Mossberg shell stop failing - bend or texture?

[tyto]

The recommended fix for shells popping out of the mag tube is to bend the shell stop by a millimeter or two. I spent some time studying the problem on a Mossberg 500, the design of the shell stop appears more to blame than how far outward it is bent from the receiver.

In the attached pic, you can see how the loose tolerances in the mag tube allow the rim to change position against the shell stop. This wouldn't be an issue by itself, but the rim is beveled: when that slope gets close enough to the edge of the stop, it will act as a wedge and push the stop out of the way.

If the mating surface of the stop were rough or textured, it might prevent the rim of the shell from slipping. Should I try sanding the stop with a medium grit to give the surface more grip, or just bend it?

 

[rule303]

Is this causing you an issue on the gun pictured? If not leave it alone and stop worrying. The vast majority of Mossberg shotguns never have a problem with shells popping out of the tube.

 

[tyto]

It fails at random, and sometimes one will pop out several seconds after it's been loaded and the gun isn't being handled.

 

[Hookeye]

New gun or used?
Seen it happen on a few new ones, seems to go away once they've been run a while.
But would not surprise me if it needs more than just broke in.

 

[tyto]

It's new, I haven't had a chance to fire it yet, but it has been dry fired plenty.

 

[Hookeye]

Go to the range and shoot it.

Real ammo, real cycling.

You don't know what's going on until then.