Shotgun question

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I have a Mossberg 500 that I am having an irritating issue with.

Quite often, the gun will misfire.  This has happened with numerous ammo manufacturers, so I am confident that it is not the shells.

Sometimes it will fire the first shot and when the second shot is loaded, it will misfire.  Eject that shell and the third one will fire.

It has happened in any sequence you can imagine as well (first shell misfire, second fire, etc.)

Anyone know what it might be?

Keep the "buy a Benelli" comments to yourself....

[simplejoe]

Wayne, I got a Mossberg 835 Ultimag 3 years ago and never had a problem with it. When was the last time you cleaned and oiled it?

                                             

                                                    joe

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Wiped down every other time I go out. Cleaned when about 2 boxes of shells have gone through it or about every time I go out in dove season.

Duck season is here until Saturday and I am tired of my buddies having to swing past me b/c the gun misfires.

Maybe I overlooked some build-up in the action?  I dont know...

[Catt]

I have a friend who has one and it does the same thing or it will not fire at all or let you pump it. Try belly crawling within range of Speckle Belly Geese and get up on one knee and pull the trigger only to have nothing happen.

He has put it in the shop and they can't find what's causing it  >

[Lund Explorer]

misfires or doesn't fire?

To me a misfire is the shell only going half off.... like primer only.

If it doesn't fire, I'd say you've either got an issue with the firing pin not striking the primer hard enough (are the primers dented?), or a problem with the slide going forward fully chambering the shell.

[fatmanslim247]

the firing pin spring could be getting weak, firing pin could have worn down.  Does the firing pin make any type of impression on the misfired rounds?  I know you have said it will do it equally across the board when it comes to ammo, but try putting in a higher end load in then follow it up with a remington round, remington sinks their primers into the case and it if fire then I don't know but if it doesn't check it for an impression.  Another option is contact mossberg and see if they can point you into the right direction

[SPEEDBEAD.]

OK, to be clear on my end.

Misfire (as I am referring to) is the shell not going off at all.  The pin is, in fact, making a dent in the primer but is not making the shell go off.

I have noticed that if I rack the slide forward with higher than normal force, the shells will typically shoot.

[Lund Explorer]

Okay, that makes sense.

I've had some of those issues with a couple of pump guns I've used over the years.  One was an 870 that I used for ducks/geese and for some reason I just could not get myself to rack that second shell when I was shooting magnum loads.  I think it was more of a mechanics issue for me as it did fine with lighter loads.  I would sometimes get that same small dimple on the primer because the shell wasn't up tight onto the face of the bolt like it would be when it was seated into the receiver.

I hate to say it, but the only way I cured myself was with a new 1100.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I just recently (this year) got into waterfowl hunting, so I have been looking at semi's every time I am in an outdoor store.

Hoping to have one before the end of the year so I can use it in the late season.  We shall see.

I would like to keep this gun for when a kid comes along.  Good enough shotgun to start with, for sure.

[frogtog]

I would have a new firing pin put in and give it a good cleaning. It sounds like crud buildup on the back side of the pin, causing the pin not to travel far enough. Your release spring that carries the pin forward could also be weak. If the above doesn't work just go ahead and buy a new gun. I Know I Know you are welcome ;D

[bowfish12]

It's the firing pin has either crud or oil in it. Same thing wrong with my buddies 835 last year, get a gunsmith to clean it and it should be fine.

Or switch to the trusty 870.

[Matt Fly]

Two possibles,

    One, is a gunked up gun, just needs good cleaning and light oiling afterwards, and it don't take a dirty gun, just might have been over oiled or greased at the factory.

   The other is typical problem now days on new guns.   A very tight firing pin spring.   Too tight a firing pin don't allow the firing pin to move forward hard enough to strike the primer.  

Thats funny, year ago, lots of issues was from weak springs, springs that weaken from staying cocked when not in use.

    I encountered a weak spring, took it apart in camp and cut one spiral from the spring and that worked for the week while hunting.  then took it in for gunsmith to order new spring for me.

   Another time, my brother had  same issue.   That time, I think he was shooting old reloads personally.    I ended up using the spring in a BIC lighter, the one from under the flint to fix that one.

   

[Use ONLY Stren]

Get a Super Black Eagle and some Blackcloud. ;D

[Catt]

Super X3  

[IDbasser]

I had a mossberg 835 ulti mag several years ago, I had nothing but problems with that gun.  I hated it like no other gun.  I enjoy my Remington 870's.  I have 2 in 12 ga, one of which shoots 3 1/2inch shells and I have one in a 20 ga that I use for dove hunting. I have a Franchi, a Winchester, and a Stevens (my very first as a young kid) and I will never buy another mossberg.

[burleytog]

It's a Mossberg, what do you expect?