HELP: New shotgun owner, worried I may have damaged my new gun

ClearTurbulence · 06-08-2008, 11:44 PM

I recently purchased a Mossberg Maverick 88 12-gauge for home defense. My firearm experience is very limited - I used to fire my father's pistols with him when I was a teenager and had some fun with my brother's black powder rifles in my early 20s, but it's been almost 13 years since I've handled a firearm, and I never used a shotgun.

Today I've been reading the manual and practicing loading and unloading it, working the action, etc., trying to build familiarity, and was showing my wife how to use it as well. I had removed the barrel to show my wife how it all comes together and works, and worked the action with the barrel off.

After I had done that and was putting the barrel back on, I noticed in the manual where it said "CAUTION: Never close the action or pull trigger while barrel is removed as damage could result to the firearm". I had worked the action through it's full range a couple of times, so I am concerned as to what kind of damage I may have cause the gun. It seems to be working properly, but I have not reloaded it since to be on the safe side.

Why is it you should not close the action with the barrel removed and what kind of damage might I have possibly caused to the firearm? What should I check for to make sure that it's OK?

ArkansasHunter · 06-08-2008, 11:55 PM

I own 2 Remington 870's and have not had any problem with them from closeing the action with the barrel off. I've never pulled the trigger that I'm a ware of.
A Mossberg I don't know.
I wouldn't worry about it and if the book says don't do that then don't LOL.

When you go to shoot it and it does fine you will know, no harms been done...A.H

ClearTurbulence · 06-09-2008, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

I own 2 Remington 870's and have not had any problem with them from closeing the action with the barrel off. I've never pulled the trigger that I'm a ware of.
A Mossberg I don't know.
I wouldn't worry about it and if the book says don't do that then don't LOL.

When you go to shoot it and it does fine you will know, no harms been done...A.H

Thanks, I appreciate the fast response.

I just reloaded my shotgun, and I noticed that it seems to make a much louder scraping sound when I'm pushing the shells into the magazine - could this be because of my closing the action with the barrel off (I can't see how, but I know next to nothing), or is this due to me unloading and reloading the gun several times without re-lubricating it in the 7 hours or so since I've purchased it?

wily1 · 06-09-2008, 10:18 AM

I did the very same same with my Mossberg 835 fifteen years ago and have never had a problem with it. Mossberg was great in getting back to me when I emailed them about something. Why don't you do the same, chances are you didn't do anything by working the action only a couple of times. But safety is always first, so find out what Mossberg has to say first, or take it to a gunsmith probably won't charge you anything just to look at it.

samuel · 06-10-2008, 08:32 AM

I can't see how you could hurt it unless the bolt,being sloppy without the barrel to guide it hit and damaged the ring the barrel goes in. sam.

cremley · 06-11-2008, 11:44 AM

I own two mossberg 500's and I have never had a problem with that. To be on the safe side, you could completely dissasemble the gun and clean all of the parts and oil it and then just put it back together correctly. it is not really that hard to do and I have seen a video on the net how to do it, sorry I forgot the link. If you do that, you should have no problems. O, by the way, welcome to Gun and Game!

Coeloptera · 06-17-2008, 02:08 AM

I'm trying to think what damage you could do.

I disassembled my Mossberg 500 Persuader and really took a look at the bolt by itself as well as the way the elevator and bolt move when you rack it.

I can't really see where damage can result. The firing pin shoots out of the end of the bolt into the primer. If the barrel isn't on it'd just try to slam into empty space, as if the gun weren't loaded.

In fact the only thing I can think of at all if maybe the...I don't know the terminology, the ring of metal at the end of the barrel that fits into the chamber itself helps guide the bolt when it slides forward and the bolt can maybe get loose with it not in place.

Might just be a general warning. And I doubt it has anything to do with your mag. Just oil it.

- Coeloptera

toolman · 06-17-2008, 02:21 AM

I've got a friend who bought a Maverick several years ago as an experiment. He's used it in dusty fields, carried it behind the seat of his pickup, and just abused it in general for over 8 years. He consistently takes more dove than me, always limits out on quail, and has never cleaned it. I sincerely doubt that you've hurt this gun by racking the slide a few times with the barrel off.

.22guy · 06-17-2008, 12:50 PM

It should be fine. You didn't do it 30 times or anything. Don't you have to move the slide around to get the barrel fully screwed in? I think I do on my Mossberg 500. It's been awhile since I swapped barrels around though.

Go shoot it and practice a lot. I don't know how much good a shotgun will be if you don't practice. Good luck with it.

ArkansasHunter · 06-17-2008, 12:57 PM

I gave this post some thought after the above post and I figger'ed there's a lot of Bubba's out there that would try to mount the barrel with the bolt closed and then screw something up.

But I don't beleive Clearturbulance did any harm to his shotgun, course I can see where he might of been concerned or alarmed after reading in his Owners manual not to do what he did.
...A.H

Coeloptera · 06-17-2008, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

I gave this post some thought after the above post and I figger'ed there's a lot of Bubba's out there that would try to mount the barrel with the bolt closed and then screw something up.

Okay, that I can see as a maybe. You do have to move the slide to about the middle in order to swap the barrel properly. I know this because I like to clean it after every session of use so I've taken it apart a good number of times since I got it in December.

- Coeloptera

ClearTurbulence · 06-24-2008, 11:59 PM

I've always been careful to have the slide in the middle whenever I change barrels. I think I only moved it a couple of times and I didn't do it forcefully.

Me and the wife test-fired off about 30 shells weekend before last, we're both pretty comfortable with it by now.

stitchclimber · 06-25-2008, 12:04 AM

good. glad it worked for you. I have both the Mav 88 and the Moss 500, and they're both excellent shotguns...

GlockMeister · 06-25-2008, 12:15 AM

If you are uncomfortable and as you say you have very little experience, DO NOT COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLE IT YOURSELF. If you are concerned, take it to a gunsmith and explain what happened and just ask them if it could create a problem or if anything could have happened, explain it sounds louder or whatever and ask what they'll charge, if anything to just look at it.

Otherwise, clean it, as you should anyhow, as most all manufacturers put a rust inhibitor on them, as they haven't a clue how long they could sit. So clean it and then go shoot it. If it loads and shoots fine, then I see no reason to take it in. Just clean it again when you're done... Good luck.

ArkansasHunter · 06-25-2008, 01:19 AM

GM I bet by now this feller is takeing down his new Maverick blindfolded.

And that would make for an Interesting Thread...

Can You Dismantel A Gun Blindfolded ?...A.H

GlockMeister · 06-25-2008, 02:09 AM

Not sure if I could or not to be honest. I've never tried it. I suppose, it would depend on the gun. and if I were to try, I'd have to say I'd want to try it with/on an AR15 first.

06-08-2008, 11:44 PM	#1
ClearTurbulence Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 5 Trader Rating: (0)	HELP: New shotgun owner, worried I may have damaged my new gun I recently purchased a Mossberg Maverick 88 12-gauge for home defense. My firearm experience is very limited - I used to fire my father's pistols with him when I was a teenager and had some fun with my brother's black powder rifles in my early 20s, but it's been almost 13 years since I've handled a firearm, and I never used a shotgun. Today I've been reading the manual and practicing loading and unloading it, working the action, etc., trying to build familiarity, and was showing my wife how to use it as well. I had removed the barrel to show my wife how it all comes together and works, and worked the action with the barrel off. After I had done that and was putting the barrel back on, I noticed in the manual where it said "CAUTION: Never close the action or pull trigger while barrel is removed as damage could result to the firearm". I had worked the action through it's full range a couple of times, so I am concerned as to what kind of damage I may have cause the gun. It seems to be working properly, but I have not reloaded it since to be on the safe side. Why is it you should not close the action with the barrel removed and what kind of damage might I have possibly caused to the firearm? What should I check for to make sure that it's OK?

06-11-2008, 11:44 AM	#6
cremley Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern New Mexico Posts: 719 Trader Rating: (0)	I own two mossberg 500's and I have never had a problem with that. To be on the safe side, you could completely dissasemble the gun and clean all of the parts and oil it and then just put it back together correctly. it is not really that hard to do and I have seen a video on the net how to do it, sorry I forgot the link. If you do that, you should have no problems. O, by the way, welcome to Gun and Game! __________________ There are two kinds of people in this world. Those who have guns and those who dig. You dig.

06-17-2008, 02:21 AM	#8
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,354 Trader Rating: (0)	I've got a friend who bought a Maverick several years ago as an experiment. He's used it in dusty fields, carried it behind the seat of his pickup, and just abused it in general for over 8 years. He consistently takes more dove than me, always limits out on quail, and has never cleaned it. I sincerely doubt that you've hurt this gun by racking the slide a few times with the barrel off. __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

06-17-2008, 12:50 PM	#9
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,066 Trader Rating: (0)	It should be fine. You didn't do it 30 times or anything. Don't you have to move the slide around to get the barrel fully screwed in? I think I do on my Mossberg 500. It's been awhile since I swapped barrels around though. Go shoot it and practice a lot. I don't know how much good a shotgun will be if you don't practice. Good luck with it. __________________ Guns: they are like baseball cards except they are cool and you can kill things with em. -Billy

06-17-2008, 12:57 PM	#10
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,504 Trader Rating: (0)	I gave this post some thought after the above post and I figger'ed there's a lot of Bubba's out there that would try to mount the barrel with the bolt closed and then screw something up. But I don't beleive Clearturbulance did any harm to his shotgun, course I can see where he might of been concerned or alarmed after reading in his Owners manual not to do what he did. ...A.H Last edited by ArkansasHunter; 06-17-2008 at 01:00 PM.

06-08-2008, 11:55 PM	#2
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,504 Trader Rating: (0)	I own 2 Remington 870's and have not had any problem with them from closeing the action with the barrel off. I've never pulled the trigger that I'm a ware of. A Mossberg I don't know. I wouldn't worry about it and if the book says don't do that then don't LOL. When you go to shoot it and it does fine you will know, no harms been done...A.H

06-09-2008, 10:18 AM	#4
wily1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brandon, Manitoba Posts: 173 Trader Rating: (0)	I did the very same same with my Mossberg 835 fifteen years ago and have never had a problem with it. Mossberg was great in getting back to me when I emailed them about something. Why don't you do the same, chances are you didn't do anything by working the action only a couple of times. But safety is always first, so find out what Mossberg has to say first, or take it to a gunsmith probably won't charge you anything just to look at it.

06-10-2008, 08:32 AM	#5
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,050 Trader Rating: (0)	I can't see how you could hurt it unless the bolt,being sloppy without the barrel to guide it hit and damaged the ring the barrel goes in. sam.

06-17-2008, 02:08 AM	#7
Coeloptera Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,546 Trader Rating: (0)	I'm trying to think what damage you could do. I disassembled my Mossberg 500 Persuader and really took a look at the bolt by itself as well as the way the elevator and bolt move when you rack it. I can't really see where damage can result. The firing pin shoots out of the end of the bolt into the primer. If the barrel isn't on it'd just try to slam into empty space, as if the gun weren't loaded. In fact the only thing I can think of at all if maybe the...I don't know the terminology, the ring of metal at the end of the barrel that fits into the chamber itself helps guide the bolt when it slides forward and the bolt can maybe get loose with it not in place. Might just be a general warning. And I doubt it has anything to do with your mag. Just oil it. - Coeloptera

06-24-2008, 11:59 PM	#12
ClearTurbulence Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 5 Trader Rating: (0)	I've always been careful to have the slide in the middle whenever I change barrels. I think I only moved it a couple of times and I didn't do it forcefully. Me and the wife test-fired off about 30 shells weekend before last, we're both pretty comfortable with it by now.

06-25-2008, 12:04 AM	#13
stitchclimber Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The great northwest Posts: 928 Trader Rating: (0)	good. glad it worked for you. I have both the Mav 88 and the Moss 500, and they're both excellent shotguns... __________________ turning up the radio, got just enough religion and a half tank of gas...

06-25-2008, 12:15 AM	#14
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 4,923 Trader Rating: (0)	If you are uncomfortable and as you say you have very little experience, DO NOT COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLE IT YOURSELF. If you are concerned, take it to a gunsmith and explain what happened and just ask them if it could create a problem or if anything could have happened, explain it sounds louder or whatever and ask what they'll charge, if anything to just look at it. Otherwise, clean it, as you should anyhow, as most all manufacturers put a rust inhibitor on them, as they haven't a clue how long they could sit. So clean it and then go shoot it. If it loads and shoots fine, then I see no reason to take it in. Just clean it again when you're done... Good luck. __________________ I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6!

06-25-2008, 01:19 AM	#15
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,504 Trader Rating: (0)	GM I bet by now this feller is takeing down his new Maverick blindfolded. And that would make for an Interesting Thread... Can You Dismantel A Gun Blindfolded ?...A.H

06-25-2008, 02:09 AM	#16
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 4,923 Trader Rating: (0)	Not sure if I could or not to be honest. I've never tried it. I suppose, it would depend on the gun. and if I were to try, I'd have to say I'd want to try it with/on an AR15 first. __________________ I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6!