DSEI 2023: Mossberg develops ‘Vanisher' shotgun for UK requirement

Mossberg ‘Vanisher' breacher shotgun (Janes/ Amael Kotlarski)

Mossberg's new highly compact ‘Vanisher' breaching shotgun was designed at the request of a specialist UK-based unit, company representatives told Janes at DSEI 2023 in London.

Based on the 500/590 series of 12-bore, pump-action shotguns, the company made some notable changes to the design to meet the units very specific requirements.

The very strict overall length limitation meant that the use of the traditional tubular magazine had to be abandoned in favour of a polymer, dual-column, single-feed five-round detachable box magazine. For the Vanisher, the tube magazine is non-functional, and only serves to guide the pump grip. Without the box magazine, the shotgun's capacity would have only been two in the magazine and one in the chamber.

Further changes include a stock-less pistol grip, an ambidextrous safety lever above the pistol grip, and an index finger operable action release lever. The pump grip features M-LOK interface rails, and the barrel has a breaching type muzzle device. A short length of MIL-STD-1913 rail is present atop the receiver for the mounting of a sight. The Vanisher can only feed and chamber 12/70 shells.