2024 Editor’s Choice Award Winning Mossberg 940 Pro Thunder Ranch

Mossberg 940 Pro Thunder Ranch

A cut above

To this day, a tactical shotgun remains one of the most effective self-defense firearms available. Having used them for decades for duty, SWAT, and home protection, a 12 gauge remains my favorite home/office defense gun. While the pump gun still has a foothold, the semiautomatic shotgun has slowly taken over in popularity. Modern versions are lighter and more reliable and provide easy employment of the ubiquitous RDS (Red Dot Sight), white-light illuminators, and other accessories. One of the latest semiautomatic shotguns to garner a solid following is the Mossberg 940 Pro. Well-built, reliable, and capable of running practice ammunition, the 940 Pro is gaining favor amongst competitors, law enforcement, and enthusiasts alike. One of Mossberg’s latest offerings is the 2024 On Target Editors’ Choice Award-winning Thunder Ranch edition. Built to the demanding specifications of Clint Smith, this 940 Pro is a cut above and may be the best buy in a semiauto combat shotgun on the market today.

The bolt release and knurled bolt knob are both enlarged for fast and positive manipulation. Between the controls and the beveled and widened loading port, reloads were lightning-fast. A self-cleaning gas system and corrosion-resistant internal parts and finishes keep the 940 running reliably through dirty, high-round-count conditions.

Mossberg 940 Pro Thunder Ranch

While the 940 Pro is already an excellent shotgun, Clint Smith’s decades of experience add just the right amount of features necessary to create a truly combat-ready shotgun.

At the muzzle end of the 940 Pro Thunder Ranch’s 18.50-inch barrel is a high-visibility red fiber-optic sight and a fixed cylinder-bore choke. A barrel clamp with both M-LOK accessory slots and a sling swivel stud is a nice touch, as is the QD sling swivel cup on both sides of the forend. The finish is a Patriot Brown Cerakote.

The chamber size is 3 inch for those occasions where full-power ammunition is required. An optics-ready receiver accepts micro red dots using the now common RMSc pattern and allows mounting close to the receiver with a properly aligned red fiber-optic front sight. The receiver is also drilled and tapped to add a rail if needed. The buttstock is adjustable for length-of-pull (12.5 – 14.25”), cast, and drop and includes QD sling cups on both sides. Up front, the handguard also contains QD sling cups. Mossberg’s “clean running gas-vent system” and “quick empty magazine release” keep things running smooth and fast. The full-length magazine tube, which holds seven rounds plus one in the chamber, includes a barrel clamp with M-LOK mounts for lights or other accessories. Coated in a Patriot Brown Cerakote (which actually has more of a greenish tint to it), it’s finished off with the Thunder Ranch logo.

Adding significant utility to the 940 Pro Thunder Ranch is the fact that it’s cut with the popular RMSc pattern optic mount straight from the factory. We used Holosun’s closed-emitter EPS Carry optic throughout testing, which performed exceptionally well. Mossberg’s familiar and ambidextrous tang safety lever is enlarged and textured for easy manipulation.

Range Time

One of my first questions when it comes to a modern semiauto 12 gauge is will it run Federal Top Gun ammunition. Not only is this ammunition easier on the shoulder, but also the pocketbook. It is also similar in feel and function to the low-recoil tactical ammunition, making it solid practice fodder. I’m happy to say that Mossberg’s 940 Pro runs low-recoil ammunition like a charm, spitting out colorful hulls as fast as I could pull the trigger and stay on target. Switching to similar loads from Winchester and a few others also presented zero issues. Nothing changed when switching to the Federal Personal Defense FORCE X2 at 1250 FPS and the matching 1300 FPS TruBall rifled slugs — function was flawless. There were also no issues with the LE133 8 pellet at 1145 fps — pretty much anything around 1200 FPS kicked out with authority. Just to be sure, I also fired a few (very few) rounds using a 3” Federal load at 1325; more recoil for sure, but not terrible, and again it chewed it up with no issues. Patterning is, well, the same as everything else using a cylinder bore choke and Flight Control or similar: pretty much one large hole out to about 15 yards and opening up into a fist-sized group out to 20-25 yards. My test gun had a Holosun EPS carry with a green LED, and it worked perfectly, allowing for accurate shot placement. It’s mounted low enough that it co-witnesses with the factory front sight, making for a very fast transition between the two.

At the rear, the 940’s synthetic furniture is color-matched to the barrel and receiver, and the buttstock is adjustable for length-of-pull, cast, and drop via spacers. QD sling swivel cups can be found on either side of the buttstock, with a sling swivel stud underneath.

Final Thoughts

Mossberg’s 940 platform has proven very reliable, and this one’s no exception. The biggest difference out of the box was the QD cups on the stock and forend. I’m unsure why, but companies don’t tend to put them on shotguns, even tactical versions. If you are going to use it for defense or duty, or anywhere a sling is needed, they are a must, and these were very handy.

With the help of the Holosun EPS, the 940 Pro Thunder Ranch knocked down targets as fast as you could pull the trigger. From 2-3/4 inch sporting and low-recoil loads to hot full-boat 3-inch buckshot and slugs, this gun ate it all without a single hiccup or complaint.

The trigger is crisp and fast, and the Pro has some nice features like an extended bolt handle and oversized bolt release. The loading gate area is beveled for multi-round loading, saving your thumbs, and the quick empty magazine release is a nice touch. Overall, the base 940 Pro Tactical is an excellent shotgun with some very nice features — the Thunder Ranch edition only makes things better. See it at your nearest dealer, or for more information, contact O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc.; Tel: (203) 230-5300; Web: www.mossberg.comDave Bahde

Specifications:

Caliber:                      12 Gauge, 3 Inch

Action Type:               Semiauto

Barrel Length:            18.50 Inches

Choke:                       Cylinder Bore

Capacity:                    7+1

LOP:                           12.50” to 14.75”

Sights:                        Front Fiber Optic / Optic Ready

Finish:                        Patriot Brown Cerakote

Weight:                      7.50 Pounds

MSRP:                       $1,295.00