Mossberg 500c Feed Issue

[AttnSpan00]

I acquired a Mossberg 500c a while back through a previously unknown family member's death. Internally it is very clean, but the receiver has some scratches and the barrel has some surface rust and some pitting. My problem is the gun will not feed shells from the mag to the barrel reliably. Spent shell ejects fine, fresh round pops out of mag onto lifter, but before bolt pushes it into barrel, lifter seems to drop about 1/16" causing new shell to hit bottom of barrel. The only time it cycles properly is when clearing the gun. Forget about getting two shots off at skeet or other targets. My thought is either the bolt slide, lifter or both are too worn. Numrich shows about a dozen different bolt slides for a 500.:banghead: (me hunting with the danged thing)

 

[g.willikers]

The only time it cycles properly is when clearing the gun.

Does this mean that clearing the gun with rounds still in the mag works ok?
It's only when you are cycling the action for the next quick shot that causes it to act up?
If so, it kind of sounds like you are short cycling it, being in a hurry to get the second shot off.

 

[AttnSpan00]

Issue happens to others firing the gun. Seems to occur only when in a horizontal position...

 

[Miked7762]

Usually it's damage to the lifter caused by someone getting frustrated during reassembly. The cartridge stop slips out of place and they force the trigger group in, install the pin, then cycle the action. It takes a big gouge out of the lifter where it contacts the bolt slide.

Can you post a picture of that area? Push out the pin holding the trigger group, then remove the trigger group, cartridge stop and interrupter. Take a picture of the lifter and front of the bolt slide on the left side.

It's been a long time since I've seen another Mossberg with the jeweled bolt and lifter like that!