Mossberg 930 SPX review, 100 shell first outing range report

[longgar]

On going mess

I called Mossberg today to check the status of my repair..

According to my tracking number from UPS, my shotgun arrived on the 18th but they were unable to find me in their system. I gave them my name, address, phone #, email, and, the description of my troubles, with the shotgun as requested by their website. Now they can't find me in their system? They advised me they will call me back tomorrow and hopefully they will be able to find my shotgun using the serial # (Which I don't have on me at the moment). They are not able to receive phonecalls on the weekend so I set up a time for them to call me on Saturday. Hopefully they will follow through, and, hopefully they will find my shotgun in their system using the serial #.

To be continued...

PS My friend did buy a Mossberg 930SPX today from the Dick's in Garland, Tx for $619.
I will report back on his results, although I have already forwarded him this forums link.

 

[Smitty in CT]

The sqeaky wheel gets the grease, don't let up on them, hound them contantly and they'll take care of you...

 

[AcceptableUserName]

they WILL make it right. theyve done me right customer service wise so much its not even funny. things go wrong with guns. It's how the company handles it that matters. They'll take care of ya, don;t worry.

 

[Al LaVodka]

A new gun would actually be better for you!
Al

 

[RatDrall]

things go wrong with guns.

They'd better not.

The gun is easily better than anything in its price range.

My buddy's Saigas have never had a problem and they were a couple hundred dollars cheaper than the Mossberg.

I'd be upset if I spent $600+ on a shotgun and it didn't work.

 

[longgar]

UPDATE

I got the call from Mossberg customer service this past Saturday as promised.

They couldn't find my gun in their system using the serial # either. They did add me to their system and confirmed (Using my tracking # from UPS) that someone there signed for my shotgun.

They advised me not to worry they would get everything worked out and ship it back to me ASAP.

As far as my friends SPX...

We went out shooting Monday, but before he shot it, he broke it all down and cleaned/oiled it real well.

It shot the same loads that mine was having trouble with perfectly for the first 80 shots or so..

It had 2 FTEs. and then it failed to shoot at all.. It seemed to have the same trouble as mine.

He broke it all down again and found that the Hammer was just failing to fall after you release it. He sprayed it down real good and kept pushing it and working it in real good.
After all that, he put it back together and it shot another 100 rounds or so pretty well with only 2 more FTE and 2 FTF.

So far, I'm pretty dissapointed. We will go out a couple more times to "Work them in" and go from there. ( I hope I get mine back pretty soon )

 

[Al LaVodka]

I just hate hearing this. Truly.
Al

 

[EdLaver]

longgar, I am having the same issues with mine, it doesn't load the last shell and wont cycle weaker shotgun shells at all. It will only cycle full power stuff. I am debating sending it back to Mossberg, mailing a gun is such a hassle...ugh.

 

[longgar]

I got my shotgun back and will try it again this Friday... WIll report back..



Special note**
They didn't send a message saying what was done.. All I know is if I cock it now, it will click now after pulling the trigger (It ddint do that before).

I know I sound lame by stating it that way, but it should be kept simple right? If I chamber a round, pull the trigger,I expect it to go bang. Repeat untill out of ammo...

 

[longgar]

Ok, went out again after cleaning again.. First box of Winchester 2 3/4 1oz had 3 failure to cycle.. Moved up to 3" shells 1400fps and shot 2 boxes of them with 6 more FTE..

Im sure this is good for shooting buckshot or slugs but not really reliable shoot bird/target loads. I was wanting a cool shotgun that I could shoot enexpensive rounds out of but didn't find it here. I guess I will buy a pump..not mossberg though.. I have a bad taste in my mouth.

I now have it for sale or trade..

 

[Al LaVodka]

Son of a gun. I am disappointed. 'course its the problems we hear more about, but... You should call Mossberg.
Al

 

[Torghn]

I was able to take my new 930 SPX out for the first time this weekend. I shot 100 rounds of the inexpensive federal shells from wallmart. I couldn't be happier, not a single failure of any kind. Everything worked perfectly.

I hope you guys who've had problems get everything worked out.

 

[Al LaVodka]

Darnit Tor, I am trying NOT to buy one of these "shotgun of the year." Then you go and turn the clock back...
Al

 

[oneounceload]

Sorry - matters not to me what the brand - but if you're thinking that 100 rounds free and clear is a sign of reliability.............I would have to disagree....now, 100,000 rounds trouble-free sounds like a well-made gun

 

[longgar]

Tor,

Glad to hear yours is doing well so far. I will call Mossberg and see what they say.

 

[longgar]

Sold it for $650 with the pistol grip and upgraded charging handle, sling, shell holder... I just want something reliable but don't want to spend 1600. I guess I am going to buy a Remingon pump or hold out until I can find a converted Saiga for under $1000.

 

[Dookie]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. Most semi auto shotguns will not cycle smaller loads as they need the energy to properly cycle. Shooting the cheapo birdshot rarely works.

I wonder if the fact that it is the security model that is causing the problems as it has a longer tube and shorter barrel. I did a lot of research and never read about that many people having issues, but I was only checking out the hunting versions.

Also, good luck with the remington pump, they aint doing much better.

 

[DHart]

Sorry to hear the 930 didn't work out for you. I have had a variety of issues with every self-loading shotgun I've owned... even if just issues with light loads. Any issues is cause for loss of confidence. Now I only rely on these three:



590 is primary home defense shotgun - you won't go wrong with a 500 or a 590, they're true reliable workhorses.

Stoeger Coach Gun is my primary "traveling" gun, as it takes down so quickly and easily and travels so small and light. It goes under the car seat just great. And when you're in your hotel for the night, it re-assembles in 2 seconds and is ready to roll. Sweet little "traveling" 12-gauge!

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Sorry to hear the 930 didn't work out for you. I have had a variety of issues with every self-loading shotgun I've owned... even if just issues with light loads. Any issues is cause for loss of confidence. Now I only rely on these three:



590 is primary home defense shotgun - you won't go wrong with a 500 or a 590, they're true reliable workhorses.

Stoeger Coach Gun is my primary "traveling" gun, as it takes down so quickly and easily and travels so small and light. It goes under the car seat just great. And when you're in your hotel for the night, it re-assembles in 2 seconds and is ready to roll. Sweet little "traveling" 12-gauge!

I've shot some semi-autos and have to agree. Pumps for home defense and the semi-autos for play. IMO, you should have a back up firearm just in case the primary fails.

 

[LoneStarWings]

It sounds like some of you guys got bad examples of the 930. I feel your pain and understand how frustrating that can be from similar experiences with other firearms. My only advice would be to keep sending it back until mossberg either replaces it or gets it working right, be persistent. At worst, if you no longer have confidence in it, at least you can sell the shotgun in good conscience if mossberg eventually gets it working.

Mine continues to be reliable. It does need to be cleaned every 200 rounds or it will occasionally start to have cycling problems. As long as I clean it every 200 rounds (which is coincidentally what mossberg recommends, I think) mine will not hiccup even with cheap birdshot. I use it as my home defense weapon and have a high degree of faith in it.

 

[Al LaVodka]

Old News

Mine... does need to be cleaned every 200 rounds or it will occasionally start to have cycling problems... I use it as my home defense weapon and have a high degree of faith in it.

Does anyone else rely on a gun that they KNOW regularly starts to fail to function as their primary defense gun by choice!?

My 500's and 590's, for example? One broken polyresin safety button replaced after-the-fact (though I knew better) with steel in I can't say how many tens of thousands of rounds. And I bet I don't even have to clean 'em.

We're all sorry about his 930. Obviously. I'm delaying a purchase of the SPX, and that wasn't an easy decision. I was a-push-of-a-feather away and if the dopey Customer Service person at Mossberg hadn't told me the Monte Carlo stock, I think is needed for a decent fit, didn't fit on SPX's I already woulda had one!



Alden

 

[LoneStarWings]

I'm happy for you and your 500/590's, Al. How is needing to be cleaned every 200 rounds a "known problem". It's called maintaining your weapon. I can't foresee a situation in which I'll need to fire 200 shells inside my home.

 

[bushmaster1313]

My Mossberg 930 home defense version would not eject the Winchester Ranger Reduced Recoil 8 pellet 00 buck, but it seemed to work fine with full power Remington loads.

Mossberg could not fix it in two tries.

I really liked how it handled and especially the positive feel of the grip. I no longer have it because it would not reliably eject the low recoil loads. It soured me on semi-auto shotguns as a defensive gun.

 

[DHart]

The semi-autos are sure fun. I really do like 'em! But just can't justify choosing one for defense as no matter what you read and hear, they're just a touch finnicky sometimes and that's not good enough for defense in my book. I've enjoyed some cool semis, but have since retreated to the tried-and-true 590, 500, and Coach Gun.

Speaking of "Justify"... Justified is on tonight! Awesome new series on FX. Especially if you like guns and US Marshalls chasing down bad guys.

 

[Smitty in CT]

...But just can't justify choosing one for defense as no matter what you read and hear, they're just a touch finnicky sometimes and that's not good enough for defense in my book...

I hear this argument all the time... it doesn't make sense.

For example, lets say I switch from my HD barrel to my target barrel and forget to install the piston then head out to the range (trust me, it can happen )

When you fire your first shot, guess what happens when you pull the trigger?? Exactly the same thing that happens on a pump shotgun... It goes bang and the shell doesn't eject by itself. With a pump you have to cycle the action by pulling on the forearm, with a semi, you have to cycle the action using the bolt handle...

Now, there is no excuse for an autoloader that isn't functioning properly and the manufacturer should make the gun work the way its supposed to, if they can't, they should replace the gun.

I've got a couple of 930's, the only malfunctions that I've had were either ammo related or operator stupidity (see above).