Re: The troubled history of the 930 SPX
Well I finally got to shoot her today. Three times....
I had changed out the 18.5" barrel with the 24" slug barrel with integrated scope rail, added a 1.65 X 5 variable Nikon Slug Scope and was so excited about finally getting to shoot today that I didn't sleep well at all last night.
I loaded up the laser bore site, set her up for 50 yards. Then loaded a single round of Winchester Supreme 2 3/4", 7/8 oz 385 Gr Sabot round. And BOOM! DAMN she was loud. My ears were ringing like a bell. But nothing on the target. I didn't hit a two foot square target at 50 yards. I'm like, Hmmmmm. So, I went down to 25 yards and bore sighted again. BOOM! Finally, paper. It was off by 8" to the left. I'm thinking there's no way it should be off that bad.
And that's when it happened.
There were black plastic pieces all over the bench. I'm like, "What the heck is this?" I inspected the gun, checked the scope, mountings etc., knowing they weren't made of plastic. Reassembling the big parts in my hand to see if I could identify the shape and size of whatever it was. Looking everywhere I could think of for where these pieces could have come from. Not finding anything else on the ground or seemingly missing from the gun I shot one more round at 50.
More plastic. That's when it struck me. The "Forearm Retainer." Disassembled the mag tube and pulled the forearm off and sure enough, the Forearm Retainer had virtually disentigrated into about 20 pieces. Since this piece acts as a guide for the Pusher Assembly Pins and a seat for the Gas System Return Spring, and it was obviously in no condition to do that job any more, once again, my Mossberg 930 SPX is packed up until I can get replacement parts. After firing three rounds.
All I want to know is "What did I do?" (and I'm never the guy who says "woe is me." Now, I'm just shocked beyond belief.) How in the heck did I get to be the guy who gets this #@*!. The 930 for deer season is virtually guaranteed not to be ready now. There are only 13 days left. I am disappointed beyond belief... And when the new part comes in, I will have no choice but to take it to a machine shop to have one made out of Alumium. Because it seems that the plastic can't hold up to high power. Or anything else probably for very long. Remember, it's not just there to hold the forearm on the barrel...
:evil:
:shock:
Paul