Mossberg 500 Loose Barrel

[HS9192]

First of all, I am new to THR so I apologize if I am not posting in the right place.
I recently acquired a old Mossberg 500A1 from a friend. Upon examination I discovered that the barrel has a bit of play. Not side-to-side or in and out, but if you grab the receiver and the barrel and twist there is a noticeable amount of turn. The magazine tube is tight and does not move and the magazine cap is tight. There is also minimal wear around the part of the barrel in the receiver.

I am not concerned about function/accuracy whatever, it's just an old beater. I just want safety advice on if I should worry about it blowing up in my face.
Thanks!

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

Trying to imagine the “twist” you are describing and I’m not coming up with it. Could it be you are describing holding the receiver and forearm (not the barrel), and twisting that? If so, then a little bit of that movement is normal and no big deal. The action bar or bars must slide back and forth in a slot in the receiver, and there needs to be just a bit of slop for proper operation.

if you are truly grabbing the barrel proper and twisting it then either you are stressing the barrel lug where it meets the barrel (i have had a barrel lug separate from the barrel before) or there is something else going on. But if you have seated the barrel correctly in the receiver and tightened the barrel lug down to the end of the magazine tube correctly you should not be able to “twist” the barrel.

500’s have loose tolerances on purpose.

 

[twofewscrews]

if you grab the receiver and the barrel and twist there is a noticeable amount of turn. The magazine tube is tight and does not move and the magazine cap is tight.

Are you sure you got the parts right?

 

[243winxb]

My Mossberg has a tiny amount.

The red marked piece of the receiver on left, goes into notch on barrel. A little movement is ok. But to much may damage the extractor that fit in its own barrel notch. Yellow.

 

[HS9192]

I am just holding the receiver and the part of the barrel that extends past the magazine tube. Twisting lightly there is about 1/16 of an inch rotation or less. I'm not too worried about damaging the extractor because it's just a $70 shotgun that I bought because it was for sale. I've read everything from "Mossbergs have sloppy tolerances that's normal" to "there's something seriously wrong. I just want an opinion on if this is normal/ shoot it and don't worry about it or if I'm gonna blow my face off.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

Base on what you just described, I would not worry about that tiny movement. And unless there is something wrong in the receiver, or you have the gun pointed in the wrong direction, i think the risk of “blowing your face off” is pretty low. Low enough that i would not be concerned at all.

just make sure the barrel is inserted in the receiver properly and the attachment screw is snugged down hand-tight.

when you close the breech bolt by sliding the forearm forward, there is a locking mechanism that slides up thru a slot in the breech bolt, and locks into the square hole on the barrel extension (parts that fits in the receiver). That lockup will ensure the shell stays in the chamber until you are ready to open the breech by sliding the forearm back. They’re a quite safe design unless they’ve been modified to the point of being unsafe.

in fact, i would go to mossberg’s website and download yourself a copy of the owners manual for the 500. Strip it for cleaning like they say in the manual. Then reassemble per the instructions. You’ll learn how the gun works internally and will understand why there isn’t a lot that will go wrong w the gun if re-assembled and used correctly.

 

[243winxb]

1/16 of an inch rotation or less

Gun is ok.

 

[HS9192]

Thanks for the advice

 

[AlabamaRoscoe]

I have an older 500 early 70's model with lots of use. Everything on it wiggles or moves 1/16". It still shoots fine!

 

[Pat Riot]

@HS9192 Welcome to The High Road.

As has been said, a little play is okay.

 

[L-2]

I'm unaware of a "500A1" model. There is a 590A1 series and there are 500A models. I believe the "A" attached to the "500" indicates it's a 12 gauge chambering. 590A1 models' common attributes are usually:
-Parkerized finish (unless it's some type of marine-environment finished model);
-metal trigger guard;
-metal safety switch;
-magazine (clean out type) tube with and end "cap", not a screw, to hold the barrel onto the mag tube.

Note, there are also "590" models, without the "A1" designation, which are sort of a cross between a 500 and a 590A1-series. I know it gets confusing. See Mossberg's website although a person can easily become more confused instead of enlightened:
https://www.mossberg.com/firearms/action/pump.html

The 590A1 and 500A models are similar when it comes to barrel lock-up within the receiver; although most, but not all, 500 models have a screw or bolt to hold and mechanically attach the barrel to the mag tube.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1015378119?pid=150493

The 590A1 models use a "cap" (threaded end-cap) to tighten the barrel's mag tube ring to the barrel. I have come across a mal-formed mag tube cap on one 590A1 which wouldn't allow this "cap" to be tightened down. That end-cap was somewhat oblong instead of round. A new end cap solved that problem, but I'd broken an extractor from the loose barrel before I diagnosed the entire problem.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1005515472?pid=133149

There was one particular Mossberg shotgun labeled as a "500" which had a "breacher" muzzle device and used a mag tube end "cap" to tighten the barrel's "ring" to the mag tube. I believe it was similar to versions sold to the U.S. military often used for breaching (shooting at door hinges or locksets) and usually came with pistol grips, instead of stocks. I don't see this model on Mossberg's current website. It's finish was a matte-gray color which looked like "Parkerizing" but was NOT advertised as Parkerized.

For the OP, perhaps find another Mossberg to compare what's going on with the subject shotgun vs. another example (hopefully one which is functioning correctly). Without seeing the subject shotgun personally, it could be completely normal but maybe not.