Mossberg’s new 940 Professional Area semi-auto shotgun offers a uncommon mixture of nice reliability and an reasonably priced worth. Be taught all the main points about this new shotgun in my Mossberg 940 Professional Area overview.
Most shotgunners will most likely agree that, nearly as good as many fashionable semi-automatic shotguns are, it’s nonetheless actually robust to compete with the reliability of a strong pump-action shotgun just like the Mossberg 500 or the Remington 870. Even so, many hunters are drawn to semi-autos for his or her easy and quick biking.
Because the saying goes although: once they’re candy, they’re actually candy and once they’re bitter, they’re REALLY bitter.
I’ve spent a number of time looking small sport, upland birds, and waterfowl with numerous semi-auto shotguns over time and I’ve skilled a lot of the ache and pleasure related to them.
On one hand, having an nearly immediate follow-up shot out there has helped me fill my restrict greater than as soon as. As an illustration, I’ve delivered a extreme, however not deadly or crippling, hit on a duck with my first shot, after which introduced it down with a second shot earlier than it might fly out of vary on many events.
I’ve a very good buddy and looking buddy who’s a lifelong Remington 870 devotee. Pretty much as good as he’s with that shotgun, that second or third shot is at all times just a little slower. A motivated hen can cowl a number of floor in a rush and each second counts out within the duck blind or the pheasant fields.
As a lot as he hates to confess it, he’s misplaced a couple of birds over time as a result of he both flat out missed or wounded it with the primary shot and couldn’t make a follow-up shot quick sufficient.
Then again, his pump-action will gobble up nearly any load he feeds it with out a hitch whereas most of my semi-autos have been very choosy about what they like and don’t like. I additionally should be a complete lot extra diligent in my cleansing practices to make sure my semi-automatic shotguns proceed to run easily.
That is particularly vital in inclement climate.
That has principally been the state of issues with the pump vs semi-auto debate world for the previous few many years. Certain, semi-automatic shotguns have steadily improved over time and have steadily closed that hole in reliability, however I used to be by no means fairly glad by any of the semi-automatic shotguns I’d hunted with.
Issues modified once I acquired the possibility to hunt with the brand new Mossberg 940 Professional Area semi-automatic shotgun final 12 months although. I put that shotgun by way of the paces over the course of some months and it modified the way in which I have a look at shotguns.
This text is an in-depth Mossberg 940 Professional Area Evaluate the place I’m going over the professionals and cons of the 940 Professional Area intimately so you may make an knowledgeable resolution concerning whether or not or not it make sense so that you can decide one up for your self.
Earlier than we get began, I’ve an administrative be aware:
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What Is The Mossberg 940 Professional And How Does It Work?
Mossberg is greatest identified for his or her shotguns, particularly their legendary pump-action Mannequin 500. Whereas they’ve produced semi-automatic shotguns for a very long time, none had been as extremely thought to be their pump shotguns.
The Mossberg 930 was their mainstay semi-automatic shotgun for a few years and carried out fairly nicely general for hunters, newbie leisure shooters, and even skilled shooters in 3 gun competitions. Even so, consistency points appeared to plague the shotguns.
Some folks ran their 930s actually arduous with no points. Others reported numerous reliability issues. Spiritual cleansing and lubrication after firing a pair hundred rounds solved most of these malfunctions although.
With these issues in thoughts, Mossberg determined to make a couple of enhancements to the 930 and incorporate these modifications into the following iteration of their semi-auto design.
The outcome was the Mossberg 940 JM Professional competitors shotgun they launched in 2020. Apparently, they didn’t initially market the 940 JM Professional to the looking and capturing communities at massive.
As an alternative, they partnered with famend aggressive shooters Jerry and Lena Miculek who used their 940s in 3 gun competitions. By specializing in a small variety of excessive quantity shooters like world champion shooter Jerry Miculek, the oldsters at Mossberg had been most likely capable of shortly work out any kinks of their design earlier than releasing different variations of the 940 to the overall looking and capturing neighborhood.
Mossberg then introduced their latest additions to the 940 line in late 2021: the Mossberg 940 Professional Area shotgun and the Professional Waterfowl shotgun. The corporate has since launched their 940 Professional Turkey and Professional Tactical fashions in 2022 (and I’m positive extra are on the way in which).
So what’s totally different in regards to the 940 Professional?
Whereas the shotgun positively seems to be just a little totally different from the 930 at first look, Mossberg made the largest modifications to the inner parts and gasoline system of the shotgun to enhance reliability and effectivity with the widest attainable vary of ammunition.
The 940 Professional gasoline cylinder has two ports that direct gasoline from a fired shell towards a short-stroke gasoline piston, which in flip strikes the spacer tube, pusher meeting, and bolt meeting to the rear so as to cycle the motion.
Designers at Mossberg made a couple of modifications to that spacer tube within the title of reliability. The three.5-inch aluminum cylinder on the 940 is constructed with a collection of grooves and holes designed to provide carbon fouling and condensation a spot to go as a substitute of simply sticking to the journal tube. These holes additionally enable air to dry any moisture in there to scale back rust and fouling.
That is in stark distinction to the sleek spacer tube on the 930.
Moreover, 940 Professional has nickel boron-coated gasoline piston/rings, journal tube, hammer/sear, and shell cease to additional scale back friction and enhance resistance to corrosion. The tip result’s a shotgun Mossberg claims will run over 1,500 rounds between cleanings vs 500 or so rounds for the 930.
Better cleansing intervals aren’t all that separates the 940 from the 930.
Moreover, the Mossberg 940 Professional buttstock might be adjusted for solid, drop, and size of pull. That is completed by way of included spacers and shims to change drop and solid. The identical goes for adjusting the modular buttpad for size of pull (LOP) from 13″ to 14.25″.
These are all wonderful options to assist make sure the shotgun matches a variety of shooters exactly. When finished accurately, it will make the shotgun “level” higher and quicker in addition to assist scale back perceived recoil.
Similar to the 940 Professional JM, the opposite 940 Professional fashions have outsized controls to assist with reloading and working the shotgun, even when sporting heavy gloves on the vary or on a chilly late season hunt. The enlarged loading port helps in that space as nicely.
The 940 Professional has a facet mounted bolt launch button. Along with releasing the bolt, it is going to additionally launch a shell from the journal tube so the shooter can unload the shotgun with out biking shells by way of the chamber. To make use of this function, manually depress the loading gate on the underside of the shotgun and push the bolt launch button.
Specs on the assorted 940 Professional fashions do range relying on the precise shotgun, however the Mossberg 940 Professional Area ships with a 28″ vent rib barrel with a matte blue end, a pink fiber optic entrance sight, sling swivel studs, and a set of interchangeable Mossberg Accu-Choke tubes (improved, modified, and full).
Now that we’ve coated the fundamentals of the Mossberg 940 Professional Area, let’s discuss what I like and don’t like about it.
What I Like About It
Along with spending a number of time on the vary with the 940 Professional Area, I additionally had the chance to make use of one on a sandhill crane hunt out in west Texas in December of 2021.
I used 12 gauge 3″ Winchester DryLok BB plated metal shot at the side of a modified choke tube on my hunt. That set-up labored rather well: constant patterns, average recoil, no malfunctions, and so forth.
It additionally did a quantity on the birds and we ended up getting a 5 man restrict of sandhill crane that morning.
Along with 3 different hunters I didn’t know, my buddy referenced earlier within the article joined me on this hunt together with his 870.
Crane are very huge birds and are robust to kill. They’re additionally fairly good and cautious, so shut vary alternatives might be uncommon. The tip result’s that they typically require a couple of shot to deliver down.
This was positively a state of affairs the place having a semi-auto was a giant benefit and I used to be glad to have a dependable autoloading shotgun on that hunt.
Along with how issues went on my crane hunt, the 940 Professional Area additionally handled me very nicely on the vary.
The Mossberg 940 Professional Area may be very simple to function. I like that the beveled loading port, the outsized charging deal with, and the bolt launch button are nonetheless simple to function with gloves on.
The tang mounted security can be very nice and intuitive to function (push ahead to fireside). Mine was just a little stiff at first, however shortly smoothed out after I labored it backwards and forwards a couple of instances and it gave me no issues once I went looking with it the primary time.
I additionally just like the set off, although no person will confuse it with one from a customized 1911.
The shotgun factors rather well and it involves my eye naturally. This after all is a giant assist when capturing at quick flying targets.
If that’s not the case for a specific shooter, a couple of minutes of labor adjusting solid/drop or size of pull ought to repair the issue.
The identical goes for recoil, which ranged from very mild to manageable relying on the precise load used. At 7.75 kilos, the shotgun shouldn’t be extraordinarily heavy, however I’m positive the gasoline system and thick recoil pad each assist in that space.
As soon as once more, customizing the adjustable inventory of this shotgun in order that it matches the shooter is extraordinarily vital on this space as nicely.
It’s a small factor, however I like that the anodized journal tube follower is pink coloured as a result of this helps me shortly confirm that the shotgun is unloaded.
The fiber optic sight may be very fundamental, however is straightforward to make use of and works nicely beneath low mild circumstances. The receiver is drilled and tapped for an optic or pink dot sight in case you need to add one.
What in regards to the $10,000 query: can you actually shoot 1,500 rounds by way of the 940 Professional earlier than cleansing it?
Nicely, I wiped down and lubricated this specific shotgun in keeping with directions within the guide once I acquired it from my FFL and haven’t finished any upkeep on it in any other case since receiving it.
I haven’t shot 1,500 rounds by way of it but (nor have I participated in a 3-gun competitors with it), however I’ve shot not less than 700 rounds to date with out a single malfunction.
These shells have diversified from mild 2 3/4″ goal masses to heavy 3″ metal waterfowl masses. I even spent a day on the vary deliberately placing a mixture of alternating heavy and light-weight masses starting from 7/8 ouncesto 1 1/4 ounces by way of the shotgun to see if I might make it jam.
I’m completely happy to report that it ate all of them up with out lacking a beat, even once I’d shoot lengthy strings of photographs so as to warmth the shotgun up.
And no, I nonetheless haven’t cleaned it but apart from that preliminary wipe down.
I must clear it will definitely although, however the Mossberg 940 Professional Area is fortuitously additionally very simple to disassemble, conduct upkeep on, after which reassemble.
Within the meantime, I’ve no reservations about looking with principally any 2.75-inch shells or 3-inch ammunition because of the shotgun’s nicely designed and sturdy gasoline system.
What I Don’t Like About It
With all that mentioned, no gun is ideal and there are some things I don’t like in regards to the Mossberg 940 Professional Area that try to be conscious of earlier than buying one.
First, these shotguns usually ship with {a magazine} plug so they’re authorized to hunt migratory birds with in North America with none modifications.
Nicely, I didn’t initially understand that the shotgun had {a magazine} plug till I tried to totally load the journal (which ought to maintain 4 shells plus 1 within the chamber) and shell #3 caught three quarters of the way in which into the tube.
I had a heck of a time getting it out.
It’s a minor challenge to make sure and could also be distinctive to this specific shotgun. In truth, I used to be capable of replicate it a few instances, however the issue ultimately disappeared as I exercised the assorted parts and controls of the shotgun on the vary and afield.
Now shell #3 will go a part of the way in which within the tube and simply cease prefer it ought to with out catching on something with the journal plug put in.
Subsequent, I don’t like that aftermarket barrels are usually not out there for the 940 Professional at this immediate. My 940 Professional Area is an excellent all-around looking shotgun, however I can’t use something apart from the 28″ barrel it shipped with as I write this text in April of 2022.
This drawback ought to resolve itself within the subsequent 12 months or so although. Reresentatives from Mossberg have acknowledged that they intend to provide the 940 in all of the totally different configurations the 930 is accessible in like a Slugster mannequin with a rifled bore, a tactical shotgun or a safety model with an 18.5″ barrel, and so forth.
They could even ultimately produce a 940 Combo/Area Safety mannequin that ships with each 28″ and 18.5″ barrels for many who need to use their shotgun for house protection in addition to for looking. I additionally wouldn’t be stunned to listen to that Mossberg will ultimately promote further barrels for the 940 Professional as nicely.
So, simply watch out for this proper now if you happen to’re searching for a semi-automatic shotgun to make use of for hen or deer looking in addition to house protection. The 940 Professional shouldn’t be the shotgun for somebody who desires to verify all these bins with a single shotgun, however that may hopefully be altering quickly and I plan on buying a brand new barrel when attainable.
Lastly, I’m not a giant fan of the inventory. The 940 Professional Area has a really fundamental artificial inventory. Whereas it is rather purposeful and I like that it’s adjustable, it doesn’t really feel nice. Nonetheless, I believe that’s a minor grievance as nicely and most different shotguns with nicer shares additionally value fairly a bit extra.
Mossberg 940 Professional Area Evaluate: Ultimate Ideas
All issues thought-about, I believe the Mossberg 940 Professional Area is a superb semi-automatic looking shotgun, particularly at that worth level.
The North Haven, Connecticut based mostly O.F. Mossberg & Sons made a reputation for itself by making no frills, rugged, and utilitarian shotguns that labored rather well at an affordable worth. Nicely, I believe the 940 Professional collection of shotguns matches proper in there with that line of considering.
Along with the 940 JM Professional and the 940 Area Professional, Mossberg presently manufactures 940 Professional Waterfowl, Professional Snow Goose, Professional Turkey, and Professional Tactical Fashions with totally different barrel lengths, camouflage patterns, and totally different journal tube sizes at this immediate.
Make no mistake: the 940 Professional Area shotgun won’t win any magnificence contests with a plain black artificial inventory, black artificial forend, and a matte black end on all uncovered steel surfaces. Sure, there are different shotguns on the market which will look prettier and have extra bells and whistles, however they most likely additionally value much more.
I can say palms down that the Mossberg 940 Area Professional is the perfect semi-automatic shotgun I’ve ever hunted with.
Should you’re searching for a really purposeful, dependable, and no frills multi-purpose 12-gauge semi-automatic looking shotgun at an affordable worth, then I extremely advocate the Mossberg 940 Professional Area. It’s simply as at house in a duck blind as it’s out within the woods chasing rabbits or within the prairie within the palms of a pheasant hunter.
If you wish to purchase a Mossberg 940 Professional Area for your self, click on the button beneath to see what’s presently out there.
BUY A MOSSBERG 940 PRO SHOTGUN HERE
Mossberg 940 Professional Area Specs
- Kind: Gasoline-operated semi-automatic shotgun
- Gauge: 12-gauge
- Chamber Size: 3″ Magnum
- Journal: 5-round capability (4 + 1)
- Sights: Entrance Fiber Optic Hello-Viz bead
- Inventory: Artificial user-configurable inventory with adjustable size of pull, solid, & drop
- Size of Pull: Adjustable 13-14.25”
- Barrel Size: 28-Inch Vent Rib Barrel
- Weight: 7 lbs. 12 oz.
- Total Size: 47.5″
- Barrel End: Matte Blue
- Chokes: Interchangeable Accu-Set Chokes (full, modified, & improved cylinder choke tubes)
- Urged 2022 Retail Value: $903
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Endorsement Disclosure: Per the rules of the Federal Commerce Fee, the product reviewed right here is an endorsement and I acquired compensation by “in-kind” cost to overview the product.
