Category: Gun Accessories

Gun Accessories

5 Questions To Ask Before Buying A Gun

When it comes to buying a gun, there are a few key questions you need to ask yourself before walking into a gun store and letting your emotions drive your purchase. It’s crucial to do your research and prepare ahead of time with questions you want to ask the gun dealer before you pull out your wallet and walk out as a new gun owner.

5 Questions To Ask Before Buying A New Gun

1) Why are you interested in buying a gun?

Whether you’re interested in buying a gun for sport, hunting, or personal defense, it’s important to know why you plan to buy a gun and the type of gun you need, so you can prepare the right questions to guide your purchase.

Once you determine the type of gun you want to buy, don’t skip out on doing your research. If you want a firearm for home defense, you’ll want to consider what makes the best home defense firearm and accessories. Is it an AR? Is it a shotgun? If you can’t decide which one you need after doing your research, have your questions ready to ask the gun dealer to help you determine which firearm will work best for you.

As Off The Grid News puts it, you first “identify the purpose, and choose a [firearm] to fill that purpose.”

2) Is it the right fit?

After determining why you need a gun and the type of gun you need, it’s time to test out the ergonomics. When you go to your local firearm dealer, handling the gun and making sure it’s a good fit for your hands is very important for safety, comfort, and accuracy. You’ll also want to find out how much the gun recoils when fired, which is important to know depending on the firearm’s purpose and how often you plan to use it.

If you’re not sure the gun is a good fit, there are a couple of options you can consider:

Find out if there is a local shooting range nearby that will let you test out the gun or rent the gun, so you can determine if it’s going to be worth purchasing.
Ask the gun dealer if they can help you find a gun that fits your hand properly. A gun that’s too big is hard to hold onto. One that’s too small may be harder to shoot accurately.

Check out our blog about Shockwave Raptor™ Grips and why ergonomics are important for firearm design.

3) What’s your budget?

Firearms can get quite expensive, so it’s important to stick to a budget and choose one that will fit your purpose before buying a gun. Regardless of the price range of the firearm you’re interested in, it’s important to do your due diligence to know the right price for a specific model, know when someone is trying to oversell you, and know when a great deal comes along.

Don’t forget to budget for other things that come along with buying a gun — from taxes, to background checks, to accessories, to ammunition, to permits, and more. Ask the gun dealer if there are any extra costs and fees involved.

If you’re pinching pennies to budget for a new gun or not confident about the gun you are considering, again, you might want to ask the gun retailer (or do your research) to see if there are any nearby shooting ranges that allow you to try before you buy.

If you are a veteran or first time buyer, you might even ask the gun dealer if there are any discounts, rebates, or sales going on that would benefit your purchase of the firearm.

Lastly, check out the required firearm transaction record form to see if anything might disqualify you from purchasing a firearm. Focus on questions 11a-11i, 12, and 13 to determine this.

4) Which firearm accessories can you add on?

Whether you need home defense firearm accessories, want to accessorize for aesthetic purposes, or need maintenance kit items to keep your gun clean, don’t forget to include these in your budget. The main accessories you want to consider are those that will enhance the experience, accuracy, and comfort of your firearm for its intended purpose.

You’ll also want to consider how you plan to store your gun. Firearm storage can be expensive, but an important way to keep your loved ones safe and keep it from being easily stolen.

Lastly, for training purposes, it’s important to have the accessories you need to protect yourself from misuse that could cause injury or worse. Find out where you can get basic safety training or safely practice shooting your gun to get used to it. You can even watch tutorials online to show you how to use the gun, what each function means, how it shoots, and so forth to prepare you for your training phase after purchase.

Do your research and determine which accessories are important for your firearm of choice.

Examples of Shockwave Technologies and partner firearm accessories include:

View https://shockwavetechnologies.com to view all firearm accessories.

5) What are the firearm’s capabilities and performance?

Knowing the performance and capabilities of your firearm are also important before purchasing. A few things you might want to know include:

Bullet drop
Bullet or shot grouping
Magazine capacity

The bullet drop is the distance that a bullet drops after being fired over a certain distance — and largely a function of the cartridge the firearm is chambered for. Bullet drop is an important and potentially complex component of ballistics for gun owners for a variety of reasons, whether hunting, target shooting, etc. Discuss this aspect with your dealer.

Bullet or shot grouping relates to the accuracy of the firearm. In short, it indicates how closely each round will hit in relation to each other. Tightness of shot groupings are measured based on the distance between each bullet hole on the target. Accuracy is not only important for target shooters and hunters, it’s also important for self protection and other firearm uses.

Magazine capacity lets you know how many rounds of ammunition you have “on tap” in each magazine. Whether you are target practicing or firing your gun in self defense, it’s important to know how many shots you have available before you need to reload.

What other questions do you like to ask yourself or the gun dealer before purchasing a new firearm? Leave a comment below.

Tags buy gun accessories, buying a gun, gun accessories, gun questions, how to buy a gun, shockwave accessories, Shockwave products

Top 5 Firearm Accessories for Home Defense

There’s nothing more intimidating than the sound of a shotgun pumping and gearing up for fire. For this reason, we’re all about using a shotgun in general for home defense — and that pump action can be scary enough to ward off an intruder before you have to take any necessary action to protect your household. But more specifically, we vouch for the Mossberg 590 Shockwave for the purpose of this topic.

The Mossberg 590 is considered a top home defense firearm across the web and we couldn’t agree more. With a shorter barrel than a traditional shotgun (which is typically used for hunting and clay shooting), you can get around corners and down the stairs more easily with a Mossberg 590 Shockwave.

But the shotgun itself isn’t the only element needed to be prepared with the best home defense kit. Check out our top firearm accessories that you need for home and personal defense:

Shorty Shotshells

What is a shorty shotshell? A shorty shell (or mini shell) is a shotgun shell about half the length of a traditional shell, typically running at 1.75-inches long. They don’t blow a huge hole in the wall because they have a more narrow and targeted area of penetration. They also have less power and velocity (but enough of it to be a perfect fit for home defense). And lastly, you can fit more shorty shotshells in a tube meaning more rounds to ensure you don’t run out of ammo when a home intruder attempts to attack.

When it comes to Shockwave, we believe buckshot shorty shells are the way to go.

Raptor Grip

With the enhanced texture and ergonomic design of the Raptor™ Grip, you’ve never held onto your firearm with as much confidence and control for both safety and comfort. Its unique angle minimizes felt recoil, allowing for maximum control shot after shot. It’s also constructed with a glass-filled polymer, making it virtually indestructible.

With less recoil, mini shells work great with the ergonomic design of the Raptor™ Grip. This is especially important for those who may be more recoil sensitive.

There are also new Raptor™ Grip colors available: black, FDE, OD green, and gray.

Learn more about the Raptor™ Grip R870 and Raptor™ Grip M500/590.

OPSol Mini Clip

The OPSol Mini Clip only goes on Mossberg firearms and is specifically designed so that you can use short shells without jams. It allows you to easily install and uninstall in seconds to allow use of 1.75?, 2.75?, or 3? shells (as desired) with lower recoil for safe, easy, and comfortable aiming and discharging.

Flashlight Mount

A GG&G flashlight mount for your Mossberg allows you to install a bright flashlight that will not only allow you to easily see where you’re going during the night and see your target, but the strong light can also stun your intruder, making it difficult for them to see you. Being in the bright spotlight will also make them feel exposed and more likely to run than to continue with their intrusion, knowing that they are a clear target of your shotgun.

GG&G developed the Shockwave Flashlight Mount specifically for the Mossberg 590 Shockwave because its forend is a reconfigured version of Mossberg’s 590 foregrip. Our 590 flashlight mount which is similar, is a hair too close to the foregrip, so if you own one of the new Mossberg’s and need a flashlight mount, this is the one to get.

The GG&G Flashlight Mount for Mossberg 590 Shockwave:

Installs easily and is perfect for mounting a tactical flashlight to your Mossberg 590 Shockwave shotgun.
Manufactured specifically for the 12-gauge Shockwave (will not fit the 20-gauge Shockwave).
Designed, tested, and manufactured to withstand the rigors associated with professional use. It’s also been manufactured from bullet proof AS-35 Geneva steel and 6061-T6 billet aluminum.
Features an ambidextrous design that can be mounted on either side of the Mossberg Shockwave to accommodate both right- handed or left- handed shooters.
Offers dehorned edges (rounded, smoothed, and beveled) to protect the shooter.
Includes a Lifetime Warranty
Made in America by men and women proud to be Americans!

Forend Strap

Ensuring you have a secure forend strap is an important safety feature that will protect yourself when in the heat of the moment of a surprise home invasion. A forend strap will keep a nervous, sweaty hand from slipping in front of your Mossberg 590 Shockwave shotgun and give you better control of your firearm to protect your loved ones.

The Raptor Strap kit for the Mossberg 500 and 590 forends is designed for the tactical forearm image shown here, but will also fit the standard handguard. It will also fit other shotgun models from other manufacturers.

The Raptor Strap kit includes the strap, attachment hardware, and detailed instructions with full-size template. You can easily install this within 10 minutes using a drill, an 1/8” drill bit, and a Phillips-head screwdriver for installation.

Tags firearm accessories, flashlight mount, forend strap, home defense, opsol mini clip, raptor grip

What is a Shorty Shotshell

What is a shorty shotshell?

A shorty shotshell is a shotgun shell about half the length of a traditional shell. Simple right? Well, this little shotgun shell has a lot more bang for its buck than it appears.

Shorty shotshells are also known as:

short shotshells
shorty shells
mini shells
mini shotshells

Are there different sizes of short shotshells? Yes. But it’s debatable whether you can even consider anything other than a 1.75-inch shotshell a true shorty shell. Brands that sell the popular 1.75-inch shells include Federal Shorty Shotshells, Aguila Minishell®, and Challenger Shortshell. Other sizes of shorter-than-normal shells include a 2.25-inch shell from Nobel Sport and a 2.5-inch shell from Kent — but again, these sizes are only a quarter (or so) of an inch smaller than a traditional shell, so they’re not typically considered shorty shells.

Why do gun owners love using shorty shotshells? Let’s just say it’s got a lot to do with recoil, capacity of rounds, and penetration.

How is a shorty shell different from a traditional shotgun shell?

As mentioned previously, shorty shells are typically 1.75-inches long, rather than 2.75-inches with traditional shotgun shells.

These mini shells have a much lower recoil — meaning you can enjoy firing away without as much shoulder jolt (and soreness) from that heavy shotgun kick. Low recoil is perfect for young folks learning to shoot or for specific practice purposes. They also allow for more load capacity in your shotgun. A Mossberg 590 Shockwave can typically hold five shells in the tube, but you can fit in about eight mini shells. Of course the amount of shorty shells you can fit in a feeding tube depends on the size of your shotgun. In a nutshell: the larger your shotgun tube, the more rounds you can enjoy, responsibly. We’ll “cheers” to that.

Which shotgun shell should you use for home defense?

There is some debate over whether shorty shotshells are best used for home defense, hunting, training, or entertainment. But while we agree that shooting with shorty shells are pretty damn fun to shoot in a Mossberg 500/590 and Mossberg Shockwave 12 gauge with an Opsol Mini Clip, they have a much bigger purpose than mere entertainment.

Mini shells with buckshot are typically used for home and personal defense — which is in line with all of Shockwave’s products. They don’t blow a huge hole in the wall because they have a more narrow and targeted area of penetration. They also have less power and velocity (but enough of it to a perfect fit for home defense). When it comes to Shockwave, we believe buckshot shorty shells are the way to go.

shorty shells in a mossberg 590

Even OPSol Mini Clip announces, “Home Defense for the Whole Family in 3 Easy Steps: 1. Mossberg 590 Shockwave, 2. OPSol Mini-Clip 2.0 Flex, 3. Buckshot MiniShells,” on the front page of their website. So if you have all three of those, you’re all set to protect your home and loved ones.

Which shotgun shell should you use for hunting?

Depending on what you’re wanting to hunt, you can find a variety of shotshell sizes that are loaded with different types of shot: buckshot, bird shot, or slugs.

While shorty shells are great for target practice and skeet shooting to prepare for your hunting trip, traditional shotgun shells have a longer shot range and velocity (hence, more recoil) that you might consider using during your hunting venture.

Are there specific guns that take shorty shells?

Most pump shotguns use mini shells but have been known to have some issues with short-cycling. However, the best shotguns that seem to use shorty shells flawlessly is the Mossberg 500/590 and Mossberg 590 Shockwave series with an OPSol Mini Clip, as mentioned previously.

The OPSol Mini Clip only goes on Mossberg firearms and is specifically designed so that you can use short shells without jams. Mini shells fit nicely in the bottom of this shotgun and prevents the shells from getting crooked, flipped, or out of place when cycling.

With less recoil, mini shells work great with the ergonomic design of the Raptor™ Grip, allowing for a more fun and overall better shooting experience.

Tags mini shells, mini shotshells, mossberg 590, opsol mini clip, short shells, short shotshells, shorty shells, shorty shotshells, shotgun shells

Introducing NEW Raptor Grip Colors

Shockwave’s Raptor™ Grips are Back in Black… and FDE, OD green, and gray. These four colors match the new forends and heat shields, and allow you to customize your firearm to fit your personal style. And we won’t fail to mention that this product has been manufactured by Shockwave Technologies LLC in the USA…. a.k.a. MADE IN AMERICA. None of that foreign crap. That’s just one of the simple ways we like to show our patriotism.

With the enhanced texture of the Raptor™ Grip, you’ve never held onto your firearm with as much confidence and control for both safety and comfort. Its unique angle minimizes felt recoil, allowing for maximum control shot after shot. It’s also constructed with a glass-filled polymer, making it virtually indestructible. Now that’s the kind of quality you can’t get in a foreign product.

Whether you want to call this new style a bird’s head grip, witness protection grip, chicken head grip, border patrol grip, or entry-style grip… it’s really just one badass grip made for a badass gun owner.

These are the Raptor™ Grips on the Remington TAC-14, Remington v3 TAC-13 and Mossberg 590 Shockwave line for home and personal defense.

Learn more about the Raptor™ Grip R870 and Raptor™ Grip M500/590.

Why are ergonomics important in firearm design?

If you’ve never thought about what ergonomics are or why they’re important, I’m about to change your perspective on gun purchasing forever.

While most people think of ergonomics in the workplace, they also matter to products we love to use — like firearms. In the firearms world, a product that’s ergonomic means it’s been designed to fit the user in a safer, more comfortable, and more practical way.

Why is that important? Because, believe it or not, ergonomics affect your entire body. When shooting a gun, you hold your body and arms in a specific position to have proper sight/picture alignment, firearm control, and recoil management. However slight, poor ergonomics of a firearm can have a significant impact on your musculoskeletal system, which controls your muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. If you go to the shooting range often or spend a good chunk of time doing target practice, a gun without good ergonomic design can cause muscle stress, fatigue, discomfort, pain, or even injury.

Shockwave’s Raptor™ Grips are specifically designed with ergonomics (and you) in mind. Our grips make it easier for gun owners to use their firearms safely, effectively, and comfortably with decreased risk of musculoskeletal injury.

Raptor™ Grip vs. pistol grip

As you know, the grip is the part of the firearm you grasp with your hand to operate the trigger. Some grips even serve multiple functions, such as stabilizing the gun and providing storage for magazines, bipods, or tools. But some grips are better than others.

When it comes to choosing a Raptor™ Grip over a pistol grip, which one do you choose? We may be biased, but we’ll give you the basic breakdown on why the Raptor™ Grip is the best choice.

A pistol grip aligns your wrist in a straight up- and down, thumbs-up position, completely perpendicular to the direction of recoil. As a result, the recoil goes straight into your wrist joint—and can hurt like hell when you fire a heavy-recoiling shotgun.

Here’s a video of someone using a pistol grip where you can see how his wrist is perpendicular to the recoil direction.

With the Raptor™ Grip, you hold the grip in a more natural position, with your thumb pointed forward so your wrist is not kinked back into that vertical thumbs-up position. With the Raptor™ Grip, the recoil is transferred along your forearm, through the elbow, into your bicep, and finally into your shoulder and body. You feel much less recoil. And since you just read about the importance of great ergonomic design, this fits the bill perfectly.

Here’s a video of someone using Shockwave’s Raptor™ Grip where you can see how his wrist is forward.

When it comes to choosing a grip, this should be your takeaway: due to poor ergonomics, you are much more likely to do serious damage to your hand and wrist with a pistol-grip shotgun that one outfitted with the Shockwave Raptor™ Grip.

Comfort and control are crucial when it comes to handling a firearm to prevent injury. So choose the Raptor™ Grip.

As seen in..

Did you know the Raptor™ Grip has been featured in popular movies? Because it’s badass.

In early 2013, an armorer for the Hand Prop Room in Los Angeles contacted Shockwave. This armorer mentioned they were building some custom props for a Planet of the Apes sequel and wanted to know if we had a Raptor™ Grip for the Remington 870. At the time, we didn’t have any production units for sale, so we sent him a couple of R&D samples taken off of the RTV mold. We occasionally supply Shockwave items to various movie outfits but don’t always hear back. But the Raptor™ Grip R870 was seen on the big screen as the Dawn of the Planet of the Apes movie was released.

The Mossberg 590 Shockwave equipped with our Raptor™ grip was seen in the movie John Shaft II, starring Samuel L. Jackson. And what’s more badass than that? Come on.

Why buy from Shockwave Technologies?

It’s simple. Our products are Made in the USA and our ergonomic-enhancing products stand the test of time. No BS here.

We provide innovative tactical accessories for pistols and shotguns. Our firearm accessories are made with high-quality materials and finishes, from Cerakoted stainless steel to our glass-filled polymer construction. We value quality and guarantee our products for life. Veteran designed, engineered, marketed, and sold.

Shockwave Raptor™ Grips come in in four colors: black, OD green, FDE, and gray. Learn more about Shockwave Technologies and our products.

Tags raptor grip, shockwave accessories, shockwave gun parts, shockwave product

Buyer Beware: Are You Buying a Real Shockwave Product or a Fake?

Here’s the unfortunate truth: online scams, counterfeits, and con artists have been on a rising rampage — especially during COVID-19.

And this applies to firearm sales, too.

At Shockwave Technologies, we want to ensure our customers are protected from buying into these scams and frauds. We’re proud to have all Shockwave products (truly) made in America and strive to support local businesses every chance we can. But unauthorized fake products coming in from other countries threaten our economy and swindle gun buyers into purchasing low-quality (or illegally made) products without them realizing it.

Let’s take a look at a few steps gun buyers (like yourself) can take to prevent being swindled and combat this “dark side” of purchasing guns and gun parts, both online and in the store. And specifically, how to ensure you’re getting a genuine Shockwave product.

Do your due diligence.

If you’re buying a true Shockwave product, you’re paying for a top-quality product that is built on ethical standards. Don’t let scammers take advantage of you by taking your hard-earned money and giving you a fake item. And not just fake — a poorly built or illegally-made item, too. So it’s essential to do your due diligence and ensure a product has all the right components of a true Shockwave product.

Let’s take a look at what makes a product fake, why it’s important, and a checklist of things you need to look for.

What makes a product fake?

Fake products are anything that’s claimed to be something that it’s not, from designer bags to collector items and everything in between. Some gun dealers falsely claim the Chinese-made products they are selling are Shockwave products, made in America, and ATF approved. Genuine Shockwave products are truly made in America and ATF approved.

Why does it matter?

Think about it — if you pay $100 for a fake product that is normally $200 for the real product (for example), you didn’t save money at all. You just wasted $100 on something that is low quality, likely illegally made, potentially dangerous for you and/or your firearm to use, and won’t give you the product experience you think you’re getting with the real product. Giving even one dollar to a false manufacturer or dealer is supporting their scam and keeping them in business to continue growing and scamming gun buyers with their fake products.

These unethical dealers not only rob ethical, American-made companies from providing the real deal to everyday guy buyers, but they rob their own customers by tricking them to spend their hard-earned money on a counterfeit product. If you’re going to pay hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for a gun and gun parts, you deserve to get the real deal.

Diligently examine the products you plan to purchase with the intent of finding a red flag. If you don’t find an immediate red flag, follow the checklist below. It’s better to be a skeptic going into purchasing expensive, dangerous products than it is to assume it’s legitimate.

How to make sure you’re getting a genuine firearm product:

Does the price sound too good to be true? Then it probably is. The price of the gun or gun part should be reasonable and comparable. Huge discounts on high-end products, items that are highly underpriced from the average cost, or advertisements that push a major sense of urgency with a great deal (i.e. “one time only”) tend to be scams and counterfeits.
Is the dealer reputable and established? Check out their return policies, secure payment options, and make sure you’ll get a descriptive receipt. You can look at their FAQs, policies, and terms of purchase to understand what’s guaranteed. Here’s an example of this information that Shockwave provides. Be skeptical if you read passive words like “probably,” “in the style of,” or “type.”
Is there a serial number on the gun? Or a patent number on the Shockwave gun part? There should be. If there isn’t one, be skeptical. But how do you know if it’s a bogus number? You can check out Google’s Advanced Patent Search to determine if a patent number is real, and HotGunz to look up a gun’s serial number to determine if it has been stolen or a fake.
Are there multiple photos of the gun? The best sellers and dealers will post multiple photos, including close-ups. Make sure the photos don’t look Photoshopped or altered.
Is there a detailed description? A complete description that shows all details of the product for sale is important for making sure all information is accurate.
Is there a secure payment method accepted? Do not use PayPal or a PayPal-affiliated platform, as they have banned firearm sales and will seize your transaction funds if you try to use it. Money orders and checks are a scammer’s preferred way to get paid because it’s untraceable and makes it easy to steal information for identity theft. The best bet is to pay securely via credit card.

Channel your inner detective.

Following the provided checklist is an important method to ensure you purchase a genuine product. But let’s walk through a couple actual fake copycats of Shockwave products and show you how to play detective.

This is a Chinese product that sold lookalike counterfeit items labeled as “Blade” — but don’t worry, we got them shut down. The item claimed to be a Shockwave Blade, but it was a fake.

These items are still being sold and marketed as a Raptor grip, but don’t be fooled — this is no raptor grip. It is yet to be determined who is making these but they falsely claim to be a Raptor grip.

They also claim these products are made in America, but that is yet to be determined. These items are counterfeit because they have no plug for the bolt hole and are not made by Shockwave Technologies or used by the Mossberg or Remington firearms.

When it comes to our Blades, it is especially important that consumers have a brace that is ATF approved for pistol use. We have found some very interesting ones on the market that are alarmingly fake (and ugly, if we might add).

New Shockwave Blades are labeled with our patent number. Grips have the Shockwave Technologies name on it and a plug in the back.

Contact Shockwave directly to confirm.

Contact Shockwave Technologies directly to confirm that the site or product you are buying from is reputable and accurate. It also lets us know who else is out there trying to scam our customers into spending their hard-earned money on fake products.

We continue to work closely with anti-counterfeiting attorneys to protect our customers from being scammed and receiving a low-quality product. We won’t let scammers continue to get away with it as much as we can help it. And you can help by letting us know if you come across a fake product being sold.

Unfortunately, these scammers and counterfeit dealers are getting smarter every day. Even their packaging can look really similar to Shockwave’s, but it’s not from us. We invite you to help us combat these fake sellers and products by taking the steps we mentioned above, and let us know about it so we can work with our legal team to shut them down and protect our customers.

All of these tips and tricks to ensuring you’re getting a genuine product can be overwhelming, but we are here to help.

If you’re interested in buying a true Shockwave product, you can buy directly from us on our secure website or contact us if you have any questions.

Tags shockwave accessories, shockwave gun, shockwave gun parts

Shockwave Raptor F1 Forend

Introducing the Shockwave Raptor F1 Forend for Mossberg 500/590 and Remington 870.

The Shockwave Technologies Raptor F1 Forend and Heat Shield is MADE IN AMERICA. With its enhanced texture, you gain a great hold on your firearm. Its glass-filled polymer construction is virtually indestructible.

When you want to turn up your shotgun’s badass factor up to 11, reach for the Shockwave Raptor F1 forend. Cutting-edge design meets improved handling and fast target acquisition.

Features include:

Rugged glass-reinforced polymer
Lightweight
Avaliable in Black, FDE, OD Green and Gray
Extra length lets you personalize forward handhold
Ribbed inset area provides secure gripping
Front and rear handstops improve safety
A total of 10 M-LOK® slots for mounting lights, vertical grips, angled grips, Picatinny rails, and more
Upper heat shield to prevents burns and offers rifle sights for fast target acquisition
Forend Tool simplifies and speeds installation
Compatible with Mossberg 590 12-gauge firearms and Mossberg Shockwave 590 12-gauge
Veteran designed
Made in U.S.A.