Should I get a Shockwave?

Deplorable Me

Deplorable Me

.700 Nitro Express
Messages
24,579
Reaction score
48,181
Location
Western Front; Occupied NY
For those that have fired the Shockwave, how do you like the bird's head grip vs the older pistol grip? PS: The pistol grip would go on the older-longer ATF compliant 6 shot.

maxresdefault.jpg
 
meketrefe

meketrefe

.450/400 Nitro Ex
Messages
12,806
Reaction score
16,327
Location
Dexter, ME
Pump guns are cool and all until you have an injured hand or arm. In a defensive situation they are not the best choice.
 
Vapor

Vapor

.308 Win
Messages
4,742
Reaction score
8,787
Location
Susky county PA
meketrefe said:
Pump guns are cool and all until you have an injured hand or arm. In a defensive situation they are not the best choice.
Click to expand...

Hey Man, I got more than enough semi autos laying around. ;) The only "gap" I have is a .308 semi.

If I grab a tac or a shockwave it's more for fun and maybe a trunk gun.
 
SomeSoldier

SomeSoldier

.450/400 Nitro Ex
U.S. Military
Messages
10,453
Reaction score
20,205
Location
Florida
You are asking the wrong question. The question should always be why shouldn't I buy this gun.
 
Vapor

Vapor

.308 Win
Messages
4,742
Reaction score
8,787
Location
Susky county PA
Not to derail my own thread...


The only other thing I had thought about in the last year was a .300 win mag bolt gun since I top out at .308. Since I don't usually hunt buses though, I shelved that idea.

Other ideas I kinda nixed were:

1. M1a
2. Remmington 7600
3. M1 garand

If I could find a .308 m1 garand around $1,000 I would do that in a heart beat.
 
Jsmegs77

Jsmegs77

.308 Win
Messages
3,210
Reaction score
6,019
Location
Susquehanna Co. PA
Appreciate the offer, this season is extremely hectic for me between main job, side job, home and family. I should be able to take a breath sometime after the new year.

Slightly more on topic, my Shockwave-a-like has made me think of picking up another. In particular, a 12ga Mossberg so I can use the Opsol adaptor and mini shells.
 
fnfalguy

fnfalguy

.308 Win
Messages
2,849
Reaction score
7,710
Location
Orange County
I prefer the birds head grip as it’s a different recoil to the hand. With the birds head, it’s more of a roll upwards rather than shove straight back into the wrist. At least that’s the way I perceive it to be.


Deplorable Me said:
For those that have fired the Shockwave, how do you like the bird's head grip vs the older pistol grip? PS: The pistol grip would go on the older-longer ATF compliant 6 shot.

maxresdefault.jpg
Click to expand...
 
subsonic

subsonic

.44 mag
Messages
788
Reaction score
887
Location
New York State
I paid too much for the Shockwave in 12 gauge when it was pretty new. Cute little gun. I do like the birds head grip better than pistol grip. That being said, truthfully, there are very few applications I would recommend it for, even as a trunk gun. The best thing it has going for it is the size, but practically speaking, the lack of a stock kills it. Zero regrets and you can't have mine, but for all practical purposes an 18 inch barrel shotgun is better.

I gussied mine up with a light, laser, and sidesaddle, but good lasers aren't cheap, I couldn't justify a good laser for this, and a laser is just not as good as nor any substitute for iron sights or even a bead and a stock.

With a big caveat: if you go the route of swapping out grip for the brace and using the brace as a stock, you now effectively have a shorter-barrel shotgun with a crappy not-stock brace that you can use as a stock, which we are told is assuredly still legal until the ATF changes its mind again and says it isn't, if that's within your comfort zone in New York.

So short answer, yes you should buy it and shoot it, but whatever you plan on using it for is a convenient excuse and there's really no practical reason for grip-only shotguns to exist other than that they should! And if you really want to go full FUAC and make it more useful put the brace on it and let me know how that goes.
 
subsonic

subsonic

.44 mag
Messages
788
Reaction score
887
Location
New York State
Curmudgeon said:
Can you elaborate on this? Thinking a laser and some training would make this effective.
Click to expand...
Something like this to mount the light on the front: Mossberg Shockwave Flashlight Mount | GG&G Tactical Accessories

I think that's the rail I got for the light. I'm not too happy with either the light or the laser I got so I am not going to name them. Of course Crimson Trace has a great reputation but they are not cheap.

I've practiced a bit with the laser but as cool as it is I've concluded the shockwave is more of a toy or extra gun to kick around. Would it get the job done with training? Yeah... sure, and the laser's best application would be in dark especially from awkward shooting positions. But it's really the worst of both worlds between pistol and shotgun from a home defense standpoint. That said, I would take this over conventional pistol-grip only "shotgun."

There's a lot of videos and reviews on youtube from folks more knowledgeable than me that bolstered by conclusion. But the proof is simply that I've done beginner shotgun training and I can reliably, consistently, and quickly engage targets at home defense distances in training. That's not hard. It's a shotgun, you have a stock, home defense distances are close. With the Shockwave it's just easier to get off target, even in a low-pressure practice. Shooting from the hip is crazy inaccurate, using bead, you have the gun out just as far as shouldering a full 18" barrel shotgun, the gun is less stable with fewer points of support, and much less comfortable to shoot. Training will help with all that but why kneecap yourself with a self-defense gun?

Granted, in most home defense situations, just brandishing or 1 shot of 12 gauge point-blank ends the encounter, and the shockwave looks plenty intimidating as-is. But you still have to aim, so I have to say it's really not the right tool for the job.

Laser will help a lot with aim, but that assumes you have it set up correctly zeroed, it's working and battery charged and on when you need it, one more thing to deal with and acquiring the laser sight on target is slower than using a shotgun bead, iron sight, or red dot.
 
Curmudgeon

Curmudgeon

.308 Win
Messages
2,942
Reaction score
3,882
Location
The Internet
subsonic said:
Something like this to mount the light on the front: Mossberg Shockwave Flashlight Mount | GG&G Tactical Accessories

I think that's the rail I got for the light. I'm not too happy with either the light or the laser I got so I am not going to name them. Of course Crimson Trace has a great reputation but they are not cheap.

I've practiced a bit with the laser but as cool as it is I've concluded the shockwave is more of a toy or extra gun to kick around. Would it get the job done with training? Yeah... sure, and the laser's best application would be in dark especially from awkward shooting positions. But it's really the worst of both worlds between pistol and shotgun from a home defense standpoint. That said, I would take this over conventional pistol-grip only "shotgun."

There's a lot of videos and reviews on youtube from folks more knowledgeable than me that bolstered by conclusion. But the proof is simply that I've done beginner shotgun training and I can reliably, consistently, and quickly engage targets at home defense distances in training. That's not hard. It's a shotgun, you have a stock, home defense distances are close. With the Shockwave it's just easier to get off target, even in a low-pressure practice. Shooting from the hip is crazy inaccurate, using bead, you have the gun out just as far as shouldering a full 18" barrel shotgun, the gun is less stable with fewer points of support, and much less comfortable to shoot. Training will help with all that but why kneecap yourself with a self-defense gun?

Granted, in most home defense situations, just brandishing or 1 shot of 12 gauge point-blank ends the encounter, and the shockwave looks plenty intimidating as-is. But you still have to aim, so I have to say it's really not the right tool for the job.

Laser will help a lot with aim, but that assumes you have it set up correctly zeroed, it's working and battery charged and on when you need it, one more thing to deal with and acquiring the laser sight on target is slower than using a shotgun bead, iron sight, or red dot.
Click to expand...

That was a lot. Great explanation. Thanks!
 
Vapor

Vapor

.308 Win
Messages
4,742
Reaction score
8,787
Location
Susky county PA
I found a 20 gauge 18" barreled maverick for $199 shipped. Being it's only 1 inch longer with a pistol grip than a shockwave, I jumped on it.

Now later I can grab a field barrel and a folding stock if I want too. I never have to worry about the nfa.

Still open to another gun too haha!

115360.jpg
 
dsdmmat

dsdmmat

Donut Master
Moderator
Messages
11,361
Reaction score
25,704
Location
Alpha Quadrant, Sector 001
Vapor said:
Not to derail my own thread...


The only other thing I had thought about in the last year was a .300 win mag bolt gun since I top out at .308. Since I don't usually hunt buses though, I shelved that idea.

Other ideas I kinda nixed were:

1. M1a
2. Remmington 7600
3. M1 garand

If I could find a .308 m1 garand around $1,000 I would do that in a heart beat.
Click to expand...
You should be able to find it at the CMP store.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top