Author Topic: mossberg problem (Read 697 times)

mjbgalt · « **on:** September 06, 2004, 10:36:52 AM »

i just bought a VERY nice used 12 gauge mossberg 500. i am not convinced, after totally stripping and cleaning it, that more than a box or two of shells was through it. i got a great deal on it and i am very happy with it. i have not fired it yet, but when trying it out by putting shells in it (yes pointed a safe direction, safety on, etc) it cycled them ok but every 4th or 5th time or so, it refused to puch the shell into the chamber.

it is a little stiff from being new...but this isnt something i have ever experienced before. i took it apart to clean it based on someones recommendation. that guy thought it might just need cleaned to fix the problem. but even after i cleaned it, it didnt work correctly. in fact it might even be worse, lol.

it gets stuck just as the elevator is bringing the shell up to be pushed in my the bolt. as the elevator is just barely touching the bottom of the bolt, it refuses to budge when i try to pump the shell into the chamber. if i press upwards on the the elevator, it usually goes right in. but when i took it all apart i didnt see any reason the elevator wouldnt work.

has anyone else ever had this problem, and how can i fix it?

if i cannot get a solution here i will take it back where i bought it and see if their resident gunsmith can/will fix it.

mjbgalt · « **Reply #1 on:** September 06, 2004, 10:43:36 AM »

figured it out...the elevator isnt pushing the shell far enough up....the shell needs to be in a straight line with the bolt and the elevator is sort of haphazardly getting it CLOSE to straight and the "jamming" i am feeling is the shell against the side of the chamber.

so do i need a new elevator?

dawei · « **Reply #2 on:** September 06, 2004, 01:52:06 PM »

Quote from: mjbgalt

figured it out...the elevator isnt pushing the shell far enough up....the shell needs to be in a straight line with the bolt and the elevator is sort of haphazardly getting it CLOSE to straight and the "jamming" i am feeling is the shell against the side of the chamber.

so do i need a new elevator?

I can't resist......

STUPID, STUPID, STUPID GUN!!! YOUR ELEVATOR DOESN'T ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP!!

Seriously though; why don't you call customer service @ Mossberg®. They may fix it for free as their guns have a 10 year warranty.

mjbgalt · « **Reply #3 on:** September 06, 2004, 01:57:01 PM »

yeah and then i get to wait 6 weeks before i get it back. no thanks. since i bought it used i am going to go back to the gun shop and twist some arms. they said they "sell em to shoot and if they dont well then you bring it back and our smith will work on it."

so we will see if he stands behind that. he seemed like a hell of a guy and was very polite and friendly, an older guy...from when people used to shake hands a mean it. so i think i will do ok by them. i was just hoping there was some screw i missed or something and you guys would know about it.

dawei · « **Reply #4 on:** September 06, 2004, 02:06:15 PM »

Quote from: mjbgalt

yeah and then i get to wait 6 weeks before i get it back. no thanks. since i bought it used i am going to go back to the gun shop and twist some arms. they said they "sell em to shoot and if they dont well then you bring it back and our smith will work on it."

so we will see if he stands behind that. he seemed like a hell of a guy and was very polite and friendly, an older guy...from when people used to shake hands a mean it. so i think i will do ok by them. i was just hoping there was some screw i missed or something and you guys would know about it.

Before you take it back; Mossberg® manuals are available on line including a blowup of the firearm & all parts. Manybe it's something you can fix for yourself. Just a thought.

mjbgalt · « **Reply #5 on:** September 06, 2004, 05:25:58 PM »

yeah i know about the manual. i have one and thats how i figured out how to totally strip it for cleaning.

the elevator apparently is bent or the wrong length or something. i wont know until i have him look at it. i know for damn sure that i am not buying a part for it to do it myself if they will pay for it. besides i bought this with the understanding it didnt need tweaking. lol

mjbgalt · « **Reply #6 on:** September 07, 2004, 10:46:37 AM »

i took the gun to the shop and explained the problem. he put a couple shells in it and racked em hard and they of course went right in the chamber. he gave me a puzzled look and i said "its only when i pump it slower that it does that."

instead of saying "we will fix it since it isnt working right" he said "why would you want to pump it slow?"

so i said "if i want to put one into the chamber to load the tube or something."

just as i said that it jammed on HIM.

so he said ok he would take a look at it.

the nerve. something is wrong and instead of customer service, his advice is to "pump faster."

yeah until i damage something else from the shell banging against the other parts as i pump faster. and then i bet it wont be warranty work as it is now.

PA-Joe · « **Reply #7 on:** September 07, 2004, 10:52:26 AM »

To a degree he may be right. You need a certain energy level to make things work. If your loading something into the barrel then there shouldn't be anything in the tube and and if your loading the tube then you shouldn't be pulling the slide. These two operations are not compatable.

mjbgalt · « **Reply #8 on:** September 07, 2004, 11:00:35 AM »

i have an 870 express and i used to own another mossberg identical to the one i am having problems with. both of those shotguns, along with every other pump i have ever shot, could cycle smoothly regardless of how fast you pumped them. so there is definitely something wrong with this one.

and as for the tube/chamber thing, i was talking about when i am hunting and i usually load up the tube and gently rack one into the chamber before adding the last one to the tube.

it really doesnt matter anyway, since it even did it when i pumped fast a couiple times. it was odd. everything in that shotgun looked clean and new except for the shell elevator. and that appears to be the problem.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 08, 2004, 08:22:27 PM »

The elevator has to be adjusted to lift the incoming round to the correct level. This 'timing' of the action is a little PIA sometime but they should be aable to repair it. It's also possible that someone had a problem with it and that's why the lifter is a bit rough.. Sometimes the best track is to get a new part. It's not that expensive..or hard to install.

mjbgalt · « **Reply #10 on:** September 09, 2004, 03:12:10 AM »

the lifter almost looks like someone put it as a used part, into a new gun. i dont care either way, i got almost 100 bucks off the price new by buying it used and so if i have to put a new part in it, i am still way ahead.

and if its just a new part i need, i can strip it down and install it, since i had to learn how to tear apart and replace the action when i got it, to clean the cosmoline out.

-Matt

mjbgalt · « **Reply #11 on:** September 09, 2004, 05:10:37 PM »

well i got it back from the gunsmith today. he said he cleaned it well and then "stoned" the insides and the action bars and such and it is smoother, but it still does the same thing. the elevator, if the action is worked VERY fast, tosses the shell into position and it works almost every time.

but when i just want to chamber a round and i dont need to slam the action for a quick followup shot or anything, it still does not raise the front end of the shell even with the barrel and i get a jam again.

i emailed mossberg and they said to send the gun in. why would i wanna do that? it would take weeks, would it not?

can i simply order a new part from them?

Leverdude · « **Reply #12 on:** September 09, 2004, 05:42:12 PM »

They might. Numrich probably has them if Mossberg wont sell one.

Might be a good idea to let them do it tho, this way they'll go thru it & I'd think fix other worn or buggered parts while theyre in there.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 10, 2004, 08:23:32 AM »

I've had trouble with Mossberg before. My brother had a 500 series 3 inch mag that would rip the forearm out of your hand when it was fired with 3 inch loads. There was so much wear on the bolt lock/bolt slide assembly that the lock could be forced out of engagement allowing the bolt to blow open... Some of the parts are restricted and I told my brother, even if we could find the parts a new shotgun would be cheaper..even with no labor. He sent the weapon back to Mossberg with a letter explaining the problem. They sent it back with a note saying it was working as designed. A call to their service folks brought the feeling that they weren't going to do anything about it. Give them a call but don't bet they will know what wrong with the gun when it gets there. Include a letter explaining thoroughly what's the problem. Or perhaps better yet let the gunshop send it back as obviously they don't have the knowledge to fix the problem in house. It's a bit pricey to send guns through the mail, let the shop pay.. or get your money back..

mjbgalt · « **Reply #14 on:** September 10, 2004, 11:13:28 AM »

well it seems simple to me. i mean, the gunshop stoned it and did what they could and it still doesnt work. they didnt seem all too happy to do the warranty work for free either.

mossberg wants me to send it in, which means i get it back when they feel like sending it.

why not just find a used part somewhere and try it out? i mean, this is exactly the gun i wanted and its in great shape and i got a great deal on it. even if i have to shell out 20 bucks for a part, its still a good deal.

plus i dont want to burn bridges with the gun shop because there arent any others around here.

it seems a simple problem....the whole issue is the stupid elevator. it simply needs to come upward another 1/4 inch. so why cant i just bend the damn thing or buy a new part?