 

[AcceptableUserName]

learn to disassemble it. clean and lube and reassemble. take it out and put a bajillion rounds through it and repeat. Gun isn't there to look good. it'll smoothen up. you made a good choice in shotguns.

 

[bigalexe]

ny suggestions? I can't see this fixing itself by doing 1000+ pumps without stripping away possibly vital metal.

Shoot the crap out of that gun, what you will do is the filing job that didn't quite get done at the factory. I thought my 500 was running rough but I found the perfect antidote for it was 200 rounds and a couple cleanings, or in short: Shoot trap every week all summer.

 

[AcceptableUserName]

500 rounds is a good start. save the moolah and hit walmart and get 4 or 5 economy boxes