Hi there - LONG time lurker - first real post - hoping you folks might be able to point me in the direction of a good gunsmith in the metro area? (bonus points if it is in the northern metro area!)
I have two Mossberg shotguns (one a Maverick 88 and one a 500). I've never been able to take the magazine tubes off either. I would like to replace the spring in one and just give the other a good cleaning. I degreased the mag's with gun scrubber, I let Kroil penetrating oil sit on the threads for 24 hours. I made a "wrench" by drilling a 1.25" hole (tubes are 1") in a length of 2x4, split the 2x4 on the table saw and put 4 screws through it to put it back together. I wrapped an old innertube as tight as I could around the mag until I had built up a 1.25" diameter, put the 2 halves of 2x4 around it and "clamped" it back together with the screws. I clamped the receiver in a padded vise, heated the receiver with a hair dryer until it was way too hot to touch / hold with the bare hands and put significant torque on it with the 24+" 2x4 "wrench" and it still wouldn't budge.
The guns are cheap but sentimental so I figure before I disfigure the receiver or mag I should just pay someone else to pull them off. Hopefully, they wont charge more than the guns are worth!! Any suggested gunsmiths?
Thanks!