Author Topic: Mossberg ATR bolt problem? (Read 2379 times)

300S+W · « **on:** April 03, 2008, 04:37:50 PM »

Does anyone remember a post about a locking lug problem on these rifles?

til later

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #1 on:** April 03, 2008, 11:47:59 PM »

Right off hand, I don't recall any threads regarding someone who had a problem with feeding. That doesn't mean it's not so ... my memory isn't what it used to be theses days

. There have been a few comments made from some that the ATR's had/has feed problems. I have been told by a couple local shops that some of the early models had feed problems. That has not been my own experience, however.

Could you be confusing the ATR with the Stevens? There have been a few cases of feed problems with a some of those ... which may be why Savage is now manufacturing the Stevens with a center feed magazine. Check out www.SavageShooters.com. for additional information.

You could do a search of the ATR. Add "Mossberg ATR" into the search box at the top of the page.

300S+W · « **Reply #2 on:** April 04, 2008, 01:03:19 AM »

EO,it wasn't a feeding problem I had read about. According to what I had read,and I can't find the darn site,the bolt head w/locking lugs is separate from the bolt body. The two are held together with a pin or pins. Supposedly,according to this site,there have been cases where upon firing this pin or pins have failed allowing the bolt body to exit the rear of the reciever. If you haven't heard about this and you still have your ATR is the bolt assembled the way I described above? APPRECIATE it!!

til later

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #3 on:** April 04, 2008, 01:45:16 AM »

300 S+W: I should have read more closely.

Actually, your description is the first I've read of any bolt head problems.

I looked at both my ATR's (.308 & .30-06). Each is the same. There are two pins that seem to be associated with the bolt head. One is approximately 1/8" in diameter. It goes completely through the bolt body approximately 1/2" behind the bolt head. This one seems to secure the head to the bolt body. There is also a very small pin in the head that is in the area of the ejector button. It extends through the head. Both pins seem very secure. There is little movement of the head.

I obtained the .30-06 in October 2004, shortly after the ATR was introduced. The .308 in June 2006. Though this is the first I've heard of a potential head problem, I've never had any type of issues with either of mine.

Once my camera batteries re-charge, I could post a picture of the bolt and head. Though I do not think my camera will be able to pick up the smaller pin.

If you locate the information you recall reading of, if you would, please post the link here. Many thanks.

300S+W · « **Reply #4 on:** April 04, 2008, 02:19:06 AM »

EO,thanks for the info on the ATR bolt. No need for a photo. Someone on another forum supplied this:
http://www5.usenet-articles.com/t_13063050751692381869_s_Exploded%2030-06.html
Although this isn't the article I saw,this plus the info you supplied about the bolt,means something happened. The post I read was VERY specific in stating that the pins sheared causing the problem. I'll keep looking!! Thanks again.

til later

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #5 on:** April 04, 2008, 05:37:09 AM »

Thanks for the link.

That's both interesting and concerning.

300S+W · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2008, 07:03:09 AM »

As I told the guys who supplied me with that link I only view a few forums and they are well respected. I've never viewed that link or been to that forum before. Usually I have no problem locating a post I've viewed before which has me wordering if maybe it was pulled or deleted. Anyway,I passed along that link and your info on the bolt configuration to the guy asking for opinions on the ATR at our WV forum. I also advised those who have ATR rifles or know of anyone who does to inspect those pins periodically. That's all I can do. I can't ignore the fact that I saw that post so had to pass that info along. I APPRECIATE your info and your involvement. You WATCH those pins!

til later

EO,I just recieved this link: http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=21&Number=1895607

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #7 on:** April 04, 2008, 08:40:03 AM »

I located this:

http://www.pistolsmith.com/viewtopic.php?p=154345&sid=31dbbb80aed55058417b57d3aba70806

I could not get the link to work on this one, however:
http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Rec/rec.guns/2007-11/msg02008.html

$:-\$

.

300S+W · « **Reply #8 on:** April 04, 2008, 03:19:53 PM »

Well,EO it doesn't seem to be a wide spread problem. Of course it only takes one time. I just don't know but I believe I'd be developing one H**L of a flinch! You be CAREFUL!!

til later

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #9 on:** April 04, 2008, 10:54:54 PM »

Many thanks for the heads up and concern.

adirondacker · « **Reply #10 on:** April 06, 2008, 12:02:22 PM »

i bought one of these in 308 last year for my son.i can tell you what,i'm taking no chances.i plan on calling mossberg to see if they will compensate me for it.i am sure they won't but i can tell you that my son will never use it again.i just bought a ruger frontier in 7-08 i'm going to trade him for it.i know the ruger won't come apart.i have reservations on even selling this thing to someone.i would hate to here that it had come apart after i sold it.i think this atr's best friend would be a chop saw,just goes to show you,they sell them for what they do for a reason,you shouldn't have to worry about a safety issue though.
mossberg' doesn't impress me much anyway,a buddy,another forum member major257 bought a 500 combo.came with 2 barrels,both 20 gauge.except one was stamped 12 from the factory.he called them kind of anticipating a little concern about getting it back into their possesion.wrong,they couldn't have cared less,it's one thing for a 20 to be stamped 12 but how many 12 were stamped 20,a little more dangerous mistake.
one way of the other this mossberg and i will be parting ways.later ,adker

300S+W · « **Reply #11 on:** April 06, 2008, 02:24:31 PM »

adker,as I said in one of my earlier posts,I 'd read about this pin failure good while back and not having any dealings with these rifles as far as friends having them and what not I guess it got put in the back of my mind. Well last week a guy comes on our WV sportsmens web site asking about opinions on Mossbergs rifles,ATR and 4x4 in particular. I had no other option but to tell him what I had read and that I would see how the incident ended. To make a long story short,between myself,EVOC ONE,and a few guys on another forum we put things together. It happened at least once for sure and we don't know the outcome. But,as I can only speak for myself,I would not feel comfortable at all shooting one and wouldn't feel comfortable letting someone else shoot one if I could stop them. Maybe the problem was resolved and we just we just couldn't find out about it although you would have thought it would have been made public. If or when you call Mossberg I hope they will give you,both verbally and in writing,some satisfaction that the issue has been taken care of. If you persue it PLEASE pass on the info if you would. GOOD LUCK!!

til later

277284 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 07, 2008, 09:27:13 AM »

I am waiting for details of the incident to be disclosed, it may not be credible.

300S+W · « **Reply #13 on:** April 07, 2008, 10:05:08 AM »

APPRECIATE any info,GOOD or BAD!!!!!

til later

adirondacker · « **Reply #14 on:** April 07, 2008, 10:31:21 AM »

i just got off the phone with mossberg,habib or abdul who ever he was finally transfered me to another person farther up the food chain whos name i can't rember let alone spell or pronounce,of course he was not available and i had to leave a voice mail.this after 4 calls and a combined wait on hold of 26 mins.i am curious to see if he bothers to call back.
i have looked this bolt mechanism over,the pin,the one i assume is in question can actual be moved a small amount with very little effort.i am tempted to try camming the bolt incorrectly to try and get it to break,of course i wouldn't do it loaded,so i don't need any responses regarding that.if they will not compensate me i will probably end up destroying and disposing of the gun.
i'll let you know if i here back.adker

adirondacker · « **Reply #15 on:** April 08, 2008, 03:41:44 PM »

well here's the skinny on this.no call back today when i got home so at 4;15 i called mossberg again.this time i was able to get through first try.the fella i talked to asked my name,they had apparently taken some info yesterday.i was transferred to another fella in customer service.after explaining my concerns and discussing the construction of the bolt and the fact that it would be my son shooting this,i was politely told that mossberg does not give refunds.
i proceeded to elaborate on the reasons for my dis-satisfaction,asking him that if he felt it unsafe would he let his son use this firearm.it was at this point that he offered to "replace" the rifle.well of course i have no interest in another mossberg bolt,the 4x4 uses the same configuration, so he suggested "replacing" it with a 500 slug gun.another useless item to me.anyway,long story short,he told me to browse their online catalogue and he would replace the atr with any 500 or 935 of my choice.only thing it will cost me is shipping to ct.now there are a few models that he told me would work that are considerably more expensive than the atr was.i will still have to replace the rifle for my son,but i know the ruger compact i am trading him will not come apart in his face.
so,looks like i am going to end up with a turkey gun as "replacement".take it for what it's worth but i think it was a pretty stand-up thing for them to do.later,adker

trotterlg · « **Reply #16 on:** April 08, 2008, 06:24:12 PM »

I can see how a two piece front locking bolt can fail with the locking lugs in the unlocked position. Savage has had more than a few instances where the pin that holds the lugs to the main bolt body fails. On a Savage the fireing pin goes through the pin, in all instances I have heard of the failure occurs when the rifle is fired and results in the front locking lugs not releasing when the bolt is lifted. This results in a fired round that cannot be ejected. I would suppose if the failure occured when the bolt was closing and the locking lugs did not engauge, that a really big problem would occur, the bolt would be left in a position where the fireing pin could do it's job and the front lugs would not be engauged. Does this make snnce to anyone else? . Larry

Brithunter · « **Reply #17 on:** April 08, 2008, 07:03:33 PM »

Hi All,

Never having seen the Mossberg I cannot comment on their rifles but this pinned in bolt is nothing new. I acquired a Sportco (Australian) Model 44 target rifle that had a 3 lug bolt that is retained by a pin to the bolt body, the firing pin passes through it as well and was advised to check the pin for wear which I did and found none. Sportco it seems was owned by Omark when this wa smade accordign to the roll stamping on the left wall of the action. Seems this type of design has done the rounds!

Oh the Model 44 was in production back in 1973 at least as I have a Parker-Hale catalogue from June 73 and it has the Model 44 Sportco in it.

300S+W · « **Reply #18 on:** April 09, 2008, 02:20:58 AM »

adirondacker,THANKS for the update and I'm GLAD you got some satisfaction out of Mossberg!! As soon as I read about the Mossberg incedent,Savage popped into my mind and now Brithunter mentions another one with a like design. What's the advantage to it? Even though it's a remote possibility of a failure,I couldn't in good faith sell a product like those.
Now that I know about possible failures of this design there's just no way I could put it out of my mind enough that I would use one of these rifles. There are an unbelievable number of such rifles in service and I do know that when it's appropriate for me to do so,I'll be checking the bolt out for them. I want to THANK everyone for their input and concern in this matter!!

til later

Brithunter · « **Reply #19 on:** April 09, 2008, 03:49:37 AM »

Easy production and switching of calibers Several new switch barrel designs use changeable bolt heads.

300S+W · « **Reply #20 on:** April 09, 2008, 03:59:41 AM »

That makes sense. Still don't think I'd be interested though.LOL

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wyohandi · « **Reply #21 on:** May 22, 2008, 04:56:02 PM »

I bought my kids an ATR youth in 243. Then I saw this thread,since this rifle was for my kids I
wanted to make sure it was safe.They are built just like the Savages and Stevens rifles,look like
they come out of same factory. But anyhow I abused this one,took the pin out and tried the bolt,
I could definately tell the rifle didn't lock up,but someone less experiened might not. Then I put it all back together
and tried to break the pin,couldn't do it by hand.A couple soild hits with a hammer might break it but normal use won't.
I look at the pin every time I clean the gun,same as I would on any other of this type.
I have no doubts,or problem letting my kids shoot this. It fits them both really well and it sure shoots good.

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #22 on:** May 22, 2008, 11:25:19 PM »

wyohandi: Thanks much for the information.

I've checked and re-checked each of my ATR's. I've not seen any indications of problem's with the pin.