Gun Review: Mossberg 590 Shockwave

“This is my boomstick!” So said Bruce Campbell famously in the 1992 cult classic, “Army of Darkness.” Whether you call it a boomstick, scattergun, fowling piece, street sweeper, or shotty, as the kids are fond of these days, the 12 gauge firearm still commands respect, even in the modern AR world.

While Remington Arms was first out of the gate with the TAC-14, Big Green was almost immediately overtaken by O.F. Mossberg with their Shockwave “firearm.” Yes, according to the AFT, the Shockwave falls outside of the short-barreled shotgun category and it is technically a non-NFA “firearm.” While there have been several variations of the Shockwave, to include both 20 gauge and .410 bore, I believe that the 12 gauge version is still the most universal and useful of them all.

My Boomstick! 

“Alright you primitive screwheads, listen up.” The 590 Shockwave featured here started out as a standard, out-of-the-box 12 gauge version with a matte blue finish, “raptor” (aka bird’s head) grip, and a “corn cob” fore end with strap. Some eschew the strap, but I find it particularly useful, especially on a compact arm such as this. The only sight was a brass bead. Capacity is 5+1 when you’re loading 2¾-inch 12 gauge shells. The overall length is 26.4 inches and empty weight was a modest 5.25 pounds. The heavy-walled barrel is 14.4 inches in length.   

My initial testing of the stock Shockwave took place back in 2018. I went into the review not really knowing what to expect from this thing, but I was pleasantly surprised. The gun ran well and, compared to the standard pistol grip riot guns with which I had decades of experience, it actually felt better.

Being someone who just can’t leave things alone, the first alteration I made was to give the gun a Duracoat finish in OD green with some personalization. 

Going back thirty years or so, my primary shotgun usage was the police patrol shotgun. In those days the most common way to carry spare ammunition was in a butt cuff of some sort. They came in leather or stretchy nylon. Well, the Shockwave with a bird’s head grip doesn’t offer such a solution. Hence, I installed a side saddle that carries an extra six rounds. 

As the receiver is a true Mossberg 590 version, it was easy to install an optic rail. Onto the rail I decided to mount a Holosun Model HE507C-GR X2. Why? Because it was new at the time and I wanted to test it out. This Holosun optic has a green chevron reticle and is hybrid powered by both a CR1632 battery and Holosun’s “Solar Failsafe” panel on top. It also uses “shake awake” technology. All these years later, it still hasn’t failed me. 

Full Sized Shells or Hater-Tots? 

About ten years ago, the 12 gauge mini-shells were an interesting novelty and not yet mainstream. I truly believe that the popularity of the Shockwave brought these “hater-tots,” as they are colloquially known, into the light. As we mentioned, standard capacity is 5+1 with 2¾-inch shells. Yes, you can chamber 3-inch 12 gauge ammo in the Shockwave, but I have never suffered from that level masochism.

When you stuff mini-shells in the 14-inch Shockwave, the capacity jumps to 8+1 rounds. There has been enough written about the power of the mini-shells and I have no intention of retelling that tale or fighting that battle here. If you don’t like them, don’t buy them.    

Nonetheless, the 590 Shockwave runs like a dream with hater-tots in birdshot variety, as well as the buckshot and slug loads. Federal has a 12 gauge “shorty” shell that launches a 438 grain lead slug at 1200 FPS. If you view that as underpowered, well, then there is no pleasing you (438 grains is 1 ounce).

PS: This particular gun pre-dates the Mossberg 590S which is made with the specially designed shell elevator to feed the minis with 100 percent reliability. The traditional shell elevator cycles minis about 95% of the time. I have tried hater-tots in standard Remington 870 guns and, in short, they don’t feed. Sorry, Big Green.

Running the Gun

If you got all of your training from TV and movies, you are likely to believe that a gun with a bird’s head grip should be run from the hip, a la Sarah Connor. Yes, you can do that if you like, but a better way is to use the support hand to drive the gun out toward the target and get the barrel (and sights) up into your field of view. And no, as long as you hold onto the gun, it will not fly backwards and knock out your teeth (3-inch magnum shells possibly excepted).

The trick is to lock out your support arm. Don’t flex it. If your arms are weak, that’s okay. Go to the gym and pick up heavy things until they aren’t weak anymore. 

Does this take practice? Of course it does. Is the dedicated range time worth the effort to develop some skill? That’s for you to decide.

Some basement-dwelling, beanbag-sitting, Cheeto-eating, RIAs have opined that firing the Shockwave in this manner is not possible with standard 2¾-inch shells. To combat that fallacy, I conducted all of my range time for this review with traditional 12 gauge ammunition in both bird and buckshot configuration.   

Bottom Line

No, the Shockwave might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Nonetheless, it’s a worthwhile and useful tool to have in your toolbox. Out here in the west, in addition to practicing self defense-type deployment, I have found the Shockwave a worthy companion out in the field. Innumerable varmints and pests have fallen to a well-placed blast of 7.5 field load. 

Whatever your plans might be for your boomstick, training and practice are always the key to success. If you have never taken a fighting shotgun class, I highly recommend that you do so. They are educational, eye-opening, and a lot of fun.  

Specifications: Mossberg 590 Shockwave

Caliber: 12 Gauge
Capacity: 5+1
Action: Pump
Choke: Cylinder
Barrel Length: 13.375″
Overall Length: 26.4″
Weight: 5.25 pounds
MSRP: $581 (about $480 retail)

 

Paul G. Markel is a combat decorated United States Marine veteran. He is also the founder of Student the Gun University and has been teaching Small Arms & Tactics to military personnel, police officers, and citizens for over three decades.