Mossberg 500

S

SoilworK777

New member
I'm considering buying one for a couple reasons, but I've never liked the idea of the captive mag tube holding the spring where it's not easily accessible. Are there any personal experiences that anyone would like to share about this? Have you never had to change the spring? Have you had to change it twice? Thank you.
 
I own 2 model 500s and neither has ever needed replacement. The one i have had for 15 years and has seen thousands of rounds. Oh and it was bought used too so who knows how many rounds it shot before i got it.
 
One of the biggest disadvantages of the 500 is the inability to easily clean the mag tube. On most other designs the tube is open on both ends making cleaning easier. I don't think spring life would be a factor either way.

The safety on top of the reciever is another downside. It is in an exposed position where it is easily bumped and sometimes broken. If I were buying a Mossberg it would be the 590. It uses a different mag tube that is open. The safety is still in a bad spot, but is at least steel instead of plastic.
 
I love my 500... but I did have to replace the mag spring just this year... it was rusty and lost it's properties. No biggie... just unscrew the tube and put a new one in. I believe it's a non-issue.

I actually prefer the safety on top of the receiver... I can see it and I don't have to fumble around with my trigger finger trying to knock a traditional one off. I did replace the plastic selector with a metal one from an old 500 I had.
 
The spring wore out on my 500.. It stopped feeding reliably and I replaces the mag spring with a Wolff extra power spring and a Brownells Stainless Steel Mag follower... Problem solved.. I also leave the mag tube hand tight for easy removal for cleaning...
 
Reportedly the mag spring and follower are a weakness of the 500; that and the plastic safety. Both are inexpensive and easily replaced.
 
The safety is subjective to the shooter. Many people prefer the safety there so they can operate it without loosing a firing grip.
 
I really like the Mossberg safety. Plastic is not good for that part. Metal replacements are available. My Remington 870 is much smoother operating, but the safety does not suit me at all.
I grew accustomed to the safety on a side-by-side 12 gauge double and the Mossberg is similar.
 
Here is what you do...
Go to lowes and buy a cheap 2 or 3 piece strap wrench set.. and a little tube of "never seize"... Gently give a few tries as it is. If you need help, get a competent "wrench-smith" to un screw it... clean treads, add a tiny dab of never seize and re-install...

From now on, the strap wrench will whoop it right out...

I ain't goin' into detailed use of the vise and oven just yet...

Brent
 
Hotdogs gave some good advice. Personally, I used a pipe wrench and a piece of leather. The point is to break it loose once and then you can break it down and clean it every couple years or so. I have a flexible cleaning rod that I use to run a rag soaked in FP10 Shooters Choice down the mag tube. As someone else mentioned, the spring will rust, so it is wise to coat it once with FP10 and swab the mag tube occasionally. I think the 500 is an excellent shotgun design.
 
I shoot a circa 1987 Mossberg 500.
The mag tube is easily removable, and the tang safety is made of aluminum.
Current mag tube can be removed, it's just difficult. You can even replace it with an 8 shot tube and add the corresponding barrel if you want to max out the versatility of the platform.
Aluminum safeties can also be had from Brownells, to match the older style before they apparently went to plastic in the 90s or 2000s.

The mag tube has been easy to unscrew since I was a kid. I clean it with a tico tool, or a regular cleaning rod and patch after hunting on the water or in rain.
It's also still running the original spring, FWIW.
 
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