There’s nothing wrong with greatness by association. Mossberg knows that and bookended its well-received Model 940 Pro Tactical shotgun with the Miculeks on the front and Thunder Ranch on the back.
The 940 evolved from the company’s Model 930 semi-automatic shotgun. Celebrated for its value-priced pump-action Maverick 88 and Mossberg Model 500 shotguns and the military-grade Model 590, the company decided to advance the 930 platform. Among the enhancements were those routinely performed by world-record shooter Jerry Miculek on his daughter and world champion shooter Lena Miculek’s semi-auto Mossbergs. The resulting Model 940 shotgun had a host of features that were competition-inspired yet tactically practical. When completing the 940 Pro Tactical version (https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/practical-tactical-mossberg-940/), the company added an RMSc cut to the receiver, meaning any mini-red-dot scope with that footprint could be easily and directly mounted. The resultant low mounting of optics like the Holosun 407k and 507k allowed for a good sight picture at the moment of cheekweld. You didn’t have to hunt for the dot and, anyway, the fiber-optic front sight co-witnessed with the floating, projected dot.
Frequent NRA Publications contributor Aaron Carter moves between the cover of barricades on the range.
Greatness By Design
That the Miculeks had a hand in the scattergun’s design was more than enough to have many shottie shoppers plunking down their money for the Mossberg. However, Mossberg has now sealed the deal at the other end by earning the approval of famed firearms training academy Thunder Ranch. The Southern Oregon school has signed off on the Thunder Ranch Edition 940 Pro Tactical semi-automatic (as well as the Thunder Ranch Edition 590 pump). Both feature the Thunder Ranch logo and FDE cerakoting that is both handsome and functional.
Recently, Mossberg invited a small group of writers to Oregon to experience both the guns and the school that bear the Thunder Ranch name. I’d say Thunder Ranch is a “bucket list” experience, but that would be inaccurate. The school is about making sure you don’t kick the bucket, at least not in a gunfight. It is very ably run by Director of Training Jack Daniel, but, of course, it is most associated with founder Clint Smith, the salty Marine and retired LEO whom a colleague described as “a walking P.R. violation.” Smith may be second only to Yogi Bera in terms of famous quotes by an American. The difference is, Bera’s best quotes are nonsensical while Smith’s sayings are true and rational, if not quite politically correct.
Industry professional Doug Howlett learns to engage targets from behind a barricade on the flat range
Jack Daniel is the perfect guy to run a shooting school. He is a veteran LEO with a plentitude of SWAT experience. He’s articulate, detail-oriented, and serious, but affable. And what he doesn’t know about tactical shooting would probably fit quite comfortably in a gnat’s butt.
Just as importantly, he recognizes his audience. Military shooters are shown how to engage the enemy, LEOs are taught how to employ firearms while enforcing the law and civilians learn the use of guns to extricate themselves from bad situations which might otherwise lead to them being victims of violent crime.
The 940 Tactical Brings The Thunder To Thunder Ranch
The facility is outstanding, with a number of pistol, shotgun and rifle ranges in scenic surroundings. These include The Punisher, a Hogan’s Alley on steroids where you are forced to engage targets from an assortment of cover, shooting from myriad (emphasis on “odd”) positions. There is also an architecturally diabolical shoothouse that can be endlessly reconfigured to teach house clearing and tactical problem solving.
The school is remote, requiring most people to fly into Reno, NV, then drive about 3 hours to Lakeview, OR, though it occasionally goes on the road to teach courses at large ranges around the country. It’s also not cheap. Is it good? Let’s just say that as someone whose hatred of long drives is equaled only by his resistance to spending money, Thunder Ranch is totally worth it.
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