Mossberg shockwave review- devastating power of a shotgun in a compact package
- Michael McCandless
- Jun 1
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 6
Despite not being classified as a short-barreled shotgun (and thus avoiding the ire of the ATF), the Mossberg shockwave offers most of the same benefits- and excels at it.
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Table of contents
Introduction
While the devastating- and often lethal- power of a shotgun (at short range, anyways) has been respected and feared the world over for well over a century, they commonly use long and cumbersome barrel lengths- often around 20 inches or longer.
A short-barreled shotgun, on the other hand, retains this power while being significantly more compact and maneuverable at the cost of decreased magazine capacity.
The problem is, in many areas, short-barreled shotguns are heavily restricted if not outright illegal (yes, even in the United States).
However, the Mossberg 590 shockwave series throws a wrench in that. Due to the nature of its construction, it is classified as a "firearm" rather than a "short-barreled shotgun" and is thus usually not subject to the same restrictions.
Almost uniquely in the firearms market (there are only a handful of competitors), the Mossberg Shockwave manages to provide most of the benefits of an SBS without the extensive legal hurdles of one and actually does this a lot better than one may think- the compromises, here, are minimal.
After a usually long hiatus, we're back and ready to review once more. Let's read.
Hands-on experience
First impressions
I'd already known about the Mossberg Shockwave for several years prior to actually picking one, but for various reasons, I never actually got around to even holding one until around easter, 2025.
It feels exactly like it's more, ahem, well-endowed cousins, the 500 and mainline 590 series.
It's remarkably light (a little over 5 pounds unloaded) and well-balanced and is quite maneuverable and easy to handle while still retaining the rugged and sturdy feel of the longer 590.
Aside from having no stock and that classic-looking bird tail grip, the Mossberg Shockwave largely the same beast- just in a smaller package.
Basic function and features
Starting with the front, the Mossberg Shockwave relies on the same tried-and-true pump action that the majority of shotguns used today still do, and it's got all the more Mossberg-specific goodies to it they love to flout, including rock-solid steel-to-steel lockup, twin action bars, a crisp anti-jam elevator and dual extractors.
While I could go in-depth and explain the mechanics at work, here, for all practical purposes and in layman terms, these make the Shockwave about as reliable as you can get when it comes to pump action systems, and these features also help make its action strong and durable enough to handle high-power loads as well as outside stressors as well. You won't find that on every shotgun, and I can't think of any weapon firing shotgun ammo that's this compact yet still readily legal AND that functions so well with so many different kinds of ammo due to these feature (more on that later).
The barrel itself is the star of the whole thing- at 14.375 inches long, it's certainly going to vastly exceed the maneuverability of any standard shotgun. I'd consider it a prime choice for a "truck gun" or a home-defense weapon just because of this alone.
It should be noted, however, that a version with an 18.5-inch barrel also exists.
The barrel is a bit thicker than the standard-length 590, but oddly, this doesn't make it feel as front-heavy as the 590 due to the Shockwave's much shorter barrel. The heavier barrel also means it will be more accurate, although at home defense distances, most- if not all- of the pellets fired should still comfortably land on a man-sized target with a decently placed shot.
One major gripe I had right away was the sights- a simple metal bead is all you're going to get out of the box in that regard with the Shockwave, and while it's adequate for shooting point blank range, it provides almost no benefits when aiming beyond maybe 5-7 yards (more on that later).
The pump action is also an area where it predictably shines- with the exception of a hand strap on the pump, the Mossberg Shockwave feels identical to the 590, as previously stated. In fact, the hand strap makes it feel even better by providing a more secure grip on the pump (but unless you're wearing gloves, it'll start to get uncomfortable after a few dozen rounds).
The tube magazine that feeds the whole thing hold 5 standard-size shells (plus 1 in the chamber) and also has a cleanout cap screwed on the end, and has a more or less identical takedown to the 590- one big complaint about the 500 I've heard is the field stripping process, and while it's not unbearable in my experience, the 590 series is definitely faster.
Basically, if you hate cleaning, puzzles or both, the shockwave will give you as little trouble as it can when it comes to maintenance.
The trigger is also excellent- crisp yet firm, with little creep or take up. Not that it's particularly important for most casual shooters, but it's worth noting, nonetheless. The Mossberg Shockwave will, again, feel extremely similar to users of the 590 in this aspect as well.
The safety is also identical to the Mossberg 590 series- it consists of a simple switch on the tang of the weapon just behind the trigger guard, and it so simple and easy to reach and operate that there's really nothing else to write about, there, besides the fact you'll have to partially break your grip to reach it. Just flip it with your thumb and you're done.
At the very rear of the gun is that cool-looking but awkward grip. It's not great, but it's certainly not horrible. This isn't the fault of Mossberg, however (lots of people hate the ATF for a reason), and there are aftermarket grips and pistol braces that can be added onto the shockwave to largely negate this while still remaining legal in most jurisdictions (firearm laws often rapidly change, however, and this isn't legal advice by any means).
Anyways, while the stock grip isn't great for aiming, it'll do just fine if you're only shooting the distance from your bedroom to your front door.
Finally, we arrive at the receiver of the gun itself- it's just as strong and rigid and has all the same features as the Mossberg 590.
And additionally, because the weapon is classified as a "firearm" (albeit one that shoots shotgun ammunition), it generally will escape the same pitfalls as a similar-sized short barrel shotgun. This can be a huge plus for some people but may not matter for others.
Shooting it
Well... that's the purpose of owning any kind of firearm that's not an antique, isn't it?
I will begin by saying that shooting the Mossberg Shockwave isn't just a "tolerable" experience- I did actually enjoy it. It jumps a bit more than the standard 590 due to not having a stock (however, braces are available which mostly mitigate this) and has noticeably more muzzle blast than a shotgun with a, say, a 20-inch-long barrel, but it's still well within the margins of comfortability.
Like I previously said, the front bead sight is borderline useless for shooting at any respectable distance, but because it provides at least some point of reference and given that shotguns generally aren't long-distance shooters, anyways (unless you're running slugs), I found getting everything from 00 buck to number 8 birdshot mostly on target out to about 15 yards was doable- albeit awkward. I didn't shoot any slugs, however.
In total, I've put well over 1,000 rounds through it at my local outdoor range- mostly standard 2.75-inch shells but also some magnum loads, and I've had no hangups aside from several problems with mini-shells (and those would've happened in any other pump-action shotgun just as frequently- if no more so).
Even with mini-shells, reliability is exceptional and any jams- whenever they happen- are quickly cleared by simply racking the pump once again most of the time (occasionally those mini-shells will get stuck in an awkward position where you have to shake them out of the gun, and while I've yet to actually put my fingers in there to pry one out, others I know have occasionally dealt with this).
So, while accuracy is as good as you can really expect with birdshot and buckshot, reliability is 100% with 2.75 or 3-inch shells (and probably 95% with mini-shells), I can't really complain.
Again, if you need shotgun-level power in compact spaces, the Mossberg shockwave is practically the best option you have, and trust me when I say, it'll do- particularly if you take advantage of aftermarket add-ons like a pistol brace or get a rail for optics added.
Pros and cons
Pros: | Cons: |
-Significantly more compact and lightweight than any standard-length shotgun | -No stock from the factory |
-Reliability is just as good as any other shotgun (virtually 100% for most standard types of shotgun ammo) | -No real sights from the factory |
-Hand strap increases handling performance | -Recoil will make it harder to keep on target compared to a standard 590 (though it's still not unmanageable) |
-All controls are identical to the Mossberg 590 series | -The grip is a bit awkward- particularlywhen aiming (also ties in with con number 1) |
-Will help you avoid all the paperwork that would come with a short-barreled shotgun |
Final thoughts
For anyone who needs a handy little weapon with the extreme power of a shotgun in the close confines of a vehicle or their home, the Mossberg shockwave is as close to the perfect choice as you can get.
It's short and relatively light while still being accurate enough to hit and annihilate anything a stone's throw away and boasts the supreme reliability one would depend on in a home or self-defense weapon. Additionally, it avoids a major obstacle typically associated with such weapons- it won't require paperwork with the ATF to buy. Maybe not a huge deal too some people, but if you don't want to pay a tax stamp and get involved in the bureaucracy and red tape that surround it, it'll save you a lot of hassle.
Regardless, ere on the side of caution and check with your local authorities before buying one. I'm not a lawyer, and again, gun laws- particularly in our politically charged climate- change quite frequently.
The only real material downsides of the shockwave are the lack of a sight and stock from the factory, but since these can easily and readily remedied (either by attaching a pistol brace or filling out a form to make it an SBS from a legal standpoint), it shouldn't dissuade you from buying one.