Shotgun Forum banner

Mossberg 5500 MKII. What gives?

55K views 7 replies 7 participants last post by  nnewuser 
#1 ·
Hello everyone!

I joined up here a few weeks back and have just been watching and haven't really had any questions until now. You all seem to know a thing or two about shotguns so I figured why not ask about the Mossberg 5500 MKII.

What gives with this shotgun? I never heard of it until today while looking for other auto-loaders. It seems the shotgun wasn't produced for very long, why was that? Was it a horrible shotgun?

I have an opportunity to purchase one for about $100 bucks. The only two issues that are known is the charging/operation handle are missing, and it won't fire a round, so it is going to need a little work.

The question(s) I suppose are...

1) Is the shotgun worth owning, reliable or a ton of issues?

2) Anyone have a rough idea on what it would cost to fix it? I found an operation handle for about $8, but what would I have to replace WORST case scenario for it to fire? The whole trigger assembly? Maybe a broken firing pin? What kind of repair cost would I be looking at?

The one issue I was able to find out about the 5500 MKII was that it didn't like to extract spent rounds. Someone pointed out the fact that the internal parts weren't finished in the greatest of fashion and that if you clean the burrs off of it than the shotgun works fine.

Thanks for the help!

P.S. This would be used here in Oregon for bird hunting and some clays.
 
See less See more
#3 ·
$100 is not much money but…
Unless you like to work/tinker on firearms, I'm not sure I would buy this shotgun since it doesn't operate and is missing a part, maybe parts. Do you know for sure that the bolt handle is the only part missing..? The 5500 MKII had 2 different barrels. One would only fire 2-3/4" shells. The other would also fire 3" shells and would struggle properly ejecting lighter 2-3/4" field and target loads. If this shotgun only has the 3" magnum barrel, I wouldn't buy this shotgun if you are intending on using this shotgun for a lot of clay targets with less expensive lighter load ammunition.

The newer 9200 did a much better job of cycling all size 12ga shells up to 3" dependably. The 5500 with the magnum barrel can be problematic with lighter loads from what I've seen. Other then that, the 5500 is in many ways and features pretty much the same shotgun as the newer 9200. My friend had a pretty tough time getting a bolt handle for his 5500 several years ago but he eventually found one online. In my opinion a Mossberg 9200 can be had for a little more money and would be a better all around gun for you if you really want a Mossberg semi.

$100 isn't much to spend but do the research regarding parts for this shotgun. They wern't around for very long on the market before OF Mossberg improved the design. Here is an older review of the 5500 MKII I found online for you.
Best of luck.

Also new for '89 is Mossberg's Model 5500 MKII 12-gauge autoloader which will henceforth be known as a complete or total "shooting system". That is the Model 5500 MKII will be offered as a package with two barrels -- one barrel for non-magnum 2-3/4-inch 12-gauge loads only and the other barrel for 2-3/4-and 3-inch magnum 12-gauge loads.

A larger gas port in the non-magnum barrel insures reliable extraction and ejection with even the lightest target or field loads. "The fast swinging 26-inch non-magnum barrel is ideal for close cover upland hunting and comes equipped with three ACCU-II choke tubes (improved cylinder, modified and full) for lead shot use.

On the other hand, the 28-inch magnum barrel has a smaller gas port, designed to regulate the speed of the bolt and tame the recoil of heavy hunting loads. The magnum barrel provides the balance and longer sighting plane, preferred by waterfowl hunters. It comes equipped with two ACCU-STEEL (modified and full) choke tubes for maximum durability and optimum patterns with steel shot.

Mossberg's Model 5500 MKII autoloader has a five-shot capacity and boasts a high strength aluminum alloy receiver for balance and fast handling in the field and with its two barrel combination should make a perfect all-around hunting arm for the upland/waterfowl hunter seeking quality at a respectably reasonable price.
 
#4 ·
OK, I just got a 5500 with the 26 inch barrel and it looks brand, new like it was never fired. I spent a whopping 170 bucks on it and plan to shoot some trap on saturday. My question, does anyone have a digital copy of the owners manual for it or can someone post a pic of the magazine/ gas section properly assembled. I have a spring and washer at the front of that section that just doesn't seem to be assembled correctly. Thanks for any help!
 
#5 ·
This is my beaten up 5500 MKll , I picked it up brand new years ago right after they had been discontinued .
It came with one 3" chambered 28" barrel and a slug barrel .
It's been a decent bang around gun , I've never tried using light loads in it though , it's all been 3" steel or 2 3/4" "high brass" lead .

There are 2 washers , a small one that goes under the spring with an o-ring that goes between the small washer and the spring , then the large washer on top of the spring .



 
#6 ·
cbostic said:
OK, I just got a 5500 with the 26 inch barrel and it looks brand, new like it was never fired. I spent a whopping 170 bucks on it and plan to shoot some trap on saturday. My question, does anyone have a digital copy of the owners manual for it or can someone post a pic of the magazine/ gas section properly assembled. I have a spring and washer at the front of that section that just doesn't seem to be assembled correctly. Thanks for any help!
First off is it a 5500 or a 5500 MKII? There is a big difference. The orange spring and washer in oldrusty's pictures is for the MKII and is not for the first model 5500. The first model 5500 can be made to use the spring & washer if the forend is either modified (cut out) or changed to the MKII style but was primarily for the gas relief system used on the 3" magnum barrel and serves no real purpose on the 2 3/4" only barrel.
Only the orange spring then the heavy flat washer go on after the barrel. The other two parts (piston seal and O-ring seal) go on before the barrel.
The assembly and parts used depend on what barrel and forend you have.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top