Mossberg 590A1 Feeding Problem

[The Undertaker]

Hi all.

I took both of my Mossbergs down to the range yesterday for some patterning work. One developed a feeding problem.

- Although it has an 8-round capacity, I usually only load it with 7 rounds.
- The magazine follower has a tendency of becoming stuck within the magazine tube somewhere between the 7 and 8 round mark.
- This forces me to unscrew the magazine tube cap and use a screwdriver to manually push the magazine follower out of the stuck position.
- Now the magazine follower has become stuck at the empty position, with no shells in the magazine tube, essentially preventing me from being able to load the weapon.

Any help on dislodging the follower? Thanks.

 

[MAX100]

Take the metal spring retainer out. Use a screw driver and pry it out but be careful not bend the lip of the mag tube.

Replace the tapered end factory spring with a Wolff universal extra power spring. Cut it too 29" and bend the cut ends down level with the lower coil and this should fix your problem. Mossberg now puts a higher quality mag tube spring in their 590 shotguns.

Give me an email and and I will send you a Wolff spring ready to drop in for cheaper than you can buy one from Wolff.


GC

 

[Beaux Nehr]

Hi undertaker, my 590's follower used to get stuck in the "empty" position as well.

A firm tap will dislodge it, and the problem on my gun solved itself.

 

[RandKL]

this should fix your problem.

His follower is getting stuck in the tube and he's having to tap it loose with a screwdriver. How's a cheapo wolff spring fix that???

Undertaker, it sounds like your gun was handled a bit rough and the tube's bent or crushed a hair. If it is, you have three fixes. #1 is get an aftermarket follower, usually plastic crap, that's a hair smaller than the original that will slide past the top bend and hope the shells will make it past the bend, too, or #2 replace the tube or #3 fix the tube. You can try the old socket wrench method on the tube....find a snug fitting socket and gently tap it down the inside of the mag tube past the bend a few times til it moves loosely....or you can take it to a smith and he'll do the same thing with the proper tool. Buying a new tube is your best bet, though. It's cheap, it's easy, and it works every time. That tube you have sounds like someone might have screwed with it before you got the gun, though.

rich

 

[MAX100]

The tapered end springs in the 590 shotguns are notorious for binding and they are also very week. That's the reason Mossberg switched to higher quality springs this year.

The stamped metal follower is thin, cheap and it bends easy. It's very tight in the mag tube to start with. All it takes is it to get slightly out of round to cause feed problems.

I would replace both the follower and spring. Both Vang and Brownells brand metal followers are excellent. Vang is heavy duty stainless and I prefer it.

It's very unlikely the mag tube is bent.


GC

 

[Beaux Nehr]

Both Vang and Brownells brand metal followers are excellent

Umm... the vang follower doesn't work with the springs you sell.

 

[MAX100]

Umm... the vang follower doesn't work with the springs you sell.

Why?

I have Wolff springs in all of my shotguns and Vang/Wolff spring combo in one of my shotguns.


GC

 

[EdLaver]

You just described exactly what is happening in my 930 SPX, the last round never feeds up the lifter. I Think its a spring/follower problem.

 

[MAX100]

You just described exactly what is happening in my 930 SPX, the last round never feeds up the lifter. I Think its a spring/follower problem.

Mossberg puts a good high quality steel follow in the 930SPX but the spring they use is weak. I would just change the spring out.


GC

 

[Beaux Nehr]

Why?

I have Wolff springs in all of my shotguns and Vang/Wolff spring combo in one of my shotguns.

Really?
When I got the Vang follower, I had to forcefully pop one end into the follower, and when I inserted it into the shotgun it would only barely feed to seven rounds.

I should've included that I knocked it down about 1.25 turns, and it's working really well, though.

Also, the stock mossberg spring would almost poke through the hole in the middle of the follower.

 

[RandKL]

The tapered end springs in the 590 shotguns are notorious for binding and they are also very week. That's the reason Mossberg switched to higher quality springs this year.

Simple to find out then. Remove the cap and pull the spring and try feeding rounds up the tube til it sticks. If it binds between 7 and 8, he has a bent/rusted tube. And fwiw, tapered springs prevent binding, not cause it. Also fwiw, I have the same oringinal spring in mine and have had no probs with weakness in over three years of use.

The stamped metal follower is thin, cheap and it bends easy. It's very tight in the mag tube to start with. All it takes is it to get slightly out of round to cause feed problems.

They've been using the same steel follower for what, forty years? I've never seen or heard a single compaint on the quality of such....well, getting back to another thread long ago, I've heard of them rusting in place in guns that weren't cleaned and lubed properly. Never had one get bent *inside* a mag tube or get bent in some such a way that it would only bind up in one location in the tube. If it's bent, it's bent. It'll screech and stick the entire length of the tube where the spring is the least compressed, *not* at the top end of the tube where there's the most spring force behind it. Those stamped followers have always worked, they aren't "cheap" and they aren't easily damaged. They don't bind, they aren't tight in the tube. They also don't wear out as some have tried to suggest and mag springs don't punch cracks through them.

As I said, he can simply remove the cap and spring and load rounds up the tube to see what the prob is. If it's a bent follower binding in only one spot over and over, that would be a first.

rich

 

[The Undertaker]

All right. This is what I'm going to do.

- Use a hammer and screwdriver to try and unjam the follower.
- Disassemble the weapon and check the inner surface of the magazine for any obstructions.
- Reassemble and lubricate the magazine/follower.

If it continues to give me problems, I'll consider replacing the spring and follower.

Thanks for the helpful hints guys.

 

[EdLaver]

Mossberg puts a good high quality steel follow in the 930SPX but the spring they use is weak. I would just change the spring out.

Max100, what spring would you suggest please? Thanks.

 

[Beaux Nehr]

Undertaker, is it still stuck in the empty position?

If so, you should try something less severe first.

 

[MAX100]

Max100, what spring would you suggest please? Thanks.

Wolff universal 12Ga spring is high quality. Cut it around 29" and bend the ends down so they are level with the lower coil.


GC

 

[Al LaVodka]

Max;
Is that what you do with the springs in your 590 extensions?
Guys, Max makes a nice little product!
Al

 

[MAX100]

Is that what you do with the springs in your 590 extensions?

Correct!


GC