Waterfowl Gun - need advice

[FCfisher16]

So I was just offered a last minute trip to go shoot some ducks on the bay this wee, got lucky with a friend having someone drop out of their group. Going on thursday, but I have a problem with my duckl gun. The stock is loose, causing a lot of movement when shooting ( even when just holding you can feel the slack). I took it to a gun shop and he did not have a screw driver long enough to tighten it down (I've spent hours trying to fix this and just can't get rid of the extra play). I am going to try one more place tonight, but being someone who hasn't done a lot of waterfowl hunting need some advice. I have other shotguns, one in particular i was leaning towards using. It is the mossberg 500A tactical turkey gun. Its a very very short barrel (18.5 inch barrel), with the accu-mag ulti-lite screw choke. I know this pattern will be very tight, as it is meant for turkeys, but my question is, is it even worth trying this gun on this kind of hunt? Anyone ever hunt with it for ducks? My intial reaction is no, but wanted to ask those who might have had experience. (I tried to find another barrel but nobody seems to have the one I would need to swap out - only can find slug ones) I've never gone out for seaducks, so not sure what to expect besides birds moving fast. Any and all ideas is appreciated....Thanks!

[STeveZ]

A "very tight" choke with big steel shot could be a problem. Maybe you could get your hands on a M steel-safe choke tube by Thursday?
You might drop by Sears, buy the longest screwdriver they have and take it out to your car to see if it reaches. If so keep it, if not return it.
Are you sure it needs a screw driver and not a nut driver or hex head of some sort?
An 18.5" barrels not very good for waterfowling but better than staying home I suppose.
Good luck!

[martineta]

I assume you used a phillips head screw driver and have taken off the recoil pad and are sure its a screw that connects the stock to the shotgun action. Old Brownings and Remington 1100's used a big screw. My benelli uses a 11 mm or 13 mm Deep Socket on an extension for a rachet to reach the bolt.(I can't remember size). I would go see an auto mechanic at a gas station and give him $5 or $10 to tighten the stock while you wait.

[KJR]

http://www.mossbergs.com/manuals/Sliding_Buttstock.pdf


Here you go, all modern firearms companies have manuals posted on the internet.

[STeveZ]

Good pull, they call it a screw but it looks like a hex head nut doesn't it?

[FCfisher16]

Problem solved. I replaced the bolt that connects the stock to the shotgun action. It was all siezed up, little break loose and some cleaning did the trick. I did notice that the safety is a bit loose, and it looks like its a special kind of tool, will have to spend more time on that later (not going to take this gun, too concerned about that loose safety). I was able to get my hands on a friends mossberg 500 with a 28 inch barrrel, going to swap barrels with my short barrel mossberg and give it a go. Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated. Hope we get into them! Anyone been out lately?