HEEEEELLLPPPP! MOSSBERG 500 FORE END HEX NUT ISSUES

[aworkofmarc]

I've spent 2 days now hunting down every last bloody hex wrench I own for the 4 corners of my shop and every junk drawer.

I'm having a heck of a time finding a hex wrench that fits this (see uploaded photo) fore end hex nuts so I can add on a tri rail mount ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ef=oss_product )

I've tried ball end and flat end hex wrenches, both in metric and standard and NOTHING fits! It's between standard size of 1/8 and 3/32 or between metric size of 2.5 and 3.

Is this a standard problem? Should there have been a wrench included with the new gun?

Any help would be appreciated.

[TheKlawMan]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but what you have circled are not forend nuts but nuts used to fasten a heat shield to the barrrel. The size will depend on what the manufacturer used. Is the heat shield from Mossberg or an aftermarket product? I wonder if they are Btitish Whitworth. I would contact the manufacturer if it is difficult to fit a wrench to them or go to a quality industrial hardware if you have one nearby. For instance, McFadden Dale in Ontario, Santa Ana, or Anaheim.

I just realized by hex srench you mean what I still call an allen wrench. I would still call the manufacturer and if it has a parts list on line look at it.

[aworkofmarc]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but what you have circled are not forend nuts but nuts used to fasten a heat shield to the barrrel.

Thanks. You are correct. I haven't enough experience to know what to call things sometimes. I've left emails with Mossberg... to no reply. I guess I should call them.

[Ed_Hazard]

Dont these have a nut on the oppsite side that they thread onto?

Might want to try some vicelocks on the allen side and a wrench on the nut.

[inbox485]

I had the exact same problem. There are two solutions that I know of. First is to shave down a wrench to fit it. Second is to use a pair of vice grips with a rubber patch to protect the finish. Either way, you will need the vice grips to get the screws back on. The two metal tabs on the heat shield have to be clamped closed to get the screws back in.

[TheKlawMan]

Looking at the Mossberg manual online it reads:

"Position the appropriate length plastic spacer or optional bushing style spacers between
the forward clamp. Insert the two screws and start the two hex nuts on the screws using a
7/64” hex key wrench and a 5/16” open end or box wrench. DO NOT FULLY TIGHTEN
THE TWO SCREWS YET (Fig. 17)." Just as you said, that is between a 1/8 and a 3/32

[lewisracing]

I took that part off a few weeks ago, don't recall any issues getting them off with whatever hex wrench I had on me at the time... odd...

[TheKlawMan]

I took that part off a few weeks ago, don't recall any issues getting them off with whatever hex wrench I had on me at the time... odd...

There is no issue. I was just up at Home depot and all but the smallest hex wrench sets include a 7/64. Myself, I am aways losing them and looked at the set I last got and it indeed includes one. (This is one of those with all the wrenches attached to a commonn handle like a pen knife so it won't get lost.)

[aworkofmarc]

Wow! thanks!! Off to find one now.