My Mossberg 930 project.

[Salty]

Well, I recently purchased a shotgun to replace my Beretta M9A1 as a home defense firearm (and more), and I thought I aught to share the simple but fun project with you.

The shotgun in question is a scratch and dent sale Mossberg 930 Tactical (semi-auto, 12g, 4+1 capacity). The idea behind the project was to put together a multi-use shotgun that can be used for home defense, clays, and hunting.

%100 factory stock, plus a few bonus scratches (I think it got fondled way too much at the gun store)


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The first item changed was the charging handle.
Here's the stock charging handle. Awwww how cute.


Stock handle compared to the Choate Tactical replacement. Mmmm beefy!


Choate handle installed.

[Salty]

Next I had to do something about that capacity. 4+1 is fine for clays, more than legally allowed for hunting, and will get the job done for home defense. But for the latter, more is always better. Enter the Choate +2 magazine extension.

Disassembly photo. I didn't HAVE to strip it down this far, but removing the magazine spring retainer thingamajig without damaging anything requires a little finesse and it helped to have unfastened parts out of the way.


Magazine extension installed.
I read a lot of reviews stating that it cycles more reliably with the stock spring than the spring included with the mag extension, so I went ahead and used the stock spring. No problems whatsoever in the mag feeding department at the range.
These next two photos were actually taken after I was completely done messing around with the gun for the night and had cleaned and oiled it. It's amazing how much a thin coat of break free hides the surface scratches.




The magazine extension also came with a nifty bright orange follower, which makes checking that the gun is unloaded much easier than it was with the stock black follower.

[Salty]

Now, that 18.5" barrel is great for home defense or playing with slugs and buckshot at the range, but it doesn't quite have the range required for clays or hunting (and is shorter than typically allowed at most clay ranges). That's where Mossbergs excellent accessory barrels come in.

28" compensated vent rib barrel with removable accu chokes and a fiber optic sight. This is light years ahead of the old fixed choke brass bead barrel on my 1986 Mossy 500.


The barrels take about 3 minutes max to swap out. No tools required.




Or if you wana get your Tom Knapp on, you can just as easily install it with the magazine extension.

[Salty]

Mossberg is nice enough to include a fairly easy to install set of shims that allows you to raise or lower the stock in relation to the action. I've still got to mess around with these a little bit more to find the exact right set of shims.




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Now onto illumination. I recently got a Streamlight TLR-3 in trade from another calgunner. I need to mess around and figure out a way to mount it. I'd like to do it in a quickly removable fashion to ease barrel swaps. I had wanted to bolt a small section of rail to the forearm, but the barrel ends up blocking some of the light. I could go with a barrel or mag tube clamp, but then I'll need to remove that with a tool before swapping barrels. And I'm trying to keep barrel swaps toolless. Any ideas here? I'm still open to completely different lights if that'll somehow help. The idea here is simplicity, low bulk, and ease of transition between defense mode and fun mode.

[Salty]

Now for the initial range report!

We took an assortment of standard power and low recoil 00 2-3/4" buckshot to the range to do some function and pattern testing. It chewed up and spat out all of the standard recoil loads flawlessly, but had issues with WinLite and Remington reduced recoil loads. It did however cycle about 15 rounds of Federal low recoil buck without issue, although I wasn't super enthusiastic about the pattern (and I honestly can't remember why at this point). Of the standard recoil loads I liked the patterning of the Remington Express offerings the most. I didn't measure it, but it was a very even circular pattern of approx 8-10" at 15 yards (the longest distance inside my house). I have no idea what the books and magazines say about patterning buckshot, but I liked what I saw. Of the standard power loads I also tried Olin "Military Grade" buck, which had a very uneven 10-12" pattern at 15 yards (usually with one rouge flyer adding a couple of inches to the group), and Federal Flight Control buck which produced a dense pattern slightly smaller than my fist at the same distance. Duly noted for any buckshot hunting I may ever do in the future, but my thought was that the grouping was so tight that it kind of negated the advantage of firing multiple projectiles. So with that said, I'll be ordering a truck load of Remington Express 00 buck for future practice and home defense use.

Aside from that, the combination of a halfway decent recoil pad, semi automatic action, shim kit, and perhaps even the muzzle brake (tell me if I'm wrong there) added up to a very manageable 18.5" gun. The kick was nothing like my old Mossy 500 with it's crusty 25 year old recoil "pad", pump action, and ergonomics that just didn't fit either my wife or I. Shooting buckshot out of the M500 was a chore, with the M930 it's a pleasure. The action also cycled smooth from the get go, and got even smoother after about the first 10 rounds or so. My wife and I both love the Choate bolt handle. It provides you with a nice beefy confidence inspiring grip. She has a habit of getting a poor grip on bolts/slides and pinching her fingers, and I think she really appreciated having a nice hunk of metal to grab onto. As a right handed shooter, it also makes reaching over the receiver with your left hand to cycle the action super easy. The bolt release is also fairly easy to reach and works as one might expect it. It's not under a bunch of load like a slide release on a pistol, so it doesn't require much more force than an old push button radio to work it. And the safety, one of the big reasons I like Mossbergs. It's in a nice ergonomic (when used with a traditional stock) position that can be easily manipulated while the shotgun is shouldered. I may eventually replace it with a bulkier metal safety if for no other reason than I can, but the OEM safety does just fine for now.

Anyway, that's that. I'll be sure to give you guys a sporting clays update once I get around to that. And hopefully come duck season I'll be able to post a good bag or two.

[MossbergMan]

Good looking gun Salty! thanks for the info. I'm waiting for a stock replacement charging handle. Yours like mine is first gen 930. The models now are coming with a larger round charging handle.

[mrvash]

That is one sexy zombie blaster.

[Salty]

Good looking gun Salty! thanks for the info. I'm waiting for a stock replacement charging handle. Yours like mine is first gen 930. The models now are coming with a larger round charging handle.

It's cheap too! $10-$12 or so.

That is one sexy zombie blaster.

Thanks! I didn't think it'd come out looking so good.
Initially I wasn't a big fan of the muzzle brake, I just got the gun because it fit well and it was there, but once you get the mag extension and bolt handle on there the look just comes together and works out well.

[Capt Jack]

Looks good! I've got the 930 combo that came with both barrels and this is the best shotgun value out there in my opinion! Let us know how she shoots!

[motorwerks]

KILL ZOMBIES DEAD!!! Lol this things so rad. I've never been into Mossy's but this is changing my mind.

[TurboAR]

Nice build Salty.

Nice build Salty. Where did you get the 28" compensated vent rib barrel with removable accu chokes and a fiber optic sight? And what did you pay for it if you don't mind me askings. I have the same model, have about 1000 rounds threw it with no problems.

[Salty]

KILL ZOMBIES DEAD!!! Lol this things so rad. I've never been into Mossy's but this is changing my mind.

I think Remingtons tend to be "nicer" (better finish for sure, sometimes cleaner machining), but I really like the location of the safety on Mossbergs. That and the price... but really mostly the safety.

Nice build Salty. Where did you get the 28" compensated vent rib barrel with removable accu chokes and a fiber optic sight? And what did you pay for it if you don't mind me askings. I have the same model, have about 1000 rounds threw it with no problems.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/58493-1.html

$156.25 from Cheaper Than Dirt. You can save a couple of bucks at a few lesser known online retailers if you are really pinching pennies (google the part number), but I just decided to go with a place that I had experience with.

[Salty]

I'm thinkin' of ditching that TLR-3 for a simple tactical flashlight in a clamp with the ol' end cap on/off switch. I've been playing around with it, and while it's a sweet *** light, I just can't find a place to mount it that I like (taking manipulation, adapters, bulk, etc, into account).

Or just no light at all? One more step when cleaning the gun or swapping barrels and I only really NEED a light if I have to inspect something in the backyard. Then again, the backyard is dark as hell and has a lot of narrow hiding spots. BAH!
Trying to keep things simple...

Also undecided as to whether or not I want a side saddle. I don't want to add a whole lot of bulk to the gun, especially for hunting and clays. I also want to try and avoid the need for tools to field strip the gun.

I'm kinda liking these: http://3gungear.corecommerce.com/Sho...2-Pac-p22.html

And these, but I wish all of the shells were lined up in the same direction: http://3gungear.corecommerce.com/Sho...rrier-p66.html

My wife shoots opposite of me, so butt cuffs are out of the question

Should I get a side saddle it would probably be the Mesa Tactical 4 round unit (again, trying to keep the bulk to a minimum):

http://www.tacticalshotgunner.com/mesa-tactical-shot-sureshell-for-mossberg-930-shotguns-p-234.html

[motorwerks]

I may know a guy who knows a guy that has to many surefire flashlights. He may part with a Scout, or a 951 (I think thats the number cant remember off the top of my head) Said guy has 2 of each and has decided he really doesn't need 4 lights (yeah its me ) I have a flashlight fetish)

[motorwerks]

I go round and round with myself over sidesaddles..... I want one but cant bring myself to get one. I've had a butt cuff (haha butt cuff) for a while and even though I hate it it would be easy to swap over for say a left or right shooter.