I bought my daughter a new 20 Gauge Mossberg 500 for this season. We took it on the maiden voyage this weekend for the youth season. We had five gobblers at 10 yards just after daybreak and as she went to shoot she couldn't move the safety. I reached over and it wouldn't budge. I ended up taking the gun from her and it never moved. After getting home I searched and found this is a pretty widely accepted issue by Mossberg. What a disappointing way to start a season...
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Quote from: Planner on March 14, 2021, 08:51:00 PM
I bought my daughter a new 20 Gauge Mossberg 500 for this season. We took it on the maiden voyage this weekend for the youth season. We had five gobblers at 10 yards just after daybreak and as she went to shoot she couldn't move the safety. I reached over and it wouldn't budge. I ended up taking the gun from her and it never moved. After getting home I searched and found this is a pretty widely accepted issue by Mossberg. What a disappointing way to start a season...
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So sorry this happen. I only have one Mossberg 500 and it's 12 ga. and the safety has always released but it's pretty hard to push to released. Interesting ...
Same thing happens on my 535 12 gauge. Luckily I got it back from the gunsmith a week before the season started that year and was still able to pattern it.
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There is a small ball bearing under the sliding safety button and a small block on the inside of the receiver. I noticed I had to push down hard and then forward to get mine to move before it was broken in. One time on a dove hunt the small sliding block that the safety screw screws into on the inside of the receiver came loose from the screw and locked the gun up solid. I like mossberg but I am not a fan of the thumb sliding safety
I had this issue on my 535 after a few years of use. I think somehow the ball bearing had become lodged and I couldn't budge the safety. I ended up buying a replacement safety kit that had the spring, ball bearing, and a safety with a raised up ridge for your thumb to push against. It has worked great ever since. It's much easier to use than the stock safety ever was.
Quote from: briton on March 14, 2021, 09:16:43 PM
There is a small ball bearing under the sliding safety button and a small block on the inside of the receiver. I noticed I had to push down hard and then forward to get mine to move before it was broken in. One time on a dove hunt the small sliding block that the safety screw screws into on the inside of the receiver came loose from the screw and locked the gun up solid. I like mossberg but I am not a fan of the thumb sliding safety
X2 .. I so agree, i like the gun, but never have the safety..
Ive always been a fan of the 870 safety because I can use two fingers to slide it on and off safe without actually making any noise verses just pressing it from one side. I have a Mossberg 500 410 and I used to think I liked the safety on it better just for the simplicity of never having to take your hand off the gun, but seeing this thread kinda makes me scared of taking a Mossberg hunting.
That's sucks, had several 500's and have never had that issue.
It happend with my 535 right after it got it, within about 2 months. No problems with my 835 or 935. Could have or is just an issue with the 500 series, I know that Mossberg was aware of the problem and thought they were fixing it on their newer models. But the OP said he bought his 500 new so maybe they haven't.
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Is it completely locked up or just super stiff?
What I have found helps if I get a super stiff one is trimming the spring. A Google search will reveal the details that you're looking for. I'm not a gunsmith, nor responsible for anyone's safety. You should consider this advice with a grain of salt as I probably ate lead paint as a kid.
Went through the same thing with my son's youth Mossberg. His tang safety was stiffer than my 535 or 930. It was insane.
Must be a recent issue? I have no clue how many Mossbergs I have handled, 100s for sure and have not seen the issue, but it has been a while since I have been around any.
I always liked a thumb safety! Only ones I have now are on O/U.
Quote from: Dtrkyman on March 15, 2021, 10:08:33 AM
Must be a recent issue? I have no clue how many Mossbergs I have handled, 100s for sure and have not seen the issue, but it has been a while since I have been around any.
I always liked a thumb safety! Only ones I have now are on O/U.
Same boat, handled 100's. First one I saw was on my son's Youth 505. Bought/sold another 510 that was the same way.
At first I thought it was just my son not able to work the safety properly (trick is...push down and forward). Then I tried it and went...what the hey...
My nephew's 500 safety is "locked" forward(fire position) also. It needs sent in to Mossberg. I'm not overly keen on "gunsmithing" a trigger mechanism.
Not the first time I've heard stuff like this. I have always really liked Mossberg pumps & have owned 3 in the past. Don't take this the wrong way because I'm not bashing Mossbergs. Many people have had good luck with them. Any gun can malfunction. The first one I owned I bought to rabbit hunt with years ago when I ran beagles. Never had any problems with that one. The last one was a like new 535 I bought from friend of mine to turkey hunt with. I was letting my step dad use it one morning when I called in 2 longbeards. The gun's trigger wouldn't pull when he tried to shoot. After a few seconds of applying some back & forth force on the slide it finally shot & of course it caused him to miss the bird. It WOULD have been his first turkey. Took it to a gunsmith & he couldn't find anything wrong with it so I sold it. Probably won't ever own another one at least for turkey hunting. If a gun ain't 100% reliable as far as I'm aware of it won't be in my gun safe very long. It's got to go bang when I pull the trigger!
I've noticed the safety on mine gets really stiff when it's real cold weather. Not sure why but never have the issue when dove hunting but duck hunting around 20 degrees it seems to happen. I much prefer the safety on an 870.
Quote from: mcracanoe50 on March 15, 2021, 09:52:51 AM
Is it completely locked up or just super stiff?
What I have found helps if I get a super stiff one is trimming the spring. A Google search will reveal the details that you're looking for. I'm not a gunsmith, nor responsible for anyone's safety. You should consider this advice with a grain of salt as I probably ate lead paint as a kid.
Went through the same thing with my son's youth Mossberg. His tang safety was stiffer than my 535 or 930. It was insane.
It's completely locked up. I tried everything I could to get it to move and have a blister on my thumb to prove it.... :) I pulled everything in my vest out trying to find something to try to make it work. I'm gonna try to get it fixed, but I'll be moving on from Mossberg after this.... I invest too much time and money for an issue that the manufacturer knows about to impact my hunt.
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I've had one lock up as well. But mine stayed locked up in the fire position. 835 12 gauge that I bought in the early 90's. My safety was I left the slide open. I finally retired that gun after the trigger quit working. I never have attempted to get it fixed. Switched to a 20 gauge 870 and never looked back.
:morning:
I'm not a smith just a eternal tinkerer with a lust to figure things out and have worked on a few for friends. Yep, they can be finicky as there are parts in there that need to work in harmony. But Mossberg has enjoyed a Mil-Spec rating so someone somewhere in ordnance has got it figured out! :z-twocents:
Quote from: Planner on March 15, 2021, 08:30:28 PM
Quote from: mcracanoe50 on March 15, 2021, 09:52:51 AM
Is it completely locked up or just super stiff?
What I have found helps if I get a super stiff one is trimming the spring. A Google search will reveal the details that you're looking for. I'm not a gunsmith, nor responsible for anyone's safety. You should consider this advice with a grain of salt as I probably ate lead paint as a kid.
Went through the same thing with my son's youth Mossberg. His tang safety was stiffer than my 535 or 930. It was insane.
It's completely locked up. I tried everything I could to get it to move and have a blister on my thumb to prove it.... :) I pulled everything in my vest out trying to find something to try to make it work. I'm gonna try to get it fixed, but I'll be moving on from Mossberg after this.... I invest too much time and money for an issue that the manufacturer knows about to impact my hunt.
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So sorry to hear this.
Contact Mossberg and give them a chance to make it right. They answered an email within 24 hours and was great. Maybe they can tell you an authorized dealer near you that could fix it on the spot?
Brownells sells a Mossberg safety kit, all steel and enhanced button.
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Quote from: Dtrkyman on March 20, 2021, 10:25:03 PM
Brownells sells a Mossberg safety kit, all steel and enhanced button.
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Good stuff! :camohat:
Shouldn't have to buy a safety kit, the gun should function right, it's a manufacturing problem. I would call Mossberg or take it to gunsmith. IMO
Quote from: Greg Massey on March 22, 2021, 08:38:22 AM
Shouldn't have to buy a safety kit, the gun should function right, it's a manufacturing problem. I would call Mossberg or take it to gunsmith. IMO
100%!
I agree the gun should funtion, but from what I have seen the factory safety is plastic? That is an upgrade regardless.
To the OP...
Did you get this issue resolved?
Keep us posted.