Mossberg 500 play in forend

[DNK]

I just finished installing a 7round mag and 20" barrel on my 500. There seems to be a bit of play in the forend from side to side, when I'm pumping the action. Is there an easy way to fix this?

 

[chris in va]

My 500 with 18.5 barrel also has some play to it. I think that's normal, although yours could be excessive so hard to say.

 

[Doggieman]

not really

the only "play" in the forend should be rotational and forward/backward. That is, when you twist it, it should move slightly.. no more than 1/8" or so. This comes from the fairly loose tolerances of the 2 armatures. And when you move it back to cock there will also be about 1/8" of play before the bolt begins to open.

Otherwise there should be no play to speak of.

I have the 500 with the 7-shot magazine and the barrel you speak of.

 

[buck460XVR]

I've had my 500 turkey gun for well over 20 years.....and have gotten used to the fore-end play as compared to my 870 and my Ithaca Featherweight. It's the nature of the beast...but not near as bad as some of the newer pumps out there. I was a little skeptical about the Mossberg and it's quality when I first got it(at that time it was the only true turkey gun out there), but the years of use and abuse, along the popularity and the continued production of it, has proven my fears were unfounded.

 

[stuckon308]

I installed an 18.5" barrel and some other goodies on one and it seemed to have a little play in it when twisting it but that's about it. Compared to my Winchester Model 12 I thought it felt a bit loose. But I'm completely in love with my 12. So I might be a little biased.

 

[Desert01]

Do you still have the little spring that goes under the action bars on the pump assembly?