Like so many things in life, we cling to the things we know and are accustomed to. The Mossberg name and line of hunting shotguns — including the 500, 835, and 930 series — exemplify this notion. It doesn’t take long polling the hunting crowd to find out how popular these models have been and continue to be. They’re known for being affordable, reliable, and perform without hiccups, despite being subjected to some seriously harsh hunting conditions.

We also live in an era when innovation and improvements are commonplace, making the best things even better. Mossberg has satisfied this appeal in their newest addition to their autoloading lineup with their 940 Pro Waterfowl shotgun.

Check out the video above to watch the 940 Pro Waterfowl in action.

Designed to Perform

The 940 Pro Waterfowl is a 3-inch gas gun built upon the wildly successful 930 platform, but with both notable improvements and enhanced features and handling with input from World Champion shooter Jerry Miculek. It’s clear Mossberg kept their ears to the ground to incorporate what high-volume competition shooters and avid waterfowl hunters were looking for in a semi-auto.

This new iteration from Mossberg represents the culmination of everything that shotgunners have come to expect from an autoloader, with the focal points being the redesigned clean-running gas system, improved internals, and sleek new look — all with an impressive 1,500-round cleaning cycle.

Fowl Field Test

While hunters enjoy reviewing specs on paper, the real test of any new firearm is to put it through its paces in the field. To accomplish this, I took the 940 Pro Waterfowl to northern Saskatchewan to chase ducks and geese with the Saskatchewan Goose Company in early October.

The birds were thick and so was the forecast, as we experienced mud, wind, rain, sleet, frost, snow, and sunshine over a matter of several days, even across the hours between morning and afternoon hunts. This new autoloader is ready for the worst weather conditions and sports a stylish TrueTimber Prairie camo pattern complimented with a Patriot Brown Creakote finish to the metal surfaces. Integrity isn’t just skin deep, as the new internals feature corrosion-resistant coatings, a chrome-lined chamber and bore, and a stainless-steel return spring, all of which allow you to continue shooting and save the strip-downs for the off-season. Not only do these enhancements lead to fewer and less frequent cleanings, but they also make it easier to dismantle and clean once apart.

Over the course of my four-day foray, I fed the 12-gauge, 28-inch gun about a case of Federal Premium Black Cloud 1 ¼ oz #2 steel and it eagerly gobbled up and spit out every single shell. The over-sized controls and pinch-free, beveled loading port were forgiving to my thickly-gloved hands on the chilly mornings. We warmed up and shot ducks, big honkers, lessers, specks, and even a few snows, but no matter the species or environmental factor, the gun cycled flawlessly. I did not experience any jams, misfires, or cycling issues.

The weight on this firearm is no featherweight since it comes in at 7.75 pounds, but its heft translates to less felt recoil and a softer-shooting experience, which I appreciated after several long days of gunning. Not to overshadow the redesigned recoil-reducing, cleaner-running double gas system which allows for — wait for it — 1,500 rounds between cleanings. Compared to the 250-round cleaning cycle of the Mossberg 930 Pro-Series Waterfowl shotgun, this vastly upgraded system also delivers more dependable, faster shell cycling for follow up shots when the action speeds up.

While my test gun fit my length of pull right out of the box, one of the most appealing aspects to wingshooters could be the adjustability and custom-fit of the 940 Pro Waterfowl. From the thinly-clothed early goose and September teal seasons to the last overly-clothed late season shoot, the self-draining stock allows you to adjust LOP, cast, and drop at comb and comes with a pack of stock shims, making it easier to find your fit here than into a pair of waders. The gun otherwise feels right at home on the shoulder with a large, flush-to-receiver, easy-gripping forend, HIVIZ front fiber optic sight, and extended X-Factor modified choke tube to easily pick out and knock down targets. The gun features a top tang-style safety, which I actually prefer, making for seamless transitions between it and my doublestack upland bird hunting gun.

Another highlight of the new gun is the price point. At $1,050 MSRP, your new purchase won’t break the bank or break your spirit as you push yourself and your new gun in the most punishing of hunting conditions. If you’re chasing value while chasing the migration, the 940 Pro Waterfowl is sure to fit the bill.

The complete Mossberg 940 Pro line is now shipping and available in a variety of models and finishes including the JM Pro, Pro Field, Pro Waterfowl (tested), and Pro Snow Goose.