New level of personal firepower achievement unlocked!

[musicman]

YAY!!! My 13rd Mossberg 930 semi-auto and EAA Witness Elite 10MM arrived at my FFL yesterday!  I've had a bunch of pump shotguns, but this is my first semi-auto, and the Witness is my first gun chambered in 10MM. 

 

Obligatory pics:

 

 

 

I probably won't be able to shoot them until next weekend, so no range report yet.  I'm really digging both guns, though.  The 930 isn't as heavy as I thought it would be, and feels good shouldered.  I am REALLY impressed by the trigger on it!  I wasn't expecting such an exceptionally short, crisp trigger on a shotgun.  It's better than many nicer SA pistols I've shot before.  No, it's not a tuned S&W or Colt, but pretty nice nonetheless.  Lots of handling marks on the matte black finish straight out of the box.  A little letdown, but I'll have it all scuffed up soon enough anyway!  I can't wait to try it out, I expect it'll be pretty fantastic.

 

The Witness is one heckuva beast!  Smooth action, and a very tight slide to frame fit.  The trigger is good, but not perfect.  After takeup, there is just a hair's width of movement before letoff.  I can live with it for now, but maybe someday I'll have that cleaned up. The mag release is a huge, highly-protruding button that is pretty stiff and quite gritty right now. It shouldn't bother me as much as it does... I actually want the mag release smoothed out more than I want the trigger tuned! I'll get around to setting the overtravel screw later.  The finish is close to perfect, just a couple handling marks, and one small scratch hidden towards the rear left of the slide. 

 

I've read of people complaining that the Witness magsprings are too stiff, and they can't load them to capacity.  I have always considered myself to have pretty strong mag-loading thumbs... I've never had an issue getting any mag loaded to capacity, and I've never used a mag loading tool of any sort... don't even have one.  These, however, are a different animal!  I could only get 12 of 15 into the mags!  Oh well, I don't have a ton of ammo on hand for this puppy yet, so I'll just consider it a good thing that this will slow down my consumption until either the springs ease up or I get a loading tool. 

 

Oh, and it is HEAVY!  Nice, solid, chunky frame.  That weight is going to be a real comfort at the range, I'm sure!  This is a completely different type of gun for me, and it feels a little funny in the hand, coming from my M&P addiction.

 

All in all, there are definitely a things with the gun I'd like to change, and some parts I'd like ot be more highly finished, but I also realize this pistol was right at $600 OTD, and in a less than common caliber.  It came in a snazzy hardcase with a cleaning kit, but only 1 mag.  (I knew that, and ordered 3 spares when I ordered the gun)  My nit-picks would be very valid if found on a $1,500+ 1911 or other custom gun, but I feel they are justified as manufacturing reality at this price point.  In terms of absolute quality, I rate it a 3.5/5.  In terms of cost vs perceived value, a solid 5.  I've handled and shot a few $1k 1911s that weren't up to the level of this gun.  Of course, this is my initial impression... maybe I'll take it to the range and the thing will be a giant dog turd.  Then all of this will be irrelevant! Ha!

 

I'm ordering a recoil spring kit this weekend, as I understand these are undersprung from the factory.  This will be my first time making any real modifications to the function of a new pistol, and I'll share the process as I work through it.

 

Gee, I talked a lot about the Witness, and hardly at all about the 930!  I guess I spent a lot more time with the pistol here at home... it's much easier to hold and inspect in the house than the big bad slinger of shot!  I'm happy in the pants at the idea of that bad boy loaded with 13rds of 00 buck!  I have a knockoff Les Paul guitar that's just waiting to be blown to bits.  If anyone in Smyrna/Murfreesboro has land to shoot on, and would be willing to let me destroy a guitar on their property, I'll give you a box of ammo in the caliber of your choice! :-) 

 

Of course, I'll update with a range report after I try these out.

[TrickyNicky]

Let me start a list:

1. :up:
2. I'd really like your opinion on the 930 after you've had it awhile. I like the idea if a semi more and more...
3. Love the funky fresh bedspread.
4. Les Paul knockoff you say... Even though it's to be a target, inquiring minds and all that, what you got?
5. We need to do a range day. Especially if guitars are involved. Maybe I can even make it to this one... ;)

[Links2k]

Congratulations! I have a 930. Tried to sell it once, but the wife loves it for when she is home alone. Very smooth shooting shotgun. Enjoy!

[Sam1]

Please let me know how that 10mm works out after a case or two of ammo.  Have been eyeing them for a few years now but hesitant due to the internet stories.

[musicman]

Haha! Nicky, that's an area rug in my man cave. ;-)

If I can't find any place closer by next weekend, the fallback plan is to shoot at OK Corral Saturday. Join up! You're welcome to meet at my house and ride with me, if you want.

[TrickyNicky]

Lol sorry, the angle made it look higher on than the floor on the phone. It's a nice rug. Funky fresh.


Next Saturday is out :( Sunday would be doable but I don't know if your wanting to wait. I've got to meet up with Bersaguy too... We really need a TGO meet n shoot in mid TN...

[peejman]

Cool new toys. Now about that guitar....

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pzeoLe6nSrU

[musicman]

Thanks everyone! Glad to hear good things about the 930. I'll definitely give a report once I wring these suckers out!

Yea Nicky, I generally don't give a crap about rugs, etc, but I needed something to tame the noise due to the hardwood floors and my propensity to rock out way too loud. I saw that at Home Depot and said "That's it!" As for the LP knockoff, it's just a junk project body/neck a friend had. He was moving and said "you wanna shoot this like you did those other ones?" I think we all know what my answer was.

Just for fun, though, here's a pic of my REAL LPs with two SGs thrown in for fun.

Edited August 9, 2014 by musicman

[peejman]

Nice. You suck, just so you know. :)

[tnhawk]

Congrats on the new guns!  A 10mm could be next on my list if I don't find another revolver or rifle that I have to have.

[TNMTBik3r]

I like the look of that EAA Witness! 

Guessing you plan to reload for it? I have about 60 pieces of 10mm brass picked up from the local range - not sure when I will be out toward Mboro, maybe for the gun show next month if you are interested.

[runco]

Sweet, I don't need to read about semi shotguns.  I still like the sound of my Winchester 1300 Defender slide action.  Don't need to be tempted!  Don't need to be tempted!  Don't need to be tempted! 

[musicman]

Yep, I'll be reloading 10MM and won't turn down any brass! I'm planning on going to the Murfreesboro show in early September. Maybe lunch at Jimmy John's again after the show, Jonathon?

[rugerla1]

Very nice MusicMan! I am sure you are beyond excited!

[TNMTBik3r]

Yep, I'll be reloading 10MM and won't turn down any brass! I'm planning on going to the Murfreesboro show in early September. Maybe lunch at Jimmy John's again after the show, Jonathon?

Yeah that sounds good, will see as the date gets closer but I should be able to make it to the show.

[Mike.357]

you suck

 

 

 

:surrender:

[reed1285]

i have that same all black sg, the left guitar in your pick. Great guitars!

 

I dig the eaa. Looking forward to a range report

[musicman]

Cool! That one looks black, but it's actually a really dark wine red. It was a prototype guitar, they ended up not running that color that year. (Though it has been made in other years.)

[TrickyNicky]

Cool! That one looks black, but it's actually a really dark wine red. It was a prototype guitar, they ended up not running that color that year. (Though it has been made in other years.)

Way off topic, but it seems Pelham blue is making quite a resurgence. I approve. Now if we can just get a non CS firebird III in Cardinal Red... :x: with p-90s. :x:

[musicman]

Dude, you don't even know. A couple hours after I picked that SG in question, I saw the Pelham Blue prototype for the 2014 SG Standard in a rack in the corner. I tried to switch them, but alas it was too late... paperwork was already done. A little piece of me died. PB is my FAVORITE Gibson color (besides a sweet flame top, of course) and I didn't even know we were making them. Had I waited until the afternoon of that day, it would be mine now!

[RC3]

Lol sorry, the angle made it look higher on than the floor on the phone. It's a nice rug. Funky fresh.


Next Saturday is out :( Sunday would be doable but I don't know if your wanting to wait. I've got to meet up with Bersaguy too... We really need a TGO meet n shoot in mid TN...

As long as we can shoot steel, I would be down. And bring the whole group. I can swear I have a few spiders taking up domicile in the ak now. 

 

And let us know how the 10mm shoots. I been eye balling a 1911 in 10mm but I have been hesitant. 

[musicman]

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/81138-range-report-eaa-witness-elite-10mm-and-13rd-mossy-930-12g/#entry1180969

:-)

[TNMTBik3r]

FYI, just saw a note that Starline is taking preorders for 10mm brass to ship in a few weeks. If you want new brass and a bulk amount may be worth checking.

Here is a link to their page.
https://www.starlinebrass.com/order-online/caliber.cfm/caliber/10MM/

[musicman]

Thanks for the heads up on that. :pleased:  And 10MM MAGNUM?!?!?! Oy Vey!  My world has been rocked!

 

I'm weird, I guess.... I have an internal conflict with the idea of buying virgin brass.  So far, I've been able to get factory ammo and shoot it up or scrounge range brass for each caliber.  10MM is definitely a different bird, though.  I've got 300 rds (230 now) of factory ammo and a small cup of (freshly spent :cool:) brass to start with.  When either Freedom Munitions or Underwood have 10MM in stock again (somehow, methinks this run of Starline 10MM brass will remedy the OOS situations at both places) I'm probably going to load up on that stuff. 

 

I bought HP ammo from FM for .44/rd shipped.  FMJ was .41/rd.  My .40 bullets are usually .09-.11 ea, primers are now .03-.04/ea, and fresh brass from Starline is .16/ea  powder is roughly another .02/rd.  It definitely would be a little savings, and I SHOULD probably take advantage of it... I dunno... the TGO knife beckons!  Haha! Maybe after I pay for that next week we'll see where things stand.

[willis68]

musicman,

 

you have just sold me on that shotgun, 13 rounds, i love it!

Edited August 21, 2014 by willis68