870 or 500 FAIL???

[Dirty506]

so i went out with a good friend of mine a while ago and we were shooting our shotguns a remington 870 and a mossberg 500. we were having a good time until one of the guns had a big fail. it failed to extract the round and upon examination we found out it was because the extractor claw fell out(we found it inside of it). now heres the kicker, the second extractor just didnt work at all... can you guys guess which gun it was?? dont get me wrong i htink the 500 is an amazing shotgun and i would definately go to battle with it but i personally owuld rather have an 870 just from my experiences. i always rememebr seeing people say one of the reasons a 500 is better than the 870 is the dual extractor. what if the secondary extractor doesnt work without the other? pointless i htink. regardless, they are both great guns and it has been fixed since and is holding strong. i'm wondering if anyone else has ever had an experience like this?

[bigwhitetruck]

I've heard and read about ejector problems with the 500. It usually does involves the ejector screw coming loose, like you described. I bought a used 500 a year or two ago and it has an aftermarket screw that is much sturdier than the oem. To make it even more secure I put some loctite on the threads. I've never had a problem with that gun and I can't imagine ever having one.

[BoonieGhost]

so....get the Mossberg 590A1. Its physically the same internally, but made from a lot stronger materials and its milspec.

[Mr. E]

so....get the Mossberg 590A1. Its physically the same internally, but made from a lot stronger materials and its milspec.

I also like the 590, and the 930.

[axhoaxho]

so....get the Mossberg 590A1. Its physically the same internally, but made from a lot stronger materials and its milspec.

Ditto on the 590A1.

Regards,

[shellslinger]

I believe the 500 and the 590a1 share the same internals down to the screws. So I don't think its made of stronger materials except for the heavy walled barrel. But correct me if I'm wrong.

-Back to the OP's question. I haven't experienced this problem yet. However, I hope I don't ever encounter a problem like that on either shotgun. But I think things like this will eventually happen with lots of usage.

[kazman]

Thanks, I'll have to check the screw on mine. Haven't had any issues with at least a thousands rounds through it

[BigDogatPlay]

I believe the 500 and the 590a1 share the same internals down to the screws. So I don't think its made of stronger materials except for the heavy walled barrel. But correct me if I'm wrong.

You're not wrong. Cast aluminum trigger group on the 590A1 versus plastic on the 500 is the only major internal difference. There are, of course, the few external differences as well but at their core they are essentially the same gun. 500s were "milspec" for many years before the 590 series came along and there are probably still some in inventory at various places around DoD.

-Back to the OP's question. I haven't experienced this problem yet. However, I hope I don't ever encounter a problem like that on either shotgun. But I think things like this will eventually happen with lots of usage.

Never had it happen to me either. But as with anything mechanical it can happen. If it's fixed and working, then thats that, IMO.

[Dirty506]

yup it was the screw but either way it is FIXED and KICKIN ***. im sure somthing will happen to the 870 soon it does get a lot of use. i'll post that when it does and like you said it is mechanical and mechanical htings break eventually. i dont pick sides with the 870 and 500 because i beleive they are both equally good.

[Dirty506]

and loctiting it isnt a bad idea at all

[BajaJames83]

There pretty equal. I prefer the 870. A few less parts for breakdown

[ptoguy2002]

so....get the Mossberg 590A1. Its physically the same internally, but made from a lot stronger materials and its milspec.

This.
My 590A1 is a tank.
And you can see the differences when you compare it to a normal 500.

[MossbergMan]

Extractor v. Ejector

Two different parts here. And I know a 590 that functioned just fine with just the right side EXTRACTOR (claw). Now if the EJECTOR got loose and knocked off the left extractor I can see that happening and that's an inspection issue by the operator. Screws and bolts need to be checked when you clean your guns, period. Loctite is fine, but it's the operators duty to see that his/her weapon is up to snuff. Don't rely on thread lockers to keep things in place and skip over checking for tightness.

The retaining pins for the extractors are probably the weak link in the system (if there is one). All the Mossberg extractor failures I've witnessed have been as a result of the retaining pin shearing in the bolt and allowing the extractor and spring to fall out of the bolt.

Combine a loose ejector with a single extractor and most any system is going to fail.

[Dirty506]

All the Mossberg extractor failures I've witnessed

so your saying to get an 870? haha havent seen those fail yet(but they do happen i just havent seen it)

[aippi]

Dirty506 you are picking sides and playing dirty by pasting a partial quote from a guy about the extractor failures. He gave a reason they fail and is not saying anything about getting an 870.

If 870's did not fail I would have less work. They do fail and I can't prove it but I would bet that failures from Mossbergs and Remingtons in any catagory are about equal when it all gets tallied up in general. So to take a single issue that is not that common and put down a decent weapon is unfair.

I don't own a Mossberg. I will in a few weeks as my dad is giving me his Mossberg .410. Would rather have a Remington but this one will stay with me and be given to my Grandson. I would never pass down a POS to him so just the fact I am keeping this for him tells anyone it is a decent shotgun. Oh, and of course I am building his an AI&P Tactical 20ga 870 also. He is only 4 weeks old so no rush.