How do I go about replacing the follower on a Mossberg 500A1?
You need a strap wrench to twist off the mag tube. Once you have it off it’s a easy swap. Getting the tube off can be a real PITA though. I soaked the last one I did in solvent over night and it came right out.
You have to take off the barrel, and field strip the gun so that you can remove the pump from the gun, then unscrew the magazine tube.
They are often Locktighted down and a real bear to unscrew.
I happened to be working on a document on this tonight from TM 9-1005-338-13&PTECHNICAL MANUAL UNIT AND DIRECT SUPPORT MAINTENANCE (INCLUDING REPAIR PARTS AND SPECIAL TOOLS LIST) FOR MOSSBERG 12-GAUGE SHOTGUN, MODEL 500 (1005-01-295-1832):
MODEL M500
Wrap wiping rag around receiver assembly (1). Place receiver assembly (1) in bench vise with vise jaw caps. Close vise just enough to hold receiver assembly (1). Place strap style pipe wrench around magazine tube assembly (2) and turn to the left (counterclockwise), loosening metal tube assembly (2). Remove magazine tube assembly (2) from receiver assembly (1).
WARNING
To avoid injury your eyes, use care when removing and installing spring-loaded parts.
Remove cartridge follower (3) and magazine spring (4) from magazine tube assembly (2).
INSPECTION/REPAIR
Inspect for broken, damaged, or missing parts.
Inspect receiver (1) for cracks or bends, repair is by replacement of shotgun.
Inspect magazine tube (2) for cracks or bends.
Inspect magazine spring (3) for bends/breaks and flat spots.
Repair is by replacement of authorized parts.
NOTE
Perform this step only if magazine tube was replaced. Wrap wiping rag around receiver assembly (1). Place receiver assembly (1) in bench vise with vise jaw caps. Close vise just enough to hold receiver assembly (1). Place strap style pipe wrench around new magazine tube assembly (2) and turn to the right (clockwise), tightening magazine tube assembly (2).
WARNING
To avoid injury your eyes, use care when removing and installing spring-loaded parts.
Insert cartridge follower (3), magazine spring (4) and magazine catch retainer (5) into magazine tube assembly (2).
Good luck
A some kroil overnight in the threads and a heat gun makes getting the tube off a bit easier.
I purchased 4 extra magazine springs and a couple of extra followers and spring retainers from Maverick Arms for my Mossberg M590A1. I’ve replace both. Maybe it’s the same for the 500A1.
To replace the magazine follower and the magazine spring do the following:
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Put on a pair of safety glasses.
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Open the action of the shotgun to clear the weapon. Leave the action open.
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Remove the end cap from the magazine tube.
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With a rag in one hand, and with the barrel pointing toward a basement wall, use a small 1/8" screwdriver to remove the spring retainer. You put the screwdriver into the hole in the middle of the retainer and then slowly move it around the retainer while at the same time carefully prying the retainer up just a little bit. You keep your hand with the rag kind of over the retainer to keep it from flying off since the spring is under tension. At some point the retainer will come out and then you slowly release the tension on the spring.
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Remove the spring.
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Turn the shotgun so that the barrel is pointing toward the floor and the follower will fall right out.
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Replacement is done in the reverse order.
This whole process takes maybe 5 minutes.
Negative hoosier, different magazine system. The 500 don’t have an end cap, you have to remove the entire magazine tube from the receiver.
Trust me, we have 125 Mossberg 500s at work, and I have had to take every single one of them apart more than once.
What he said.
Hoosier- You’re describing the process for a different retainer clip.