Mossberg 500A Magazine Tube

[verticalgain1]

Hi

I have a Mossberg 500A, the 7-shell magazine version of the 500. I just purchased a Scattergun technologies magazine spring and follower, and now I have an issue with removing the magazine tube.

For those unfamiliar with them, the Mossberg magazine tube is sealed off on the nut end so you can't take the spring and follower out without unscrewing the tube itself.

Mine is apparently happy in its current place, as all efforts to remove it by hand have failed. I'm looking for suggestions on how to get it unscrewed from the receiver.

My only idea so far is to purchase an oil filter wrench of the adjustable strap type and use that as leverage to break the magazine free. So far I've tried a pipe wrench with a towel wrapped around the barrel, but it slipped too much to help.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

you need a strap wrench.

craftsman makes them, so you can probably find one at sears.

go slow and be careful.

 

[Poodleshooter]

Your tube may be soldered or peened in place. Check it carefully where it enters the receiver. Some tubes (like mine) unscrew with almost no effort at all. Others report theirs to be unmovable using force alone.

Edit- also check here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=65505

 

[mnrivrat]

Steel Tube screwed into an alloy reciever - sometimes they can be a bit stubborn. Brownell's makes a mag. tube wrench for the job. Strap wrenches can do the job on all but the most stubborn. They are not peened in and have no other retainer from the factory. Warming up the reciever a bit will help expand it and loosen the bond between it and the tube.

When using a strap wrench or the mag tube wrench keep keep it close to the reciever for best results.

 

[verticalgain1]

Update

Well, I'm still having little luck with getting the magazine off.

I've tried a rubber strap wrench as well as a nylon wrench, and neither are getting any traction. I don't want to use a pipe wrench because it will score.

My next step is probably going to be a butane torch to heat the receiver/magazine junction.

While I wait to get a torch, does anyone have any other suggestions on this?

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

first, try penetrating oil; there may be rust in there.

 

[mnrivrat]

Sorry to hear it is being that stubborn - I looked up the cost of the mag tube plier from Brownells and it is a bit too expensive to justify on a single job. The key is realy in the padding material used as well as the round jaw of this tool. Another way would be to drill a hardwood block with the appropriate size / split it and use this in the vise with powder resin as if you were removing a barrel. ( basically a barrel vise ). In fact it sounds like you might be better served by taking it into a smith who has the proper equipment to remove it without damage.

 

[Aneat]

Use a heat gun or hair dryer to apply heat to the reciever and you will be less likely to damage or discolor the reciever. A combination of heat and penetrating oil should free it up.
Adam