This will be a fairly simple review going over the features and functionality of the Mossberg 930 SPX. I try not to add my opinions in firearm reviews simply because there are SO MANY different ideas about what is best out there. It's your gun, do with it as you please. That said, let's get started.
The 930 SPX was designed to be an upgrade from the 930 Home Defense model. They are essentially the same when it comes to the inner workings and overall design, but the similarities end there. Outside, the SPX gains a magazine tube extension (Choate), receiver-mounted picatinny rail, and LPA ghost ring sights with fiber-optic front sight. Mossberg also offers the SPX with a pistol grip stock (also by Choate).
Specs/features:
18.5" smooth Barrel
chambered in 12ga
Double ported gas system
7+1 capacity
Accepts 2 3/4" and 3" shells
Overall length of 39" with 14" length of pull
Spacers to adjust drop/rise of the stock
Tang-mounted safety
Hammer indicator inside trigger guard
Checkered stock and foregrip
LPA adjustable rear ghost ring sight and fiber-optic front sight
EZ-Empty unloading system
MSRP $720, retails for around $600 (or less)
Ok, enough numbers, time to dig into it.
Click any image for a larger view:
From the outside, you can tell the SPX means business. The LPA sights and mag extension certainly make that clear. Some people have reported issues with the Choate mag tube, but I haven't had any problems yet. When I do, I'll consider replacing it. I experienced no feeding issues whether the tube was full or down to 1 round. The checkering on the stock and foregrip gave good traction when holding it, but some people may find the stock's checkering to be too aggressive. Even my well-calloused blue collar hands felt it dig in after a few hours of shooting, so you girly types may not like that. The tang-mounted safety is easily accessed whether you're a lefty or righty and solidly clicks into place with a large red dot denoting the "fire" position. The stock has a built-in rubberized recoil pad that helps a bit with felt recoil, but it's a shotgun, it'll kick. That said, however, recoil was very manageable and let me do follow-up shots on clipped targets with ease. Loading was easy, and I didn't get thumb bite from the loading elevator. One of the great things about this shotgun is its mostly metal construction. Aside from the stock and foregrip, there are maybe one or two other parts that are plastic. Even so, it remains lightweight and manageable with a balance point at the front edge of the ejection port. Disassembly is a simple affair, and everything comes apart and goes back together easily with little to no free play in the components once everything is tightened down.
Moving on, we'll start our focus from the rear of the gun and work our way forward. As stated earlier, the stock has a rubber butt pad and is available in a traditional rifle stock or pistol grip stock.
The safety is tang-mounted like most other Mossberg shotguns, so anyone with a 500 will feel right at home using it.
The trigger guard is all metal and houses a hammer indicator on the inside to provide both a visual and tactile signal that the weapon is ready to fire.
The trigger assembly is taken out by removing the two pins from the receiver. They come out either way, so no need to remember anything special there. With the trigger assembly removed, take care not to pull the trigger and release the hammer. There is a small spring held in place that will pop out if the assembly is not mounted in the gun, so you don't want to lose that.
The charging handle is the standard Mossberg hunting flair, but there are several options out there to replace it should you feel the need to do so. The bolt release button is large and easily found using either hand. For those with longer fingers (and are left-handed) you can reach under the receiver and press it without removing your off-hand from the foregrip.
After the last round, the bolt locks back and can be brought back forward after reloading by pressing the release button. The release button also doubles as an unloading aid that will eject a single round through the loading port instead of cycling the action to spit a round out through the chamber. Loading is very easy and the elevator has a finished cutout to help prevent your thumb from getting chewed up while pushing the rounds in.
It will hold 7+1 rounds with the included extension tube, but you can also ghost load an additional round bringing your total capacity up to 9 rounds. Wowza. More on that later as the process is a bit convoluted.
The 930 SPX was designed to be an upgrade from the 930 Home Defense model. They are essentially the same when it comes to the inner workings and overall design, but the similarities end there. Outside, the SPX gains a magazine tube extension (Choate), receiver-mounted picatinny rail, and LPA ghost ring sights with fiber-optic front sight. Mossberg also offers the SPX with a pistol grip stock (also by Choate).
Specs/features:
18.5" smooth Barrel
chambered in 12ga
Double ported gas system
7+1 capacity
Accepts 2 3/4" and 3" shells
Overall length of 39" with 14" length of pull
Spacers to adjust drop/rise of the stock
Tang-mounted safety
Hammer indicator inside trigger guard
Checkered stock and foregrip
LPA adjustable rear ghost ring sight and fiber-optic front sight
EZ-Empty unloading system
MSRP $720, retails for around $600 (or less)
Ok, enough numbers, time to dig into it.
Click any image for a larger view:
From the outside, you can tell the SPX means business. The LPA sights and mag extension certainly make that clear. Some people have reported issues with the Choate mag tube, but I haven't had any problems yet. When I do, I'll consider replacing it. I experienced no feeding issues whether the tube was full or down to 1 round. The checkering on the stock and foregrip gave good traction when holding it, but some people may find the stock's checkering to be too aggressive. Even my well-calloused blue collar hands felt it dig in after a few hours of shooting, so you girly types may not like that. The tang-mounted safety is easily accessed whether you're a lefty or righty and solidly clicks into place with a large red dot denoting the "fire" position. The stock has a built-in rubberized recoil pad that helps a bit with felt recoil, but it's a shotgun, it'll kick. That said, however, recoil was very manageable and let me do follow-up shots on clipped targets with ease. Loading was easy, and I didn't get thumb bite from the loading elevator. One of the great things about this shotgun is its mostly metal construction. Aside from the stock and foregrip, there are maybe one or two other parts that are plastic. Even so, it remains lightweight and manageable with a balance point at the front edge of the ejection port. Disassembly is a simple affair, and everything comes apart and goes back together easily with little to no free play in the components once everything is tightened down.
Moving on, we'll start our focus from the rear of the gun and work our way forward. As stated earlier, the stock has a rubber butt pad and is available in a traditional rifle stock or pistol grip stock.
The safety is tang-mounted like most other Mossberg shotguns, so anyone with a 500 will feel right at home using it.
The trigger guard is all metal and houses a hammer indicator on the inside to provide both a visual and tactile signal that the weapon is ready to fire.
The trigger assembly is taken out by removing the two pins from the receiver. They come out either way, so no need to remember anything special there. With the trigger assembly removed, take care not to pull the trigger and release the hammer. There is a small spring held in place that will pop out if the assembly is not mounted in the gun, so you don't want to lose that.
The charging handle is the standard Mossberg hunting flair, but there are several options out there to replace it should you feel the need to do so. The bolt release button is large and easily found using either hand. For those with longer fingers (and are left-handed) you can reach under the receiver and press it without removing your off-hand from the foregrip.
After the last round, the bolt locks back and can be brought back forward after reloading by pressing the release button. The release button also doubles as an unloading aid that will eject a single round through the loading port instead of cycling the action to spit a round out through the chamber. Loading is very easy and the elevator has a finished cutout to help prevent your thumb from getting chewed up while pushing the rounds in.
It will hold 7+1 rounds with the included extension tube, but you can also ghost load an additional round bringing your total capacity up to 9 rounds. Wowza. More on that later as the process is a bit convoluted.
