Replace Mossberg 500 magazine spring?

[bk42261]

Just Duracoated my 500 today, so should I spend the $ for a new magazine spring while it's apart?
How about the follower?
Never had a problem with either, but it's my HD and I want it to function 100% (obviously)

Posted a while ago about it because I cut a 24" VR barrel to 19" because that's what I wanted and got soundly trashed but I DON"T CARE because my wife and I like it a lot the way it is now!

No need to tell me how I "ruined" a VR and could have gotten (whatever) to use because it's MY gun and it works for me!

Don't mean to be rude, but that's what came at me in the previous thread.

Anyway, to replace the spring and follower or leave as is?

BTW ,I will be putting an XS Big Dot in the existing (rear) sight hole.
It's an AT model if that matters?

 

[Virginian]

It's your gun, you decide.

 

[Averageman]

I rebuilt one of the 500 recently and yes I replaced the magazine, spring and follower among other things.
Once you get the tube off with some heat and a strap wrench, it's rather easy.

 

[bk42261]

Mag tube came off easily, actually.

Should I get one of the springs sold on E-bay or is there something better?

I seem to recall orange magazine plugs somewhere?

 

[Averageman]

Yes there is something better, actually I would go to Numrich and take a look at what they have to offer. http://www.gunpartscorp.com/
They've been easy to deal with and sell quality stuff.
I did the aluminum red plug I got somewhere.

 

[natman]

Here's a link to the orange followers. I use them in all my 500s because they make it easy to see the mag is empty, won't rust and support the spring when the mag is full.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I posted a number of years ago my foilbles and learnings of factory and so me generic magazine springs on the Mossberg 500. In essence, get a wolf spring. It has held up very well where others have become weak. Most commercial springs aren't made well, they are made to a price point.

If you want to get a new follower, there are some made of Aluminum in pretty colors. I'd go with those. Don't get the stainless ones. On another extensive shotgun posting here AI&P who is a top notch poster and know his stuff pointed out peeking with a steel follower could be long term problematic. It's based on his armored training. By the way, the mag tube will not be so hard to unscrew again unless you put lock tight on it.

 

[bk42261]

Got it done and (finally) reassembled.
Tried to use the "Mini Me" on this sight in reverse but couldn't get it back together.
Finally used a YouTube video and all's well.
Took some pics: wife is going to TRY to show me how to load them
I think it came out pretty well, but have to say I had some problems with the
spray from the Duracoat Sometimes shot out "clumps" instead of spray!
Still, overall, I'm happy with the way it came out (Didn't bother to spray the
action bars, because I figured it would wear off pretty quickly anyway from them.


For some reason, only loaded about half of the pics.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

What did you finally do for the spring?

The tricky part of the reassembly is where, how far back the rectangular piece needs to be when you insert the pump metal bars. At least for me that is the part that drives me nuts.

 

[bk42261]

Sheepdog, I had the most trouble keeping the shell stop and disconnector (I think that's the term) in place:banghead:

Just wanted to get it back together for now; I'm looking for a new mag spring from Wolff for the best price. On-line prices are reasonable, until I add in shipping charges

But I also want to add the follower and either a Truglo Fat Bead or Marble Arms tritium sight bead, so maybe I can get them all at once from the same vendor, and save some $$ on shipping?

Any suggestions on where to look?
With my laptop, no matter how I word my search, it immediately goes to E-bay and Amazon then I have to scroll thru a bunch of !@@$ to find what I'm looking for

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Yes, the shell stop and disconnector can be fun to put in. My brother bought me one of those Tipton best gun vise things so I can res it in there and that helps. Then they only fall out three times instead of 29 before I get it assembled.

I think I have now had a wolf spring in my 590a1 with 5 shells (8 possible) in mag tube for 5 or 6 years (guessing). Spring is still strong. Factory springs went weak after a year and tried two of them plus a brownells generic. They all had the same problem. Wolf spring doesn't. Also put one in my Mossberg 500.

I probably ordered my springs directly from Wolf if I had to guess.