Select Slug/Change Over & Ghost Load & Unload: Mossberg 930/940

[xounlistedxox]

So, while I was shopping around for which semi-auto shotgun I was going to buy I watched a TON of videos from all types of channels and read reviews from all over.


The common theme was that one advantage you get from the Beretta or Benelli type semi-auto shotguns is the ability to do a Select Slug or Change Over from one ammo type to another without having to draw from the magazine tube of your shotgun because of the way these are built. Many folks out there from youtubers and gun reviewers alike all kept on saying you can't do the Select Slug or Change Over on the Mossberg 930/940.


Within a few minutes, I was able to figure out the manual of arms so to speak on how to perform a Select Slug or Change over pretty easily.


My buddy sold me his 930 for a killer price, so I grabbed this and then wanted to get a 940 as a result.


For those of you with the 930 or 940, if this is old news that everyone knows about, my apologies, but I couldn't find anyone anywhere showing folks how you can do this, so here you go!

For those that don't like video format and would rather read, here's how it's done:


With a round chambered that you would like to change out


1. Hold the bolt release button forward and hold it until the round that is chambered is ejected. On the 930(with small button), you will want to get an oversized button otherwise this will be difficult. This causes the next cartridge in the magazine tube to not eject onto the carrier.

2. Grab the shell that you want to swap into the chamber with you opposite hand.

3. Grab your charging handle and rack to the rear, ejecting the current cartridge (hold bolt to the rear until new shell is in place)

4. Insert the new shell of your choosing and let the bolt release go.

Bam, Select Slug/Change over done!

Knowing this will also help you to not perform the fatal flaw of ejecting the next cartridge from the magazine tube onto the carrier, when you already have a round on the carrier!

Thoughts?

How to Ghost Load:

Quickly Unload:

[W.R.Buchanan]

The best way to do this is to fill the magazine and then rack the first round into he chamber. Now you have room for another round in your magazine. Then you decide to make the change, you simply stuff one in the magazine and Rack the Bolt. Yes you waste the round that was in the chamber, but it is still the quickest way to do a Select Slug Changeover.

If it works out right you'll have plenty of time to pick up the one you dropped.

Randy

[xounlistedxox]

The best way to do this is to fill the magazine and then rack the first round into he chamber. Now you have room for another round in your magazine. Then you decide to make the change, you simply stuff one in the magazine and Rack the Bolt. Yes you waste the round that was in the chamber, but it is still the quickest way to do a Select Slug Changeover.

If it works out right you'll have plenty of time to pick up the one you dropped.

Randy

Appreciate the reply, Randy!

The method you describe can certainly work in some scenarios, but it does introduce some limitations—particularly if your mag tube is already full or if you're running a full tube plus a ghost load. In those cases, you'd have to add even more steps on top of the extra ones your method already includes.

That’s why I prefer the manual of arms I demonstrated in the video—it works in all scenarios, regardless of the mag, carrier or chamber state. And if I’m going to commit to practicing a manual of arms for real proficiency under stress, I want a method that’s universal and consistent every time with as few steps as possible.

Also worth noting: with my method, the most you’ll ever have to eject is a single round. If you train it regularly, it becomes very hard to mess up. On the other hand, the method you suggested adds more potential for induced malfunctions—like double feeds or jams (from the tube)—especially if you're under pressure.

All that said, I appreciate the input and enjoy seeing different approaches!

[W.R.Buchanan]

It's also the reason I don't have any Italian Semi Auto Shotguns. They are way too complicated to run unless you train a lot with them (Which you should be doing anyway !!!).

Even our hero Tampon Tim couldn't figure out how to load his cuz he didn't know about the Shell Trip!

My M500's are kept "Cruiser Ready" which is Chamber Empty, Hammer Down, Mag Full, and Safety Off. Same with my A5. Pick up the gun ,Rack the slide or bolt and you are ready to fire, and You've got a place for the Select Slug if you need it, or can quickly load another round into the mag..

Just the way we were trained at Front Sight.

Randy

[BOBGBA]

Benelli Nova/Super Nova's (pump actions) have a magazine disconnect button on the forend.
You can eject the chambered round, without dropping a shell from the magazine.
It's not that difficult.
It's useful if you're duck hunting and need to use a larger shell for the goose that decided to take a look at your decoys.

[xounlistedxox]

Benelli Nova/Super Nova's (pump actions) have a magazine disconnect button on the forend.
You can eject the chambered round, without dropping a shell from the magazine.
It's not that difficult.
It's useful if you're duck hunting and need to use a larger shell for the goose that decided to take a look at your decoys.

Thanks for the input, but I think you may have missed the point of my post. I'm specifically demonstrating how to perform a Select Slug/Change Over drill on semi-auto Mossberg 930/940 shotguns—not pump actions like the Nova or Super Nova.

The myth I’m addressing is the widespread claim that you can’t do this kind of manual ammo swap on a 930/940 due to how the action works. My video shows that, with the right technique, you can—no need for a mag cut-off button like on a pump or a shell release button like on the Benelli semi-autos.

Still, the mag disconnect on the Nova is definitely useful in hunting situations. But in this thread, I’m focusing on how to run the 930/940 semi-autos in a way many say isn’t possible.

[W.R.Buchanan]

I forgot another method we were taught at FS.

Gun Condition: Loaded Chamber, Full Magazine, Ready to Fire. 1. Depress Bolt release to Rack Slide to Eject Round in Chamber. 2. Turn gun over to dump out new round that is on the lifter. 3.Port Load the Slug, 4.Close Bolt.

Randy

[xounlistedxox]

I forgot another method we were taught at FS.

Gun Condition: Loaded Chamber, Full Magazine, Ready to Fire. 1. Depress Bolt release to Rack Slide to Eject Round in Chamber. 2. Turn gun over to dump out new round that is on the lifter. 3.Port Load the Slug, 4.Close Bolt.

Randy

If I'm following correctly, this would definitely allow you to swap your round type, but you would be giving up two rounds to do it?

[W.R.Buchanan]

That's right .Let me explain this a little further so you get it.

With the gun "Cruiser Ready" When I go into action by Racking the Slide to chamber the first round, I now have one less round in the Magazine.

My M500's are 5+1 so that means I have 1 in the chamber and 4 in the mag with room for one more. I then stuff a slug into the mag and rack that round into the chamber wasting the previously chambered round.
I now have 4 in the mag and 1 in the chamber. IE: 5 in the gun.

If done the other way starting with a fully loaded gun with 6 rounds in it, then dump 2, and Port Load the Slug,,, the result is still 5 rounds in the gun.

You can also stuff another round into the mag at that point nd have a fully loaded gun again.

Higher Magazine Capacity on Tactical Shotguns can become a Double Edged Sword very quickly. Once you get past 7 rounds in the Tube Magazine the weight of the ammo (@3 oz. per round) being so far out from the balance point of the gun, makes the gun become Muzzle Heavy and very sluggish to move around. Some of the Competition guns with mag tubes sticking out beyond the barrel 6" are very slow to move around, which may not be that big a Handicap in the open like on a Range, but in your house where your movement is restricted by walls and such It could be a real problem.

I have a M500 with a 20 " Bbl. that is 7+1, and a M500 with a 18" Bbl. that is 5+1. The shorter gun is my house gun, and the longer one is used for local 3 gun shoots. and both have Velcro Side Saddles with 6 extra rounds on board. as well as extras close by, and they both have Vang Comped Barrels that keep 00 Buckshot in a 7" group at 25 yards.

In the classes we took at Front Sight they showed us both methods of doing the Select Slug Drill. I never did like the "Full Gun, Dump 2" method as it requires you to turn the gun over and wiggle it to get the round on the lifter to dump out and that took more time. When we did the drill on the test I always cheated and put one round in the chamber and left the mag empty, so there was the least amount of resistance stuffing the round into the mag.

We only had 5 seconds to do the slug change and hit a target at 50 yards.

But the bottom line here is that "Shotguns are Ammo Hungry Beasts," and you need to get very proficient at keeping them fed.

Hope this helps understanding on this subject.

Randy

[Munny$hot]

Great tips for the 930/940. Thanks