Mossberg 940 Pro Sporting

• MSRP: $1,267 ($1078 Super Bantam Sporting)
• Operation: Gas
• Available Gauges: 12 gauge
• Barrel Length Options: 30" (26" Super Bantam Sporting)
• Chamber Size: 3"
• Weight: 8 lb 8 oz mfg (7 lb 4 oz Super Bantam Sporting)
• Length of Pull: 13" to 14.25" (12.5" to 14.25" Super Bantam Sporting)
• Stock: Spacer system for length of pull, shim-adjustable drop and cast
• Trigger: 4 lb 2.6 oz on our gauge
• Chokes: Briley extended (Skeet, Improved Cylinder, Modified)
• Extras: Ported vent rib barrel, replaceable fiber optic front sight, oversized loading port, nickel boron coated internals, blue anodized magazine cap and bolt handle

Ergonomics

One of the things I love about the 940 Pro is how much adjustability comes right in the box. You get spacers to set your length of pull, plus shims to adjust drop and cast, and you're going to want that 100% in a sporting shotgun so you can really get it dialed in.

Length of pull runs from 13" to 14.25" in quarter inch increments. Now to be honest, I do wish it went a little longer, since I prefer to shoot something between 14.75" and 15".

Starting at the butt, the standard recoil pad is decent, and it's cut on the top so it doesn't catch when you mount. I was also genuinely impressed with the wood. It's really nice-looking walnut for a gun at this price point.

The grip has a fairly aggressive texture instead of checkering, but it won't rip up your hands. Add in a large trigger guard and you've got a gun that's easy to run with gloves or without. Speaking of triggers, this one surprised me when it broke at 4 lb 2.6 oz out of the box; I had to double-check it. That is impressive at this price.

Here is the part I really like about every 940 Pro, and that's the loading port. It's milled out with rounded edges, and the lifter is extended and curves up, so you can load quickly without pinching your fingers. 

The extended chokes are made by Briley, although you know I'll end up throwing some Carlson's in there.

Recoil and Reliability

I was really interested to see if the ported barrels would make a difference, since I've shot tens of thousands of rounds through non-ported 940 Pros. I did notice maybe slightly less muzzle jump.

Recoil, on the other hand, is very light. I'd been shooting 20-gauge all day before picking this up, and when I switched to this 12-gauge, I barely noticed the difference. Would I call it the lightest recoiling semi-auto out there? That's hard to say, but I know it's up there.

Reliability is the reason I use the 940 Pro in my exhibitions. Whether I'm shooting from the hip or over my head, this gun is going to cycle, and it's fast. Mossberg claims up to 1,500 rounds between cleanings, and the piston, magazine tube, hammer, and sear are all nickel boron coated, which makes cleanup really easy.

Even with how soft this gun shoots, I'd still probably put a FalconStrike on it like we have on our Super Bantam. It always helps to have a little less recoil over a long day on the course.

Want even less recoil? We love the FalconStrike recoil reduction systems.

Breakdown / Quality of Build

Overall, I think the 940 Pro Sporting has decent quality, especially for a value gun. Now to be fair, the refinement and finishes aren't going to be top notch, and you can definitely spend more money and get something that feels more polished in the hand.

Here is the part I really appreciate, though. Mossberg took some extra steps you don't always see at this price point, like nickel boron coating on the piston, magazine tube, hammer, and sear. That makes it easier to clean and helps it hold up to a lot of shooting, and after tens of thousands of rounds through my own 940 Pros, I can tell you they hold up really well.

I would also call out that the front fiber sight popped off while we were doing this review, which is a little annoying on a brand new gun. I've seen this before with some Mossbergs, and a little Loctite and re-tightening the screw fixes it, but I wish it came out of the factory without that issue.

Shooting Experience

We ran the 940 Pro Sporting on a few different presentations, and right away I thought, "That shoots nice." The gun moves smooth, the trigger felt great, and the recoil is among the lightest of any shotgun I've shot.

The ergonomics are decent, and all the controls make it easy to run. Here is the part that really stood out, though, and that's how easy this shotgun is to load. At this price point, I was thoroughly impressed.

Final Thoughts

Overall, for under $1,300, I'd say the Mossberg 940 Pro Sporting is a really nice shotgun. You can definitely spend a lot more money and get something a little more refined, but for a great gas system, a good trigger, and solid recoil management, it's worth serious consideration.

In fact, this is probably the gun my son is going to shoot for sporting next year. He's left eye dominant, so the top tang safety is really nice for him, and with the shims we can get it set up to fit him. That might be the best endorsement I can give it.

What do you think about the 940 Pro Sporting? Share your thoughts in the TFL COMMUNITY!

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