[doglb]

Okay, dont bash me for asking. I have been around shotguns a long time, but have an idea of adding a pistol grip to my 870.

Never shot one with a pistol grip only-and am not sensative to recoil.
This isnt my pic, however I like the speedfeed grip on this.

Can anyone who has done this tell me the positives/negatives?
I know a full stock is better and there is no real replacement for one.

I dont want this thread to become all about full stocks and how much better they are, all I am interested in is the pistol grip discussion.

http://i40.tinypic.com/1igyg5.jpg

:D

[ReloaderFred]

I've shot them, but I don't prefer them. They make a pretty good entry weapon, since they're short and handy. I've also fired them one handed, pistol style, to demonstrate that the recoil of magnum 00 buckshot loads are completely managable. When I was rangemaster for our department, I had one on the range for demonstrations. Ours had the factory Remington LE pistol grip.

Just make sure the total length of the shotgun is at least 26", or it becomes an illegal firearm.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Guns and more]

I put the Blackhawk "Breachers grip" on my Mossberg 500 cruiser.
It has a spring built into the handle to absorb recoil.
Check it out, they make them for the 870 and it's a five minute changeover.

Your picture shows a stock cut down to a pistol grip. Too horizontal for my taste. Get a real pistol grip and be prepared to be flamed on this board for doing so. (just remember, you're the one using it, get what you like, you can always go back.)

[GRIZ22]

They make a pretty good entry weapon, since they're short and handy.

That's what I used one for before I retired. The qualification course used for shotguns consisted of 5 slugs at 25 yards. I learned the best way to do this was hold it like a big pistol.

[Fred Fuller]

I always found the birds-head style PGO as shown in your photo much more manageable than the more vertical style PGO. I never could hit very much reliably at much of any distance with a PGO without using a laser. And I found a 20 gauge more controllable for followup shots than a 12 gauge.

Just my experience, other peoples' mileage may vary.

lpl

[doglb]

Actually that grip is made by speedfeed.
http://i39.tinypic.com/16giphu.jpg

According to other threads it gives you a more natural grip.
I must say that the 870 will be primary used for HD/Vehicle

I know its not the "BEST" having a pgo, however for its size I believe it can serve its purpose.

[Sam1911]

Had a Mossberg 500A that came PGO. Kept it that way for years. Finally bought a full buttstock for it...and now I shoot it.

Recoil -- even held pistol style -- isn't a terribly big deal (though ammo choice will make a difference there) but there's just not very much that they do well.

A buddy and I both had those in college (his 20 ga., mine 12) and we'd take them out to the local range and throw clays for each other. We hit them every once in a while, too, but the novelty is very, very fleeting.

By the way, that grip in the picture isn't a cut down full stock. I've seen them for sale in some of the gun catalogs before. Strange, but I guess they emulate the "old school" style of PGO.

-Sam

EDIT -- dogb beat me to it...Speedfeed makes them

[armslist]

Why does the whole gun have to be 26"?

Do you know the regulation that states this?

[Sam1911]

Why does the whole gun have to be 26"? Do you know the regulation that states this?

The National Firearms Act of 1934. Same law that created registration for Machine Guns, Short Barreled Rifles, Suppressors, etc.

-Sam

[doglb]

I dont have the doc however for shotguns, 18" is minimum for the barrels and overall is 26". This is a true fact. After that, if you want to go any shorter it becomes an "AOW" and it needs a tax stamp to make it legal.

[mgkdrgn]

If you are looking to buy some grips, and this style works for you, I have a pair (front and rear) of this style for an 870 I'll let you have for $25 shipped.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/SHT081-1.html

[The Deer Hunter]

Never shot one with a pistol grip only-and am not sensative to recoil.

I don't care how sensitive or insensitive you may be to recoil, the fact is that slugs and buckshot have a lot of it. I am not "sensitive" to the pain of recoil, but my body still moves regardless. You can't just negate the fact that the explosion puts the same amount of force back at you as it does with the piece of lead.

I have shot a good amounts of slugs and buckshot out of my 870, although it's been mostly birdshot. I have to say, I find slugs and 00 buckshot to have similar levels of recoil. Not the same, but they still both have a hell of a lot.

What I'm trying to say is: go shoot a couple boxes of slugs, buck and birdshot through your normal stocked gun. A lot of guys I know shoot a LOT of shotgun, but have never fired buckshot.

Try it out, see how you do. Try out the PGO. Let us know how you do =)

[halfded]

I have a H&R 870 clone with the pistol grip. Different style than the one you pictured but close. I also use a pistol grip on the foregrip. Gives a lot more control of the recoil and makes it a lot easier to actually aim instead of hip shooting. Both my wife and myself can accurately sight and shoot this shotgun at a fairly decent rate of speed. I've also found that absorbing the recoil from the waist up rather than just with the arms reduces time between follow up shots.

Add the pistol grips to an 18 or 20" gun and you have a very maneuverable weapon indoors, just make sure you maintain the legal ATF length for long guns! Mine's about an inch over, and is very compact.

[Grey_Mana]

Why does the whole gun have to be 26"?

Do you know the regulation that states this?

For Maryland, it is also a part of state law.
(14) "Short-barreled rifle" means a rifle having one or more barrels less than 16 inches in length and any weapon made from a rifle (whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise) if the weapon, as modified, has an overall length of less than 26 inches.

(15) "Short-barreled shotgun" means a shotgun having one or more barrels less than 18 inches in length and any weapon made from a shotgun (whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise) if the weapon, as modified, has an overall length of less than 26 inches.
http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/14/14.22.02.02.htm

[Leadhead]

The Speedfeed witness protection grip combined with the rubber hogue foreend is about as good as it gets for that style of shotgun.....

Go for it DogPound!

[Leadhead]

Oh and unlike some in this thread.... I have used that set up before with 2 3/4" slugs and it's manageable.

[czarjl]

I have had both a .410 and 12ga Mossberg 500s with PGO.
The .410 was not bad to shoot but the 12ga with anything other than a light trap load in it was not much fun. Shooting it like a pistol or from the hip can be fun, but rather ineffective as far as HD unless your at pointblank.

I see the value in a PGO for special uses (easier to store and more maneuverable) but as far a regular shooter I will pass.

[yeti]

The SpeedFeed PG's are a lot more comfortable to shoot, but doesn't help accuracy any more than any other PG. They are nice on a confined space use shotgun, but other then that, a regular butt stock is preferable.

[doglb]

Well, will give it a try! Ordered one from Midway, I'll let you know the verdict. Worse case I'll slap the stock back on if I really hate it. For $30 bucks I'll at least try it.

I'll post some pics of it when it comes! We all love pics!:D

[FiveFiveSixFan]

I found myself similarly intrigued with the PG some years back. I ended up getting one at a good price and fired a number of different loads with it and didn't find the recoil particularly objectionable. Looking at several other factors led me to go back to the fixed stock.

For me, using the full stock led to much greater accuracy, even at shorter (HD) distances, either shoulder fired or from the hip with the stock tucked under the elbow.

I think you'll find that even in fairly confined spaces, you can transition from shoulder to hip pretty easily with the full stock with a little practice, especially in situations where you're totally familiar with the layout.

The PG definitely has advantages in entry situations where the layout is unknown and the need to be able to quickly transition to a handgun is anticipated.

Enjoy your new purchase.