Drilling and Tapping Mossy 500

**wjh2657** · December 19th, 2008, 01:55 PM

Does anybody know of any difficulty in drill and tapping a ca.1983 Mossberg 500 for a Weaver scope mount? I have heard rumors not to tap because of aluminum receiver. I have the right mount from Weaver but will need to take to gunsmith (some distance away) for drilling and tapping. I sort of want to be sure before I destroy gun and I have had gunsmiths do the wrong thing before. I don't want side saddle mount, so don't even bring it up.

**Pukindog** · December 19th, 2008, 02:19 PM

I think a better solution might be to buy a cantilevered barrel. Put the money into the barrel rather then spend money to drill and tap. Just remove barrel and scope and replace with shot barrel when needed.

Jeff

**P89** · December 19th, 2008, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by wjh2657

Does anybody know of any difficulty in drill and tapping a ca.1983 Mossberg 500 for a Weaver scope mount? I have heard rumors not to tap because of aluminum receiver.

If you have any type of mechanical skill it's not all that hard. Measure twice (with mics) drill & tap once. The problem is people have a tendency to over tighten the screws and strip the alumn. threads....the key is snug and locktite.

Pukin'dog didn't stear you wrong either...viable option.

**wjh2657** · December 19th, 2008, 03:05 PM

Not viable option. Gun is for shooting Brenneke Rifled slugs at 75 yards, Smoothbore barrel is needed , cantilever barrels for Mossberg 500A are all rifled bore.

Cost of drill and tap: $30.00
Cost of new barrel $163.50

This is not a primary gun, it is a builder and I don't want to sink that much more money in it. The Nikon scope was a present and the Gun was purchased cheap (Tornado survivor, nicked up bad!)

I should have specified more in post, sorry.

**dekrev** · December 27th, 2008, 01:28 AM

what I try to do normally when making a hole in aluminum for a screw or bolt is use whats called a helicoil...

if the screw is attaching hardware in aluminum you can use a helicoil - cheapest method... but at the very least in this way you wont easily strip out a freshly tapped hole in aluminum...

so... drill your hole to the size indicated in the helicoil pack... cut the threads for the hole and insert the helicoil... use a "screw lock" insert and this will prevent the attaching hardware from becoming loose over time.

here is a link for helicoil catalogue:
http://www.helicoil.in/pdf/HeliCoil%20Catalogue.pdf