Forearm play in pump

**wheelman53** · December 4th, 2011, 05:37 PM

I inherited a circa 1989 Mossberg 500 that I want to use for home defense. There is pretty much play in the forearm. The action works okay. Does something need to be tightened? I don't have much experience with pumps. Thanks for any suggestions.

**elray** · December 4th, 2011, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by wheelman53

I inherited a circa 1989 Mossberg 500 that I want to use for home defense. There is pretty much play in the forearm. The action works okay. Does something need to be tightened? I don't have much experience with pumps. Thanks for any suggestions.

the lock nut that holds the handgaurd in place is the likely culprit.
tighten that,and you will be home free.

**Emptymag** · December 4th, 2011, 08:21 PM

I had a Mossberg 500 Persuader that I purchased new. I thought it felt sloppy.

I no longer own it, but handling a Maverick 88 (econo Mossberg) it seems the forearm is tighter AND has a smoother action. Go figure.

**knight0334** · December 4th, 2011, 11:12 PM

Every Mossy 500 I've held rattled up front, new and old. So long as the breech locks closed for firing there isn't a problem.

**wheelman53** · December 6th, 2011, 11:45 AM

Thanks for the replies. I had the opportunity to check another 500 about the same age as mine; it had the same kind of slop. So as a couple of you stated, I guess it's normal. Thanks again!

**animalmother85** · December 6th, 2011, 12:49 PM

Somewhere along the line, Mossbergs went from single slide to double slide. Look at it, is it a single slide? If so, slop is what you will get. There isn't much worth doing to get ride of it. My father bought one years ago for $60. It has always been reliable and I even shot my first deer with it. Some people get wrapped up on aesthetic things like sloppy pumps on a shotgun, but it's a shotgun. As long as it works and isn't damaging itself, it'll be good to go.

**tabasco_joe** · December 6th, 2011, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by knight0334

Every Mossy 500 I've held rattled up front, new and old. So long as the breech locks closed for firing there isn't a problem.

They can be a bit noisy for my taste when turkey hunting. I have a couple and as you say good for my other hunting. (I don't hunt deer with them.)

**rovert97** · December 7th, 2011, 03:29 AM

Mine does tue same thing. Same age. It rattles and wiggles. I'm used to it. The gun goes bang and kills things so I'm not worried about it.

**wheelman53** · December 7th, 2011, 01:34 PM

I just wanted to be sure it was put together correctly & the slop was normal. I'm not using it for hunting, so the noise doesn't bother me. If someone starts kicking my door in, it will help me greet them.