Shotgun Pistol Grip

[whtl]

Whats the benefit of a pistol grip STOCK on a 12ga shotgun with a 18 1/2 inch barrel?

[73Jim]

The overall length is shorter. Mostly used for a home defense scenario where you would be confined by hall ways and such.

[spetsnaz]

not much, shorter length. but not really needed

[whtl]

Let me re-phrase the question. Whats the benefit of a pistol grip STOCK on a 12ga shotgun with a 18 1/2 barrel?

[HOGLEG]

I don't know. They feel awkward to me. I prefer a shotgun with a standard stock. Seems to get a better cheek welt. Swings faster and acquires aimed targets faster. A normal stock on a shotgun just feels right to me.

I guess the pistol grip stock is tacticool.

If you are going to buy one, try one at a shoot or a store just to see if you like it.

Ohhh...They are near worthless on a Mossberg because it makes it hard to access the safety.

For the most part it may come down to preference. If you shoot a lot of regular stock rifles and shotguns the pistol grip seems a bit alien. If you shoot primarily pistol grip long guns, the pistol grip shotgun may be for you.

[hakenlag]

Oddly the only gun I own with a tactical collapsible stock is a Mossberg 500. All of my rifles are equipped with the classic monte carlo style. I really hated the factory stock, particularly in winter. I found the tactical stock allowed me a far better handle of the gun with a scope. Bear in mind that I am not a bird hunter nor do I consider the shotgun my primary home defense weapon. I only use slugs and buckshot. I prefer a magnum revolver for home defense for many reasons more suitable for another discussion.

If I were shooting at birds or clays, I don't think my system would be terribly useful. In fact it would be quite awkward. It's very good for taking aim and slowly squeezing the trigger but for the faster action of more traditional shotgunning, it would not be all that great in my opinion.

As far as benefit, the AR-style stock tends to send recoil straight back instead of the upward roll a standard stock will give you. It's also easier to pull the gun firmly into the shoulder. Most modern AR-style stocks have fully adjustable length of pull. When it's cold and you're wearing a lot of crap to stay warm, a slightly shorter stock can come in handy. Whether that's an advantage or not would depend on what you're shooting and of course your personal preferences.

Edit: I do think for home defense, and particularly with a relatively short barrel, a standard stock would be considerably faster.

[bohoki]

i too feel they are awkward unless it is pistol grip only then it turns into a trench broom

they aren't easy to aim that way

[static808]

shot AR's first, then purchased an 870, so more familiarity with pistol grip style. switched to a mesa tactical urbino stock for shorter LOP and pistol grip configuration. wifey and i are much more comfortable using the pistol grip, and also agree that we shoulder the 870 a little better with a PG. cheek riser on urbino stock also works very well to fine tune the cheek weld with optics, in our case an aimpoint micro.

[Ribkick]

I don't know. They feel awkward to me. I prefer a shotgun with a standard stock. Seems to get a better cheek welt. Swings faster and acquires aimed targets faster. A normal stock on a shotgun just feels right to me.

I guess the pistol grip stock is tacticool.

If you are going to buy one, try one at a shoot or a store just to see if you like it.

Ohhh...They are near worthless on a Mossberg because it makes it hard to access the safety.

For the most part it may come down to preference. If you shoot a lot of regular stock rifles and shotguns the pistol grip seems a bit alien. If you shoot primarily pistol grip long guns, the pistol grip shotgun may be for you.

^THIS^ Minus the last sentence. A shotgun will never be a rifle and shouldn't be deployed as one.

[RuskieShooter]

Whats the benefit of a pistol grip STOCK on a 12ga shotgun with a 18 1/2 inch barrel?

I find it to be a bit more comfortable and it seems to "point" more naturally for me.

The adjustable stock also allows for multiple shooters (from me down to my 14 year old niece). The extra recoil of a pump 12GA makes correct LOP more important in my opinion.

YMMV

-Ruskie

[loophole]

^THIS^ Minus the last sentence. A shotgun will never be a rifle and shouldn't be deployed as one.

Wrong.

He never said a shotgun was a rifle. He said "regular stock rifles and shotguns", emphasis being on 'regular stock', as opposed to a pistol grip.

[CSACANNONEER]

It's a mall ninja, tactifool, thing.

[stix213]

Some people like the ergo's. Some people like the tacticoolness. Some people just like customizing guns for the sake of it.