Mossberg 500 Noobie

[viet4lifeOC]

Hi,

Bought a mossberg 500 shotgun with adjustable stock, 6 shot, sling on foregrip, and saddle like this one 3-4 years for HD.

http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossberg_Guns/930/New/53690.jpg

NEVER shot it.

I tried searching for a "how to" and on youtube to:

1) put a light
2) 1 or 3 point sling

any weblinks? what tools do I need. I see a lot of youtube and info on the remington, but very little on the mossberg

OH---does it harm the springs to leave 5 rounds in the tube? Up until now, I have five rounds in the saddle and extra rounds to put into tube. Just want to save time for emergency cases where time is critical--I am thinking about putting 5 rounds in the tube.

thank you

[Rob454]

My spring finally went weak after 12-14 years of keeping it fully loaded all the time and modding the spring to fit that extra round.
I just went and purchased a new spring.
If I were to get a light for my shotgun I would get the type that mounts in the front handgrip.

[viet4lifeOC]

My spring finally went weak after 12-14 years of keeping it fully loaded all the time and modding the spring to fit that extra round.
I just went and purchased a new spring.
If I were to get a light for my shotgun I would get the type that mounts in the front handgrip.

thanks.. I do just want the simplest light..on the foregrip, but am concern that I can't cock the shotgun. do you have a link to what of that item?

also, how do you know when the spring is weak?

sorry--i know it very noobish

[Noah3683]

thanks.. I do just want the simplest light..on the foregrip, but am concern that I can't cock the shotgun. do you have a link to what of that item?

also, how do you know when the spring is weak?

sorry--i know it very noobish

Get a barrel clamp www.cdmgear.com has one that I use which is nice. also brownells has one thats nice. I like the brownells a little better for your application. I have the cdmgear mod-c but I think the application is better suited for guns with extended mag tubes.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1537/Product/TACTICAL_SHOTGUN_MOUNT

[viet4lifeOC]

Noah,

thank you very much...those product looks like what I am looking for.

[BigDogatPlay]

You'll know your spring is weakened when you start having failures to feed. I don't recommend the route of shortening the spring to get an extra shell in. Keeping the spring compressed isn't, necessarily, the cause of fatigue. The spring is designed to be compressed to store energy and push the shells out. What weakens springs is use; compressing and relaxing many thousands of times. As example, I have some 1911 pistol mags that were left loaded for probably 25 years and they function flawlessly.

If you are shooting a couple hundred rounds a month, or in competition, then you'll wear springs out within a couple of years. But if you are only shooting a couple of hundred rounds a year to stay familiar with the gun and to train, the tube spring could / should last decades.

As I've posted elsewhere I keep my 870P (and before I got that my Mossberg 500) ready at all times with six in the tube, empty chamber, hammer down, safety off plus six more on the sidesaddle. I check the gun monthly which includes fully unloading it and inspecting the ammo, and function testing it with snap caps. Generally speaking the ammo will go bad long before the tube spring, and damaged ammo is something you do want to pay attention for if you store your shotgun loaded and ready.

[Dooligan]

For a single-point sling, you don't need anything more than this.

http://www.blackhawk.com/product/Single-Point-Sling-Adapter,473,94.htm

[Dooligan]

Whoops.

[viet4lifeOC]

DUDES.....I love it...THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LINKS..and SUGGESTIONS. These two items I wanted to do for 2-3 years but never felt compelled cause I had NO IDEA what I was doing. Scary to think..only 3 months ago did I learned to remove the barrel (from youtube) to clean the tube... found a factory cardboard squished in the tube. Luckily I never fired it. GULP.

About the Spring and your checking your shotgun for funcitonality...I'm going to definately do it from now on a regular basis. I just always felt UNEASY having my shotgun with no rounds in the tube. Last night..I loaded 5 rounds in the chamber and rested peacefully knowing I only had to push pump, safety off, aim and fire.

With the Sling and flashlight add ons...it's the Mossberg I've always wanted .

AGAIN...THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP...GIVING ME THE MOSSBERG I'VE ALWAYS WANTED.

[BigDogatPlay]

DUDES.....I love it...THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LINKS..and SUGGESTIONS. These two items I wanted to do for 2-3 years but never felt compelled cause I had NO IDEA what I was doing. Scary to think..only 3 months ago did I learned to remove the barrel (from youtube) to clean the tube... found a factory cardboard squished in the tube. Luckily I never fired it. GULP.

Always inspect any newly purchased or acquired gun before putting it into service or firing it.

About the Spring and your checking your shotgun for funcitonality...I'm going to definately do it from now on a regular basis. I just always felt UNEASY having my shotgun with no rounds in the tube. Last night..I loaded 5 rounds in the chamber and rested peacefully knowing I only had to push pump, safety off, aim and fire.

Please, please, please.... do not function test your gun with live ammo unless you are at the range or somewhere it's safe to shoot it. Head down to your favorite gun store, pay $10 - $12, and get a couple of snap caps... dummy rounds. Those are the only thing you want to function test with at home.

Repairing big holes inadvertently made in your floors, walls or loved ones will ruin your entire outlook.

If by chamber, you meant the mag tube, then loading up is plenty fine. You do know how to empty the tube without cycling the pump, right?

[Noah3683]

The cdmgear is very nicely crafted to put your mind at ease. I am still needing to post pics of mine with the mount. very clean... In fact maybe I'll do that now.

[viet4lifeOC]

BigDOGatplay,

Yes, I bought 6 snap caps for the shotgun then bought the gun and learned to used the shotgun (had no gun experience prior).

Yes, I THINK I know how to empty the tubes of shells via pressing the lever/button on the bottom left of the trigger guard and pumping the shotgun.

AGAIN..thanks guys for the links. Probably buy them in the next 1-2 weeks.

Thanks to members who mentioned about the spring. Very good to know. Again, I loaded the shells in the tube last night after reading...seriously felt much better than no shells in the tube.

[jazzmatazz]

Yes, I THINK I know how to empty the tubes of shells via pressing the lever/button on the bottom left of the trigger guard and pumping the shotgun.

If you only do that, that chambers a shell, then extracts it.

You can reach in and push on the extractor arm (?) to release it w/o chambering a shell.

[norcal.xd]

if you get a barrel clamp make sure you dont get a cheaply made one....when i bought my 500a i got a barrel clamp that is plastic and about the 2-3 shot my flashlight goes flying.....i need to get a better one because the flashlights that are in the hand slide are expensive...

[BigDogatPlay]

BigDOGatplay,

Yes, I THINK I know how to empty the tubes of shells via pressing the lever/button on the bottom left of the trigger guard and pumping the shotgun.

That is one way, but not the safest way. To expound a bit on what was posted just above....

* Put the gun on safe.
* Keep the action closed.
* With fingers of your left hand, push in on the shell latch at the front left side of the loading port. You should feel a small click and the shell should slide out into the loading port.
* Repeat until you have all the shells out. If a shell doesn't slide out, wiggle it a bit with your fingers and it will slide out. If it locks in again, trip the shell latch again.
* Turn gun over and visually inspect mag tube and loading port to insure no ammo still in tube.
* Pump the action open and verify chamber empty.

That way you won't be cycling live ammo through the gun and run the risk of an inadvertent discharge.