Removing a shotgun plug

[DennisCA]

I have a Mossburg 500 12 ga shotgun that had a dowel inserted in it (by previous owner) as a plug, so it could only hold 3 shells. I took the barrel off and the dowel should just drop out but it doesn't. My question is how do it get the bloody thing out without damaging it? Could I insert a small drill bit into the end and pull it out? Legit suggestions are welcome - smart a __ __ comments are not.

[FXR]

If it's not falling out, it sounds like the dowel is sung fit and pushing the spring down towards the receiver? If so the spring might have been cut, so you might need a new one. I'd try predrilling and then putting in a screw to pull on - the predrilling is so the screw expands the dowel as little as possible. Alternately you could try to push it out with something flexible like an antenna or something. If neither of these work, get a drill bit long enough to drill all the way through it (and the follower), then run a piece of string or wire through, tie a washer and nut around it, and pull it with how ever much force you need. This way you'll need a new follower and spring though.

[ke6guj]

once you have the barrel off of a 500, you can unscrew the mag tube from the receiver. then, just push the dowel out the open end of the tube.

[glock21fan]

Just un screw the mag tube the spring will come out with the dowel and you can evaluate from there

[DennisCA]

Appericate all the advise!

[Just Dave]

I have a Mossburg 500 12 ga shotgun that had a dowel inserted in it (by previous owner) as a plug, so it could only hold 3 shells. I took the barrel off and the dowel should just drop out but it doesn't. My question is how do it get the bloody thing out without damaging it? Could I insert a small drill bit into the end and pull it out? Legit suggestions are welcome - smart a __ __ comments are not.

It should fall out but if it doesn't try removing the barrel and feed ammo into the magazine like you normally would this may push the dowel out.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

sometimes the factory supplied dowel has rubber o-rings that will prevent it from falling out.