Any Mossberg 500 experts out there?

[rtimgray]

I've developed a problem with my Mossberg 500e (.410). I tried to fix it as best I could, and I'm still a little stumped. Here we go:

While shooting the other day, the shotgun had a failure to eject and jammed. I eventually got the cartridges out and unloaded the gun and tried to see what the problem was. After looking at some diagrams, I came to the conclusion that the extractor on the left side of the bolt had broken.

I ordered another extractor and disassembled the shotgun so that I could get to it. While I was at it, I cleaned everything up and reassembled.

After it was back together, I tried the action and found that the extractor (which appears to be a little piece of spring steel) would catch on the ejector screw (the ejector being a piece of metal that is screwed into the left side of the receiver.

Does anybody know what I need to do to keep the extractor from hitting the ejector screw? I was looking at my Maverick 88 and it is very similar, but there is a lot of clearance between the left extractor and the ejector screw head.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

PS - I have to ask it on this forum because thanks to a new internet nanny system here at work all of the firearm-related sites are blocked. Thanks again.

 

[dusty3030]

Where on the extractor is it hitting? When you slide rearward to eject or when you slide forward to close the breech?

The 410 left side extractor is indeed a spring steel piece. It is different than the 20 and 12 gauge versions.

1st, check to make sure the ejector screw is tightened in and has not backed out. This is common on the 500. You may want to remove it and clean between it and the receiver, inspect the ejector for damage, put a dab of blue loctite or finger nail polish on it's threads and reinstall it to elimante that.

2nd, if the back tail of the extractor is catching the screw, something is wrong, it is provides the "spring" action for the extractor and the aft end of the extractor should be firmly pressing in towards the bolt.

If the front edge of the extractor is hitting the screw when you are closing the breech, again, something wrong as it's bend should be curving this edge towards the right. You may try tweaking it slightly towards the right.

If the body of the extractor is rubbing the screw a slight amount is OK, putting it in a bind is not.

3. Was the extractor retaining pin straight? No curve to it causing a loose fit?

 

[rtimgray]

Thanks for the reply.

The extractor is hitting the ejector screw when I work the action forward (it actually rubs it as the action is coming back as well, but there is no hard edge to "catch" on). The end of the extractor closest to the barrel is what is hitting the screw head.

1. The ejector screw is in tight-tight. I took it out and cleaned everything and replaced it.

2. The tail is not catching. I tried bending the extractor so that the end closest to the barrel would not hit the ejector screw head and that worked a little, but only randomly, not permanently.

3. The extractor retaining pin is straight, however the extractor is loose. I don't have to take the pin in and out to install the extractor (is that correct?) The extractor just kind of slides in? Is there a missing piece that makes the extractor more rigid?

Thanks again.

 

[dusty3030]

Where did you get the replacement? It should be in there tight.

The pin should have to come out to replace it.

Try bending the foreward in towards the right (Bore).

You can stone off a little of it at the sharp end (bore end) and not hurt function.

 

[rtimgray]

I got the part from Brownells (online).

The part I got looks exactly like what is in your picture.

Any chance I put it in backwards? The way the picture is showing, does the end with the hook goes around the pin on the bolt? Or does the other end go there?

I took out the broken extractor without removing the extractor pin - the hooked end just slid behind it - hence the loose fit.

What am I missing?

Thanks for your help.

 

[dusty3030]

The way it is pictured in the pic I posted it would be correctly installed if you were holding the shotgun in your lap, the barrel was pointed towards your left, the butt towards your right, the ejection port towards the floor and the loading port towards you.

The sharp V to the right in the picture goes behind the pin.

 

[rtimgray]

Please see the marked-up picture.

Where should the pin go that holds the extractor to the bolt?

From your earlier description, I think I might have it in backwards.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[dusty3030]

1. This end grabs the shell rim. The curved part goes towards the shell rim, the sharp edge points towards the reciever wall / ejector side.

3. This is what goes under the pin.

 

[rtimgray]

Looks like I was putting it in backwards. Mine had broken (at right about where the number 4 is in the picture) so it looked like a flat piece of metal with hooks on each end.

So to confirm - one more time - the pin that holds the extractor to the bolt will go where number 3 is. I'm guessing that way, the springiness of the extractor will serve to push the number 1 end away from the receiver wall, so it won't contact the ejector screw head.

Is that right?

Again - thanks for the help.

 

[dusty3030]

Sounds like you got it.
If you run into trouble, PM me and I'll send you a picture of one tonight.