MOSSBERG SHOCKWAVE INFORMATION

[Dennis S]

I have been trying to find some information on the legal status of the shockwave but all I’m finding is 2017 information. I have one that I would be interested in selling but I am concerned that there might be legal issues with some states and how they might think.

If someone could tell me if they know if the shockwave is legal throughout the entire United States I would really appreciate it.

Thank you.

Dennis

 

[torizus]

Good in Illlinois

 

[PPS1980]

The 590 Shockwave; where is it legal to own? | Page 2 | Mossberg Owners

Legal in nearly every state. Mass is a no, but even ILL, NY, and New Germany seem to be yes.

 

[upcountry]

I have one. I bought it thinking "get it now, they'll ban it eventually".
It came with 2 well detailed ATF letters--5 pages--defining it as "any other weapon". As long as it has a birds head grip and is not modified I believe it's good to go in almost every state.
I keep a copy of that documentation in the glove box of my cars, just in case.

 

[Mainsail]

It came with 2 well detailed ATF letters--5 pages--defining it as "any other weapon".

Are you sure about that?

They're not AOWs, they're 'firearms'.

 

[Sistema1927]

I have one. I bought it thinking "get it now, they'll ban it eventually".
It came with 2 well detailed ATF letters--5 pages--defining it as "any other weapon". As long as it has a birds head grip and is not modified I believe it's good to go in almost every state.
I keep a copy of that documentation in the glove box of my cars, just in case.

No such documentation was in my box, and as has already been noted, they are not an AOW, but rather a "firearm".

 

[CH4]

I bought Remington’s version, the Tac14, because it looks cool and certain folks don’t like that i have it. Best $279 I ever spent.

I think they’re forbidden in CA. IIRC cabelas isn’t selling them, at least at their Reno store, because of the nebulous “firearm” classification.

 

[Pisgah]

Mine is a Kel-Tec KS7 -- same length/weight as the Mossberg and Remington, but an 18" barrel and a buttstock. Just as conveniently sized, but much more shootable -- and no question of legality.

 

[upcountry]

Documents provided by Mossberg requesting classification of the the Shockwave by ATF state that according to GCA provisions it is considered a "firearm", but not under definitions in the NFA. This was included with the Shockwave.
NFA, 26 U.S.C., 584e defines AOW as;
"..any weapon..capable of being concealed on the person from which a shot can be fired...a pistol or revolver having a smooth bore designed or redesigned to fire a fixed shotgun shell, weapons with combination shotgun and rifle barrels 12 inches or more, less than 18 inches in length, from which only a single discharge can be made from either barrel without manual reloading, and shall include any such weapon which may be readily restored to fire. Such term shall not include a pistol or revolver having a rifled bore, or rifled bores, or weapons designed, made or intended to be fired from the shoulder and not capable if firing fixed ammunition."
That letter is signed by Michael Curtis, Chief, Firearms Technology Industry Services Branch of the ATF, March 2, 2017.

A second letter sent states that it is not a shotgun (ref; 3311/2010-468) as it is not manufactured with a pistol grip or shoulder stock. A "firearm" is "capable of being concealed on a person" when it measures less than 26 inches (Shockwave is 26 1/4 inches OAL), or a barrel less than 18 inches or 16 inches respectively. That's signed by John Spencer, Chief, Firearms Technology Branch, to Len Spencer, Historic Arms LLC. The date stamp blurred but it looks like July 20, 2018

The whole thing is convoluted with federal legalese, and the documents provided by Mossberg represent that. They are not OK in MA if I recall, but I got mine in NM, and it's OK here in AZ. I believe it all depends on which law enforcement agency questions what you have in your possession. It should not be modified with a pistol grip, etc because it puts it in a whole different class.

Additional: The ATF/Curtis letter can be had at the Mossberg Shockwave web site.

 

[Mainsail]

It should not be modified with a pistol grip, etc because it puts it in a whole different class.

Citation?

I think the lengths (barrel and overall) are the limiting factors, not the grip. I'm not aware of any grip style issues which is why I ask if you can provide a citation.

My biggest question is whether it can be loaded in my vehicle.

- Here in WA you may not carry a loaded long gun in a vehicle.

- You may carry loaded handguns in the vehicle if you have a CPL, or without a CPL if you are engaged in an 'outdoor activity'. The shockwave isn't a handgun, and it isn't a long gun.

 

[SAFireman]

Citation?

I think the lengths (barrel and overall) are the limiting factors, not the grip. I'm not aware of any grip style issues which is why I ask if you can provide a citation.

My biggest question is whether it can be loaded in my vehicle.

- Here in WA you may not carry a loaded long gun in a vehicle.

- You may carry loaded handguns in the vehicle if you have a CPL, or without a CPL if you are engaged in an 'outdoor activity'. The shockwave isn't a handgun, and it isn't a long gun.

I would imagine that you are going to have to get a letter from an agency in your state to know for sure. The Shockwave is neither a handgun, nor a shotgun, it is a 'firearm'. I would bet that the State Atty General would be the one to issue an opinion on these matters.

 

[upcountry]

I can't give you a specific citation and federal regs require a translator but my understanding is that by installing a pistol grip or a stock, it becomes SBS. It's not a pistol or handgun as it is a smooth bore, not rifled. Barrel length is covered in the ATF regs regarding firearm vs AOW. It's not a long gun, due to barrel length and no stock. When I had my truck and was off road or camping I carried it loaded, in a sheath, behind the seat. I don't do so in my Mustang now, but there's a loaded revolver at hand and that's OK in AZ. I was a state certified firearms instructor in MA (everything's illegal in Massachusetts)and NM, but in NM there wasn't any issue. In AZ a loaded handgun in a vehicle is not an issue, even without a CCW and it doesn't need to be locked up, ammo separate, like in MA.
Of course this is all federal and has been the subject of various state laws. Go to the website and print out the letter and study it out, then check with your state regs. Any regular LEO is probably going to look at it funny, which is why I carry a letter when I take it to the range in case I'm stopped. Carry the ATF letter and, if it's OK in WA, get and carry that letter also.
But IANAL.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I would imagine that you are going to have to get a letter from an agency in your state to know for sure. The Shockwave is neither a handgun, nor a shotgun, it is a 'firearm'. I would bet that the State Atty General would be the one to issue an opinion on these matters.

I fully understand your trepidation over whether the Shockwave shotgun might be a subject of confiscatory legislation in the future. You never know - bump stocks used to be legal, and now pistol arm braces are coming under scrutiny.

Years ago I owned a Streetsweeper shotgun - 12 rounds of 12-gauge power quick. It was fully legal to own when I bought it; somehow it got classified as a "destructive device" and a Class 3 item. I did not then (or now) want to jump through restrictive bureaucratic hoops to own any firearm, so my only alternative was to sell it to a class 3 dealer for less than I paid for it. I no longer own this zombie repellant device, but it was a lot of fun at the time. I am very worried that overzealous gun control politicians will be turned loose on us sooner than later - so my friends, watch your respective sixes; it's going to be a very bumpy ride.

John

 

[Muss Muggins]

Changing the bird’s head to pistol grip only changes the OAL. It’s barely long enough with the factory birds head. As for your other question, Grandma Muggins used to say “Silence gives consent . . . “

Citation?

I think the lengths (barrel and overall) are the limiting factors, not the grip. I'm not aware of any grip style issues which is why I ask if you can provide a citation.

My biggest question is whether it can be loaded in my vehicle.

- Here in WA you may not carry a loaded long gun in a vehicle.

- You may carry loaded handguns in the vehicle if you have a CPL, or without a CPL if you are engaged in an 'outdoor activity'. The shockwave isn't a handgun, and it isn't a long gun.

 

[2152hq]

I have a feeling the Shockwave type 'firearms' are going over to NFA in the next 4yr period of time.

They switch their mind so often in DC it's hard to keep up. Nothing is set in stone with these things.

 

[Mainsail]

Changing the bird’s head to pistol grip only changes the OAL. It’s barely long enough with the factory birds head. As for your other question, Grandma Muggins used to say “Silence gives consent . . . “

Some pistol grips like the Knoxx recoil reducing grip, are long enough to maintain the OAL required.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Duly noted . . .

Some pistol grips like the Knoxx recoil reducing grip, are long enough to maintain the OAL required.

 

[Dennis S]

Thanks to everyone for all the information.

Dennis

 

[vipermd]

Documents provided by Mossberg requesting classification of the the Shockwave by ATF state that according to GCA provisions it is considered a "firearm", but not under definitions in the NFA. This was included with the Shockwave.
NFA, 26 U.S.C., 584e defines AOW as;
"..any weapon..capable of being concealed on the person from which a shot can be fired...a pistol or revolver having a smooth bore designed or redesigned to fire a fixed shotgun shell, weapons with combination shotgun and rifle barrels 12 inches or more, less than 18 inches in length, from which only a single discharge can be made from either barrel without manual reloading, and shall include any such weapon which may be readily restored to fire. Such term shall not include a pistol or revolver having a rifled bore, or rifled bores, or weapons designed, made or intended to be fired from the shoulder and not capable if firing fixed ammunition."
That letter is signed by Michael Curtis, Chief, Firearms Technology Industry Services Branch of the ATF, March 2,

NO It is NOT an AOW, if it was you would need a tax stamp. Read the above under GCA 68 it is a "firearm", it not under NFA description. Be Safe,

 

[Echo40]

Frankly, I'm not worried about the possibility of the Shockwave becoming illegal in the future, because factually speaking, even if that does happen, worse case scenario you'd have to turn in or destroy the 14" barrel, because aside from the barrel, it's just an ordinary Pump Action Shotgun, ergo the only thing that could ever make it illegal is the barrel.

So if the ATF decides it's totally a Short Barrel Shotgun in the months or years to come, then cool, they can have the barrel, which I will replace with a legal 18" Mossberg 590 Barrel, and the Shockwave Grip will in turn be replaced by a proper stock, thus converting my 590 Shockwave into an otherwise perfectly legal standard Mossberg 590.

Heck, maybe one of these days when I've got $200 and some time to kill then I'll register for a federal tax stamp and then legally convert it to a true SBS with a shoulder stock.

That said, I really don't think that the 590 Shockwave, Tac-14, Honcho, or any other such PGO Scatterguns will be reclassified as SBS.
Honestly, the Serbu Super Shorty is a similar style of firearm which has been around since the 1980s and classified as an AOW, yet it has never been reclassified despite being smaller, lighter, and easier to conceal than the Shockwave.
Then there are the combination .410/.45LC Revolvers like the Taurus Judge, S&W Governor, and Magnum Research BFR which have been around since the 1990s with the original MIL Thunder 5, and the ATF has never classified them either.
And lets not even get into all the .410 Derringers which have been around for decades without being reclassified either.

Once again though, if it does happen, then big whoop, the most you'd have to do is detach the 14" barrel from the Shockwave, turn that into the ATF, then keep the rest and convert it to an ordinary Mossberg 590 with an 18" barrel.