Tonite I have the Mossberg 930 SPX Tactical to discuss. Per the usual there is a real slug fest in the forums over this weapon. I’m glad we don’t have that problem here. The main thing I’m seeing is comparisons to the Benelli M4 shotgun, currently in use by the USMC. Well that’s sorta like comparing Dodge Chargers to Z06 Corvettes. Comparing K-Mart sales flier swimsuit models to Victoria Secret girls, you get the idea, apples and oranges. The price range difference is huge. Going back to the car comparison, both will reliably get you where you want to go, both are nice. Is the extra 10’s of thousands of dollars extra worth it to be behind the wheel of the Z06 Vette?? That you would have to decide, it was for me. I drive a Z06 but with the shotguns?? No, I felt the Mossberg would do anything I needed it to and so far she’s been a gem.
Vette
So many haters out here on the web though, I have to wonder what the problem is?? OK, so in the beginning they had a batch of barrels with the front site not centered on top, big freakin’ deal. Mossberg made them right with new barrels. They look good, feel good, load easily, point well and 300 rounds later of OLD corroded low brass CRAP I had in a couple cans loose for 10 years it has yet to jam up. It has fed perfectly with low powered, cruddy, cheap 7 1/2 shot. That speaks volumes for an auto gauge right there. I guess it wasn’t the NRA 2009 Shotgun of the Year for no reason at all huh?? I mean a Nobel peace prize was given to you know who for nothing, I think this 930 at least earned it. I have had zero malfunctions of any kind. I expected them but nope! The finish is nice and action smooth. It comes with a nice set of usable fully adjustable sites on a rail so if you want optics/red dots it’s ready for them.
Ok now what would I change?? Where could they improve? Well, 1st is the safety. When you have the pistol grip version I bought, the thing is on top of the rear of the receiver. I would really like to see it down by the trigger guard like an 870 Remmy, that’s where it belongs. With your regular stock that’s not an issue so much. Then the stock itself, I would like to see a shorter or collapsible stock. Wearing armor I feel it’s a bit too long.
Some people complain the forward grip, which is polymer, feels flimsy and loose. I don’t have an issue with the grip quality but I do think they could have bolted on a couple aluminum rails up front. I mean this is supposed to be a tactical shotgun, with today’s weapon trends, the usual is to bolt 500 pounds of extra crap to your gun. I LOVE to do it 🙂 Well I’ll be making my own forward rails I guess. I’ve made solid rails for other guns so it’s not a problem so to speak, it just should have come with a rail or 2 up front.
Last, I get this bad feeling that the barrel and tube should have a support bracket up front on the gun near the muzzle. I think there should be a block in there locking the 2 together and strengthening the gun up front in the event of a hard drop or fall. I wonder if the tube will bend without some support there. That is easily fixed with a cheap barrel support thing I’ve seen before and it bolts right on. I haven’t ordered it yet but when it’s on I will add a pic so you are clear on what I meant. So as you can see nothing is SO wrong I can’t stand it, minor stuff and I will fix the rail and barrel/tube support issues myself. The safety I can live with.
The only other issue I have is on a fundamental level. Read my Mossberg 590 review here on TGR and I get into tactical uses of a shotgun on a deeper level, long story short, auto’s will not feed door busters, non lethal/crowd control specialty ammo worth a damn. So a couple of the use’s were stripped away when you use an auto gauge, it’s different with a pump, you can feed whatever. Well you can — USE that specialty stuff but then you will be clearing the jam instead of racking in the next round. So for that reason a semi auto is a poorer choice.
The other thing I have against a semi-auto shotgun is I have seen plenty of people get trigger happy. SO many dudes will freak out and be empty in about 2 seconds, at least with a pump you have to manually do something. With this you just pull the trigger and in no time your out of shells. Last, I just don’t want to go to combat with a gauge. I just don’t, it’s not my thing. I accept in a civilian or LE situation they scare the bejeezus out of people and I can see that value but for a military weapon I want an m4. I don’t want to reiterate so check out the 590 review where I ramble on about use’s and tactics with a gauge.
So wrapping up: I like mine. It’s perfectly reliable and feels good, price was right and I think it looks kinda cool too. I’m never overjoyed by shotguns ever and I’m not here either but I would recommend the thing to a buddy if they wanted a semi auto shotgun.
As always thanks for reading and happy shooting.
By: Cary Kieffer
Cary Kieffer
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I have a Mossberg 590A1. Love it. But I just saw a Mossberg 590M. Can I convert my A1 to an M. And would I want to?
I don’t think so, the receivers are different, notched and a mag release button. I don’t know if a 590A1 could be converted but I’m guessing it would cost more and be more hassle than just buying the 590M.
Great review. Where did you get the mag tube/barrel support from?
Keith, thanks. I’ve been meaning to spruce up some of my old reviews. More info, updates and what have you. I’m not saying I’m up to Nobel Literary Prize level now but I do feel like with practice I do better reviews than I used too. This is an old one. I have yet to have any kind of malfuction from this shotgun, still going strong, been a great weapon for me. Anyway to answer your ?? simply go to ebay and search “shotgun barrel clamp”. You’ll see tons of them. Thanks for stopping by TGR. Cary
Just bought mine today at Dicks Sporting Goods. After a lot of research online and looking around at different gun shops here in my metro area I finally found two last week at one of the bigger local gun shops but they weren’t fully configured. No Picatinny rail or ghost ring site. Did not have an extended tube magazine either. I guess they were more like a 930 and not an SPX variant. They did have a heat shield on the barrel but wasn’t really looking for that.
Found two that were fully SPX layout configured at Dick’s today. Very pleased to finally pick up something I’ve been researching / wanted for quite awhile. I will be a good compliment to the Mossberg 500 20 Ga. with a Knox / Blackhawk adjustable stock and a breacher barrel. This is more a HD gun for the females in the house and the 930 will be mine / be put into a different place in the house.
JPL, congrats, its a nice shotgun. Mine is still running strong. Never had an issue of any kind. Still has a flawless functioning record too, no malfunctions of any kind ever. I feed her the cheapest junk I can too. I recently ran some RIO OO buck through it as well. That stuff has a different style of crimp and is longer, not 3 inch long but longer than 2 3/4. It doesn’t load very smoothly for some reason in any shotgun I own. I expected trouble with this stuff but the 930 devoured it no problem. The recoil on that auto is nice, easier on my girls than pump guns are. Enjoy and thanks for stopping by TGR. Cary
Can you put a sliding stock on the 930 SPX Black Water Tactical 18 inch 12 ga. I have seen the drums on the 500 series Mossberg pumps. I think the drums hold around 25 shells. Can these be installed on the 930 SPX tactical Mossberg?
Supergun, No and no. The stock because the buffer is in it. There are no drum conversions available I know of. Sounds like you want a Saiga-12. Then you can have both. I have one I’d sell with tons of extras and drums.
Looking for a good low priced ffl dealer that can get me the Mossberg 930 spx pistol grip semi auto shotgun in southern California in the San Fernando valley ,do you know of one?
I’d make sure it’s legal in your state first. When I lived out there it was some years back and it was restrictive then. After you confirm you can have one I’d just watch gunbroker.com and make sure the seller will even ship to California because a whole lot of them won’t. Good luck.
Truners and Bass Pro’s should have them, I got mine at the Stockade in westminister ca….
Mine has yet to have a problem. It wont function “perfectly” with mini shells or reduced recoil loads which isnt a big deal but it eats the s**t out of everything else. I primarily shoot slugs or full powered buck out of mine and have yet to encounter any gremlins. I will openly admit that I neglect my guns and this one is no different. I have not experienced any of the issues that were previously brought to the table, although they could have put a better weather resistant coating on the barrel. I have already had a visit from the rust monster but to the guns defense, I live in a salty environment with salt in the air daily and once again, I neglect my guns. A little TLC and some rustoleum camo paint and it will never be a problem again.
I am afraid I wont ever be selling this shotgun.
Clayton, mine sits with a full tube behind a couch in my living room. So yes I would use it for HD. I do think its a tad long though for inside my house and you can’t really shorten the stock but a 1/2 inch or so. I would prefer one of my pistol grip gauges inside. The 930 is there more for responding to an outside problem, coyotes, intruders in the out buildings…stuff like that. It sure beats a golf club or a rolling pin though for HD:-)
So it’s a great Home defense Shotgun, or just tactical target practice?
Cary,
How did you mount the flashlight to the forend? Did you somehow install a rail first? Do you notice that the light might be too far rearward?
TJ, I removed the handguard and laid an aluminum rail on it as far forward as it would go. Once I decided just where I wanted it I simply marked the guard where the rail’s screw holes were and drilled the holes. Then just bolt it on using some bigger washers on the inside of the handguard so the bolts don’t tear through the plastic handguard. Very easy.
Is it too far rearward? Meeehh….maybe…ya get a bit of a barrel shadow but its not like you can’t still see. It’s not going any farther forward as I’m out of handguard. It worked out fine and I’m happy with it. Unless somebody is making a handguard now that extends all the way to the muzzle…that’s about the best we can do with the stock one.
Thanks for stopping by TGR. Cary