Hi everyone,

I have a Mossberg 500 which has been Cerakoted black. I have both an 18.5" and 28" barrel for it, to fit it's dual use as a home-defense and hunting gun. In the years since I had the coating applied, I've been trying to take it easy on the takedown assembly (aka barrel/magazine bolt thing) to prevent marring. But no matter how careful I am, the coating is getting messed up. I realize guns get scratched with use. Maybe it was my time in the military, but I like uniformity and this is messing with my universe.

So, does anybody have a suggestion for a tool or method for screwing/unscrewing the bolt that will minimize the amount of wear and tear on the bolt finish? I don't switch barrels often. Usually only a few times a year for the occasional trap weekend or (in this instance) rabbit hunting.

What bolt? You mean the cap nut on the magazine tube that holds the barrel in place? If you do, then you don't need a tool at all. Hand tighten that cap nut. It's doesn't need to be wrenched down.

That's what I always thought. But when I don't wrench it down I've got a gap between the barrel rib and the top of the receiver. It wasn't like that last time I got it back from the smith, so I figured they must have cranked it down hard. What am I doing wrong that I'm ending up with the gap?

Thanks again!

I just wrap a cloth around the nut and use "soft jaw" channellocks on my 1100...works fine.