DocH
06-09-2010, 11:18 AM
I picked up my Mossberg 930SPX from an individual back in August of '09. It had 12 rounds fired through it when I got it. I know this to be fact.
I probably paid a little more than new retail for it,however it came with the following extras.
1. A wide quick detach sling with 15 shell loops. I do not like this sling as a sling per se,but keep it on the shotgun with the loops full of 00 buck. I have the sling adjusted to snap around my waist with the shells in front for easy withdrawal.
2. Two 55 round bandoliers
3. 750 rounds of assorted 00B,#4B,and rifled slugs.
4. Barrel-tube clamp with the swivel to attach the sling.
5. Additional rounds of #5 shot and #4&6 Duplex loads.
Here are some of the things I like about this shotgun.
For an autoloader it is very lightweight,fast handling and easy to swing and get on target fast. I have not measured the LOP on this gun,but for me it is perfect. The 930 comes packaged with spacers that can be used to lengthen the LOP for those inclined, who need a little longer stock.
The SPX comes with the Italian made adjustable rear sight,with protective wings on each side. I understand that this sight alone is about a $200 unit if ordered separately. I have not confirmed this. The high M16 type front sight has a fiber optic red insert which is wonderful and very fast in daytime,especially with slug loads,and using the rear sight which is a peep,zeroing with slugs is very precise. I would have preferred some kind of tritium vial on the front,however I will not change it. The rear LPA sight is mounted on a picatinny rail,secured to the receiver with four hex screws.
I've had no problem with loosening,and the sight can be easily removed with it's mounting knob/bolt for replacement with a red dot if desired,or the red dot can be mounted and the rear sight used as a co witness if desired.
I currently have no plans to do either.
The shotgun has a 7 round mag capacity plus one chambered. A popular thing about this shotgun seems to be it's ability to be ghost loaded with an additonal round free floating on the elevator,increasing the total capacity to 9 rounds. I have done this and can say emphatically that the shotgun functions in this way with no problem at all. I personally find it to be just a little more aggravation than it's worth to me to gain one additional round,however,if I knew a fight was coming and this gun was what I had I wouild probably prep it in this manner.
I find the recoil of this shotgun to be actually bordering on pleasant when compared to other shotguns with 00 buckshot. I can feel the slugs a little more,but it is not punishing at all and I'm a little bitty feller. Three inch 15 pellet 00B is a little nastier but I only shot these up because they were included in the ammo that came with the gun. The reduction in recoil can be attributed to the dual port gas piston and also the recoil spring mechanism in the buttstock.
Here are some faults or dislikes that I have discovered with this gun.
This shotgun comes with a very short metal cupped follower. This short follower has the potential to bind up on any grit or debris that gets inside the mag tube. This will cause the rounds not to feed from the tube,and this is not what you want in a defensive gun.:eek:
If this follower is not replaced it is imperitive that the mag tube be kept swabbed out and free of debris. When you are running and gunning and reloading on the move with dirty hands,grit and small debris WILL get inside the tube.
S&J hardware out of Canada makes an excellant mag follower of hi visibilty orange polymer with an extension on the front for magazine spring to slip over. Using this follower magazine capacity will be reduced by one round with 2 3/4" rounds to 6 rounds and down to 5 if you use the 3" shells,which I personally see no need for in a defense gun. The three inchers are for ducks and geese IMO. I don't see a one round reduction as a big deal when it increases reliability. I will be replacing mine with the S&J follower.
This binding HAS NOT occured in firing the gun but has occured when hand cycling rounds through the action,which tells me that the potential is there for it to happen at the worst possible moment.
The other dislike that I have is the 2 round Choate mag extension that come standard with the gun. This extension was built with an open end and a black plastic disk,for lack of a better term that fits inside the extension to cover the opening. I have intentionally pushed this disk out of alignment and thereby creating the same binding that occurs with the follower,preventing additional rounds from feeding. This is totally unacceptable to me. I am replacing this extension with an aftermarket one of better design with a solid end.
I have used Choate extensions in the past and have never been disappointed,but this design just plain sucks canal water,and I can't for the life of me figure out why it was designed in this way,except to cut costs,which is also unacceptable for fighting guns. I have a Coate extension on the 28" Rem 1100 that brings the capacity to 10+1 and have never had an issue with it in over 20 years. I will continue reviewing my personal experience with this gun in the following post.
I probably paid a little more than new retail for it,however it came with the following extras.
1. A wide quick detach sling with 15 shell loops. I do not like this sling as a sling per se,but keep it on the shotgun with the loops full of 00 buck. I have the sling adjusted to snap around my waist with the shells in front for easy withdrawal.
2. Two 55 round bandoliers
3. 750 rounds of assorted 00B,#4B,and rifled slugs.
4. Barrel-tube clamp with the swivel to attach the sling.
5. Additional rounds of #5 shot and #4&6 Duplex loads.
Here are some of the things I like about this shotgun.
For an autoloader it is very lightweight,fast handling and easy to swing and get on target fast. I have not measured the LOP on this gun,but for me it is perfect. The 930 comes packaged with spacers that can be used to lengthen the LOP for those inclined, who need a little longer stock.
The SPX comes with the Italian made adjustable rear sight,with protective wings on each side. I understand that this sight alone is about a $200 unit if ordered separately. I have not confirmed this. The high M16 type front sight has a fiber optic red insert which is wonderful and very fast in daytime,especially with slug loads,and using the rear sight which is a peep,zeroing with slugs is very precise. I would have preferred some kind of tritium vial on the front,however I will not change it. The rear LPA sight is mounted on a picatinny rail,secured to the receiver with four hex screws.
I've had no problem with loosening,and the sight can be easily removed with it's mounting knob/bolt for replacement with a red dot if desired,or the red dot can be mounted and the rear sight used as a co witness if desired.
I currently have no plans to do either.
The shotgun has a 7 round mag capacity plus one chambered. A popular thing about this shotgun seems to be it's ability to be ghost loaded with an additonal round free floating on the elevator,increasing the total capacity to 9 rounds. I have done this and can say emphatically that the shotgun functions in this way with no problem at all. I personally find it to be just a little more aggravation than it's worth to me to gain one additional round,however,if I knew a fight was coming and this gun was what I had I wouild probably prep it in this manner.
I find the recoil of this shotgun to be actually bordering on pleasant when compared to other shotguns with 00 buckshot. I can feel the slugs a little more,but it is not punishing at all and I'm a little bitty feller. Three inch 15 pellet 00B is a little nastier but I only shot these up because they were included in the ammo that came with the gun. The reduction in recoil can be attributed to the dual port gas piston and also the recoil spring mechanism in the buttstock.
Here are some faults or dislikes that I have discovered with this gun.
This shotgun comes with a very short metal cupped follower. This short follower has the potential to bind up on any grit or debris that gets inside the mag tube. This will cause the rounds not to feed from the tube,and this is not what you want in a defensive gun.:eek:
If this follower is not replaced it is imperitive that the mag tube be kept swabbed out and free of debris. When you are running and gunning and reloading on the move with dirty hands,grit and small debris WILL get inside the tube.
S&J hardware out of Canada makes an excellant mag follower of hi visibilty orange polymer with an extension on the front for magazine spring to slip over. Using this follower magazine capacity will be reduced by one round with 2 3/4" rounds to 6 rounds and down to 5 if you use the 3" shells,which I personally see no need for in a defense gun. The three inchers are for ducks and geese IMO. I don't see a one round reduction as a big deal when it increases reliability. I will be replacing mine with the S&J follower.
This binding HAS NOT occured in firing the gun but has occured when hand cycling rounds through the action,which tells me that the potential is there for it to happen at the worst possible moment.
The other dislike that I have is the 2 round Choate mag extension that come standard with the gun. This extension was built with an open end and a black plastic disk,for lack of a better term that fits inside the extension to cover the opening. I have intentionally pushed this disk out of alignment and thereby creating the same binding that occurs with the follower,preventing additional rounds from feeding. This is totally unacceptable to me. I am replacing this extension with an aftermarket one of better design with a solid end.
I have used Choate extensions in the past and have never been disappointed,but this design just plain sucks canal water,and I can't for the life of me figure out why it was designed in this way,except to cut costs,which is also unacceptable for fighting guns. I have a Coate extension on the 28" Rem 1100 that brings the capacity to 10+1 and have never had an issue with it in over 20 years. I will continue reviewing my personal experience with this gun in the following post.