Have you ever seen a shotgun and just knew you had to have it? That was the Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl for me. It was mine at first sight, I just needed to wait six months after it was announced until I could find a way to track one down! I am not a man of many shotguns either, but the 940 Pro Waterfowl has the perfect blend of features to make a high-performance duck hunting gun that is built to work hard for a reasonable price.

Why The 940 Pro Waterfowl?

I wanted a backup gun for my Mossberg 930 Waterfowl which served as my all-purpose shotgun for hunting ducks, geese, turkeys, pheasants, crows, doves, and anything that flew. I wanted to upgrade to a better gun but a friend recommended I just get a second 930 because I knew how it worked and was comfortable with it and I could use the guns interchangeably. While exploring that idea I found the 940 Pro Waterfowl and realized I could have the best of both worlds, it works just like a 930, but better. For more info check out my podcast episode All About Shotguns & Shells For New Duck Hunters.

940 Pro Waterfowl Features

The 940 Pro sold me easily on its features. Primarily that it was much more corrosion resistant inside and out with a self-draining stock. A big plus for a gun I will use to hunt in rain and on boats. I also liked the creature comforts like the improved loading port and larger more manageable charging handle and slide release.

I didn’t care much about having camo on the stock, but it is a nice touch. The improved gas system was a biggie though. Mossberg re-engineered it to be able to fire 1500 shots between cleanings. Not that I would ever test that limit, but gone are the days where I have to wonder if the gas system needs cleaned between hunts to be reliable.

The Mossberg 940 Pro series of shotguns was designed with input from Jerry Miculek, one of the most decorated and impressive sport shooters the world has ever seen. It was the fact that he used the Mossberg 930 in competition that initially drew me to it years ago. The 940 Pro series builds upon that platform with many features which improve the gun’s function and reliability.

The 940 Pro Waterfowl Has:

3″ Chamber with 4+1 Capacity (Restrictor Plug Included)
Oversized Charging Handle, loading port, and Slide Release
Clean-running Gas-vent System (Up to 1500 Rounds Between Cleanings)
Quick-empty Magazine Release
Adjustable Length of Pull + Drilled and Tapped Receiver
Adjustable for Drop at Comb/Cast
A 28″ Cerakote Barrell in Patriot Brown
Self-Draining Stock + Chrome-lined Chambers/Bores
True Timber Prairie Stock
X-Factor Extended Ported Accu-choke
HIVIZ CompSight Fiber Optic Sight

If you watch the video down below I go into more detail showing most of the 940 Pro features side-by-side with the 930. My favorite feature on the 940 Pro is the difference in the fore-end stock compared to the 930. It is just tighter, more streamlined, easier to grab and use. I’ve long felt that the 930 front stock was too bulky. The 940 Pro fixes this perfectly. It is the ideal size and feels good in the hand.

See also .22-250 Remington vs .243 Winchester Ammo Comparison - Ballistics Info & Chart Caliber Ballistics Comparison 07 Dec, 2018 Posted By: Foundry Outdoors The following ammunition cartridge ballistics information and chart can be used to approximately compare .22-250 Remington vs .243 Winchester ammo rounds. Please note, the following information reflects the estimated average ballistics for each caliber and does not pertain to a particular manufacturer, bullet weight, or jacketing type. As such, the following is for comparative information purposes only and should not be used to make precise predictions of the trajectory, performance, or true ballistics of any particular .22-250 Remington or .243 Winchester rounds for hunting, target shooting, plinking, or any other usage. The decision for which round is better for a given application should be made with complete information, and this article simply serves as a comparative guide, not the final say. For more detailed ballistics information please refer to the exact round in question or contact the manufacturer for the pertinent information. True .22-250 Remington and .243 Winchester ballistics information can vary widely from the displayed information, and it is important to understand that the particular characteristics of a given round can make a substantive difference in its true performance. Caliber Type Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) .22-250 Remington Rifle 3790 1620 .243 Winchester Rifle 3180 1950 [Click Here to Shop .22-250 Remington Ammo] [Click Here to Shop .243 Winchester Ammo] VelocityAs illustrated in the chart, .22-250 Remington rounds - on average - achieve a velocity of about 3790 feet per second (fps) while .243 Winchester rounds travel at a velocity of 3180 fps. To put this into perspective, a Boeing 737 commercial airliner travels at a cruising speed of 600 mph, or 880 fps. That is to say, .22-250 Remington bullets travel 4.3 times the speed of a 737 airplane at cruising speed, while .243 Winchester bullets travel 3.6 times that same speed.Various calibersEnergyFurthermore, the muzzle energy of a .22-250 Remington round averages out to 1620 ft-lb, while a .243 Winchester round averages out to about 1950 ft-lb. One way to think about this is as such: a foot-pound is a unit of energy equal to the amount of energy required to raise a weight of one pound a distance of one foot. So a .22-250 Remington round exits the barrel with kinetic energy equal to the energy required for linear vertical displacement of 1620 pounds through a one foot distance, while a .243 Winchester round exiting the barrel has energy equal to the amount required to displace 1950 pounds over the same one foot distance. As a rule of thumb, when it comes to hunting, muzzle energy is what many hunters look at when deciding on what caliber of firearm / ammunition to select. Generally speaking, the higher the muzzle energy, the higher the stopping power. Again, the above is for comparative information purposes only, and you should consult the exact ballistics for the particular .22-250 Remington or .243 Winchester cartridge you're looking at purchasing. [Buy .22-250 Remington Ammo] [Buy .243 Winchester Ammo] Please click the above links to take a look at all of the .22-250 Remington and .243 Winchester ammo we have in stock and ready to ship, and let us know any parting thoughts in the comment section below.Foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor gear online.We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo.We offer a 100% Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. 6 Comments Justin - May 08, 2020You guys are full of crap. This is misleading Bologna, you know the 45 -70 grain .243 Win destroy the 22 250 in velocity and distance. The range of the 243 also defiles the 22-250 . I wish I could sue you for misleading crap like this. Tyson - May 09, 2020@Justin – i think they are right, what is your source? everything I’m seeing agrees with the above info 22-250 is faster, 243 has more energy. compare PP22250 vs PP2432 for examplePP22250 – 1655 ft lbs, 3680 fps PP243 – 1945 ft lbs, 2960 fps Paul Nelson - Dec 06, 2021Tyson is correct. I shoot a Tikka T3 22-250. Although I load my own for long distance shooting, I trade kinetic energy, stopping power for muzzle velocity. I would not shoot a large game animal at the distance I shoot, although my round is very fast and accurate beyond belief, at distance beyond 500 yards my 85 gr.Nosler round lacks the punch to pierce beyond the shoulder blade. The rounds small weight and lose of it’s kenetic energy just doesn’t hold together upon bone contact. Soft targets see the perform at it best. Paul Nelson - Dec 06, 2021Justin, meant no disrespect. For anyone who takes thier shooting very personal, I have the ultimate book for you. It’s called, Game loads and practical ballistics for the American hunter. Covers all basic civilian calibers from .17 varsity to .375 H&H. Cover drop at 100 yard intervals, temperature effect on performance, which powders and primers are best for your caliber and more. Took the author 25 yrs to compile the data. Excellent book for any shooters library. The author is Bob Hagel, writer for many outdoors and firearm publications. Also gives you creditable facts when challenged by another shooter. Bradley - Nov 16, 2022@Paul Nelson What’s the barrel twist rate in your Tikka T3 22-250? I’ve been checking some ballistic value data and the info would suggest that a long bullet like the 85 gr Nosler you use would require 1:9 or faster. But the experiment always outweighs the theory! That’s why I’m looking at a Browning X-Bolt with 22 in barrel and 1:9 twist rate. It’s possibly on the high side for smaller and lighter projectiles but perfect for the longer heavier ones. Greg - May 23, 2024I agree with the first guy to comment…while if what you shoot is what you can find at the store, yeah, the 22-250 is way faster….If you handload….well, my 243 will be right with the 250 in terms of velocity with a bigger heavier bullet. Want a good comparison, 22-250 with a 40 gr. Around 4000-4100, 243 with a 55-58gr at around 3900-4000. 22-250 with a 55gr at around 3600-3700 vs my go to varmint load in my 243 with a 70 gr at a little under 3600. Yeah, the 243 wins Leave a commentComments have to be approved before showing up Your Name * Your Email * Your Comment * Post Comment

Initially I was not a fan of the new front sight that 940 Pro comes with, I didn’t like the color or the shape. But it grew on me during the testing. Now I find I actually prefer it because I think it helps me aim more precisely for certain shots.

There was only one thing I did not end up a fan of though, and that is where the fore-end stock meets the receiver there is a little bit of give from the sides of the stock. It’s not loose, it doesn’t wobble or rattle. But if you turn it upside down and squeeze it, you can see it gives a little. I even recorded a video and send it to Mossberg’s customer service team, and they said that is normal and nothing needs done. It doesn’t affect performance; you cannot even tell in the field or while shooting it. I am more irritated to know they designed it like that than anything else.

But overall, the 940 Pro feels like it has a better fit and finish than the 930. The trigger feels crisper. The gun just feels like a higher level piece of machinery.

940 Pro Waterfowl Performance

All those features are nice. But if the gun doesn’t perform, they do not amount to much. Thankfully, it performed, and very well. I wanted to make sure my opinion of the 940 Pro was based in performance not me just salivating over the marketing. So before doing anything I put it to the test.

After getting the gun I immediately cleaned it and put it in my car to go to a sporting clays event that I already had scheduled. The first time I shot the gun was at a clay target on the course. I did a full course, 20 stations, 100 clay birds. The gun performed really well, in fact I ended the day with the high score and won the event. I was not the best or most experienced shooter there, but I had a great day and the 940 Pro Waterfowl proved it was more up to the task and very easy to pick up and get the hang of.

940 vs. 930 TESTED

Later I went to the range alone, just me and a video camera and I put both guns through a series of tests in their factory configurations. They had the same length barrel and are built with the same frame. Really the 940 Pro is an upgraded 930 with better features and furniture. The upgrades are significant, but they shine the most under grueling field conditions. I didn’t drop both guns in a river to test the self draining stock, or hunt for weeks in the rain to test the corrosion resistance, nor did I fire both guns thousands of times to see when they started to fail. The 940 Pro was designed to work better, and longer, under adverse conditions.

My testing was quite tame relatively speaking, but it did demonstrate several observable performance advantages of the 940 Pro under regular conditions. Watch the video below to see the tests and the full results.

Weight – The 940 Pro weighed in at 1-2 ounces less than the 930, depending on the choke used. With the same choke it is a 2 ounce difference but the 940 Pro comes with an extended ported choke that weighs an ounce more than the 930’s factory flush choke. That is not enough difference to make a difference in my book but at least it was lighter and not heavier.
Trigger Pull – Both guns had about the same trigger pull, an average of 4.5-5 lbs. My trigger pull gauge isn’t precise enough to get the measurements more exact to note a difference with how close they are. However, due to the slightly better trigger feel, the 940 Pro feels like it has a lighter trigger even though it technically does not.
Recoil Test – I used the Mantis x10 Elite Shooting System to measure the recoil amplitude and recovery time for both guns by test firing 10 shots with each and averaging the data. The 930 actually had slightly less recoil, both in the data and in what I could feel as the shooter. But my 930 Waterfowl is actually an older 930 that has a ported barrel. Mossberg does not make ported barrels anymore for either the 930 or 940 pro. So if you were using a modern 930, the recoil would likely be the same or the 940 Pro would come out on top.
Pattern Test – I tested both guns with their stock modified choke tubes and then with the same Carlson’s Sporting Clays extended ported modified choke. The Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl came out on top both times. It consistently put more pellets on paper in a 30” circle at 40 yards than the 930 did. For the test I used BOSS Copper Plated Bismuth 3″ shells with 1.5 oz of #4 shot at 1350 fps.
Point and Shoot Drill – I did a quick turn, draw and shoot drill with two shots at stationary targets in order to practice target acquisition and how each gun points and is balanced, as well as the sights. I ran the drill several times with each. I learned two things. First, this drill looks pretty lame with my GoPro and second that I could not tell any meaningful difference between the guns. The 940 feels better in the hand, but in the shooting drill, both did well.

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Some people are critical of the 940 Pro and the 930 because neither shoot 3.5” shells. Well, you do you, but when it comes to bird hunting you don’t need 3.5” shells, in fact the majority of hunters shoot worse with them, which is why I created the video Why You Should NOT Hunt With 3.5″ Shotgun Shells covering the science and practical application of why most hunters are hindered, not helped by shooting 3.5” shells. So you could take that as a con if you like, but I don’t want a shotgun that shoots 3.5″ shells myself. So I would rather have a gun like the 940 Pro that is not oversized or overengineered and is made for 2.75″ and 3″ shells only.

Watch The Video

Check out my Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl review video to see both guns compared and tested side by side, along with the full data and results of each test.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Feature wise, the 940 Pro Waterfowl is superior to the 930 Waterfowl. It has so many nicer features and little extras that help it last longer, feel better, be more reliable, function easier, and be more user friendly. Hands down, the 940 Pro wins on features. When it comes to test results, the 940 Pro has the edge over the 930, but the improvement in the test results is not drastic.

Out of the box, the 940 Pro is not going to magically make you a better shooter or a better hunter. But where it will really outperform the 930 is under grueling conditions. After weeks of duck hunting when the 930 locks up and needs a deep cleaning, the 940 Pro will keep going. When you struggle with the 930 to load shells and release the slide in the field with heavy winter gloves on, the 940 Pro will be much easier to operate. When weeks of hunting in driving rain saturates your 930 and it starts to rust and not cycle right, the 940 Pro will keep firing.

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That is the beauty of the Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl. It works, it works good, and KEEPS ON WORKING when other guns fail, seize, or cannot be effectively handled under field conditions.

I think the 940 Pro Waterfowl is one of the best waterfowl hunting shotguns on the market for the money, in fact it may be THE best.

Price & Availability

The Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl has an MSRP of $1,092. I have seen the street price be as low as $850. The 930 Waterfowl has an MRSP of $707 and I’ve seen it for sale as low as $520. While I didn’t think to document prices historically, it seems the cost of the 930 has gone down since the 940 Pro was released. Which is expected. You could not go wrong with either gun, they are both leaders in their price brackets, but I do believe the 940 Pro is worth the extra cost. Worth it enough for me to upgrade to it from the very capable 930 which I have used as my main shotgun since I started hunting.

Be sure to listen to The New Hunters Guide Podcast, and check us out on YouTube.

Till next time. God bless you, and go get em in the woods!

George Konetes Ph.D. – Founder and Host of the New Hunters Guide.

The New Hunters Guide is simply what George wishes he would have had when learning how to hunt; a single place to get practical hands on knowledge about different kinds of hunting, gear, strategy, and tips that can improve your comfort and fun factor in the woods.

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