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I was looking into shell carriers for my Mossberg Shockwave, and a thought struck me... Why don't they make a shell carrier that runs the top length of the shotgun from receiver to barrel nut and has a rail / sights on top of that? Seems like a lot of unused real estate, and I want to carry more than a handful of spare shells. Obviously height over bore would come into play for the sights, as would sight height compared to cheek weld, and you wouldn't want the shells on top too close to the muzzle - nobody wants to accidentally KSG their hand while grabbing a spare shell. So there were problems to overcome, but it seemed doable.
I kept telling myself it's a dumb idea and it'll look ridiculous, but I just couldn't make it go away. In the end my curiosity got the better of me, so I finally decided to bite the bullet and give it a shot. The results are... Well, you can see for yourself. Kinda reminds me of something you'd see in the movie Alien, or a futuristic FPS game. Weird, but neat.
Full disclosure, this was a pricey conversion. I was just going for a proof of concept, so I ended up using budget-friendly parts where possible to keep my wallet from screaming too loudly. These are marked "cheap" on the list. If I were building this as a real go-to defensive weapon I would definitely recommend using better quality accessories.
Components Used:
Findings from this experiment:
In the end I like the concept enough that I'm going to keep it as-is and upgrade some of the cheap components. There's a Hollywood / gamer quality to it that my inner nerd appreciates, regardless of how unnecessary it is. I also now want to do a similar build on a Remington 870 because the high-profile buffer tube mod for the 870 doesn't require a weird gap to accommodate the safety lever - instead it runs straight to the receiver top, which would look a lot cleaner. Methinks perhaps that with a HERA CQR stock and this over-the-top shell holder mod might be kinda badass. Hmmmm... more tests are needed.
I kept telling myself it's a dumb idea and it'll look ridiculous, but I just couldn't make it go away. In the end my curiosity got the better of me, so I finally decided to bite the bullet and give it a shot. The results are... Well, you can see for yourself. Kinda reminds me of something you'd see in the movie Alien, or a futuristic FPS game. Weird, but neat.
Full disclosure, this was a pricey conversion. I was just going for a proof of concept, so I ended up using budget-friendly parts where possible to keep my wallet from screaming too loudly. These are marked "cheap" on the list. If I were building this as a real go-to defensive weapon I would definitely recommend using better quality accessories.
Components Used:
- Mossberg 590 Shockwave
- Mesa Tactical Fallon Rail System
- Ergo Grip Mossberg Shockwave MLok Tri-Rail
- Cheap MLok picatinny rails (4" and 1.5")
- Kriss VFG with integrated finger stop
- US Aluminum receiver extension adapter
- SB Tactical SBM4 with buffer tube
- Ergo AR pistol grip
- Trinity Supply picatinny rail 5-shell carrier (x3)
- Cheap AR A2-style picatinny mounted front sight (mounted backwards intentionally because aesthetics demand it)
- Cheap medium-height optic riser
- Sig Romeo Zero with short riser
- Cheap pressure activated WML
- Cheap mlok pressure switch holder
- Brown Coat Tactical shell holder
- NDZ Tactical Extended Safety Lever
Findings from this experiment:
- With the added weight and height I was expecting it to feel and handle really awkwardly, but for some reason it's not that bad. Using the VFG was probably a big contributing factor.
- The Kriss VFG was definitely the right call - the finger stop helps prevent the hand from slipping off the grip and going in front of the muzzle. I may go back later and add a strap between the finger stop and the base of the grip just to provide a little extra security for the pump-hand.
- Sighting isn't great, but manageable. Optic window is between 2" and 3" above the buffer tube, which the receiver extension adapter puts the buffer tube basically in line with the top of the shotgun receiver. So it is not terrible, but definitely could be better. Still need to tweak the optic height a bit, but it's close enough for now.
- This thing is a PIG. It weighs 11.4 lbs with tube empty and spare shell holders full, so will be close to 12 lbs fully loaded. Not something I'm willing to trek around for hours with, but should be manageable for short duration encounters i.e. home defense.
- Definitely needs a sling.
- The added weight should help reduce felt recoil when running standard-length defensive loads.
- An extended safety lever is a must-have for this kind of mod - the high-profile buffer tube and top rail make for a narrow space in which to activate the safety, and the stock one doesn't give you much to grip.
In the end I like the concept enough that I'm going to keep it as-is and upgrade some of the cheap components. There's a Hollywood / gamer quality to it that my inner nerd appreciates, regardless of how unnecessary it is. I also now want to do a similar build on a Remington 870 because the high-profile buffer tube mod for the 870 doesn't require a weird gap to accommodate the safety lever - instead it runs straight to the receiver top, which would look a lot cleaner. Methinks perhaps that with a HERA CQR stock and this over-the-top shell holder mod might be kinda badass. Hmmmm... more tests are needed.
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