I’m a huge shotgun nerd, and for some time, I thought I had the semi-auto shotgun I would main. Main being a term applied to something you’d primarily use above all others. That gun is the Benelli M4. I love my M4. It’s a reliable, fast-cycling, easy-shooting, semi-auto shotgun. Imagine my surprise when the Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical hit the market and began edging its way into my heart. It’s lighter weight, more modular from the factory, and doesn’t require 922R compliance. The gun has slowly become my current favorite semi-auto shotgun, but it needed a few accessories to take it to the next level.
The Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical Rundown
What makes the 940 Pro Tactical different is that Mossberg seemed to look at the shotgun market and examine what people liked and wanted on their shotguns. One of the things that have become a must is modularity, and Mossberg made the 940 Pro Tactical to be quite modular. They designed a gun that needs no internal upgrades.
The stock is easy to adjust via a system of spacers to adjust the length of pull to a desired state. We get these massive oversized controls that make the gun exceptionally easy to control and crazy ergonomic. They opened up the loading port and made reloads a pinch-free affair. It’s sling ready, and even out of the box, it’s a great shotgun.
The Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical has a 7+1 capacity with 2.75-inch shells and comes topped off with a huge fiber optic red sight. At the end of the magazine tube sits a tube clamp that’s got an M-LOK slot on each side and a sling port for a QD mount. My favorite feature is your numerous optics options.
The gun comes with a red dot cut that allows the direct mounting of optics that have the Shield RMSc footprint. This allows the red dot to sit nice and low for easy use. The receiver is drilled and tapped for an optic’s rail, so if mini optics aren’t your thing, then you’re covered.
Inside and Out
Internally Mossberg revamped the Mossberg 930 systems to be more reliable and to run when filthy dirty. One of the issues with the 930 was that it often needed to be cleaned and couldn’t go more than 500 or so rounds between cleanings. The 940 series can go 1,500 rounds between cleanings.
It’s a gas-operated gun and is surprisingly light. The reported weight is 7.5 pounds, but it feels light and it’s extremely balanced. The Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical shoots like a dream, and it honestly blew me away. I liked Mossberg shotguns, but I love the Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical.
To turn it from a plain old shotgun into my bedside bump in the night blaster, I needed a little help from my friends.
What accessories took my Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical to the next level?
I kept it fairly simple and aimed to add a few tools to make it a more capable fighting weapon.
Add a Red Dot -Holosun 507K
You can’t have a red dot-ready firearm and not attach a red dot to it. Red dots work with shotguns exceedingly well. Shotguns are close-quarters weapons, and red dots are close-quarters optics. They make instinctive shooting very simple and give you the ability to use a target focus. That’s any red dot, but why did I use the 507K versus all the other options out there?
The 507K features a multi-reticle system, and one of the reticles is a 32 MOA circle. This great big circle allows you to pattern your shot into the reticle. This makes it easy to have better pellet accountability of your chosen self-defense load. The big reticle works perfectly with premium defensive loadings like Federal Flitecontrol, Hornady Critical Defense, and Hornady Black.
On top of all that, it’s a robust optic capable of withstanding the recoil generated from a 12-gauge shotgun. The 507K is a great handgun optic but is also an outstanding shotgun optic.
Add a Light – Surefire M640U
Any home defense weapon should be ready to deal with the dark. You need a white light to establish something called positive identification. It’s extremely important that you identify the threat as a threat before you pull the trigger. That M-LOK slot on the barrel clamp is perfectly positioned to keep the light near the end of the barrel.
The new Pro Series from Surefire implements a new mounting system that lets the light get closer to the gun and stick out less. This creates a lower profile light that clings to the gun and isn’t apt to catch on everything you run into. This mounting system comes with both an M-LOK and a Picatinny rail attachment system. I ran with the M-LOK mount of course.
The Surefire M640U throws out 1,000 lumens backed by over 10,000 candelas. It throws a hybrid beam design that’s perfect for indoor use and on a shotgun. It’s bright, with edge-to-edge clarity that fills your peripheral vision with light. You can’t hide from it, and the Surefire M640U makes it easy to bump back in the middle of the night.
Add a Sling – Blue Force Gear Vickers Sling
Some argue a sling isn’t mandatory for home defense. While I think they have their reasons and points, I like that it adds a level of retention to my shotgun. Modern slings are tactical two-points with a quick adjustment system that makes it easy to run the gun any way you want to. This type of sling was made famous by the Blue Force Gear Vickers Sling, and it continues to be a dominant force.
These tactical two points feature a rapid adjustment design that makes it easy to wear the shotgun any which way you want. It can be easily tightened and loosened on demand and easily adjusted to the individual shooter. It’s rugged, tough, and perfect for your tactical shotgun.
Add A Side Saddle
Finally, you need a side saddle. A side saddle carries a few extra rounds just in case you need to top off your shotgun. There are lots of great choices out there. The Esstac series of side saddles are some of my favorites. They are simple, cheap, and come in four-shot varieties. I like the four-shot for the more compact design that’s also a fair bit lighter. They are tough and rugged and make reloads fast and easy. Plus, when things go bump, it’s always nice to have extra ammo on the gun when your fighting uniform is your boxers.
The Thunder Stick
The Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical is a mighty fine shotgun and the addition of a few accessories can make it an absolutely awesome shotgun for home defense and tactical use. In fact, when you add the cost of the Mossberg and my accessories, it’s still substantially cheaper than the Benelli M4. Now excuse me, it’s time for me to get my shuck-shuck on.
