Mossberg 590 pumping issue

[radiotom]

When the bolt of my Mossberg 590 is all the way forward (in the firing position) the pump action locks so that you cannot pump (unless you press the override button). Now, while this is locked, you can pull back on the pump handguard about 1/8 of an inch. If you have the pump handguard pulled back like this and fire, you cannot pump backwards to eject the shell until you push the pump handguard that 1/8 inch forward again.

This is very annoying because I often use my left hand (on the pump handguard) to push the shotgun backwards into my shoulder. After firing, I must then pump it an 1/8 inch forward before being able to pump back like normal.

Is this normal, or is something wrong?

 

[joed]

I think that's normal. I have to ask why are you pulling back on it before shooting?

 

[Fred Fuller]

It's a feature, not a bug. In other words, it's designed that way. With live ammo, recoil will take care of that fraction of an inch of movement by driving the shotgun itself back while your hand holds the forearm more or less in place. Hence, the action gets unlocked when the shot breaks.

Try pulling with your shooting hand, and pushing with your support hand - keeping the shotgun in dynamic tension like this while you prepare to shoot and as the shot breaks can be a help with controlling recoil. And it won't slow down your pumping the action either.

 

[1KPerDay]

radiotom, if you want it to unlock immediately on firing, even with rearward pressure on the forend, try a Winchester 1200/1300 "SPEEDPUMP!@#!@#!"

 

[VA27]

^This.^

 

[Uniquedot]

I've owned 4 mossbergs and none of them did that whether live firing or dry firing. If indeed after firing live ammo you have to push before pulling you need to take it to a gunsmith or send it back to mossberg. I've owned numerous pump guns from all the major manufacturers as well as imported guns and I've never run into the problem you state. Indeed the Winchesters are the fastest pump gun made, but if you're pulling toward you when you pull the trigger it should release and depending on how hard you're pulling it should eject the spent shell about as quickly as the shot is away.

 

[miles1]

This is normal on a mossberg.RadioTom,call mossberg CS tommorow and they will tell you the same thing.

 

[Sam1911]

Yeah, sounds normal to me. If you press back hard enough you'll hold the system from releasing when the hammer falls. Then you have to give it a little slack to let it release so the slide can come back. When the gun recoils from a live shell you get enough of a bump to slack the system and let things move, so you don't notice it feeling locked.

(Now, if you're saying you literally have to push the system forward a full 1/8" to get it to release, that sounds a bit much. But maybe it just needs a few cases run through it to loosen it up.)

But don't pull back on the slide like that. As Fred said, pull in with your firing hand and keep the support hand neutral or even pushing slightly forward.

 

[PabloJ]

After firing model 12 with snap cap in chamber slight forward pull on slide is needed to unlock it from closed position (pressing slide release button accomplishes same thing). This is not noticeable when firing live shell because recoil forces do that for us. Not sure how 590 works because I have only examined few at gun shop. With used Ithaca 37s, Model 12s and Wingmasters selling for less then 590 I have never seriously contemplated buying one.

 

[Sam1911]

Just double-checked a 500. (Don't own a 590.)

The slide will not release when the hammer falls if you're hauling back on it. It only take the slightest relaxing of pressure for it to release, though. No 1/8" of travel required.

 

[radiotom]

Thanks. I'm firing it again Friday, I'll do some fast shooting with it and then and see if I have a problem.

 

[Uniquedot]

I guess I can still learn something! I got out my mossberg and put a snap cap in it and held back on the slide and pulled the trigger and I'll be darned if it didn't open til I pushed forward on it. Tried it with a wingmaster and it released when I pulled the trigger although not with momentum like a Winchester does. Any way if it's doing it with live ammo something is wrong.

 

[tnxdshooter]

Its doing it because your babying the gun. It wants you to rack the action with authority. If you baby it it won't work right.

Sent from my mind using ninja telepathy.

 

[Riomouse911]

As was earlier posted, the recoil of the firing round shoves the gun back enough to overcome this "locked" condition. Dry-firing or pulling the trigger on snap caps obviously won't cause any recoil or movement of the shotgun, so the gun stays "locked" closed until the forearm is moved forward a touch to "unlock" the action.

My 870 and Model 12 are the same way. (The M-12, of course, has no trigger disconnect so holding the trigger back and cycling the action will cause it to fire with every cycle...I found that out the hard way on the trap range many moons ago )

 

[Hunterdad]

Just checked. Both my 535 and 500 do this

 

[pezo]

This is odd. I'm gonna try my 590-a1 will be back

 

[pezo]

Ok. Well when I do that on mine I most certainly do NOT have to ever push forward on the pump. It releases. But, if I do pull back on the pump then pull the trigger it "feels weird". Hard to explain but doesn't seem like it wants to be operated that way. It's not normal practice for me to pull back on the pump when dry firing or live firing anyways. Interesting.

 

[Nickel Plated]

This is why I love my Winchester SXP. There is no extra locks beyond the regular bolt release button. If I hold the forend with a bit of rearward pressure from my hand, whether live firing or dry, it will immediately open once I press the trigger or hit the bolt release. No need to jiggle it around. The action even opens, cocks and ejects the spent shell on it's own when firing if you don't hold the pump forward. And doesn't short stroke either. All with using cheap federal #7.5 target loads. All you gotta do is push it forward to load the next shell.

I tried it at the range and it's awesome. The SXP is one of the most underrated shotguns IMO.

 

[miles1]

This is why I love my Winchester SXP. There is no extra locks beyond the regular bolt release button. If I hold the forend with a bit of rearward pressure from my hand, whether live firing or dry, it will immediately open once I press the trigger or hit the bolt release. No need to jiggle it around. The action even opens, cocks and ejects the spent shell on it's own when firing if you don't hold the pump forward. And doesn't short stroke either. All with using cheap federal #7.5 target loads. All you gotta do is push it forward to load the next shell.

I tried it at the range and it's awesome. The SXP is one of the most underrated shotguns IMO.

Which might be what some people want...and others don't.

 

[miles1]

I guess I can still learn something! I got out my mossberg and put a snap cap in it and held back on the slide and pulled the trigger and I'll be darned if it didn't open til I pushed forward on it. Tried it with a wingmaster and it released when I pulled the trigger although not with momentum like a Winchester does. Any way if it's doing it with live ammo something is wrong.

UniqueDot is %100 correct.A live round will disengage the trigger lock so you can pump a new shell in.If yours doesn't do this then it needs to be checked,but I bet yours will work.Let us know.

 

[radiotom]

Well I did some rapid fire today and didn't have a problem.

Thanks guys.