Why pistol grips

[erikdjs]

I'm just curious why so many people use pistol grips for HD shotties. What benefit do they add? (Besides looking awesome)

I'm referring more to pistol grips with full stocks.

Keep in mind I've only just started trap so this is a sincere question.

[NSR500]

For me, the pistol grip gives me better control inside a structure. With the proper sling I can also use the gun one handed if the situation calls for it.

For example...

You need to reach for a child, or person and don't want to be out of the fight. A pistol grip helps a lot for those moments.

[FatalKitty]

On advantage i've found is that with a pistol grip my arm is in a much more natural position. Mainly it gives more control for movements when you are squared up to your target (which you should be for tactical/defense shooting but NOT for trap) it allows your body to move in all directions and remain balanced.

It's also beneficial for training purposes when you are learning several weapon types if they all share a similar platform.

[lehn20]

pistol grips are almost worthless on a shotgun in most cases.

[erikdjs]

Thanks for the insight guys.

It looks like having the pistol grip on requires you to shoulder the gun slightly lower compared to standard stocks. How does this affect your aiming down the barrel and sights? Can you still rest your cheek against the stock?

[NSR500]

I notice with my Benelli that I still get a good cheek weld and sight picture. My M1S90 has ghost ring sites which are naturally higher off a shotgun than a traditional bead.
That said... A HD shotgun and Trap/Skeet gun tend to be shot in their own unique ways.

[3GunFunShooter]

I put the new Remington Factory Pistol Stock on my 1100CM. It is not worthless.
Cheek weld is higher, matching my Williams Fire Sights much better. I do find that it gives me much more control of the gun. If you load weak hand on a heavy shotgun, FN Remington 1100, easier to handle the conterbalance of weight on the front end. It also keeps your thumb out of your nose. Shot the standard stock for 6 years, after using the new Remington I will never shoot competition without a pistol grip set up.

[L84CABO]

I just like it. And I didn't think I would. I've had an 870 for years. And when I got my Benelli M4, I just assumed I would pick up a field stock for it after the initial purchase...but I'm finding out I love the pistol grip.

People say you can manage recoil better with a field stock but I don't find there to be any difference. I also have a tendency to "choke up" on my sights. Maybe I have a long neck or something...but on more than one occassion with the 870, I haven't been paying attention and gotten too close to my grip hand. Smacking yourself in the face on recoil doesn't feel good. It hurts...not to mention it makes you feel incredibly stupid No worries with the pistol grip cause your hand is under the gun, not on top.

And as others have said, the one handed control is nice. YMMV.

[aippi]

The best benifit beside the ones mentioned is that it assist you in weapon retention. Anyone who thinkings they can't have a weapon taken from them and used on them is a fool. The pistol grip like on my SF IV-S is easier to hang on to then a conventional stock.

All my HD's have either a SF IV-S. SpecOps or Mesa LEO with Endine. All these stocks have a pistol grip because they do enhance your ability to deploy the weapon and they give me an advantage if my weapon is grabbed. Anyone understanding a "break hold" of going against the weak part of a grip which in the case of a conventional stock is the thumb, understands this does not work with the pistol grip stock and therefore it is harder to take this weapon away from someone. We trained on weapon retention and this fact was proven time and time again.

[Kynoch]

pistol grips are almost worthless on a shotgun in most cases.

hickok45 removed the one from his Benelli M1. He said it got in the way and he strikes me as being an excellent marksman with 10+ years as a reserve LEO. Then again he also said pistol grips can be good...

I recently saw an old 1960's Remington police "riot gun." There is beauty (and functionality) in simplicity...

Do any of you have stocks with dual pistol grips?

[BigDogatPlay]

Fixed butt stocks with pistol grips, such as the Speedfeed models (which I have the most experience with) have a good number of advantages in some usages. I have some experience with Choate stocks as well, and found that I prefer the Speedfeed profile.

I'm not a big believer in the telescoping type stocks purely because I've never been able to get comfortable or a good consistent cheek weld with them. Nothing against the equipment (protecting myself from the flames of Knoxx fans), it's just a personal fit thing for me. I removed the Knoxx that came with my 870P and replaced it with it's OEM wood stock until I get around to ordering a Speedfeed for it. I have a lot of other priorities / projects in front of that and the gun shoots just fine for me with the OEM wood.

[j1133s]

I'm just curious why so many people use pistol grips for HD shotties. What benefit do they add? (Besides looking awesome)

I'm referring more to pistol grips with full stocks.

Keep in mind I've only just started trap so this is a sincere question.

It's quicker and easier to aim/point 1 handed. I run it in 3 gun matches and found it to work well for what I needed.

[GettoPhilosopher]

Do any of you have stocks with dual pistol grips?

I'm new enough here that I don't know if my opinion counts much, but yeah, I run a Remington 870 Express with a Shur-Shot stock and a Tango Down vert grip (switching it out for a Magpul RVG soon).

What I've found testing it against my best friend's stock Rem 870 Exp. is that the dual pistol grips can mitigate recoil greatly. You absorb a lot more in your hands instead of straight back into your shoulder. Unless someone wants to say I was doing it wrong, I found it easier to shoot 3" magnum 00 buckshot loads from mine than birdshot from his. 0_o

[coma13]

I have a Mossberg, so a pistol grip makes my safety pretty much inoperable in any quick fashion, so I stick with the traditional comb stock. I can load with my weak hand just fine, too.

[PEBKAC]

I have a PG on my M4 because the field stocks are very hard to come by...

It's not uncomfortable, but it's not as comfortable as a more standard stock.