By Chad Adams
We of the gun, the diehard gun nerds that stay strapped and maintain a virtual cornucopia of hardware spilling from safes and drawers, clearly delve into specialization. From BBQ carry guns to a classic double just for dove season, those special guns reside in their own very specific categories. But others are procured for doing work.
Should that gun fill multiple roles, despite the gun safe full of seldom-used hardware, then all the better. And multi-purpose aptly describes what you get with the Mossberg 940 Pro Turkey.
The Dual-Duty Mossberg 940 Pro Turkey
First the obvious. The 940 Pro Turkey perfectly fills its primary intended springtime role of turkey slayer. Available in both 24- and 18-inch variants, it offers clear choices for application. I settled on the 18-inch model in Mossy Oak Greenleaf, a pattern that delivers a cool, old school vibe.
The drilled-and-tapped receiver upgrades it to optic-ready, enabling the attachment of a red dot optic. Mossberg even offers combo versions that ship with a Holosun HS507K X2 already mounted, making it truly field-ready to hunt.
I’ve slung this bad boy across my back all over Kentucky and even on a bear hunt in British Columbia. With the included X-Factor XX-Full Turkey Tube choke, my test gun patterns well with heavier shot, making it devastating on birds. Removing the choke, the shotgun produced suitable slug accuracy during testing. Finding the right choke/slug pattern should enable solid deer hunting results if that’s your jam.
Equal Parts Hunter, Defender
Aside from its role in the field, the Pro Turkey is equally capable as a home defender. In fact, with the 18-inch barrel, oversized bolt release and bolt handle, and fiber-optic HiViz Compsight, this gun delivers much that you typically see on a true tactical/defensive shotgun, save magazine capacity. At 4+1, you give up some firepower to a true home defender with an extended tube.
But you absolutely maintain a well-balanced platform that seemingly is built to pie and corner should you find yourself defending the castle. The oversized controls make the manual of arms faster and more sure. The sighting system works well in low light, and the ability to bolt on a red dot makes this one fast, accurate defender.
The 940 Pro, as a platform, regardless of variant, carries Jerry Miculek DNA. Born of competition, the 940 Pro line vastly improved Mossberg’s place in the semi-auto shotgun world. The semi-auto shotgun, in any form, remains a finicky, oddly temperamental bitch at times. The 940 Pro has come a long way for Mossberg to smooth out the rough edges of reliability and performance.
Cost: $1,260
Pros: A good-looking, easy-shooting field gun that pulls double-duty as a home defender. The camo pattern looks damn good in hunting camp, and I’ve run this gun like a competition blaster on the range to good effect. Maybe a stretch, but the 24-inch model with an extended magazine could easily become a range/competition gun as well. Or just buy the JM Pro and let it rip.
Cons: I wouldn’t call this one cheap or affordable, when compared against the contemporary field of field guns. The Turkish invasion has changed the playing field. I’ve also broken fiber-optic sights in the field more than once; but this one runs with a red dot so well, you have your answer.
