Mossberg 930/935... What do you think of them?

A

AlbertoA

New member
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
7   0   0
Location
Edmonton
I know right off the hop what you're thinking.... Go Binelli, Beretta, maybe even Remington.... But as semi's go, the 930/935 is in a totally different price range, one I like to call 'affordable to me right now'.

If I could put down $1500+ I would likely not even put the Mossy's in my poll of 'which one should I get', but I have to ask... Have any of you ever owned, do you own, do you know someone who does own a Mossy 930/935 auto-loader shotgun? How is it? Is it reliable? Is it a picky eater? If I take it out for a goose or duck hunt, how many times out of 100 rounds should I expect a 'click' or a poor ejection?

Don't recommend a Remy 870, I have access to one and she's a dream. I want to buy myself an auto-loader that works steel shot well.

Thanks
 
I should mention, I would be looking more toward the 935 12 gauge.... But I don't know that there is a world of difference in reliability between the two.... Maybe there is...

I have heard the 935 is 3 or 3.5 inch only, no 2.75 inch, though in my experience that it pretty standard.
 
Unless you are doing a lot of goose hunting where you shoot at greater distances, you don't need the 935. My dad and wife both have a 930 and they have been good guns that so far have digested anything. Reportedly, not so with the 935 and I think there have been a few issues with them. But I don't own a 935 so it is just from what I have read.
 
I own a 930. I love it. It fits me well. Soft-shooting, easy to clean, easy to load and operate, etc. No complaints. So far 100% reliable with everything from light target loads to 3" steel. No problems with loading or ejecting. Handles waterfowling duties very well, and I do very well with trap and skeet with it. Easy on the shoulder. Not a light gun, but not excessively heavy either. I think however, that this may be one gun I could wear out in my lifetime because it fits me and I shoot well with it so I use it a lot.

The barrel porting, I don't even notice it's there. Three chokes (which interchange with Winchokes, BTW), a cable lock, vent rib, high visibility front bead and nice walnut made this a great value gun. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

Forgot to add I don't feel a need for 3.5" shells. I only occassionally use 3" for geese as 2-3/4" will kill them pretty dead under most conditions.
 
I agree with the above poster. They are good working guns. The only other gun I would recommend if your on a budget would be a baikal 153mp. It is 3.5" but kicks out even 7/8oz skeet loads
 
I have a 930, it was what i learnt to shoot skeet on until i could move up to an O/U so needless to say it has seen alot of shots through it. No issues with it what so ever. Fed 2 3/4 easily, runs goose load well and takes all the abuse i have thrown at it without complaint. I would recommend one, of course you are not getting a SuperBlack Eagle II/Xtrema 2 or anything of that caliber but for the money you cant go wrong IMHO.
 
Love my 930!

Cycles everything without issue, and requires little maintenence.

The 935 won't allow you to shoot any light tartget loads, and you will probably have to stick to 3 and 3 1/2 inch shells, but if that works for you I wouldn't hesitate.

Might also look at the new Stoeger which is being marketed on the fact it will cycle anything from 2 3/4 target loads to 3 1/2 inch magnums.
 
Well this is all very uplifting! Still haven't actually found a 935 owner though.... just to hear it from the horse's mouth.

At this point I think I would be looking to get a 930, wood stuck, accu-set choke. It's a handsome gun
 
AlbertoA said:
Well this is all very uplifting! Still haven't actually found a 935 owner though.... just to hear it from the horse's mouth.

At this point I think I would be looking to get a 930, wood stuck, accu-set choke. It's a handsome gun
Click to expand...

Just do a search on this forum. This question about the 930 and 935 has been asked several times. Also just do a google search on the 935 and you will see all kinds of replies "from the horse's mouth" about the 935 not cycling light loads well. It even states in the owner's manual that it is not designed for light loads. So if you intend to shoot light loads and still buy a 935, don't say you weren't warned.
 
Haha... fair enough.... I'm just sad that I'm selling my Belgian Browning A5 magnum strictly on the fact that it wont do steel well... it's such a beautiful reliable gun I am hoping my future 930 is the same.

The A5 was 3" anyway, so none of my ammo will go to waste.
 
AlbertoA said:
Haha... fair enough.... I'm just sad that I'm selling my Belgian Browning A5 magnum strictly on the fact that it wont do steel well... it's such a beautiful reliable gun I am hoping my future 930 is the same.

The A5 was 3" anyway, so none of my ammo will go to waste.
Click to expand...

How come it won't do steel well? Is it because of the conception that the barrel isn't made of good enough steel? I know a lot of people hesitate to use older guns because of this. The steel shot in today's shell rides in a plastic shot cup and does not touch the walls. At least there are reports written by ballistics experts that say this. I know several people who shoot steel in older guns and have not ruined their barrels. If the choke is too full you can have it opened.
 
I don't know the official diagnosis.... I was told that mine because it is Belgian made would not handle steel well and it does not.... It's I/M choke, and I have been told I can pay some guy a handsome dollar to upgrade the gun so it will handle the steel.... But to be quite honest, I don't want to modify the gun. That's not my style. The gun is a legend and it is top quality, just of a different time. I know someone will want it for what it is. And it is a fantastic trap shooter
 
The 935 only shoots 3 1/2" shells as far as I know. One of my junior shooters has a 930 and we shoot a lot of sporting clays and for less than $620 bucks brand new from Ellwood Epps, its well worth the money, so much so I'll be buying one for ducks this fall.
Shoots Federal and Winchester target loads all day as well as 3" hunting loads, a great gun
 
mbonner said:
The 935 only shoots 3 1/2" shells as far as I know. One of my junior shooters has a 930 and we shoot a lot of sporting clays and for less than $620 bucks brand new from Ellwood Epps, its well worth the money, so much so I'll be buying one for ducks this fall.
Shoots Federal and Winchester target loads all day as well as 3" hunting loads, a great gun
Click to expand...

It will shoot 3".
 
I have a 935 that shoots 2.75" heavy ( 11/4 oz ) loads but won't handle the 3 dram stuff from Wally world. Having said that the gun is IMHO too heavy for an all round gun and my use for it is strictly waterfowl.
 
My primary skeet gun is a modified 930. 5000 rounds through it to date. Never had any issues. Very well made & reliable.

Wouldn't hesitate to buy another.
 
absolute love mine, favorite shotgun ive owned. only ever had issues once with 3" slugs the very first time out other than that its seen countless rounds of every kind of ammo and runs flawless.
 
I love my 930 but it does have one serioous problem. I only have about 800 shells through it and the shell stop doesn't hold the shells in the magazine. It ghost loads all the time. Quite annoying when you're trying to put 4 target loads into the magazine but it ghost loads so you can't get all four in.

At first I thought the shell stop was dirty so I cleaned it quite good. It's improved but still an issue. Maybe still not cleaned enough?

Other than that it's a great gun. I got the combo for the rifled barrel.

I also purchased a Weatherby SA-08 that maybe another 3" gun you may want to look into.
 
I have the 935 and am pleased with it. It is great with 3" and 3.5" in both the duck/goose blind and turkey blind. I added tru glu sites and a turkey choke. I also have a rifled slug barrel with the cantilevered scope mount and have taken a couple bucks with it. With the rifled barrel it will shoot 2 3/4 sabot slugs. It is important to keep the gas chamber clean. The only drawback I have found is that it is a little heavy to carry in the woods for rabbits and grouse. Rick in London.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom