Got 930 SPX back from Mossberg customer service today
Hi Guys-
I am new to the world of shotguns, so since I bought a 930 SPX, I have read all the posts on this website pertaining to this model. I have learned a lot. Thank you to everyone who contributes to this forum.
I have had many of the problems others have described with this gun. Note that I cleaned and lubed it prior to using it for the first time. And I continue to do so after each day's use.
Among the problems I have experienced at FTEs, frequent type three malfunctions, the magazine not accepting 7 (2.75") shells all the time, gashes on the mag tube at the fore end, shells not always coming out of the mag when I try to unload the gun (they would come half way out, and I would have to pull them out with my fingers or push them back into the mag tube and try again), and the gas piston not moving freely. Also, the barrel did not go into the receiver easily, even though I lubed it.
Some of the problems were ammo-related, and improved when I used different ammo. I later went to a two-day tactical shotgun class to learn how to run the gun properly. It was a struggle. I cleaned and lubed the gun after the first day. By the afternoon of the second day, it had almost stopped working. When I took it apart to clean it, I found the gas piston would not slide freely – it was binding in its tube. At this point I had put a total of around 500 rounds through the gun since getting it brand new.
I called Mossberg when I got home and described these problems. They told me to send it in. They received it on Tuesday, October 16, and I got it back today, Thursday, October 25.
They replaced following items: The barrel, the mag tube and the mag spring.
They included a note about cleaning the gas piston. I cleaned the gas piston with solvent and a brush, but I wasn't taking the whachamacallits out of the piston to clean them and scrub the slot they ride in, so that one's probably on me. I have seen the video about disassembly of the piston and cleaning it, so I'll be doing that from now on.
Anyway, I am unable to test drive my shotgun until the first week in November, so I have to wait to see how well it works.
I tried three times to load seven in the mag tube, and had no problems. I tried three times to unload the mag tube with no problems, so hopefully those problems are behind me now.
Since I want a shotgun to be my primary home defense weapon, reliability is paramount. At the shotgun class I attended, I saw that several people had problems running their semi-autos (not 930 SPXs), less so the pump guns.
I guess buying this model of Mossberg is a crap shoot. Some guys have nothing but headaches while others say they run great with no problems. It was unrealistic to think I might be getting Benelli quality for a quarter the price. So, I'll see how it goes. If the gun won't run reliably, it's no good to me.
When I take the gun out next month, I'll report back.
Thank you,
Larry