Mossberg 500 mag plug.

imp · October 8, 2018, 11:11 PM

If you haven't seen one, it looks like a chopstick with rubber O-rings on each end. Is there a bonafide reason for these o-rings?

Twice now, I've had the plug get caught up in the magazine spring, the second time it twisted the bejesus out of the spring.

I ordered a new spring, and my plan is to cut a larger diameter dowel rod to the appropriate length, and forgo the o-rings. Anyone see a problem with that proposal?

Virginian · October 9, 2018, 05:35 AM

That's the solution. The only purpose I cs\an see for the O rings is to keep it from rattling. I have used an old wooden pencil or even a stick in an emergency.

Doyle · October 9, 2018, 06:45 AM

Even a section of an arrow works fine.

jaguarxk120 · October 9, 2018, 07:12 AM

Use a dowel rod just large enough to fit inside of the magazine spring.
round the ends and sand smooth, give it a coat of wax and install inside
of the spring.

FITASC · October 9, 2018, 07:44 AM

Or a small diameter piece of PVC pipe - doesn't absorb moisture

natman · October 10, 2018, 12:08 AM

Round off the ends. The stock dowel is cut square and can get caught in the spring.

Drm50 · October 10, 2018, 08:30 AM

Rem has plastic plugs that come with 870/1100s. They work good in about any
gun I have come across. I had a whole cigar box full of them until Ohio went 3
shot on slug hunters. Now since rifle season it's still 3 shot but it's honor system
no plug required. The older guns had wooden dowels with rounded end that were
perfectly functional. I don't know what Moss thinking was on balloon stick with
O rings. Must be cheaper than 1/2" dowel. I have seen several jam up mag spring.

jmr40 · October 10, 2018, 01:32 PM

The O ring prevents the plug from simply falling out of the magazine. But you can pull it out without having to disassemble the gun. There is a hole in the end of the spring retainer just big enough for the wooden plug to fit through, but not the O ring unless you pull on it.

There are several companies that make replacement plastic plugs that can be cut to fit

https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...l_87zz2prpl5_b

T. O'Heir · October 10, 2018, 02:02 PM

"...section of an arrow works fine..." So does a piece of tree branch cut to length when you get out and find the factory plug is at home. It doesn't need to be of a larger diameter though.
"...until Ohio went 3 shot..." Just so you don't feel oppressed. Ontario's been 3 in the gun regardless of the game hunted for eons. snicker.

Orion6 · October 21, 2018, 09:13 AM

On a Mossberg you essentially HAVE to use the wood plug. Or something that same diameter. As stated, round off the ends a bit, wax it and don’t worry about it. It works.

RMcL · October 23, 2018, 12:48 AM

The Mossberg 590 series finally corrected the Model 500 Magazine/barrel retention design problem.

T. O'Heir · October 23, 2018, 10:50 AM

"...essentially HAVE to use the wood plug..." No you don't.

October 8, 2018, 11:11 PM	#1
imp Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 626	Mossberg 500 mag plug. If you haven't seen one, it looks like a chopstick with rubber O-rings on each end. Is there a bonafide reason for these o-rings? Twice now, I've had the plug get caught up in the magazine spring, the second time it twisted the bejesus out of the spring. I ordered a new spring, and my plan is to cut a larger diameter dowel rod to the appropriate length, and forgo the o-rings. Anyone see a problem with that proposal?

October 9, 2018, 05:35 AM	#2
Virginian Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2012 Location: Williamsburg, Va. Posts: 1,528	That's the solution. The only purpose I cs\an see for the O rings is to keep it from rattling. I have used an old wooden pencil or even a stick in an emergency. __________________ What could have happened... did.

October 9, 2018, 07:44 AM	#5
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,440	Or a small diameter piece of PVC pipe - doesn't absorb moisture __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

October 10, 2018, 12:08 AM	#6
natman Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2008 Posts: 2,605	Round off the ends. The stock dowel is cut square and can get caught in the spring. __________________ Time Travelers' Wisdom: Never Do Yesterday What Should Be Done Tomorrow. If At Last You Do Succeed, Never Try Again.

October 10, 2018, 01:32 PM	#8
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	The O ring prevents the plug from simply falling out of the magazine. But you can pull it out without having to disassemble the gun. There is a hole in the end of the spring retainer just big enough for the wooden plug to fit through, but not the O ring unless you pull on it. There are several companies that make replacement plastic plugs that can be cut to fit https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...l_87zz2prpl5_b __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

October 9, 2018, 06:45 AM	#3
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	Even a section of an arrow works fine.

October 9, 2018, 07:12 AM	#4
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,619	Use a dowel rod just large enough to fit inside of the magazine spring. round the ends and sand smooth, give it a coat of wax and install inside of the spring.

October 10, 2018, 08:30 AM	#7
Drm50 Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 2014 Posts: 1,378	Rem has plastic plugs that come with 870/1100s. They work good in about any gun I have come across. I had a whole cigar box full of them until Ohio went 3 shot on slug hunters. Now since rifle season it's still 3 shot but it's honor system no plug required. The older guns had wooden dowels with rounded end that were perfectly functional. I don't know what Moss thinking was on balloon stick with O rings. Must be cheaper than 1/2" dowel. I have seen several jam up mag spring.

October 10, 2018, 02:02 PM	#9
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...section of an arrow works fine..." So does a piece of tree branch cut to length when you get out and find the factory plug is at home. It doesn't need to be of a larger diameter though. "...until Ohio went 3 shot..." Just so you don't feel oppressed. Ontario's been 3 in the gun regardless of the game hunted for eons. snicker. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

October 21, 2018, 09:13 AM	#10
Orion6 Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Tennessee Posts: 340	On a Mossberg you essentially HAVE to use the wood plug. Or something that same diameter. As stated, round off the ends a bit, wax it and don’t worry about it. It works.

October 23, 2018, 12:48 AM	#11
RMcL Senior Member Join Date: May 7, 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 273	The Mossberg 590 series finally corrected the Model 500 Magazine/barrel retention design problem.

October 23, 2018, 10:50 AM	#12
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...essentially HAVE to use the wood plug..." No you don't. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

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