Mossberg Shockwave Pistol - Best Usage ?

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mnrivrat

mnrivrat

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OK , so now Mossberg has created, for the market place, a new handgun in 12ga.

I suspect they did some market research, and started manufacturing these to make a profit with the idea that they would sell. So, my question to you is what purpose would you have to purchase one ?

Since the last thread mentioning the Shockwave was locked because to many used the word Bear or are calling the gun a PGO shotgun. Stick with what the gun is - a 12ga. pistol , and instead of bear use BHC (Big Hairy Critters - covering all creatures that are big and hairy including my aunt Eunice, and what some of my female friends would call a mouse), as we have apparently reached our maximum number of allowed threads with the word bear in them.

I am going to use mine for HD hoping I could get a buckshot pattern of 6 to 8 inches at room distances with the pistol length barrel. If I don't like it and give it to you, what use would you expect to use it for ?
 
I must have missed the previously locked thread, but if I'm being perfectly honest with you, I only came up with two uses (in my mind) for this gun if I were to get one:

1) Defensive use against dangerous animals, including bears.

2) It just looks kinda fun.

Beyond that, I see little practical use for me, but I'm sure others would love this thing.
 
I'd use it as a range toy or safe decoration. there isn't one thing that guns is capable of doing that another firearms can't do better or more efficiently. it might be fun to blast away with on occasion, and theres nothing wrong or bad about that.... but when my life is at stake, or even a game animal or such, that gun would be the 2nd to last i grabbed, with the last being a .410 derringer i acquired.
 
In the military we used similar shotguns as ballistic breachers to defeat lock mechanisms in passageway doors. As a civilian, its hard to see it as anything but a range toy, since I don't believe it can do anything better than a regular shotgun with an 18" or longer barrel and a stock. But to each his own.
 
Mossberg Shockwave Pistol - Best Usage ?
It is not a pistol. It fits the definition of a Title I 1968 GCA Other Firearm that is neither a long gun nor a handgun nor a Title II 1934 NFA SBS or AOW. It is sorta like a Pistol Grip Only shotgun but the balance, ergonomics and comfort of the birds head is better than most shotgun pistol grips. As an Other Firearm it is age restricted like a handgun on a 4473 transfer.

Best Usage ?
These Other Firearms from Mossberg and Remington are the tactical equivalent of the Witness Protection Shotgun. What was the original use of the WPS? For defensive use when having a conventional shotgun was not convenient, as when keeping a low profile in public while protecting a witness.

my best usage
To keep as a replica of a WPS? Really, I see it as a curio and replica of a neoclassic firearm. My current defensive needs don't include maintaining a low profile in public with a shotgun. If my circumstances change it might be nice to have as an option.

I deleted anything not related to definition or usage.
 
PGO (pistol grip only) is a shotgun that has never had a shoulderstock and is transfered as an Other Firearm -- neither a long gun nor a handgun but subject to handgun age restrictions.

PGO is not the same as a shotgun with a pistol grip.

I have a pump shotgun with a pistol grip that is not a PGO. I put a pistol grip on it. It feeds reliably with a push-handle-forward pull-grip-back hold, but shooting it with the stock from the shoulder it misfed too often. If I get the three springs in the feed system balanced, I may replace the grip with the stock. But I have reliable shoulderstocked shotguns and may just leave it as a niche protection weapon.
 
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I think the best use for this would be a boat gun. They should make a version in the marine anti corrosion finish... Iy also would be a good cabin defense gun or a truck gun for compact pickups. It has a lot of limitations, but I still want one.
 
adcoch1 said:
I think the best use for this would be a boat gun. They should make a version in the marine anti corrosion finish... Iy also would be a good cabin defense gun or a truck gun for compact pickups. It has a lot of limitations, but I still want one.
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Pretty sure Remington offers it that way.
 
It is NOT a pistol, get that thought out of your head. It is also NOT a shotgun, according to the law.

It IS a lot of fun, depending on what you think is fun. Last evening I was shooting mine with full power Remy high brass buck and it was making basketball size muzzle burst flashes and blowing huge holes in the creek bank. It was "pretty cool" as they say. It's just a fun blaster to me. I see no real use to it other than that, I would never use it for defense.
 
Uses for this shotgun don't appeal to me as a buyer, collector, etc. I have a pistol grip 500, but with it, I still have the full stock and full length barrel to convert back to a field gun. To me, this just looks like a "range toy" that one will get easily bored of, and sell when the neat factor wears off.
 
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Variety is the spice of life right? I could see it being handy in very tight spaces. Probably stop an animal, dog or varmint with much more authority than any pistol caliber in a place where a full size long gun is not an option. I have been crammed into a few places where I could imagine that thing being the best tool for the job.
 
If I don't like it and give it to you, what use would you expect to use it for ?
Click to expand...

My first thought was to give it away. But I can't think of anyone I dislike that much.:)

On a serious note. I can appreciate that there are many guns and gun designs that appeal to others and not me. This is just one that doesn't appeal to me. For any use I'd need a gun for I can think of better options.
 
I wouldn't mind getting one. If you can handle the recoil, it would make a decent home defense gun. Are their better options? Probably. It just offers a short, compact way to package a shotgun.

I heard a comment on a radio show about loading it with the Aguila mini-shells as a reduced recoil alternative. They have the same or similar velocity of regular 12 gage, but fewer pellets.
 
MechAg94 said:
I wouldn't mind getting one. If you can handle the recoil, it would make a decent home defense gun. Are their better options? Probably. It just offers a short, compact way to package a shotgun.

I heard a comment on a radio show about loading it with the Aguila mini-shells as a reduced recoil alternative. They have the same or similar velocity of regular 12 gage, but fewer pellets.
Click to expand...


You need to get this little attachment to help them feed. http://www.opsolmini-clip.com/




,
 
"mnrivrat, you do know that it is not a pistol right?"

As matter of fact I do know what it is BATF classified as, but thought I would use the pistol term as its function is certainly not that of a long gun. (yes - I knew I was going to get called on it also).
And it sort of reminds me of the old "Horse Pistols" that drew some use in the days of flint and BP guns.

Personally I would like to spend a little time with one before calling it useless, but would not just spend the $ thinking it was going to be better than something else for a given purpose. I live in an efficiency apartment now and I know what size patterns my 18" barrel shotguns throw at 30 ft max. I am also in a wheel chair so handling long guns is a bit more trouble sum for me.
My only interest would be to see what that short of barrel would give for buck shot patterns at close range. How the gun handled, and as I said I would like something that would do a 6 to 8 inch spread at room distances. Other than that, I would also just see it as a fun toy
 
and as I said I would like something that would do a 6 to 8 inch spread at room distances.
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Unless you have a very large room I don't think this is gonna happen.

~0.6" per yard is typical for cylinder bore, smaller shot sizes generally open up a bit faster.

Here are some results with buckshot and various chokes:
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/07/04/myth-busting-1-per-yard-shotgun-pattern-spreads/

Since up to now, less than 18" smooth bore barrels have been NFA items, it'll be interesting to see how much 4" less barrel does affect the spread.
 
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