Hey guys. I’m not real up to date on auto loader shotguns. I’m pretty partial to my Mossy 500s. I currently use a mossy 590A1 for 3 gun. I’m looking to get an auotloader to use for local 3 gun matches that won’t break the bank. What do you guys recommend? Thanks. Dave
If you really like where the Mossberg safety is,
get a 930.
If your budget is under 700$, your best option is a 930.
If your really like where the Mossberg safety is, and your budget is under 700$, you should really get the 930.
If your budget is twice that, get the Benelli M2 21inch, and a Nordic mag tube extension, bolt handle, and clamp.
There are other options above and in between.
Used M1s, FNs, etc.
Others will have different opinions and some very valid rationale.
YMMV.
I am not a shotgun or 3G expert.
I have recently been through the same thought process you are.
Mossberg makes a 3 gun oriented autoloader called the 930 JM Pro. I bought the 24" 930 (they make a 21" as well). Mine has been 100% reliable and has really improved my times over using my pump guns. Mine was $549 from Palmetto State Armory total during a free shipping special - can’t see spending more than twice that for the M2 unless your a national level 3 gunner
I love my M2 and I wanted a 21 inch model to start and got a 24 because that is what I could find. Now however I think longer is better because most matches are allow you to start with 9 and reload with more after the buzzer. I don’t care for the tube extending out past the muzzle a ton. A 24 inch gun allows me to put 9 in the tube 1 in the chamber and 1 on the carrier for 11 if I want and if the match or division allows it.
pat
Yes, I should have qualified that.
24 inch is totally cool by me.
Some local matches say only 22 for non-open,
and some say “the tube cannot hold more than 8”
or “ghost loading specfiically prohibted”,
etc.
A 21 inch M2 or 22 inch 930 is based on some of those local rules that I will need to mess with.
It would be nice if 3 gun had one set of rules.
a far place has non mangnified optics OK for a heavy metal or a tactical class I cant usually get to,
but a more conveinent place to go either has optics of irons. no optics for HM and no difference between mag and non mag, etc.
I believe the 22 inch was a SOF match rule that is no longer used anywhere. Have you seen that down there?
Pat
Another option is a Steoger 2000 24" synthetic. It’s a poor man’s Benelli. Retails for $509. Nordic makes tubes for it. I see them once in a while at matches. The ones I saw work fine.
I really have to endorse the 930SPX here. It’s run through a couple hundred rounds with out any issue. Rifle sights, extended magazine, top rail. All for under $600 The latest generation has been pretty well received.
Keep us posted on your Mossberg. The price is right but I am leary of this company from bad experiences with their pump guns. I hope the 930 works out.
Pat
Thanks guys, I think the Mossberg 930 JM series is gonna be the way to go. 
Mossberg 930, if you can afford it, the SPX is sweet, & the sights are amazing. deals can also be found on police trade in remington autoloader’s
Wife wanted a 930 SPX (standard stock) for Mother’s day… Cost was $599. I have to say I’ve taken a long break from my various AR platforms due to how sweet her 3rd Gen runs. It is absolutely a “bargain gun” in that it has attributes that are less than stellar. However, taken for what it is, it’s a damn serious shotgun. Shoots anything I feed it, no matter how I feed it, thus far no matter the weather I feed it in. It’s faster than I am and I’m skilled and large enough to keep it on target. At this point I want to shorten the stock (I’ll have to do that custom for now), microslick the internals, Cerakote the outside, put a T1/H1 on top of it and call it done. Already has an over sized safety and is slung with a VTAC. I’ve had it in the hands of many of my students in my shotgun In-services and it gets nothing but praise. Of course it’s the 5’8" 140lb Wife’s new favorite weapon of choice.
would make an awesome hd gun there:D
edit: “most importably”? haha
Is that from Mike in Oklahoma?
I put my money where my mouth is and instead of coveting other’s 930s a JM pro finally came in stock.
I had been looking for a couple of months, the LGS could not get one, ammo4guns would not sell/transfer the one they had, etc. I was on the email notify at half a dozen places. By chance I checked grab a gun and they had one. I was filling out the order and double checking on another web page. It was really in stock but down to one left when I called and got my order in because the web page was messing up. A few days later, after they had been out of stock for a few days, my email notification came that they were in stock. Not. Glad I got lucky.
Under 600$ delivered. 25$ transfer fee at my LGS.
22 inch, damn near takes 9 in tube but not quite, is an 8 plus 1.
Spent 5 minutes with some Hoppes#9 and CLP when it came in last night.
And yes, as I knew from using others 930s, it feels like a Mossberg. Which means better than a Daly, CZ, or Viper- sort of like a Stoeger 2000- but nothing like handling an M2, Beretta, or a beat up old M1.
Took my son to the range with it today.
Put 5 full power slugs through, 5 BS, 5 high brass #6 bird, then went to town with 50 rounds of Walmart Federal low brass.
Slugs hit a foot high at 25m which aggravates me. sub 6 o clock hold barely puts on 12 of a paper plate. Any tips for a taller front bead, or low adjustable rear would be appreciated.
When loading, twice something happended to me or my son you do not notice when just putting a tube through someone else’s gun. A round can slip out of the tube if not pushed in far enough, and if the elevator has move out of the way, it self ghost loads one. (but you cant put more in the tube now obviously)
Of all the shots, we had one FTF. It was one of the self ghost loaded ones. (did not happen with a couple of purposefully ghost loaded ones.)
My Nordic 1 1/2 cap also came today. So that will take care of another in the tube and extend just enough to protect the choke. (going to be keeping improved cylinder in there and not changing chokes for slugs vs BS vs bird)
Anyways, if the safety of a Benelli was thumb instead of crossbolt, I probably would have splurged. But the price difference between the M2 field plus Nordic stuff (about 700+ bucks) has covered the cost of a PSA complete lower, PSA light weight 16 inch mid length gas upper, and BCG/CH from PSA as well. So that works for me. (but will still need LP gas block, FF HGs, you know the deal but at least the basic build for my son’s 3 gun carbine is covered.)
12" high at 25m is awfully high at such a close range. Are you sure you were sighting down the rib properly? The receiver does have the ability to attach a piece of rail. Maybe an large open peep sight on the rail.
I have had good luck with my 500 and 590A1 so I went with a 930SPX for my first autoloader. My experiences with it are limited, but so far it has been a very nice gun and the price is awesome. I couldn’t find a JM series near me unfortunately.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2
Wrt the 930jm, there is a LONG thread on brianenos.com that has lots of info/solutions/upgrades. Short of it, it tends to be reliable with occasional specimens that are not, requiring mossberg support, almost always shoots slugs high, correctable with higher tru glo front beads (model #s in thread), and don’t need much else done to be run in competition, with exception of having shell lifter end welded up to avoid pinched thumb during loading.
Mark
Looking for a used Benelli or FN SLP isn’t a bad way to go either. After many weeks of trying to find the Mossberg JM series in stock anywhere, I found a used SLP with 4 chokes and a mesa tactical shell holder for $850 shipped. It’s served me very well so far.