Old Mossberg revived: 185

[Apple a Day]

This is my father's old mossberg 185 with a C-Lect choke. My brother ended up with it and it's been sitting in the back of his closet somewhere for umpteen years until I managed to get it back. It was missing a few pieces but I replaced or made do. Today I took her to the range to see if she'd still shoot. After a good cleaning and fixing up it shoots just fine!
The one part I couldn't find was the screw-on bolt knob. I looked all over the place. One of these days I may find a suitable chunk of brass and drill/tap it but for the meantime you can see from the pictures that I got a wooden one which is glued in place and works just fine. I'll stain it when the temperature gets warm enough to do that.
Another part I had to replace was the front sight. I didn't know what size to get, pondered for a while, then had a brainstorm. I have a more modern Mossberg pump action so I popped the front sight off of that one and - sure enough- it fits. Apparently, Mossberg hasn't changed some things in quite a while! I got a fiber optic sight which to be honest I'm not that impressed with. I think I'll end up getting a gold bead which I like better on the other shotgun.
At 15 yards I fired some #3 buckshot and with the C-Lect choke screwed in to the inner mark got roughly 26" diameter patterns. Positive feed and ejection. See pics. When I get more time I may play with the adjustable choke just to see how well it works.
I know it's not tactifancy but it's nice fixing up the old man's shotgun.

 

[kBob]

Great job of bringing it back to life!

I would paint that wooden knob gloss black or maybe for giggles see if I could find a hard plastic ball or some sort to screw on as a bolt knob.

A buddy used his dads Mossberg bolt action 12 guage some times and some of the pump and auto guys gave him a hard time about it......i never did as it was quite a step up over my single shot AND it tain'y yhr gun so much as the shooter/owner that makes a gun a good one or not. Looks like you got a good one.

-kBob

 

[lefteyedom]

get a 8 ball gear shift knob..... just for giggles

 

[RaceM]

Go to a hardware or electrical supply place and get a round brass lamp finial (the knob that holds a lamp shade on). They're pre-drilled and threaded, easy to modify. Nice job on the rest of it.

 

[Apple a Day]

Go to a hardware or electrical supply place and get a round brass lamp finial (the knob that holds a lamp shade on). They're pre-drilled and threaded, easy to modify. Nice job on the rest of it.

I've been looking. All of the ones I could find that were big enough either were already drilled with a hole too big and/or screamed "New Orleans pimp". The 8-ball is an idea.
For the time being, though, the wooden ball stays in place.

 

[foghornl]

screamed "New Orleans pimp".

Well, only if you put a "Pearl-Handle" knob on that bolt...

 

[Virginian]

I had the exact same gun for my first shotgun. The C-Lect choke and some part of barrel are still out in a marsh. Mossberg repaired it and we parted company shortly thereafter. We haven't missed each other.

 

[Ash]

My first gun was a Mossberg 183, the .410 version. I still have it and will never part with it save by the grave.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Good restoration job.

 

[Eat Beef]

A few years ago Numrich had parts for them. I would assume they still do, and except for shipping I'd bet your front bead and bolt knob would be cheaper than anything you find locally.

Just a thought.

 

[Apple a Day]

Numrich doesn't have the bolt knob. That was the first place I looked. Thanks, though. There were also a couple of listings for knobs but they were all out of date. I thought about buying an entire new bolt but it's more fun looking for/making a new one.
Cheers,
Apple