Weak tube springs

[MikeSp]

I keep six 2 3/4 inch shells in the tube (holds 8) of my Mossberg 590 for home defense. This compresses the magazine (tube) spring enough that it weakens in less than a year so that when firmly shucking the shells out, the last two drop out the bottom of the receiver. A year ago I purchased some universal Wolf brand tube springs and did not even shorten one and used it and today when I replaced it, it also was so weak that the last two shells just fell out the bottom of the receiver and when the magazine was empty, the spring did not even stick out the front end when the cap was removed. In a home defense situation, this could be serious--not being able to depend upon the last two shots and knowing that just sticking in two more when empty would do no good. The Mossberg OEM springs and the Wolf springs lose their tension with just 6 rounds--what does the military or police do--surely they don't have their armorers replace the springs every couple of months? Suggestions, ideas, solutions????

MikeSp

 

[45R]

Are you sure something isnt binding......?

 

[ksnecktieman]

A different experience for me. I have three remington 1100 autos, factory four round tubes, they have been loaded continuously for ten years, and they do not seem weak, and they function properly.

Beretta 92 fifteen round mags? I think I have nine loaded to fifteen rounds in my bob, and I have not lost any springs yet.

You have my interest. Maybe you should find an 800 number for mossberg, and ask the experts?

Has your gun been in extreme conditions? trunk of a hot car, or out in the cold very much?

 

[nomaspescado]

MikeSp,
You can't be serious...your honestly disapointed that the spring wears out in "less than a year???" :banghead:
Mossberg sells the spring for $7.......
That's the cheapest insurance I've ever heard of...
There is no problem here.
Heck, even Mossberg recomends replacing the spring twice a year.
$7...how much do you spend on ammo? (hopefuly much more)

 

[dfaugh]

Huh....

I've only ever owned Mossberg SGs, never experienced a problem.... The newer one I have now, I don't always keep loaded, but in the past I have kept the magazine full (to capacity) for several weeks at a time, and I do not have any problems....And years ago I had an older one that was kept loaded(chamber empty)in the corner of my shop,as I was in a bad part of town. That one remained loaded for 4+ years, with the occasional unloading and cleaning and oiling, and I never had a problem with that one either...Possible there's another problem?

 

[proven]

how often are you loading/unloading?? i haven't worn out any springs yet, but have been told that the practice of loading/unloading is what saps the springs energy. i just broke down my 870 which i've kept loaded to 1 round under max for almost a yeear now, and the sping is still good. i've also heard about a guy finding a 1911 of his grandfather's from WWII in the attic, along with a loaded mag beside it. functioned checked the pistol, and took it outback of his farm and fired off the full mag without a glitch.

just a thought

 

[dfariswheel]

A couple of things to look at.

First, compare the "Bad" spring to a new one. Is the old spring several inches shorter than a new spring?
If it's only slightly shorter, it may not be the spring.

Second, take a good look at the shells.
The real danger of leaving a shotgun loaded long-term is shot shell compression.

Plastic shells left under tension in a magazine tube will develop bulges in the plastic casing between the steel shell head and the shot column.

These bulges can, and will cause stoppages.

Could the problem be bulged cases sticking in the gun?

Next, check the inside of the magazine for gummed up lube, rust, or a fouled follower.

 

[MikeSp]

The Wolf brand spring that I removed after one year of tension on 6 shells was about half the length that it was when it was installed. The follower and tube are clean--there isn't much use for a 590 for much other than home defense (tried skeet ONE time just for fun....wasn't much fun) so it is as clean as the day it was purchased. Good info about the shortening of the shells when under compression--had no idea that would happen--checked them and did not see any bulging. Guess this latter idea will keep me from using double springs which a friend suggested.

MikeSp

 

[Gordon]

Try the Choate 'anti bind ' follower, which has a shank that the spring stays captured around, this cured my problems on 870's which one stayed 6 rounds in the tube for 8 years, and works fine. Before I replaced my followers in the 870's 1100's with this design the spring seemed to take a 'set' in a year or so(but I do down load, rotate sheels about once a month)