Mossberg’s 940 Pro Turkey Review: Gobbler Chasing Shorty Shotgun
Connecticut-based O.F. Mossberg & Sons continues to grow its footprint in the autoloading shotgun market by leaps and bounds – or, in this case, by beards and spurs. In yet another move to grow its 940 Pro line of scatterguns in 2022, Mossberg released a shotgun duo tailor-made for gobbler chasers.
Here’s the information turkey hunters ought to know about the new 940 Pro Turkey that we learned while crisscrossing the states in pursuit of those wily toms.
There’s little doubt Mossberg is committed to building a 940 Pro model for every type of shotgunning. The lineup, marked as being built in North Haven, Connecticut, now offers gobbler chasers a choice of their own. The pair of 940 Pro Turkey autoloaders – short and long versions – mark the most recent additions to the rapidly growing family of Jerry Miculek-endorsed, fast-running semi-automatic shotguns. They join a Pro stable that includes the JM Competition, Snow Goose, Field, Waterfowl, and Tactical.
The gas-driven guns utilize a durable system that, according to in-house company torture testing, allows for up to 1,500 rounds between cleanings. That’s a refreshing upgrade with the history of gas-operated autoloaders running dirty and requiring more frequent maintenance to cycle reliably.
To face the harsh conditions hunters often brave, 940 Pro internal parts wear corrosion-resistant finishes. An adjustable stock allows for 1.25 inches of customization for the length of pull, while also being shimmable for more precise fitting. That all adds up to a more custom feel from a standard production gun.
Specs Overview: Meet the 940 Pro Turkey
Pro Turkey models are only currently available in 12 gauge with a 3-inch chamber. The real differentiation comes down to barrel length. Hunters have a choice of a more traditional 24-inch barrel or a super-short 18.5-inch ventilated-rib barrel. Regardless, either gun is capable of packing a 4+1 capacity.
There’s full Mossy Oak Greenleaf coverage, including over the self-draining stocks. Geared specifically toward gobbler chasers, the guns come with an extended, ported X-Factor XX-Full Turkey choke tube marked at 0.670 constriction. The guns also host a HiViz CompSight green fiber-optic front sight and oversized controls. Like the other 940 Pro models, that’s in addition to a quick-empty magazine release and flared port for easier speed reloading.
What’s perhaps most interesting is the optics-ready receiver, which is both drilled and tapped as well as machined for direct mounting of RMSc-pattern micro-dot sights. Mossberg meets an area of growing demand here with the rise of optics turkey hunting. They’re also one of only a few manufacturers to offer a turkey-specific variant with such a short barrel. Gobbler hunters who have been in tight blinds and thick woods will appreciate the degree of maneuverability such an abbreviated gun affords.
Our Test Gun
We got our hands on the 18.5-inch-barreled version of the 940 Pro Turkey in preparation for a western Merriam turkey hunt. Right out of the box, the gun looks and feels the part. We found the recoil to be surprisingly light. Though the repeaters use only a 3-inch chamber and not a magnum 3.5-incher, we generally prefer to use the abundance of specialty 3-inch turkey loads. Hunters needing the magnum-length 3.5-inch chambering from Mossberg would have to look to the Model 935 repeater at this time, but we never once felt that would be an upgrade.
Our test gun tips the scales at 7.25 pounds empty but feels lighter than it is. It shipped in a relatively plain cardboard box along with two additional flush-mount chokes – improved cylinder and full.
The Pro Turkey cycled everything we fed it, from the heaviest specialty shot to the lightest, low-brass target loads. We ran Hornady Heavy Magnum, Winchester Long Beard XR, Kent TK7, and Federal Grand Slam. The extended choke that ships with the gun patterned well out to 40 yards with our chosen loads, so it was game on.
Impressions on the Hunt
The 940 Pro Turkey arrived just in time for 2022 spring gobbler seasons. We were blessed with an opportunity to advance our pursuit of a Wild Turkey Slam by going after Merriam’s in South Dakota and Easterns in the Midwest, both with the short-barreled thumper.
We loaded up with Federal Premium Grand Slam 3-inch filled with #5 shot. With Spring greening up but drought in many areas of the American West, we found the choice of old-school Mossy Oak Greenleaf camouflage an interesting and appealing one. That pattern offers both the darker-brown bark tones as well as the green found in more lively woods, and it represents a throwback pattern that has not seen as much recent use.
As far as function goes, the 940 Pro has been slick. We had a chance to hunt Sea Ducks off the frigid wintry coast of Maine with the Pro Waterfowl. The guns, though first built for speed shooting competition with Miculek’s initial design input, have been proving themselves even more so for all types of hunters. The oversized controls and loading port are a boon for both sports. Sling studs come standard and are a nice addition for mobile hunters who like to pack that shotgun while keeping hands free for moving decoys or maneuvering in the terrain.
We found the gun easy to tote afield, even whilst hiking up and down the hills and draws of the West. Though easier said than done, and with many miles underfoot, we finally worked within range of our first Merriam. We were able to dedicate all focus to the hunt, never wondering if the gun would do its part. That’s what you want in a hunting autoloader.
Our one disappointment with the gun comes with the optics cutout. We were pumped to pull it out of the box and get down to the business of mounting our Leupold micro. However, it wouldn’t fit the factory cutout. The slot was, in fact, too short for both the Delta Point Pro and the other Bushnells we attempted to mount. After the hunt, when time allowed, we found that both Holosun and Crimson Trace versions will fit.
There are workarounds, of course, including custom machine work or simply topping the gun with a rail and adding any optic that route. The iron sights, however, work very well, and that’s the route we chose to go. The majority of the time, we forgo adding an optic at all, so it’s important to have practically useable sights. To that end, the Pro Turkey’s HiViz is on point. In fact, its unique triangular shape allows shooters to get a bit more precision by placing the tip of the pyramid on the target instead of a whole round orb.
Final Thoughts: Go With the Pro
At the end of the day, we were pleased to see a dedicated gobbler gun with a truly compact barrel option like 18.5 inches at a time when most manufacturers are splitting the difference with either a 22- or 24-inch model. While that length of barrel does not make for a great do-all gun to bust clays and hunt upland birds or ducks, it fills its niche with aplomb. The 18.5-incher is ideal not only for big toms but moonlights as a bed gun for home defense.
While we’re nowhere near the 1,500-round torture testing between cleanings, we have run real-world exams on several variants of the 940 Pro and the hunts will continue. Need we say more? No matter your shotgunning game, odds are high there’s a Mossberg 940 Pro to suit your style and do so at a decent price point when compared with other comparable gas guns. The allure of less cleaning and more hunting is never a bad thing.