Opinions on the 930

[Scotsman1886]

I need a semi auto 12 ga. Well I want one really. I have owned 1100s and like them but I am looking at the Mossberg 930. Any opinions out there?

[bigmac_au85]

I'm looking hard at one myself right now.

The 935's get great user reviews, and I've seen a few good reviews on the 930 (none bad).

I looked at one at my local Gander Mountain yesterday (24" barrel turkey special).  I liked it.

The downsides for me are carry weight and heavy trigger.  7.5 lbs is just a little more than I want to carry all day in the woods.  And every Mossberg trigger I've ever tried felt like firing a double-action revolver without the hammer cocked (a trigger job would help this to some extent).

So, for me, I'd have to add $60-75 to the price for a trigger job, and that puts me closer to a Benelli M2, which is the ultimate autoloading turkey shotgun IMHO.  So I think I'll save my money a while longer and get the M2.

Good luck, and let us know if you get the 930.

[dukkillr]

So, for me, I'd have to add $60-75 to the price for a trigger job, and that puts me closer to a Benelli M2, which is the ultimate autoloading turkey shotgun IMHO.  So I think I'll save my money a while longer and get the M2.

I've seen literally every autoloader in the field under real world conditions (which is why I shoot a pump).  There is no question that (except maybe for the 1200) Mossberg makes cheapest guns.  Do they work?  Yeah, mostly.  Are they a quality product?  No.  They are the cheapest gun on the market for a reason.  Save your money and get a benelli.  I've got 2.  Shoot an 1100, 1187, x2, x3, or a pump if you can't get a benelli.  A well tuned potato gun functions more reliably than a Mossberg auto.

[bigmac_au85]

[/quote]
I've seen literally every autoloader in the field under real world conditions (which is why I shoot a pump). 
[/quote]

Just wondering, what kind of pump do you shoot?  I have a Nova 20 gauge.  It's Indestructable, and I don't even clean it much any more.  I've killed a lot of doves and 2 bobcats with it.  And it'll bust clays like there's no tomorrow.  The trigger, however, is one of the worst I've ever felt on a shotgun.  I've considered having a gunsmith work on it.  And the forearm rattles pretty bad.  But it's been a good gun.

I'm looking for a good "all around" shotgun, to be used mainly for coyotes, bobcats, and turkeys (in that order).  Requirements are 12 gauge, llight weight, full camo, quiet forearm, lefty-friendly, workable trigger.  I don't want to shoot 3.5" mags, but I would consider a 3.5" gun anyways.

[dukkillr]

The only true lefty friendly pump I'm aware of is the BPS.  It's also the best real world hunting gun made today.  I shoot a BPS for almost all waterfowl situations and I own a 12 and a 10.  For nice days and upland hunts where the stress on the gun and it's mechanics isn't as much I shoot a Winchester Model 12 that I had the safety switched on. 

Nova makes a good gun, probably second best of your choices available today, the 870 is just as good. 

I've guided duck, dove and turkey hunters for years now.  There is one thing you can take to the bank:  where you're in a mud and rain and ice and a guy's $250 pump or more expensive auto hangs up he will ALWAYS say, "I've shot 10,000 rounds through this gun and it's never done this...".  To which I'll smile and say nothing.  Half of all autos I've been around hang up in an average day of serious waterfowling.  If those people are telling the truth they must only hunt clean places, on clear warm days, no dogs, no boats, etc... That's not the way I hunt. 

Cheap guns are cheap for a reason.  Buy a BPS and forget about ever buying another work gun. 

I wouldn't buy a 3.5".  It makes the pump stroke longer and makes it easier to short-shuck. 

[w8n4rut]

I picked up a 930 right before turkey season '07. I shot it about 6 times with a turkey choke at the range to see how it patterned. After being completely satisfied, I took it to the woods. The first shot anchored a gobbler at 42 yards, the next day I shot a another gobbler at 38 yards. So needless to say I have been very satisfied with it shooting 3" mag turkey loads. Last week as we near deer season I changed the turkey choke tube out for a improved cylinder choke tube. The first shot at 50 yards was 3 inches from bulls-eye, the next two shots after a red dot adjustment, literally chewed the center of the target out. I pushed it out to 100yds then, and was getting 2.5" groups. My smoothbore 11-87, was not shooting this good. I might add, never did I have a single malfunction or cycling issue with the Mossberg either. I highly recommend the Mossberg 930 (CAMO).

[EVOC ONE]

I picked up a 930 right before turkey season '07. I shot it about 6 times with a turkey choke at the range to see how it patterned. After being completely satisfied, I took it to the woods. The first shot anchored a gobbler at 42 yards, the next day I shot a another gobbler at 38 yards. So needless to say I have been very satisfied with it shooting 3" mag turkey loads. Last week as we near deer season I changed the turkey choke tube out for a improved cylinder choke tube. The first shot at 50 yards was 3 inches from bulls-eye, the next two shots after a red dot adjustment, literally chewed the center of the target out. I pushed it out to 100yds then, and was getting 2.5" groups. My smoothbore 11-87, was not shooting this good. I might add, never did I have a single malfunction or cycling issue with the Mossberg either. I highly recommend the Mossberg 930 (CAMO).

Good report.  Very encouraging.

And ... congratulations on bagging the gobblers. 

[jammer308]

I know this is old, but I've got to give credit to mossberg for the 930. I've had mine for several months now and it's been nothing but sweet. The first thing i did with it was run a "bag full" of ammo through it to test for function. I put all sorts of light loads through it right out of the box, not a single one hung up. Then I ran several different loads of buckshot, goose, turkey, and slugs. Same result... I've yet to test it for accuracy with slugs. But all the patterning I did with it was satisfactory with factory chokes. Well except for the turkey part.

I've been shooting this gun pretty regularly with a lot of light loads through it. It performs flawlessly. Even if it hung up "once in a while" (which it doesn't) it would be better than some other autos I've tried. The gas system is nice, no O-rings to deal with. And this shotgun is easy to use. Loading and un-loading is a breeze, unlike some other auto's I've tried. Why in the heck mossberg doesn't make a 20 gauge version of the 930 is beyond me.    Only thing about these guns I dont like, I hate the damm ported barrels.   

Dukkillr, I'm a waterfowler too. And I know what you mean about hunting conditions and auto's. I';m telling you, the 930 in my safe will make you eat your words. This is one semi-auto that is worthy of muddy water. And worthy of home defense. And as soon as I get a barrel for it, it will serve that purpose in place of my 870.

[Tn Jim]

I've had my 930 field/security combo for 11 months now. I've hunted dove in 94 degree weather and grouse in 24 degree weather with it. It has ALWAYS fired every time I pulled the trigger and never thought of jamming in any way. I've used 3" mag 00 loads all the way down to 1145 fps lite target loads. If I miss with that gun, it was me and not the gun. I won't call my 930 "cheap", but it is "inexpensive". I would buy mine again in a heart beat.