Newbie Broke His Shotgun

[Ivan Dreka]

Hey, guys. Been browsing the forums as a non-member for a while now and figured I might as well join, seeing as how your discussions have already helped me learn about my hand-me-down 1964 Ruger Standard.

I recently acquired a Mossberg 500 12ga and decided to try and break it down to familiarize myself with it until I can afford the gas to drive to the nearest shooting range.

I have since learned that I am Tim Taylor reincarnate. Tore my hand open trying to get the stock off until the screwdriver up and broke. Didn't know wood was that sharp.

But what brought me here as a member is the fact that when I took the trigger guard out to try wiggling the stock loose, and put it back in, it no longer wants to rack like it used to. Now, I have to dry-fire if I want to rack a second time.

What did I do wrong, other than try to teach myself without a trained professional and medic in the room?

 

[toivo]

But what brought me here as a member is the fact that when I took the trigger guard out to try wiggling the stock loose, and put it back in, it no longer wants to rack like it used to. Now, I have to dry-fire if I want to rack a second time.

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, there's nothing wrong with your gun. When you rack the gun, you cock it. It won't rack while it's cocked -- the action is locked. If you want to rack it again, you have to dry fire it or hit the slide release button that you see to the left rear of the trigger guard.

Or did you mean that the slide release isn't working? In that case, you might have messed something up when you put the trigger guard back on.

 

[danez71]

I don't know the answer but you want this Mossberg 500 assembly guide that's 'stickied' at the top of the page

http://www.thehighroad.org/forumdisplay.php?f=7

Welcome to THR,

 

[Sunray]

"...break it down to familiarize myself with it..." That usually doesn't involve taking the stock off. No need for that.
Reading the manual will make a difference. There's a wee button on the back of the trigger guard that'll release the action.
http://www.mossberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/500-535ATS-835Ulti-Mag-505-590-en.pdf

 

[Ivan Dreka]

Maybe it was broken before and I accidentally fixed it, or I legitimately didn't know about the slide release button. I've since re-read my manual and glanced through the sticky (I did a forum search but nothing came up.)

My brother woke up and since he knows where the tools are in the disaster area of our garage, he broke out a ratchet and it's all good now.

At least I (hopefully) got my first embarrassing mistake out of the way.

 

[stevekozak]

What is on your shotgun that requires a ratchet?

 

[toivo]

Maybe it was broken before and I accidentally fixed it, or I legitimately didn't know about the slide release button.

Depending on how you were holding it when you racked it earlier (before the disassembly), you may have been depressing the slide release button without knowing it.

 

[Derry 1946]

Reassembly of the Mossberg 500 is a little tricky. YouTube has some good video of it. Doesn't sound like you really broke it. Good luck!

 

[Ivan Dreka]

What is on your shotgun that requires a ratchet?

The bolt/screw thing in the wood stock that holds it into the rest of the gun.
There's a slit for a screwdriver, but after breaking one screwdriver, the ratchet and hex socket made it work like butter.

 

[Derry 1946]

Yeah, that thing is hard to access.

 

[guyfromohio]

Tolvo had the answer. Not broken. That's how a pump functions.

 

[shiftyer1]

I don't normally tear mine down that far, theres really no need unless your replacing your stock.