Tactical shotguns: Mossberg 935 and FN SLP

[RM]

I'm curious to get impressions of people familiar with the Mossberg 935 Tactical and FN SLP. How do they differ in terms of features, quality and design? Is the FN SLP worth the extra cost? Thank you.

 

[JNewell]

I believe that John Farnam has reported a number of serious problems experienced by students with the 935. I'll see if I can dig something up and post it here for your consideration. The FN SLP is a Win SX2 and has a very solid reputation. For the purposes I assume you're contemplating, if the cost of the SLP (or an 11-87 or an M2) is a factor, consider an 870 or 500/590.

 

[JNewell]

Here's a link. Top entry.

 

[SouthernIndy]

I like my Mossberg 935 Spx.

 

[DMR]

I posted this in another forum and don't quite get it:

Bottom line know your gear before you use it.

Of course I have to look at this.

930 to Cruiser ready procedure from a loaded chamber:
1. Place weapon on Safe, put muzzle in safe direction
2. Fully depress elevator with weak hand and apply pressure on shell in the mag tube with your thumb. This will prevent the shell from releasing.
3. Pull charging handle to the rear, ejecting round in the chamber.
4. Observe bolt going forward to insure you are not chambering a round.
5. Partualy retract bolt to insure chamber is clear.
6. Release elevator.
7. Take weapon off safe and in a safe direction pull the trigger.
8. Place the weapon back on safe.

Hum, now when I try to do the same thing with my 11-87 I need more hands it seems, yet I can't remember anyone saying the 11-87 was not suitable for defensive work. Maybe it's the shortened EasyLoader Gunsite installed on my 11-87's fault.

11-87 to Cruiser ready proceadure from a loaded chamber:
1. Place weapon on Safe, put muzzle in safe direction
2. Depress elevator and easy loader half way with weak hand.
3. Pull charging handle to the rear just enough to eject the round round in the chamber. Go to far and you will release the next round in the mag tube.

If you pull the charging handle fully to the rear with the gate 1/2 up the released shell will strike the end of the elevator. If you have the elevator all the way up the shell will eject into your fingers. You can then push it back into the mag tube and continue. With my short Easyloader the it will be stuck in the action and leave the bolt locked half way:

4. Observe bolt going forward to insure you are not chambering a round.
5. Partualy retract bolt to insure chamber is clear.
6. Release elevator.
7. Take weapon off safe and in a safe direction pull the trigger.
8. Place the weapon back on safe Remington's can not be placed on Safe with the hammer down.

Alternate method for each is to leave the shotgun cocked with the safety on. The 930's cocked indicator in the trigger will show that the weapon is cocked. Depending on how you layer your safety measures either is a valid method. Some do not like to pull the trigger on a "Live" shotgun even if the chamber is verifided empty.

I don't recommend going to Crusier Ready from a loaded chamber. I have included it because a writer/trainer "disqualified" the 930 from use because he couldn't figure out how to go to Cruiser Ready from a loaded chamber. While from a range perspective it might be something to do, in actual defensive use it seems risky. Under stress it is to easy to miss Steps 2-6 and have a discharge on step 7. Since he thought it was an important feature it's included.

I have managed to recreate the double stacking that he refers to if I do not fully insert a round. This I need to figure out. Intial impression is that the loading opening on the 11-87 is a little longer and allows a more positve loading. With the 930 opening up the front of the port an 1/8" or so would give you more positive insertion. The thumb seems to hit the lip of the 930 and causes you to believe that you have fully seated the round. You release it and have a shell on the elevator.

Still working on the quirks of the 930, but over all it is a good value for a shotgun.

Small point but from Stress FireII, Massad Ayoob:

There are two schools of thought on fine points of cruiser ready.

One theory is that the gun should have a loaded magazine and empty chamber and be off-safe, hammer down.......

The other is that the gun should have a loaded magazine and empty chamber and be cocked and on safe........

Both descriptions are based on a pump action shotgun and have some quirks when translated to a semi shotgun. Safety on vs. off is also a carry over from the Remingtons. They can only be on safe if cocked. The Mossberg can be on safe with the cocked or un cocked..

That said disqualifying a shotgun for how you go to from a round in the chamber to, cruiser ready is interesting. To me it is largely a rangism. Once your shotgun is loaded in a actually defensive situation I believe that you will be more likely to un-load then put your shotgun back in cruiser ready once the situation is over. If you did not fire the shotgun then perhaps you would swap it back to cruiser ready.

Still not a drill that holds great importance to me.

 

[Smitty in CT]

I've got over 5,000 rounds through my 930SPX, and over 8,000 through my 930 "field" model. No problems with either!!

The quality is top notch and the guns are very reliable...

The FN is a great gun, too. But IMO its not worth the $250 - $300 more that dealers are getting for them...

 

[MAX100]

I agree with what DMR has to say in his post. I know that John Farnam has many distinguished years of experience in his field but he is way out in "left field" on his assessment of the Mossberg 930 SPX.

The SLP comes with two gas pistons and is tapped for chokes but it cost anywhere from $200 to $400 more than the SPX. One piston is for all loads and the other is for heavy 2 3/4" and 3" loads for less felt recoil. There is really no need for two gas pistons on a tactical shotgun. The 18" barrel SLP only hold 6+1 rounds. The 18.5" barrel SPX holds 7+1.

I had my SPX tapped for choke tubes and had the forcing cone lengthened to a 4" super cone. The work cost $100 with shipping both ways included. Lengthening the forcing cone reduced recoil some and the tight patterns it now produces with a modified coke are excellent, even with cheap buckshot. Mike Orlen did the work and I am very pleased.



GC

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I like my Mossberg 935 Spx.

Mossberg 935 and FN SLP

Say what? I think you all are referring to the 930, not 935. The 935 won't even cycle 2.75s.