That's 3500 rounds more than I've put through one. 8)

Street price runs about $410, is that correct?

What advantage does the cocking indicator at the front of the trigger guard give you?

Is the tang safety metal? Trigger guard?

How would you characterize the trigger and the recoil?

Sounds like you are a happy camper.

 

That's 3500 rounds more than I've put through one. 8)

Street price runs about $410, is that correct?

Mine was a little over $400, out the door, the store was running a sale on the two they had left and gave me the same price for the special order (as long as I paid up front). The store has a black one at $429 right now...might be able to talk them down though...

What advantage does the cocking indicator at the front of the trigger guard give you?

I personally don't use it, so I haven't really noticed it. It's not in the way, though. The way it was explained to me was, it gives you a tactile indication that you're ready to fire, as in, if you've fired your last shell or not, without having to look... in my opinion, if I don't know how many shots I have taken or have left, I shouldn't be hunting. I guess if I were hunting somewhere where there are more ducks than ammo, it might be helpful...but alas, those places only exist in my dreams.

Is the tang safety metal? Trigger guard?

The safety switch and the trigger guard are plastic, as they are on most Mossberg's, I hear a lot of negative comments about them, but I've never heard of them breaking...That's probably one of the many reasons their running around $400, save a buck here and .50 there.

CORRECTION: The safety switch is plastic, but the entire trigger group, including the trigger guard is aluminum.

How would you characterize the trigger and the recoil?

The recoil is very good, shooting similar loads, it is softer than my A-5, granted, its not as soft as an Extrema2, but even with the 3" magnum turkey loads its not bad. It's nothing compared to the pumps. The trigger isn't bad, it's about 4-1/2 - 5 pounds using a fish scale, it's breaks crisp and there isn't any creep. That being said, it's no "rifle" trigger and it's no where close to my M37, but that one has had 40+ years of breaking in.

Sounds like you are a happy camper.

I'm very pleased, I think Mossberg did their homework on this one and "got it right". I don't see them advertising it at all, though...but come to think of it, I don't see them advertising much of anything...

Smitty

 

When a full page ad in one issue of the American Hunter can cost $40,000 -$50,000 a pop, small wonder that utilitarian models cannot support a great deal of that. It takes of lot of cash just to be in existence with full-color catalogs and a reasonable presence at just a few of the many industry trade shows-- a whole pile of cash. The source of that money can only be one place: the consumer. That's neither good or bad, just the way it is. Watching Superbowl ads is a good way to see who thinks they have a lot of money to burn up.

It wasn't that way at all, not so long ago. Pre-Internet, Pre-cable, pre-DVD, pre-VCR was the way I grew up. Everyone seemed to hunt, it was a 'gimme' that most every household had a 12 ga. pump-gun, a .22, and a .30-30 or a .30-06 whether active hunter or not. It was black and white television and a time of "utility" more than fashion. "Tennis, anyone?" was a joke, golf was considered a sport of spoiled brats, and baseball was the game everyone played. Real shotguns were Model 12's and A-5's, with a few Rem. Model 11's and Win. '97's around. There were no credit cards, buying "on time" was shameful. The only way something got from point 'A' to 'B' was to put a stamp on it. What you knew, you learned from Dad and Grandpa (or from a visit to Hank's Gun Shop)-- only the most curious of folks knew of Oberfell, or were familiar with Greener or Burrard. That was the late 1960's and early 1970's. Pheasant hunting was "no dog required." In fact, using a dog for pheasants was considered cheating when I grew up, something taken up only be those too lazy to give their legs a good stretch.

Like golf, fishing, baseball, football, anything that has a following today, the reasons for a shotgun are no longer just tools. Along with that comes style, marketing, a fascination with what competitive shooter may or may not be using, all the usual trappings that are used to market everything from George Foreman grills to 'Air Jordan' gym shoes.

At one time, Bob Nichols reported the shooters at the National Skeet Championships consisted of 67.1 % autoloaders, 18.1 % pumpguns, 10.6 % SxS, and 4.2 % O/U'ers. Can you guess the year?

The point is not a big one, it is just that what is loudly touted is not always what makes the most sense, or what is really the most practical tool. Most like variety, and the new stuff is always interesting. What is not making the color ads or hunting shows may be just as good, if not better than the more flamboyant 'new' in a strictly practical sense. Your 930 may just be a great example of that. :wink:

 

Great Review Smitty!! I too enjoy shooting my 930, it has been nothing but flawless for me and I reccomend it to anyone wanting a reasonably priced autoloader!! I have more of a Waterfowling background and use mine solely for that purpose. Here is a Review I did about 2 months ago on my 930. Enjoy

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtop ... highlight=

 

Same here. I really like my 930.

 

It seems like that was quite a bit of good press for the 930. I have only ever owned 1 Mossberg gun, and it's a semi auto .22 rifle. It's a really nice gun for the amount ($92!!) that I paid for it. I've been thinking about getting a semi, and maybe this is the way to go.

 

I'm over 4,000 rounds and have not had a problem yet. I can't find anything wrong withthis shotgun.

Smitty

 

Great Review!

Does this gun fire buckshot without difficulty? How is it to clean?

 

I have shot 00 and 0 buck with no problems, I keep Federal Power Shok Reduced Recoil loaded in the gun for security purposes.

I have close to 7,000 rounds through the gun and have yet to have a malfunction. I used to clean it every 500 rounds but that was getting to be a pain so I'm going at least 1,000 round between cleanings and still no problems.

The gun is very easy to clean, the gas piston comes off with the barrel and just pops off to clean, the gas ports are easily accessable, this is by far the easiest autoloader that I have ever had to clean.

Smitty

 

Smitty,

I have seen your posts and know your affection for this gun. I have been looking at a 935 instead of the 930 because I have several 2 3/4" autoloaders and several 3" pumps, so the obvious void is... 3" to 3 1/2" autoloader {F* I just need to quit buying other stuff like cordwood and the like :lol: The 935 seems to be just about as good as the 930 when used with proper ammo.

Great review

 

Nice review. Seems like Mossberg might have really got it going this time with that autoloader.
Keep us updated over the long haul. Sounds like this beast can really take a pounding.

 

Does anyone have a picture of the 930 tactical model? From what Smitty posted on another forum it has an extended magazine and ghost ring sights.

 

Nice review Smitty in CT...

It sure sounds like that 930 is treating you alright.

 

From The High Road forum, from a 930 owner (oldnamvet):

"When I shot 3" magnums in mine, it would eject the shell but not feed another into the chamber. It would shut on an empty chamber. It did not do this with the 2.75" shells. It also seemed to be prone to light firing pin strikes and I would have about 1 FTF every 50 to 75 rounds. I sent it to the Mossberg service center and received it back after 8 weeks and several emails/phone calls. I haven't tried 3" magnum shells yet and don't particularly care since I don't normally use them. A friend got the wrong shells and couldn't use them in his gun so we swapped so he could hunt that day. However, the FTF problem showed up again with weak firing pin strikes. Other than that, I like the gun. It fits well and looks fairly good too. I went to the effort of fitting the stock to myself so will keep it and eventually figure out the weak firing pin hits."

My comment: This is the first time I have heard a negative comment on the 930.

 

I called Mossberg about the tactical model 930. They said they did not have any model like that in the works. They said the security model was it.

 

I saw the 930 SPX at the NRA show in MO, the people at the booth said it would be shipping at the beginning of this summer.

Mossberg service is handled by Maverick in TX, the 930's are built in North Haven, CT, maybe the people in Texas don't know about it yet???

Smitty

 

Thanks for the info Smitty. I called the 1-800 number in the morning and got told no plans to make one; I wanted to confirm an email I got from them. I called the non toll free number a couple of hours later and got the same answer.

I sent an email and they answered it yesterday and they said it should be at the distributors or dealer. Many different answers.

 

Smitty nailed it! I emailed Mossberg and asked about the 930SPX that was displayed at the NRA show, per Smitty.

This is the latest I got back from Mossberg:

"Thank you for your e-mail. Yes, it does exist and it will be out in the market in about 3-4 months....."

So, give it a while and a tactical 930 should be coming out.

 

My 930 shoots 2 3/4 dram target loads, 2.75 and 3" duck loads without a hitch.

The ducks hate it though.... :wink:

 

From Mossberg's website:

930 "Tactical"

and
930 SPX

Smitty

 

HOLY SHOTGUN!!!

I was so happy to see the two new 930's, I completely missed this.

Mossberg is selling 930 Barrels on their website!!!!
http://www.mossberg.com/products/access ... ion=access

Scroll down to the bottom.... I've already spent this month's "discressionary" funds. I'll have a slug barrel next month!!

Smitty

 

I purchased this gun new. The first shot at the skeet range was fine, from there after the gun would not feed a round. I sent the gun back to Texas (at a cost of $80 to me) as was instructed by customer service. Weeks went by, I emailed several times and got no response. Finally after an email stating I was going to report the gun stolen did I get a response from Mossberg. The gun was finally shipped back after 2 months. I finally got the chance to shoot the gun at the the range again several months later. First round stove piped. The next 75 rounds went without incident. From that point on, the 930 refused to pull the spent shell from the chamber and eject. Mossberg once again has instructed me to send the gun back to Texas, this time at their expense. I've owned a 500 for 15 years and love it. The 930 is a huge dissapointment as well as the customer service I've received from Mossberg.

 

I recently traded a Glock 30sf for a 930 spx tactical,I have not shot it yet,but I sure do like it alot,the more I read about it ,the more I want to take it out and shoot it(been working 12hr days lately)Hopefully tomorrow will be the day. :mrgreen:

 

My Mossberg 930 Field is working great for me , I am really pleased with this gun .
And my shoulder is really liking this 930 after 4 rounds of skeet each time at the club , compared to the SxS that my shoulder had been black and blue with after shooting :roll:
Of course now that I know how well the 930 shoots and functions , I keep looking at the 930 SPX tac everytime I stop at the outfitters down the road towards the club .

 

I purchased this gun new. The first shot at the skeet range was fine, from there after the gun would not feed a round. I sent the gun back to Texas (at a cost of $80 to me) as was instructed by customer service. Weeks went by, I emailed several times and got no response. Finally after an email stating I was going to report the gun stolen did I get a response from Mossberg. The gun was finally shipped back after 2 months. I finally got the chance to shoot the gun at the the range again several months later. First round stove piped. The next 75 rounds went without incident. From that point on, the 930 refused to pull the spent shell from the chamber and eject. Mossberg once again has instructed me to send the gun back to Texas, this time at their expense. I've owned a 500 for 15 years and love it. The 930 is a huge dissapointment as well as the customer service I've received from Mossberg.

Have you sent the gun back yet?? If you haven't..... wait... it should be an easy fix

(BTW, Mossberg "contracts out" their customer service to Maverick Arms in Texas.)

Take a look at the front part of the bolt, is the extractor OK??

How well did you clean yor 930 before shooting it. Mossberg ships their guns with a protective coating that needs to be cleaned / removed before shooting, if you don't remove it, when it heats up it may "gunk" up on you and cause some of the very problems you are describing...

If this the extractor is OK, how difficult is the shell to remove from the chamber by hand?? If it very tight you may have a rough chamber, this could happen from not being taken care of when it was at Mossberg for so long.....

What kind of ammo are you using??

There have only been a handfull of problems (less than 5) that couldn't be fixed by the owners, the 930 is a really easy gun to work on, too...

So don't give up just yet??

Smitty