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Rafe wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 3:16 pm If I come into some extra, unexpected money, I'd still like to have a Benelli, but I'm happy with the Mossberg.

That’s exactly my sentiments. The Mossberg 930/936/940 shotguns are very easy shooting.

Rafe wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2023 10:52 am I ended up paying exactly $1,000 (well, technically, $999.99) for the Mossy. I'll admit I've never tried it with low-recoil shells--don't feel the need for the low-recoil, diminished muzzle velocity stuff--but have fed it all sorts of 2.75" and 3" shells from #8 through 000 and slugs. Only had a couple of hiccups, and those were my fault when I was practicing swapping-in different shells during live fire.

If it had been in the budget, I'd probably have gone straight to the Benelli. But I put a Holosun HS510C on the optic-ready Mossberg, got it a good sling, and came in at a total cost just under $1,400. I'm happy with it and, while I won't be getting rid of my trusty, reliable pump guns, I was sold on the semi-auto as soon as I zapped off a few rapid-fire rounds. A double-tap of double-aught is a beautiful thing.

I want to say that I paid about $675.00 for my 930 SPX. Add in what I paid for the two parts upgrades…about $80 or so. I note that the same model now has a MSRP of $1,266.00 … which strikes me as capitalizing on a gun-hungry market. Even so, I’ll bet you could pick one up for under $1.000, given that's the price you paid for the 940. The 940's primary advantages over a stock 930 are precisely those two parts, plus a more nicely slimmed down foreend. If it were possible to fit the 940 foreend to the 930 gun, I’d probably want to see if I could buy one.

I’ve perused the Mossberg website for a "traditional" replacement buttstock for my 930, but they’re never in stock. When I phoned their customer support line to ask if they had any, I was told that they’re all committed to serial production, so no spares for sale. If I’m ever down in Eagle Pass, I may drop in and see if I can possibly snag one. The pistol grip stock IS comfortable and easy to shoot with, but I feel like the pistol grip itself is something that can snag on things like if you’re trying to get out of a vehicle in a hurry or something, unless you’re moving with calm deliberation. If I can’t find a replacement stock, it’s no big deal. I’d just like to have one.

I would love a Beretta 1301, but have neither the funds or a real need, and another Benelli is way beyond my current income. That said, I do own a Benelli SBE II, and when it works, it’s wonderful. However, I’ve never been able to get to to reliably feed a third round with 2-3/4" #7.5 or #8 bird shot. Upon firing the chambered round, it feeds both the 2nd and 3rd rounds nose to tail onto the lifter, and it seizes up the gun's action. It requires disassembly to clear it. I’ve been told by some bird-hunting friends of mine that this is a known ongoing problem with the SBE series, but that they will digest 3" or 3-1/2" bird loads, and 2-3/4 buckshot or slugs just fine. For that reason, I tend to shy away from semiauto inertia-based systems.

Some years ago, I bought a Mossberg 930 SPX Tactical, which is a gas-operated shotgun. It has never failed to fire or cycle any kind of load, and it accepts 3" shells. That said, for tactical purposes, 2-3/4" shells are just fine. No, it’s not the absolute sexiest combat shotgun, but it’s reliable, and it’s substantially more affordable than the Benelli or Beretta products. My only real complaint about the 930 is that the fore-end could stand to be slimmed down just a little.

Also, the Mossberg gas system produces more comfortable recoil than my Benelli's inertial system. Gas fouling of the piston hasn’t been an issue so far, and I don’t feel badly armed because of it. Mossberg now offers the 935 and 940 series,which are basically an upgrade of the 930 series. I added a ventilated Marine Spacer Tube from or3gun.com which is one of the primary internal upgrades found in the 935/940 guns, as well as an extended bolt release button.


Anyway, the Benelli and Beretta shotguns are very cool, and I would LOVE to own a 1301, but if money is an issue, I would take a hard look at the Mossberg 930/935/940 series of shotguns. Just a thought.