I'll start this off by saying 2 things:
1. 90% of my shotgun experience is on a Remmington 870, so I know very little about how semi auto shotguns perate (unless you include Saiga).
2. While I've never thought badly of Mossberg (aside from their 715 rifles), nor have I heard anything really negative about them, I've never owned one... Until now.
My wife bought me a Mossberg 930 for my birthday. Not my first choice gun but hey, my WIFE bought me a gun. How many other guys get so lucky? It's awesome or that reason alone! As with any new gun I get, I promptly disassembled cleaned with Hoppes #9, oiled the parts, and reassembled. On that basis alone, I've decided I don't like the piston assembly. Way more complicated than need be, but maybe that's just any semi auto shotgun configured with an under barrel tube mag. I also don't care for how the bolt is set up with the recoil spring.
After reassembly I loaded it up and started cycling it via charging handle with live rounds (all done outside with gun pointed in a safe direction, etc.). It seems to cycle flawlessly, and even has a bolt hold open. Very nice! I don't like the barrel, however. It's smooth bore (which is fine), it's 18.5 Inches (less than ideal, but ok) With a fixed "breecher" muzzle brake (lame) and does not accept chokes (super gay!) but still has just the single "bead" sight up front. So I essentially have a slug barrel with a sight better suited for birdshot. I found the "turkey" barrel that fits this platform, but everyone is sold out. This gun will not be accompanying me on any turkey hunts next month. Fortunately, the receiver is already drilled and tapped for a scope, so I may attach a red dot sight on some scope rings and use it as my deer gun in the next deer season shooting rifled slugs.
I want to get out and shoot it today, but I only have 12 guage 2 3/4" low brass birdshot, so I'm concerned the weaker load will be insufficient for cyclying in this gun, given that it's NIB and I've heard semi autos are often jam-o-matics with these weaker loads, let alone when it hasn't been worn in decently. So I may shoot all 100 rounds through it, strip it, clean it, oil it again, and cycle some 3" buck shot and slugs when I get my hands on some and repeat a few times and try my luck with low brass for plinking then.
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