Noob Mossberg 500 question...

[peck1234]

Just recently started shooting my fathers mossberg 500,

Odd thing is that I can only load 2 shells in the tube... If I take the barrel off I can get like 5 shells in, but then a dowel sticks out of the spring tube... Im guessing this dowel supports the spring?

Any way, doesn't the model 500 hold 6?

 

[WNC Seabee]

That dowel is there to purposefully limit the number of shells you can load. Most states limit bird hunters to a max of 3 shells loaded while hunting.

Good news is that you can remove the dowel to get the maximum load. This is how you're supposed to do it, you wouldn't be doing anything harmful or wrong by removing the dowel unless you're bird hunting. As always, check your local laws before taking any internet advice.

Go to Mossberg's website and download the manual for your model. You'll find instructions on how exactly to remove the dowel.

 

[peck1234]

awesome, that's what I figured, thanks a bunch...

 

[foghornl]

That dowel is the "magazine capacity reduction rod", also known as the "plug".

REQUIRED for waterfowl & other "Migratory Game Bird" {dove} hunting, and MAY be required for other species..ask your local Game-N-Fish guys about your states rules. If you hunt a species in an area where the 3-shot limit applies, and you gun is 'un-plugged', well you just opened up a 55-gallon drum of trouble for yourself.

The field versions of the Mossbergs & Mavericks are 5+1, Security models with the longer mag tubes are 7+1.