Fixing the Mossberg safety?

[Jackrabbit]

I,ve had a 590 mariner for some years now. I rarely shoot it partly because the safety sucks. It likes to move to the safe postion during recoil. Very annoying especially on quick follow up shots. I remember hearing once about a fix for this problem...anyone know what I'm talking about?

[Amish_Bill]

I have the same problem. (at least a buddy says I do - haven't shot it myself yet)

Someone suggested that it was a broken detent spring (or related mechanism) under the safety.

I haven't taken it apart yet to look.

ps.. I think that Sarco or Numrich has replacement parts in a multiple pack. If I get off my butt and order the parts for mine, I can pass along an extra...

[LDK300M]

If your safety is flopping around like that, either the spring is broke, or you are missing a part. There should be ( from the top down ) Safety button screw, Safety button, Safety detent plate, Safety detent ball, Safety detent spring, and ( inside the receiver ) Safety block.
This is a simple fix, ( and cheap !! ) Just take it apart, count noses, and see if any things broke.
Somebody is making steel safety buttons now, I just can`t recall who at the moment. I just go ahead and whittle mine out of aluminium, that way I can get the 'nub' high enough to hit with gloves on. If you need any more help just holler! Regards, Bill

[Jackrabbit]

Well I pulled it apart and all the pieces are there. It's not like it flops around by any means, it has a positive engagement to safe or off...it just won't stay put for more than 2-3 rounds, 4 tops. I may just leave it out. I've never intentionally used it anyways.

Thanks for the help though!

[LDK300M]

You DO NOT want to leave the safety off, if you ever have to use it in self defense, it will leave you wide open for some bedwetter prosicuter to stick it to you !
It sounds like your safety button is flexing, www.Brownells.com has the solution, part number 631-000-287 HTH Regards, Bill

[McNabb]

I would recommend installing the Steel safety, that should allow for positive engagement and won't wear as easily as the plastic ones...

also, just got the Sportsmans Guide Shooting catalog last night and noticed a Mossberg safety replacement kit for sale. It came with 6 of each plastic safety pads, springs, detents, and screws.
Seemed pretty cheap to. Might be nice for a back up parts kit.

Good luck.....

[Glock19]

Check the fireing pin spring.I had the same problem with mine and sent it back to Mossberg and thats what they said was wrong.The broke spring made the fireing pin hit the safety when the bolt was all the way back.

[Milspec]

ditto what glock19 said... that sounds like what your problem is, the firing pin hitting the safety when you work the action... a quick way to check this is to take your unloaded gun, put the safety in the "fire" position, then work the action vigerously a couple times like you would while firing the weapon, i slam the hell out of mine when im rapid firing. chances are after you do this once or twice if you check the safety button it will have moved halfway to the "safe" position, it has nothing to do with recoil but like glock19 said the firing pin hitting the front of the actual safety post inside the reciever. you can also field strip the gun and look inside the reciever at the front of the safety post, chances are you will see a slight circular mark where the rear of the pin has been contacting the safety. hope this helps.

[Amish_Bill]

I hate to sound like a ditz, but just HOW do you get this dang thing apart?
(The whole thing, not just the safety)

[ 24. January 2003, 19:41: Message edited by: Amish_Bill ]

[LDK300M]

First, you need a BIG HAMMER...
sorry couldn`t help myself, let me go grab one of mine and I`ll walk you through it

[Ironhandjohn]

Bill: I wish I had known that someone needed toknow how to detail-strip a Mossberg, because I just did mine a few weeks ago, but I CAN'T REMEMBER how I did it!!! ARRGH!! I do remember that the extractors are NOT interchangeable, so make sure the right ones go in the right places in the bolt. They look the same, but the faces are differently angled. The only reason I know this is because I re-installed mine ack-basswards, resulting in torn shell rims.

I've been up since 0245, and worked 12.5HRS today, maybe if I get some sleep the directions for taking a Mossberg down will come to me in my sleep.......

[LDK300M]

AW CRAP! this dang thing waited until I had everything wrote out and then ate it!!
Ok, one more time.
Unloaded? If you have a pistolgrip type stock remove it. Work the action to cock the hammer. Bring the forearm about halfway back, then unscrew the barrel retaining bolt on the front of the magazine tube, and draw the barrel out the front. Lay the shotgun on it`s back ( all directions are given as if it were shouldered though ) Above and behind the trigger is a pin, push it out in either direction. Pivot the rear of the triggergaurd down and then remove the whole assy. Remove the shellstops (thin strip of steel on each side of where the triggergaurd was, there is a right and a left ). Line up the bolt carrier (flat looking chunck of steel) with the wide spot in the receiver and lift out (note the notches on the sides where the action bars fit, also notice the lug on top, and how it fits into the bolt). Draw the slide forward off the magazine tube. Draw the bolt out the front of the receiver (notice that the ejector rides in a groove on the side of the bolt) Put it on SAFE, then pivot the shell lifter down, then squeeze it`s legs together to disengage from the receiver and remove. Reassemble in reverse order
There is nothing that you need to force, nor is there any thing that will go BOING and launch itself into orbit. Take your time and notice how everything nestles together like a chinese puzzle. This weapon takes down and goes back together in a flash, practice a little and you will see what I mean

[LDK300M]

AW CRAP! this dang thing waited until I had everything wrote out and then ate it!!
Ok, one more time.
Unloaded? If you have a pistolgrip type stock remove it. Work the action to cock the hammer. Bring the forearm about halfway back, then unscrew the barrel retaining bolt on the front of the magazine tube, and draw the barrel out the front. Lay the shotgun on it`s back ( all directions are given as if it were shouldered though ) Above and behind the trigger is a pin, push it out in either direction. Pivot the rear of the triggergaurd down and then remove the whole assy. Remove the shellstops (thin strip of steel on each side of where the triggergaurd was, there is a right and a left ). Line up the bolt carrier (flat looking chunck of steel) with the wide spot in the receiver and lift out (note the notches on the sides where the action bars fit, also notice the lug on top, and how it fits into the bolt). Draw the slide forward off the magazine tube. Draw the bolt out the front of the receiver (notice that the ejector rides in a groove on the side of the bolt) Put it on SAFE, then pivot the shell lifter down, then squeeze it`s legs together to disengage from the receiver and remove. Reassemble in reverse order
There is nothing that you need to force, nor is there any thing that will go BOING and launch itself into orbit. Take your time and notice how everything nestles together like a chinese puzzle. This weapon takes down and goes back together in a flash, practice a little and you will see what I mean

[LDK300M]

AW CRAP! this dang thing waited until I had everything wrote out and then ate it!!
Ok, one more time.
Unloaded? If you have a pistolgrip type stock remove it. Work the action to cock the hammer. Bring the forearm about halfway back, then unscrew the barrel retaining bolt on the front of the magazine tube, and draw the barrel out the front. Lay the shotgun on it`s back ( all directions are given as if it were shouldered though ) Above and behind the trigger is a pin, push it out in either direction. Pivot the rear of the triggergaurd down and then remove the whole assy. Remove the shellstops (thin strip of steel on each side of where the triggergaurd was, there is a right and a left ). Line up the bolt carrier (flat looking chunck of steel) with the wide spot in the receiver and lift out (note the notches on the sides where the action bars fit, also notice the lug on top, and how it fits into the bolt). Draw the slide forward off the magazine tube. Draw the bolt out the front of the receiver (notice that the ejector rides in a groove on the side of the bolt) Put it on SAFE, then pivot the shell lifter down, then squeeze it`s legs together to disengage from the receiver and remove. Reassemble in reverse order
There is nothing that you need to force, nor is there any thing that will go BOING and launch itself into orbit. Take your time and notice how everything nestles together like a chinese puzzle. This weapon takes down and goes back together in a flash, practice a little and you will see what I mean