How does he Mossberg 930 behave differently than Benelli M4 in shotgun classes

[Sheepdog1968]

Recently finished a Scott Reitz shotgun class with my pump. Great stuff. Saw lots of Benelli M4s in the class and how they are manipulated. How does a Mossberg 930 manipulate differently than the M4?

I am not asking which is better or if pumps or semi autos are better. Just trying to understand how a 930 and M4 besides the safet are manipulated differently.

 

[Otto]

"Man, I wish I had bought the Mossberg instead of the Benelli" ....said no one ever.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Well, you will get a whole lot more malfunction training out of the Mossberg....

And this is coming from a guy who shoots a 930 competitively.

If you are going to be buying a semi automatic shotgun for defense, the 930 and a Benelli M1, M2, M4 should not even be in the same sentence...


Manipulations are different mainly due to the presence of the "Benelli Button" on the M4 and its limited uses. Other than that you won't be manipulating the Benelli more than the Mossberg because it will be more reliable... I think I mentioned that already, though.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Allaroundhunter, what/how is the Benelli button different?

I've been using the same manufacturer of pump action for home defense for 25 years and have only once bought a new model in 25 years. I see now reason to change. Actually discussed at length over many years with Loui Awerbuck and he and I were aligned in defensive firearm fundamental thoughts.

Again curious how 930 and M4 are different and your mentioning of Benelli button sounds like that may be zeroing in one the answer.

 

[Otto]

As far as "behaving differently" the Benelli is reliable whereas the Mossy is not...period.
The 930 has had issues with stripped threads in the receiver, loose forearms, front sights of varying heights, canted sights, bad lifters and generally poor fit and finish.
The Mossy certainly requires more "manipulating" because it's a jam-a-matic. For home defense, there's a hundred better options.
The only nationally ranked competitive shooters I know that use the 930 are the Miculek's and I'm sure they'd switch to Benelli in a heartbeat if it weren't for Mossberg's lucrative sponsorship.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Sheepdog, the Benelli button is much easier to explain in person where there can be demonstrations rather than just in text, but I will see what I can do.

The button is actually called the carrier release button, and it is located on the front-right side of the trigger guard.

When the chamber is closed, pressing the button will release a shell onto the lifter. For most people, this isn't a help or a hindrance when compared to other shotguns. It could be useful if you don't want to keep your defensive gun with a round in the chamber. You keep the bolt closed, fill up the tube, and then press the button. Then, when you need to get the gun running you simply have to work the action and you are good to go. Of course, you could ghost load as well to get that extra shell in the gun, but that's another story.

A 2nd use for the button is if you want to do a slug changeover. If you want to remove the shell that is currently in the chamber without a new one loading from the tube, it is easy, just don't press the button. The gun will not release a shell from the tube no matter how hard you rack the bolt unless the trigger is pulled or the carrier release button is depressed. To perform a slug changeover, you can use your weak hand to rack the bolt back and hold it to the rear while dropping the slug in the receiver (with the same hand). Any rounds that were already in the tube will remain there and you will now have a slug chambered.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Sheepdog, the Benelli button is much easier to explain in person where there can be demonstrations rather than just in text, but I will see what I can do.

The button is actually called the carrier release button, and it is located on the front-right side of the trigger guard.

When the chamber is closed, pressing the button will release a shell onto the lifter. For most people, this isn't a help or a hindrance when compared to other shotguns. It could be useful if you don't want to keep your defensive gun with a round in the chamber. You keep the bolt closed, fill up the tube, and then press the button. Then, when you need to get the gun running you simply have to work the action and you are good to go. Of course, you could ghost load as well to get that extra shell in the gun, but that's another story.

A 2nd use for the button is if you want to do a slug changeover. If you want to remove the shell that is currently in the chamber without a new one loading from the tube, it is easy, just don't press the button. The gun will not release a shell from the tube no matter how hard you rack the bolt unless the trigger is pulled or the carrier release button is depressed. To perform a slug changeover, you can use your weak hand to rack the bolt back and hold it to the rear while dropping the slug in the receiver (with the same hand). Any rounds that were already in the tube will remain there and you will now have a slug chambered.

Thanks. Does the 930 operate the same way for the slug select drill?

I've seen the Benelli in action for the slug select drill. It is really fast and a neat feature.

Otto, I agree with you the Benelli is better but mostly what I'm trying to focus on is just how the two shotguns manipulate differently. I'm trying hard to avoid a Benelli vs Mossberg debate.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Thanks. Does the 930 operate the same way for the slug select drill?

I've seen the Benelli in action for the slug select drill. It is really fast and a neat feature.

Otto, I agree with you the Benelli is better but mostly what I'm trying to focus on is just how the two shotguns manipulate differently. I'm trying hard to avoid a Benelli vs Mossberg debate.

No, the 930 does not operate that way. If you operate the bolt on the 930, it will automatically release a shell from the tube. If you try to drop a shell into the receiver after holding the bolt back, you have just caused yourself a double feed.
To do a changeover with the 930, you have to have space in the magazine tube to load the slug underneath, and then work the action to get that slug loaded.

 

[Otto]

Otto, I agree with you the Benelli is better but mostly what I'm trying to focus on is just how the two shotguns manipulate differently.

Reading the owner's manual of both guns (available online) will provide you with a clear understanding on each one's operation.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Reading the owner's manual of both guns (available online) will provide you with a clear understanding on each one's operation.

But it doesn't always give you the many real world uses of such operations. I really don't find it too difficult to explain, I don't see why you are wasting so much energy dodging a rather simple question.

If you know how these 2 guns theoretically operate, then please, join in and be helpful. So far, it doesn't appear that you really understand the premise of this forum.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

I own a 930 and would never rely on it for defense . . . period. Unlike others, mine cycles well with full power buckshot (but not ighterloads) but the presense of a protruding button on the side of the receiver which if struck with the bolt closed will jam the gun is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

Mike

 

[HRnightmare]

I own a 930 and would never rely on it for defense . . . period. Unlike others, mine cycles well with full power buckshot (but not ighterloads) but the presense of a protruding button on the side of the receiver which if struck with the bolt closed will jam the gun is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

agreed. Mine has about 500 rds thru it and it ran awesome out of the box for about 50 rds and then every 2nd rd jammed. I switched to many different loads and nothing. I sent it back. Came back equally as terrible. They changed out most of the internals.

I sent it back again and it came back looking like the guys at Mossberg took it out of the box and tossed it across a parking lot. It was dinged terribly.

I called to inquire about what they did to it and they were rude and unhelpful. I literally said on the phone when they picked up listening to a handful of people scream in spanish with Spanish music blasting in the background. The guy finally greeted me by saying "Maverick Arms" nothing else. He was totally condescending and said "several things were done" and put me on hold. The one that answered said "it was sent back on whatever date" and hung up.

I shot about 25 high brass high quality rds thru it and same issue, jam after jam. I have been meaning to buy quality ammo and go through the break in period again but just don't want to deal with it jamming because I may get annoyed toss it across the gravel myself.

Bottom line is I would NEVER trust the 930 for hunting OR SD / HD. It WILL jam when you need it.

Their CS was soo bad I sold my 500 and bought a Remington just so I could cut ties with Mossberg...sadly I have heard that their CS is every bit as bad. I have yet to shoot the Remington or speak with their CS. I hope not.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I was about to buy a 930 for multigun competition and was stopped by the number of stoppages I was seeing among competitors. I've seen guys going back to the Mosberg pump guns while trying to get their 930s to function

If you don't want to spend the money for a Benelli, you could take a look at the FN SLP

 

[allaroundhunter]

I shoot a 930 in 3 gun, and it has taken a ton of work by a sponsor to get it functioning well. I certainly would never trust one for defense.