Unloading a gas operated shotgun

[pupchow]

The mossy is a bit unrefined, compared to many modern autoloaders.

 

[milktree]

The mossy is a bit unrefined, compared to many modern autoloaders.

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There’s a similar, but smaller catch on the ejection port side that also catches the shells, and it doesn’t release them.

I’ll have to check if something is binding it.

Thanks.

 

[whatluck]

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You can manually push the shell holder tab thing (technical term) to the side and they pop out of the tube. That’s a 1301 but I assume most semis have something similar? That’s what I do. I also think you can pull the bolt release and they pop out. Not home so can’t try. Obviously rack the one of the chamber if applicable.

I'm not 100% on semis, but they call that an 'interrupter' on my 870.

 

[40 Creedmoor fan]

Learn how to unload by depressing shell catch to empty out the tube. Works with pump action and semi-auto. The only difference is with pump action you empty the tube first then cycle the action, while, with semi-auto, you cycle, empty the tube, and cycle.

 

[mac1911]

OK, this feels like a really stupid question that I really should know the answer to.

The usual routine for semi-autos is remove the magazine, operate the action to clear the chamber, check it's empty, lock the action open.

Context: I've been teaching Home Firearm Safety because of scheduling urgency to get people their certs *NOW* and scheduling range time for Basic Pistol is fraught with peril. HFS requires demonstrating and practicing the unloading of a bunch of stuff.

So far, so good, right?

But I can't figure out how to unload a gas operated, tube fed semi-auto shotgun

You can't reasonably remove the magazine on a tube fed semi-auto shotgun, and certainly can't expect to teach that in a HFS class.

Here's the problem I'm running into: Operating the action manually doesn't feed from the magazine. There's two catches in the magazine that make feeding work, one right at the mouth of the magazine, one further back. They work together to stage the hull into the feed mechanism without jamming.

Operating the action manually does not release the more forward one, so you can cycle the action all day and the magazine doesn't empty.

I've tried this on my Mossberg 5500 (which shoots just fine) and on one of the club's Beretta somethingorother. Neither feed the rounds when the action is operated manually, and fail in the same way.

For the class I have some of those NRA approved orange dummies which I filled with lead shot and epoxy to give them the correct weight.

Outside the class I've tried with actual ammo with the same failure.

What obvious thing am I missing?

I'm just skipping the gas-gun bit because the only way I have figured out how to unload them involves manually pushing on the forward catch which is kinda hard to do, and even harder to explain how to do.

Didnt even break a nail

View: https://youtu.be/EfWeYtj46Lo?si=zi3h5uvvTrsqYKrP

 

[MisterHappy]

Maybe? But one gun is mine and it worked perfectly when I last shot it, the other is maintained by the junior trap chair so I have pretty high confidence it’s in good working order.


That would probably work, but it’s far from ideal for a Home Firearm Safety class.

True....until someone is stuck, in the same position.

Sorry - I misread your initial post, that it was for training. Honestly, IMO, setting the safety, and cycling the action is the most straightforward method.

 

[milktree]

True....until someone is stuck, in the same position.

Sorry - I misread your initial post, that it was for training. Honestly, IMO, setting the safety, and cycling the action is the most straightforward method.

Except it doesn’t work on either of the shotguns I tried it on.

Here's the two catches in my Mossberg. The first one releases easily with the bolt release and operating the action, but the other doesn't release unless I stick my finger in there and push really hard.

There are no other catches or releases that I can find.

 

[dhuze]

Did you try reading the manual?

 

[MisterHappy]

Except it doesn’t work on either of the shotguns I tried it on.

Here's the two catches in my Mossberg. The first one releases easily with the bolt release and operating the action, but the other doesn't release unless I stick my finger in there and push really hard.

There are no other catches or releases that I can find.

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View attachment 915751

Does it cycle when fired?


Also, not sure if asked, but did you RTFM? (Reat The Firearm's Manual?)

 

[milktree]

Does it cycle when fired?

It did the last time I tried, which was (mumble) years ago

Also, not sure if asked, but did you RTFM? (Reat The Firearm's Manual?)

Are you kidding? Of course not!

I was hoping for a generic solution

 

[whacko]

I don't remember seeing button that would do that anywhere on either of the shotguns I tried. I'll look again.

Do you have an owners manual? Even if you don't just Google and download the pdf of the owners manual.

 

[whacko]

OP, I do not know about the exact curriculum for Home Firearms Safety or if you have had specific requests from students about these shotguns. But details about specific shotgun models do not seem required for basic education or live fire drills.

The comments above pretty much cover the important part for basic education. There are a wide range of firearms that have some odd aspect about their operation. Basic education should remind students that some firearms work oddly, that they are responsible for knowing the correct operation of any firearms they own or handle, and that the owners manual is the final resource for all questions about specific models.

I personally am careful with all tube fed firearms because it is not possible to inspect the magazine, so extra care must be paid to ensure the magazine is empty when it is supposed to be. This I think is good advice for beginners, but I would not cover specific models except in response to student questions.

Here is a clip of Paul Harrell (RIP) demonstrating a potentially very unexpected aspect of how the Marlin Model 60 works. The video is queued to 1:43, and I think the next 40 seconds is really worth a watch. And let me add an extra thank you to Paul for this.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA_u-WML-8k&t=103s


I am a Range Safety Officer at my club and I have shown lots of 10/22 owners how their bolt hold open works. The standard bolt open on a 10/22 does not work like any other firearms I am aware of, and the design is really stupid. This is always a reminder to me that people really do own firearms that they don't fully know how to operate. And there have been lots of other occasions when I have shown people how their own firearms work and then told them that reading the manual is a real thing. So to me, reminding people to learn their own equipment is the important part of basic education.

"I personally am careful with all tube fed firearms because it is not possible to inspect the magazine"

I own about 10 different tube fed semi autos pumps and levers......shotgun and rifle.... and I can CLEARLY see in the magazine and clear every one of them. When the bolt is back look in the receiver at an angle and you can see below the chamber if there is a round in that tube. Or flip the gun over and push the lifter or elevator up and you can clearly see the tube.

If your not physically checking that way then your just not clearing the fire arm properly. Ffs more than half my tube fed guns the plastic plug in the tube is actually hunter orange.....so it's easier to see WHEN YOUR LOOKING AT THE TUBE TO SEE IF THERE IS A ROUND IN IT. literally if you see the orange plug there's no ammo in the tube....you know.....cuz youe supposed to actually look at it.

 

[weekendracer]

There will likely be some sort of release button on or inside the receiver. On modern Berettas there's a little button just in front of the trigger guard. The location will vary by manufacturer. But it's there somewhere.

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Push the release button and rack the shotgun again. Live shell will eject. Repeat until empty.

Oh, dear God. There has to be a better way. You do NOT want the bolt coming forward to eject every round.

I have not touched an auto shotgun, but on a 870, there is a retainer on the side that you depress and all the rounds will simply come out the bottom with the bolt to the rear.

Every time the bolt comes forward you are risking a ND. We did not allow a 'rack to empty' per policy. Granted, cops (and feds) are super special people who never screw up loading and unloading.

Ok, this has been noted in previous posts, so no edit, but just wanted to put my .00002 cents in the mix. WOOHOO, no immediate edit this time.

 

[jkelly1229]

Push button rack handle like a man

 

[weekendracer]

True....until someone is stuck, in the same position.

Sorry - I misread your initial post, that it was for training. Honestly, IMO, setting the safety, and cycling the action is the most straightforward method.

Straightforward, sure. Safest? No way. The way to train someone? Absolutely not.