Salvaging a Shotgun

[theotherwaldo]

I've picked up yet another discarded shotgun and I'm in the process of bringing it back to life.
It was probably cut down and pistol gripped back in the '80s and was completely locked up when I got it.
Curiously, the only markings were the serial number and the fact that it was a 12 gauge, but a little research showed that it was an older Mossberg 500.
After pulling the pistol grip I found that the action was freed up - apparently. the stock bolt was too long and served to jam up the trigger group.
After adding an appropriate stock (and a couple of stock washers) the old gun works fine.
Now I'm considering installing an un-chopped barrel... .

 

[WestKentucky]

Mossberg barrels are plentiful.

It is absolutely amazing what little is wrong with some guns that are forgotten or discarded. I bought an “As Is” topbreak S&W 32 safety hammerless with very nice buckle playing still remaining for $75 recently. It had a bit of trash in the action that washed out with a rem oil blast. I squared up the worn seat surfaces for good measure. Neither my repair or yours takes a rocket scientist, but those guns were overlooked because they were “broken”. It will never cease to amaze me.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

I love restoring shotguns to service. I don’t bother with cosmetics, tho. I fix what’s broke, make it mechanically sound and safe to shoot, and go use it as was intended!

 

[262madmike]

Where do you find these gems.

 

[22250Rem]

Congrats...... That's a worthy endeavor and with it being a Mossberg 500 you won't have any problem getting a barrel or other parts. I was wondering about that "older" description; as the early Mossberg 500's used a single action bar in the fore end up until the early 1970's or so (?). Then they went to the dual action bars still seen ever since. I learned about this last year when I got a very nice "older" 20 ga. Mossberg 500 complete with the original Mossberg "C-Lect choke" ( adjustable choke; like the old poly chokes), as part of a package deal on another shotgun I was buying. Then I noticed it only had a single action bar. There's an unofficial serial number listing on Mossbergowners.com that may help to date it. Mine seems to be early 1970's.

 

[theotherwaldo]

It's probably from around 1980.
I picked it up outside a pawn shop for pocket change after the shop turned the guy away because the action didn't work.
The guy was thinking about just throwing it away... .

 

[bdickens]

Some guys have all the luck.