Mossberg 500 slide release sticking open.

[FireInCairo]

Some quick background: I'm new to shotgun ownership, so bear with me if I sound like I'm confused.

I purchased this 500 a few months back. When I first got it, I took it apart to clean it, but I may have put the plug cap that goes on top of the spring backwards afterward. Tonight, as I was running some plastic shells through the action, the last one got stuck in the magazine tube.

I recognize I may have put the spring cap backwards last time I took it apart, so I break it down again and I believe I now have the spring cap on properly. The plastic shells now cycle through fine, but now after I run through all the fake shells I continue to pump and it's letting me because the slide release is stuck up. There are no shells left, but I'm pumping away.

What could be wrong? Could it hurt the firing pin to dryfire the 500? I did a few because I lost count as I was cycling through and kept going after all the shells were out and it was letting me.

Any advice would be appreciated.
thanks

 

[KansasSasquatch]

So you're practicing with snap caps and after the last round is ejected the slide release is stays depressed and you can continuously rack the pump? With the snaps caps in it will it allow you to rack the pump without hitting the release or pulling the trigger? Or is it only after the last snap cap is ejected?

 

[FireInCairo]

I load it with the caps, then I have to use the slide release to get a cap in the chamber. Then I can pull the trigger and cycle through all the caps, and instead of the slide release stopping me from continuing to pump it allows me to contine even with no caps left.

 

[Fred Fuller]

A drop or two of light oil might help... if it isn't the button itself that's sticking, it could be the pivot point for the action lock lever (see Part # 54 at http://www.urban-armory.com/cart/blueprints/mossb_500.gif)

 

[rcmodel]

Well, if you pull the trigger, it should be free to pump again.

Recoil, or firing a shell doesn't release the slide stop.

Pulling the trigger does.

The slide release is only used to open the action if you don't fire the gun = IE: Pull the trigger and shoot it.

It's only needed to unload a live round from the chamber without firing it.

It sounds like you don't have a problem to me.
It is working just like it is supposed to be working.

rc

 

[FireInCairo]

I think you're right, RC. :banghead:

But wait... Is it alright to dryfire a shotgun like the 500?

 

[rcmodel]

NO, not without snap-caps.

It probably won't hurt it for a lot of snaps.
But why risk it when you already have snap-caps.

I think you're right, RC.

I know I'm right, or I wouldn't have posted it!

rc

 

[KansasSasquatch]

You probably don't want to dry fire it too much, the same as most guns. Keep those snap caps loaded up and you should be fine.

If the gun is empty, and you don't pull the trigger or push the slide release, does the pump still rack freely? I don't think it should do that. I've never handled any pump shotgun that does that. If it requires you to pull the trigger or push the slide release to rack the pump, then everything is fine.

 

[o Unforgiven o]

With the gun cocked, you should not be able to pump it without manually pressing the action bar lock until after the trigger is pulled. If you pump it, then are able to pump it again without firing or pressing the action bar lock something is wrong.

 

[FireInCairo]

With the gun cocked, you should not be able to pump it without manually pressing the action bar lock until after the trigger is pulled. If you pump it, then are able to pump it again without firing or pressing the action bar lock something is wrong.

I believe that when you pull the trigger it activates the slide release again.