Mossberg 12 Gauge Followers 500/590/930/935 (compatibility & incompatibility)

Member 5605 · Nov 29, 2016

Recently I acquired a Mossberg 930 JM Pro shotgun and I miss the days of running an enhanced high visibility follower down the tube such as the ones that I would use when I had Mossberg 500's like this which are cheap and effective ($5):

meanwhile the ones that are sold for the 930's run 3-4x the price of the simple polymer 500 versions. I've also noticed that most websites list the 590's in the same class as the 500's but sometimes the same as the 930 when it comes to followers.

Items such as Or3Gun makes the follower like this:

Which rides on the outside of the spring and runs you around $20.

Why can you not use a 500 series follower on a 930/935 but you can use it on a 590?

Lets look at the spring. The 930/935's use a spring that is the same inside and outside diameter from start to finish.

The 500 and 590 series uses a spring that while the exterior is the same as the 930's there are a couple of coils at each end that are tighter wound and the interior diameter is decreased. Let's call this a tapered spring. This is why the 590/500 can use the same follower. This also explains why the 590 will share the follower with the 930/935. The 590 has the same external diameter and is tapered.

I could have taken photos when I had the 590, 500 and 930 and given photo examples but maybe that will happen at a later date.

In conclusion:

a magazine follower designed for a 930 will work on a 500, 590, 935.
a follower designed to work on a 500 will work on a 590
a follower designed to work on a 500 will not operate on a 930/935
a 590 will accept a follower from a 930 and a 500 (assuming it's using the tapered spring)

Content creation.

OutlawHoss · Nov 29, 2016

I always upgrade/replace the spring anyway with a better quality one, comes in bulk lengths which I cut to an appropriate amount to boost power as well as to compensate for being loaded most of the time. Then you can use the follower you want. I use the same follower you do, bright orange and tapered in the back to stack coils.
I never noticed a taper in the ends (my 500) just a tighter finish coil much like a gripper coil in a semi-auto handgun recoil spring. The follower only needs to be seated into the gripper coil and it works fine, if not how it was intended.

Certaindeaf · Nov 29, 2016

I'd think a non-brass colored follower would be the way to go. just spitballin

Member 5605 · Nov 30, 2016

I ordered a special run from OR3GUN in pink annodized. Keep an eye out if you run 3gun, sometime in 2017 they will have a kit coming out in pink for their improvement parts.

Member 5605 · Dec 6, 2016

Update...

Member 5605 · Mar 15, 2017

Update:

I was out shooting some clays with a buddy who recently picked up a Mossberg 930 hunting version and he has the orange follower like what's listed in the first post.

I haven't confirmed yet which spring his magazine tube has, tapered or flat.

@acp, care to shed some light on your spring?