Abstract The melt quench method has been used to prepare the xBi2O3-(30-x)MoO3-40B2O3-20SiO2-9Na2O-1Fe2O3 glass system, where x = 15, 17.5, 20, 25 and 30 mol. %. In the energy range of 0.015–15 MeV, the mass attenuation coefficient (μm), half value layer (HVL) and effective atomic number (Zeff) values have been calculated using MCNPX code for prepared glasses. Using the Geometric progression (G–P) fitting method the exposure buildup factor (EBF) and energy absorption buildup factor (EABF) have been computed. In addition, the removal cross-section (ΣR) values for fast neutrons have been evaluated. Moreover, the mass attenuation coefficient for different compositions glasses have been calculated using XMuDat program and XCOM and have been compared with MCNPX values. The μm, HVL and ΣR values of the investigated glass samples have been compared with the different types of concretes in other glass materials. Using the pulse-echo technique, the elastic moduli for glass samples have been measured. The glass sample 30Bi2O3-40B2O3-20SiO2-9Na2O-1Fe2O3 shows the highest values of μm and lowest values of HVL, which indicate that this glass composition is the most effective at radiation shielding.