The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Mossberg 85

higgscharger · March 9, 2013, 12:06 AM

I recently bought an old MOssberg 85 20 ga bolt action shotgun.

The bolt moves reasonably well for a 70 year old gun, but when i try put a shell through it the bolt will not close all the way.

I pulled the bolt out to try and figure out why. With the bolt out of the gun, i checked the size of the shell in the bolt. Turns out, the brass is larger than the depression on the bolt face around the firing pin. One side of the brass drops in, but the other side sits on top of the rim.

Has the size of a 20 ga shell changed since this was manufactured in the 1930s? Are there particular shells that have a slightly smaller circumfrence that will fit this gun?

OR...

Am i missing something else entirely?

Thanks for the help.

March 9, 2013, 12:06 AM	#1
higgscharger Member Join Date: February 26, 2013 Posts: 52	Mossberg 85 - Shell size? I recently bought an old MOssberg 85 20 ga bolt action shotgun. The bolt moves reasonably well for a 70 year old gun, but when i try put a shell through it the bolt will not close all the way. I pulled the bolt out to try and figure out why. With the bolt out of the gun, i checked the size of the shell in the bolt. Turns out, the brass is larger than the depression on the bolt face around the firing pin. One side of the brass drops in, but the other side sits on top of the rim. Has the size of a 20 ga shell changed since this was manufactured in the 1930s? Are there particular shells that have a slightly smaller circumfrence that will fit this gun? OR... Am i missing something else entirely? Thanks for the help.