Disappointed by Mossberg 930 SPX

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JJNA

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Inspired by a couple of cool, fun YouTube videos I saw on the 930 SPX, I took an interest and looked for it at a recent gun show. It was a big letdown.

First of all, I found three and all three had loose forend. One of them actually rattled quite badly. What gives?

Second, the LPA sights were really tall. I couldn't even get a good chin weld, let alone a cheek weld. And I actually have a large head. How are people shooting this shotgun? The comb was better on the standard stock than on the Choate "assault" stock, but even on the former the sights seem to be too tall for any semblance of a cheek weld.

I understand that there is a stock spacer system with the regular stock that allows the comb to be raised by about half an inch or so (a little under, i think). Does that make a difference? How tall is that sight sitting on top of the receiver? Half an inch? An inch?
 
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I guess they could rattle if they weren't assembled and tightened down when taken out of the box, otherwise never heard of a problem with the forends. As for sights I reckon they fit some folks, and perhaps not others, but I haven't seen any problem with people shooting them in 3 gun events.
 
Forearm tightness could be just a matter of snugging down the magazine tube cap.

I have a 930 JM pro, so I can't really comment on the sights of the SPX model. The JM Pro does have the stock spacer setup, which allows you to change the angle of the stock.

The JM Pro has a fiber optic bead sight only. The POA/POI was pretty far off, so I installed some Williams Fire Sights and all has been well since.

I had/have other issues with my 930.
 
My main issue with the 930 is the fact that slide release and shell ejection use the same protruding button that can be easily bumped and jam the loaded and chambered gun. At the very least they put a shroud around it!

My secondary issue is that mine does not cycle low brass. A few voicemails to Mossberg went unreturned.

Mike
 
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I handled one at a gun show this past spring and found it to be very heavy. At least heavier than I anticipated and heavier than competing models.

My buddy just bought one a few days ago and I'm hoping to try it out this coming weekend. I'm interested to see how it shoots compared to my Benelli M1.
 
I actually thought it was quite light and handy-feeling. I just couldn't get over how tall those LPA sights were. Even with my chin just barely touching the stock, I was not getting a good sight picture.

Destructo6, what other problems did you have? Does the JM Pro model have chromed chamber and barrel? The regular 930s and 930 SPXs do not, correct?
 
I am now thinking of getting an FN SLP Tactical. For some reason, though, I cannot find one easily -- everyone seems to carry the Mk I version with 22" barrel, but not the 18" version. I guess everyone's using them for 3-gun competitions.
 
There's a couple 18" SLP's on GunBroker. But you're right - the 22" models are more plentiful.

Personally, I'd prefer the 22" barrel.
 
My main issue with the 930 is the fact that slide release and shell ejection use the same protruding button that can be easilly bumped and jam the loaded and chambered gun.

Definitely agree - something ALWAYS seems to bump that button, and off we go to fumble city trying to clear it.
 
SuedePflow said:
There's a couple 18" SLP's on GunBroker. But you're right - the 22" models are more plentiful.

Personally, I'd prefer the 22" barrel.
Click to expand...
Isn't the 22" version heavier and less handy than the 18" version? For home defense and such, isn't 18" pretty much the standard?
 
JJNA said:
What were these problems?
Click to expand...

Came from the factory with the magazine tube dented to the point that the follower and shells couldn't pass. After that the crappy follower still caused cycling problems. After replacing the follower a pin in the bolt would come loose during firing and cause problems. Not quite sure why they don't stake that pin at the factory, I guess that would make too much sense.
 
Destructo6, what other problems did you have? Does the JM Pro model have chromed chamber and barrel? The regular 930s and 930 SPXs do not, correct?
Click to expand...
No chrome lining in barrel or bore.

After 2 trips back to Mossberg/Maverick Arms, my 930 continues to have problems with high velocity (1oz at 1600fp) slugs. What happens is that it will fire, extract, and eject the slugshell, but will not release the next shell from the magazine tube, so when the bolt closes, it does so on an empty chamber.

One of my buddies' FN SLP does this, too, but another pal with the same model does not have any problems. I have a couple of buddies that shoot the same model 930 that I use (JM Pro) that have never had a problem.

It seems to cycle reduced recoil slugs well, although I've only fired 10 or so of those. Finding these in stock is often difficult.

I can't say I've ever activated the shell/bolt release accidentally, though.
 
allaroundhunter said:
Came from the factory with the magazine tube dented to the point that the follower and shells couldn't pass. After that the crappy follower still caused cycling problems. After replacing the follower a pin in the bolt would come loose during firing and cause problems. Not quite sure why they don't stake that pin at the factory, I guess that would make too much sense.
Click to expand...
I have to say, that's one thing I like about FN SLP -- its magazine tube has an outer sleeve that protects it from dings that can render other shotguns inoperative. SLP is looking better and better.
 
Destructo6 said:
No chrome lining in barrel or bore.

After 2 trips back to Mossberg/Maverick Arms, my 930 continues to have problems with high velocity (1oz at 1600fp) slugs. What happens is that it will fire, extract, and eject the slugshell, but will not release the next shell from the magazine tube, so when the bolt closes, it does so on an empty chamber.

One of my buddies' FN SLP does this, too, but another pal with the same model does not have any problems. I have a couple of buddies that shoot the same model 930 that I use (JM Pro) that have never had a problem.

It seems to cycle reduced recoil slugs well, although I've only fired 10 or so of those. Finding these in stock is often difficult.

I can't say I've ever activated the shell/bolt release accidentally, though.
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Really? I thought the JM Pro models of 930 had chromed chamber/bore? Are you sure? I know the FN SLP does... Hmmm...

BTW, when you are looking through the tall LPA sights, where is your cheek in relation to the stock?
 
Mossberg doesn't list chrome lining on the JM Pro and I don't recall seeing anything to indicate chrome lining.

The JM pro has just a bead sight as stock, so I can't comment on the SPX sights. I installed the Williams Fire Sights, which only stick up a little bit.
 
Got to shoot my buddy's yesterday. I liked it quite a bit. The sights are definitely standing really tall. I couldn't bury my cheek into the stock, but I did comfortably shoot it anyway. A fiber-optic front is nice to have and I could easily get used to the height. One thing I noticed is that the spring on the lift and inside the mag tube are of a lesser rate than the ones on my Benelli which makes it much easier and quicker to load. That was a pleasant surprise.
 
SuedePflow said:
Got to shoot my buddy's yesterday. I liked it quite a bit. The sights are definitely standing really tall. I couldn't bury my cheek into the stock, but I did comfortably shoot it anyway. A fiber-optic front is nice to have and I could easily get used to the height. One thing I noticed is that the spring on the lift and inside the mag tube are of a lesser rate than the ones on my Benelli which makes it much easier and quicker to load. That was a pleasant surprise.
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Did this 930 SPX have a conventional stock or the "assault" stock?
 
Interesting. Is there a picture that shows where and how the shims fit? I'm having a hard time picturing how shims change operating angle, and Google seems to be failing me.
 
Is there anyone here who has a 930 SPX and, if so, could that person be able measure how tall the LPA sight is from the barrel and tell us? Thanks!
 
JJNA said:
Inspired by a couple of cool, fun YouTube videos I saw on the 930 SPX, I took an interest and looked for it at a recent gun show. It was a big letdown.

First of all, I found three and all three had loose forend. One of them actually rattled quite badly. What gives?

Second, the LPA sights were really tall. I couldn't even get a good chin weld, let alone a cheek weld. And I actually have a large head. How are people shooting this shotgun? The comb was better on the standard stock than on the Choate "assault" stock, but even on the former the sights seem to be too tall for any semblance of a cheek weld.

I understand that there is a stock spacer system with the regular stock that allows the comb to be raised by about half an inch or so (a little under, i think). Does that make a difference? How tall is that sight sitting on top of the receiver? Half an inch? An inch?
Click to expand...
Dude, I've been saying that about Number since day-one. Before it won "new gun of the year." I'm SURE people who say it's fine have no idea what a good, repeatable, shooting position and sight picture is. I watch them with their chin on the stock to look thru the cool-looking but goofy GRS's, laughing.

By the way, their Monte-Carlo stock WILL fit the 930 and fixes this. But the 930's reputation for being finicky with low-powered ammo, though I don't shoot it, has precluded me from buying what I otherwise think is a fine gun.

"Otherwise"? LOL Can't sight 'em in and they may not function!
 
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