Building the Ultimage RV Gun With a Mossberg 590 Shockwave

1. As a non-shotgun believer, I like the rifle better more for RV-defense uses, just because it’s shorter, has a stock, more rounds, and more manageable recoil. YMMV.

   But the shotgun’s cheap, and sometimes that matters more than everything except reliability and ballistics.

   Thoughts?

   • Shotgun isn’t much cheaper with goodies. Original receiver, crimson trace green, arm brace kit, opsol mini spacer and you’re looking at $700.

     • You’re right that a “firearm” fully tricked out isn’t much cheaper than a barebones rifle caliber “pistol” but neither one comes close to $700. Apparently you didn’t read the whole article or you’d have gotten down to the part where he listed the price of all the parts and the total is under $500.

       You can bring in an AR “pistol” with a laser for about that too, but as the author correctly evaluated, an AR pistol is much louder in a confined space than a 12 gauge firearm firing minis. And, the performance of an AR “pistol” with a 7.5″ barrel leaves quite a bit to be desired in 5.56mm.

       As the author also considered, an AR “pistol” in .300BLK with a suppressor would be a great choice but that runs the price way up and presents all sorts of NFA issues if you ever want to travel out of state.

       And, of course, as the author points out, even in a short barreled “pistol configuration” any AR has lots of what he called “snag points” to catch on stuff in close quarters.

       Any of us might make a different decision, but the author’s choice is perfectly reasonable given his circumstances — more importantly, is reasoning is well explained in the article. You should at least give him the courtesy of actually reading his explanation before criticizing his choices — especially when your main criticism is factually wrong.

       • Total was $492 including a $50 rebate. He didn’t include shipping or FFL as far as I can tell, and he didn’t include a pistol brace. I’m sticking with the $700 all in.

         Owning the same gun, my reasoning why it’s a poor choice is in the longer comment below. It certainly was not my intent to attack his choice, just comment on price.

     • If you use an AR buffer tube adaptor kit to install a brace (as I once did) then the LaserSaddle is a bonus and not a necessity. The cost of those parts are identical with the rebate, and $50 less for the brace kit without the rebate. The braced “firearm” is thus a cheaper option.

       I tried that setup, it worked pretty well, but I liked the shorter OAL of the raptor grip for this specific role. I assume the risk of relying on an electrical component (LaserSaddle) for aiming outside of a 3-5yd shot (inside of which I’d be purely point shooting), but I’ll accept that risk for the benefit of the short OAL.

     • Also, a braced Shockwave model with 2-3/4” 00 buckshot is a life changing experience. Hold that sunbitch real tight or you’ll be visiting the dentist. With minishells it’s a breeze, of course.

       Both braced and raptor grip are good options open to debate upon personal preference, and it’s obvious which one I chose.

2. They havent retro banned those things yet?

   Used to have a bumpstock,
   Hanging on the wall.
   Used to have a bumpstock,
   Now its not there at all.
   Used to have a bumpstock,
   Til they said no more,
   Used to have a bumpstock,
   Whats next in store?

   • You already know. Since they made it the rate of fire that banned bump stocks, you know that all semi-autos are next. All of ’em. Mr. and Mrs. Amerika, Turn ’em in or else! ROF can be made faster with clothespins, rubber bands, string, or just working your finger faster. They all have to go. Just watch and see….

3. Hmmmm. A whippet gun with mini shells would be a good ticket for 2legged predators. For stuff with fangs and claws, I’d want full loads, preferably Brenneke.

   So you’d have to empty the gun (firing or otherwise), remove the runner adapter, and reload with 2 3/4 stuff.

   I think a double action 44 magnum would serve animal protection better with less space, more precision, and easier control.

   Just my opinion. I prefer a carbine to a shotgun in almost all applications. Snakes up close are the exception and I use birdshot.

   • “I think a double action 44 magnum would serve animal protection better with less space, more precision, and easier control.”

     Lighting off a .44 mag in a confined space with kids in diapers? That’s permanent hearing damage, right there.

     A .45 ACP with a can makes more sense…

     • What about 12 gauge? Not exactly Duck fart volume.

       And he was talking bear. Not a job for the 45 ACP. Fine for bi-peds.

       And we weren’t talking cans. Is it legal to travel across state lines with a can?

       I dont own a commercial can so I have no idea.

       • ” Is it legal to travel across state lines with a can?”

         I don’t own any NFA ‘toys’, but as I understand it, yes, you can, but you have to notify the BATF first…

       • Well that would take all the fun out of it…..having to call the overlords to go camping…….

       • It’s legal to cross state lines with your can, permission not required. It’s considered to be a firearm for this circumstance. It’s not legal though to bring your can into a state that specifically prohibits suppressors/silencers. Machine guns, SBR’s, destructive devices, and AOW’s do, as I understand it require permission from the “Alphabet Boys”. If I’m wrong, you are invited to politely correct me.

   • 1. Clearly you’ve never seen any testing of the terminal ballistic performance of the mini-shells in buckshot or slugs.

     2. Yes, if he wanted full load shells he would have to pop out the adapter (takes a second, maybe two if you’re a bit clumsy) but there is no need to empty the magazine tube if you want a full size load in a hurry after firing a couple of the minis. In the unlikely event that a couple of minis didn’t stop whatever you were shooting at, you can pop out the adapter and stuff a full size round in the magazine to cycle into the chamber. Not a perfect way to do things, but considering that the situation simply isn’t going to ever present itself the argument is purely academic (go back to point #1 above).

     For anything close enough to warrant defensive use of 12 gauge, you aren’t going to have time to change your mind about which ammo to use — and at realistic defensive distances any advantage of a ‘full power’ load over the Aguila mini-shells is trivial at best.

     I hope he has practiced with the shockwave — but I would equally hope any defensive shooter has practiced with whatever they choose to use — a shockwave with a properly set up laser has at least as good a hit probability as any pistol or short rifle at realistic distance. He won’t be trying to take a deer at 300 yards, or anything at even 100 yards… This is a gun for a bear or feral hogs close up and personal.

     There is NO perfect solution for the set of circumstances he describes, and anyone is welcome feel they would make a different decision under similar circumstances. But please don’t criticize his decision based on nothing but uninformed prejudice, myths, and old wives tales.

     • Erm, bears are very big, powerful, and fast animals. For everything else described, yes, those guns are fine. But bears are seriously big creatures with thick fur, hide, muscle, and bone. If a shotgun is your choice you need to be using full size slugs. Just because someone once killed a bear with a 10mm or a .22 doesn’t mean either of those rounds will stop an attacking bear reliably. Granted, I’d prefer to reach for a .50 BMG.. but that’s not really doable. Unless he has a ton of money and puts a turret and an M2 on his RV.

       • I think the roof would collapse from the empty M2 alone, without a mount or ammo can. Maybe I can mount it in the back of the truck bed. State troopers would get a chuckle.

     • As a matter of fact , I have.

       The Aguila fire a lighter slug at a lower velocity.

       You are welcome to believe the Aquila reported velocities. Any review where they bother to chrono them reveals lower velocities. Couple that with a 370 grain slug vs 475 grain slug result in a drastic decrease in oomph.

       The poster invited comments on his choices and I gave my opinion. The shockwave takes both hand to operate, is unwieldy to shoot, and kicks like a sumbitch with full loads. They also have massive flash.

       So I maintain that a 44 mag revolver is easier to store, carry, and manipulate in tight quarters. This is why handguns are popular with people who actually do things other than jusr tote around a long gun.

       I prefer my 94 Trapper when I need a bigger gun. His choices may work fine for him. I just gave my opinion based on my experience and preferences.

       If you are looking for more power and penetration for bear, there ain’t no free lunch.

4. Unless you are using a suppressor your ears are going to be ringing no matter what you use. The fewer dBs from the minishell are still too many for your aural nerve.

   • A suppressed 22LR pistol handles the occasional pest or nuisance while out in the wild. That mitigates hearing damage for all situations except those that are life threatening, and for those events I’ll gladly accept some risk of hearing damage to ensure I’m using enough power to stop the threat.

     Where on that spectrum of power vs. hearing damage you fall is a personal choice. For me and mine, the answer is in the article. If I was in the camper solo and only had my own health to worry about, I’d likely favor even more power and accept the risk to my hearing.

     • Anner,

       The solution: pistol caliber carbine with 16-inch barrel.

       Consider a carbine chambered in .40 S&W which will launch a .40 caliber, 180 grain bullet at 1,135 feet per second. While that is not Earth-shattering velocity/energy by any measure, it is definitely respectable and will dissuade most creatures in the United States with two or three hits. The best part: it is relatively quiet coming out of that long-ish barrel. Sure, it will still ring your ears. Hopefully, it is quiet enough that it will not cause permanent hearing damage, or at least not significant permanent hearing damage.

       Note: if that 180 grain bullet 1,135 feet-per-second is too luke-warm for you, you can launch a 165 grain bullet at 1,350 feet-per-second. That is on the heals of .357 Magnum territory without the deafening muzzle blast of .357 Magnum. I know this much: a 165 grain bullet impacting an attacker at 1,350 feet-per-second has to seriously hurt and do some significant damage, especially if you put a double-tap on your attacker.

       • I’m a huge fan of PCCs that squeeze extra velocity out of high pressure rounds. The Ruger M77 in .357Mag (chopped to 16” and threaded), a 10mm AR pistol (10” barrel), the Mech Tech 10mm Glock upper, etc.

         The issue I run into is one of those listed in the article: 16” barreled carbines are unwieldy in the confined space, and even the 10” barreled PCC AR has lots of snag points.

         That 10” 10mm is a strong contender, but for the same OAL I can have the 8.5” 300BLK. Somewhat outside the discussion in this article, but that 300BLK is my truck gun.

5. I have this with the laser sight and though I love shotguns, I’m not a huge fan.

   I bought it to hang above and behind a pantry door reasoning that I didn’t want a shotgun with a stock long enough to hang up on the 34” opening.

   Though it’s shorter, youre going to hold it away from your body (awkwardly) like a normal stocked shotgun. Shooting from the hip is WILDLY inaccurate without the laser sight. Shooting using the front bead is not that great the way you have to hold it, and I don’t find it conducive to quick point and shooting like a normal shotgun. I haven’t yet purchased a brace to replace the grip and I probably won’t, but for that money I could buy 3 maverick 88s or a couple 590s it’s based on.

   I made a error of judgement purchasing it and though I’m not going to sell it, it’s no longer in the pantry. Based on looks, it’s great. Based on capabilities this and the Remington are lacking compared to stocked shotguns.

   • I’d be happy with mine, if I could put a stock on it without paying a $200 tax or without having to buy a $200 pistol brace with a pistol grip that I don’t want! As it is, I keep it beside my bed, and it still wouldn’t be the first gun I’d reach for… Its lack of a stock really reduces it’s utility IMO and reduces my confidence in my use of it.

6. Do the same rules apply as they do for houses? Does the intruder have to be completely inside the camper before the festivities can commence? I’d rather take my chances with a hatchet or machete that I just spontaneously picked up when I heard a noise. Any surviving tunnel rats out there? Seems like the equipment, strategy, and tactics that worked underground would be a good jumping off point for a satisfactory defence drill without too much of a hassel. The floor is open. -30-

   • See my comments below.

7. that gun is still a bit pricey around here (PA)…plus you have to register it like a pistol….

8. .45 pistol with a suppressor would be great. Short enough, powerful enough and with a suppressor quiet enough.

   • Nailed it. That’s my diesel pusher rig.

     • Glock 30S with Lone Wolf barrel. 11 rounds of 230g jhp.

   • I agree it’s an excellent choice, except for one aspect: the confined space tends to make you bump into things. Pushing a slide out of battery, especially with a cab hanging off the end, is a real issue. You expect a bang when you really need it and the trigger just won’t pull. No bueno.

     The chances of that happening? Pretty darn small. But my solution mitigates that risk entirely. I can also get a LOT more power from a shotgun by removing the miniclip, opening up full power 12ga loads for bigger and badder threats (bad guys in vehicles, bears, bad bears in vehicles, whatever).

     • Can, not cab. Yikes.

9. I kept a 12, mossberg, empty chambered for the kids. The one time I needed it racking the action caused the bad guy to leave. So there’s that.

   As for an RV. I love my shotguns. But an RV is a great outdoors kind of thing. And for that specific situation a rifle caliber carbine or .44 mag pistol would be my choice.

   We can’t legally get those bracey, pistoly thingies here in CA. If i lived in Texas I would really give those a hard look for this work.

   • A 16” barreled .44Mag lever gun would be a good choice, as long as you ensured you could maneuver around the RV’s interior safely. I’d load .44Special and keep .44Mag on hand for a reload.

10. An RV built of Mossy 590’s would be quit the novelty

    • “An RV built of Mossy 590’s would be quit the novelty”

      A ‘Game of Thrones’ ‘Iron Throne’ made of shootin’ irons?

      I’d be down with that. Maybe one of those ‘artists’ that create sculpture out of guns could build one…

11. I would’ve gone with the 300blk assuming your ears really didn’t need the extra db from uncorked rounds. If you’re wanting to run subsonic and suppressed options, and didn’t want the OAL issue, the FNX 45 tax with a 45 can seems to fit the bill. Same ballistics/dB/bullet weights, one handed use if needed (to move the kids out of the way or hold them) and a sight picture can be gained without the use of a laser.

    Granted it’s considerably more expensive, but it didn’t seem you were worried about that with the 300/can combo. FNX, Glock21/41, M&P, whatever your flavor. I just opted to mention the FNX for capacity. 15+1 vs 13+1 in the G21.

12. I wish Ithaca would come out with one of these and call it the “auto burglar.”

13. An 870 w/18″ barrel and a +2 mag extender in 12 gauge w/recoil absorbing (springs) M4 type stock. Small enough for easy movement but still has a stock for “aiming”. 39″ overall w/stock collapsed counting +2. And the Wife is ok to shoot it.

    • I agree it’s a very powerful and effective firearm. However, in the spirit of the article, try swinging it from one side of a small camper (or even a larger Class A motorhome) to the other. It’s awkward at best.

14. I usually end up settling for the NSI MiniBuck instead. 6+1 capacity, no adapter necessary, and most importantly, I can actually find them in stock online. That last one is the real clincher.

    • I haven’t tried those, thanks for the reference.

      Haven’t seen you around in a while…doing ok?

15. Nah.

    Head over to Suarez International and put a pistol grip arm brace on that baby and mount a light on the fore end. Lasers CAN be useful IF you can see them and WHAT YOU ARE SHOOTING AT.

    Sling and mag extension ARE nice too.

    Dressed up my TAC-14 including a Surefire M910A foregrip light w/ Malkoff upgrade to 550 lumen Spotlight. 1.5″ shorter than my carbines (12″ SHORTER when folded) and now I can use the silver front bead to hold on my targets very accurately. Targets I can blind and CLEARLY SEE. Mag extension/front sling mount and Giles Sling makes the package unbeatable for a Shottie home defense weapon, though I prefer my AR’s or an AR pistol which in my opinion are best for several reasons.

    • Don’t head over to Suarez international. Owner’s a crook.

16. I’ve used an old double barrel 20 gauge that was trimmed down to 19″ barrels as a camp gun in the past. Not as many available shells as a pump gun, but the simplicity of the design lends itself to the role.

17. What’s “ultimage”?

18. “I ‘seal off’ the muzzle against a wall anyway, sending as much blast outside the camper as possible”

    Are you talking about shooting through the wall at an outside target? And if so, why would you do that?”

    • A variety of scenarios. Here’s one: My camper has multiple windows. I can look through them, assuming the blinds are open or that I peer through the slits. A drunken lunatic, wielding a hatchet and a bottle of Jim Beam, tells profanities at the door to my camper. I verbally warn him to back off. He advances, strikes the door with the hatchet, and starts trying to force open the locked door. At this point, he’s demonstrated intent, capacity, and opportunity to deliver deadly force to me and/or my family. I’m going to engage him well before he has a hatchet in my skull, and that point would be after he clearly demonstrates all of the above. I place the muzzle against the door (similar material as the wall) and fire.

      Literally any home invasion scenario that you can imagine or have read about has some analogy to a scenario you may encounter in an RV. The big difference is that you don’t have brick, 2x4s, and deadbolts keeping out the bad guy. It’s thin plywood walls and a cheap/weak door lock. Anyone with half a brain cell and a rock can forcefully enter an RV or camper.

      • Yells, not tells. He’s not politely telling me what he intends to do to me or my family.

19. Similar thoughts as the author with slight redirection. Went with the Mossberg Shockwave 590M using the magazine feature. Keep loaded with 00 in 10rd mag for initial bears/2-legged predators in the wild. Can easily change to other pre-loaded mags in 5, 10, 15 or 20 capacities for lighter needs…birdshot,… Have the green Laser Saddle; Boonie packer sling (great control at patrol ready with one or both hands free), SB4 pistol grip doubles as stock. Will add the Streamlight TL-Racker fore end white light….as soon as I can locate one. Bought second 590M but kept with birds head handle for shorter length in scabbard mounted on driver’s door; mags in Molle pouches. Side bar: Bears don’t seem to be too impressed by the “racking” sound……

    • The TL Racker is my next addition. I hope it can still fit inside that scabbard.

      The 590M model opens up some cool tactical options.

20. If you’re concerned about bears, and those are the guns you choose to use, I’d suggest filing the sights down….

    • You’re a funny man…

      • In all seriousness, for just about anything else, those guns are fine choices. But if you think you might head into serious bear country consider something with more oomph, like a mares like in .44 mag. Remember bears aren’t only big, they’re also incredibly fast, you may not have time to fire more then a couple rounds.

        • If you’re talking about a bear gun for hiking, that’s a whole nother can of worms. Short answer: G20, 10mm, Kenai chest holster, 15+1 of Underwood 200gr hard cast.

          Inside the RV I’d rather not light off such a high pressure round.

21. Doesn’t ATF say that once you conceal one of these on or about your person, it may/does become an NFA-regulated AOW?

    • Concealable is the concept you’re thinking of, and that’s defined as an overall length less than 26”. Practice doesn’t matter, physical dimensions do (except when the ATF issues 3 conflicting reports on shouldering a brace in 3yrs)

22. ill take a .300 blk with 10.5 barrel and 125 grain soft points in a 20 round mag with iron sights and a 500 lumen streamlight

    • You nearly described my HD gun. I use 150gr JHPs and an O-Light. My reason is that I expect the family to be separated from the gunfire by at least one interior wall, and hopefully an entire ceiling/floor plus multiple interior walls. The hearing damage they can expect in that situation is much less than inside a camper. I’ll accept more hearing damage to myself if it gives me the power and capacity to annihilate a threat and secure the family’s wellbeing.

      Step inside the camper and you also get the “snag” effect of the AR platform. Mag extends out, pistol grip, stock, sights or red dot, rails, etc. That stuff gets caught on window curtains, bed sheets, dishes drying on the countertop, the dog leash hanging by the door, etc. The pump shotgun in general is a very sleek design and I’ve added as little as possible to keep it that way.

23. Got a sub2 in 9mm glock flavor for general walkabouts. If i need to step that up to dangerous predator territory, the 8in 300blk comes out.

    I love shotties, but if i needed that I’d just push up to a 45-70 trapper and be done with it.

    • On a side note, i hate the ergos of the shockwave. Handled it in a store and found the grip to be useless for anything but hipfire with a laser. I’ll jut spend the extra few inches and get a cruiser grip instead.

      • It seems more awkward than a cruiser grip until you fire it. The shallow angle allows the grip to gently rock back in your hand. I’ve found the cruiser grip to sharply jab your palm.

        Though, as you stated, it relegated the Shockwave with a raptor grip to only hip firing.

        • I bring up my 590 Shockwave to eye-level and aim every time. I hold it exactly as if it would have a stock (though it obviously doesn’t) and use the old-fashioned wit-pro push/pull dynamic. I’ve done this even with full power slugs. I have no problems doing this. Have you tried shooting at eye-level?

        • I’m not that brave.

          • The brass bead on the Mossberg 590 Shockwave has way-high POI. Only one way to find that out. I put the big dot XS night sight on the front of mine specifically to bring down the POI. For the record, I load mine with reduced recoil buckshot. Set in a ShotLock in my hallway. Not trying to troll you in to punching yourself.

24. that actually needs to be double if its you and your wife and any kids able to fight u all should have that. but at the minimum the parents need that set up identical

25. Quick ear pro for the whole family is advisable, cheap, and gives the camper more firearm options.

26. My “Car Gun” is an AR-15 pistol in .300 BLK with 7.5″ barrel and Spike Cookie Cutter comp. With 5 30-rd magazines, that gives me 150 rds of decent stopping power. Even with castrated 10-rd magazines, I’ve got more rounds than I could stuff in a Shockwave, and range out to 100 yds or so with head-shot accuracy. YMMV.

    • My car/truck gun is very similar to yours. For inside an RV with family members present and a high likelihood of needing to swing that muzzle around amongst lots of STUFF (safely and efficiently), my preference is above.

27. The comments are interesting. Anytime a bunch of gun nuts get together, the opinions are not only varied, but passionate, ridiculously so in most cases. I travel a lot in a very small RV, a VW Rialta. There isn’t a ton of room inside. I have always carried a pistol for defense in it, but have always considered whether I might add a shotgun. This is because I often park in areas that are somewhat remote, and unfamiliar, plus the additional stopping power of the shotgun is desirable. My Mossberg 500 with an 18 inch slug barrel is what is discreetly placed by my bedside at home, but is is too bulky for the close confines of my RV, IMO. The Shockwave is an interesting option. The noise level inside of an RV is something that I have not considered, thinking that if I am being assaulted by violent criminals with murderous intent, hearing damage is the least of my worries at that moment, plus this isn’t something that I expect would happen a more than once in my lifetime. Plus the increased capacity of using mini’shells that require an adapter shouldn’t be a factor since a gunfight at this close of a range isn’t likely to need that many rounds. I’m going to use 2.75 inch full power rounds. I have been pondering the Shockwave for a while, and I think that this is the way foward for me now.

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