By now you’ve probably heard about Mossberg’s big push back into the semi-auto shotgun market with its 940 series shotguns. Introduced in 2020 with the debut of the 940 JM Pro, Mossberg hoped to launch its new breed of semi-autos by employing perhaps the world’s greatest competitive shooter of all time, Jerry Miculek, to consult. Hailing from a profession where a tenth of a second counts, and one jam could cost him thousands of dollars in prize money if not a world title, Miculek insisted on designing a totally revamped action, one that could equal or exceed any gas action on the market in terms of speed, reliability and recoil mitigation.
To highlight the action’s important features, the gas system’s piston and sealing ring system were modified to include a spacer and pusher assembly so it would run more efficiently with a wider range of ammunition. The system contains two large gas ports in the gas cylinder welded to the underside of the barrel. A robust, short-stroke gas piston assembly accepts the burst of gas from the fired shell and violently slams a mere 5/8-inch rearward, moving the innovative spacer tube, pusher assembly and the bolt assembly rearward to cycle the action. The inside of the piston features machined grooves that perform like fluting to reduce friction as it slides back and forth on the magazine tube.
Another key to the 940’s enhanced reliability is owed to its innovative spacer tube. This 3.5-inch aluminum cylinder that rides on the magazine tube between the piston and the pusher assembly also features grooves to reduce surface area and to allow fouling a place to go rather than just adding friction during its movement around the magazine tube. Much like a car that is started will often leak water from its tailpipe, an amount of condensation occurs between these metal parts unless the gun is fired until it’s very hot. The grooves in the 940’s spacer give this moisture somewhere to go, while its perforation allows air to dry it out to eliminate rusting.
As a result, the 940 will run for approximately 1,500 rounds between cleanings (depending on shell quality), compared to the Mossberg 930 that would handle about 500. At any rate, once Mossberg proved (as only the brutal American market can) that it had a winner in the 940, it began building sport-specific models around it, including Sporting, Tactical, Waterfowl and others. Now, just before the spring 2025 turkey season, the Mossberg 940 Pro Turkey is here. Within the Turkey series, several versions are available including non-optic versions with a 24-inch barrel, an 18.5-inch barrel, one with a Holosun optic and another one with the optic and an expensive Indian Creek Diamond Strike ported choke tube. I chose the latter, the creme-de-la-creme, for my test unit.
In a nutshell, for turkey fanatics the shotgun is awesome. At just 7.3 pounds with the optic, it’s lightweight but not so light that it kills the shoulder. Its 18.5-inch barrel is supremely handy in the spring woods, both in terms of carrying it with one hand and keeping it trained on a gobbler’s head even as he slaloms through the trees on his way in. I particularly like the gun’s matte-brown Cerakote finish and the action’s oversized controls including the bolt handle, bolt release button and Mossberg’s trademark tang safety that’s much easier to manipulate than Mossbergs of old, especially when under pressure. The buttstock features an excellent recoil pad and a spacer system that allows LOP adjustments from 13 inches to 14.25. It’s got integral sling studs and a Kryptek camo finish that is as effective as any.
Worthy of further exploration is the Holosun (model HS507K X2) mini red-dot sight that comes pre-installed on this shotgun via a milled slot on the top of the receiver. In full disclosure, I have not been the biggest proponent of red-dot sights on turkey guns for three main reasons: 1) I have valid concerns about battery life, because in the past if I forgot to turn it off the red-dot would almost always be out of batteries the next time I’d go to use it; 2) My standard full-choke patterns are typically not so tight that I thought I needed an optic; and 3) Plenty of shotgun optics must be mounted so high that it leaves the shooter’s face hovering above the stock and therefore much more susceptible to punishing recoil. After testing this gun, however, I’m coming around to the idea of an optic because this Holosun addresses all my issues. First, it can be turned off manually, or it shuts off automatically after 10 minutes of no movement. Then, rather than having to turn it back on manually, it comes awake when the gun is moved. Battery life is touted to be 50,000 hours. Although I’m skeptical of that number, I know that its battery life is excellent because it hasn’t run out in the month I’ve had the gun. Secondly, because this Mossberg comes with a custom-like Indian Hills extra full choke, its patterns are so ridiculously tight that I think the precision of an optic is desirable. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, because this Holosun is so small and because it mounts below the top line of the receiver, I’m able to get my head down with my cheek against the stock’s comb while looking through it. This mitigates felt recoil and makes intuitively finding targets through the sight much easier.
In testing, I fired six different types of 3-inch magnum turkey loads from Winchester, Federal, Fiocchi and some older Remington stuff I had. Reliability was perfect. Once the red-dot sight was zeroed, patterning was impressive, with rich, full patterns that averaged more than 100 No. 6 pellets in a 10-inch circle at 40 yards! Patterns indicated deadliness out to 60 yards and beyond. With new-age TTS loads, patterns were simply devastating in terms of density. I’d be hard pressed to find a better, tighter-patterning gun off the factory shelf.
Probably even more so than the patterns, I just like the shotgun’s handling characteristics. It’s light, handy and a joy to carry in the woods. And with the 940’s reliable new action, oversized controls, impervious finish and its durable red-dot sight, this shotgun would also be wonderful for two more specialized uses as well: home defense and, with the addition of a rifle choke tube, slug hunting.
The only improvements I can offer might be that I wish its stock contained a soft, rubbery comb insert like some other shotguns do, although I realize such a feature would add cost. Finally, I wish it had a mid-bead atop its vent rib, just in case the red-dot did roll craps.
All in all, the 940 Pro is one heck of a turkey gun, and even with the $300 Holosun attached, it remains less expensive than others in its performance category.
Mossberg 940 Pro Turkey
- Holosun/Indian Creek Combo
- mossberg.com
- Type: gas-operated, semi-automatic shotgun
- Gauge/Chamber: 12/3"
- Magazine Capacity: 4 rnds.
- Barrel: 18.5", vent rib; threaded for Browning Invector choke tubes
- Trigger: 5.8-lb. pull weight
- Sights: Holosun micro dot; fiber-optic front pipe; milled red-dot mounting footprint; drilled and tapped reciever
- Safety: tang-mounted
- Stock: synthetic; adjustable LOP 13"-14.25"; Kryptek Obscura Transitional camo finish
- Metal Finish: Cerakote Patriot Brown
- Overall Length: 39.25"
- Weight: 7.25 lbs.
- Accessories: Indian Creek Diamond Strike ported turkey choke; choke tube wrench; 2 stock spacers with extended screws; stock shims; plastic case
- MSRP: $1,581
