[AirPower]

I'm thinking of getting a shotgun that has a pistol grip and also a buttstock. But in case it's not shouldered, I'd like to have enough wrist left to shoot again from the hip. Would a 12ga be too much to shoot using pistol grip? or is 20ga a better gauge for the purpose/scenario?

[Edward429451]

Shouldered for all serious intents and purposes! (you'll do so much better with it.)

[HSMITH]

I shoot a 5 pound 18" Mossy 500 12 ga pump with ONLY a pistol grip like you would shoot a pistol one handed at arms length, until you get into the magnum buck and such the recoil is not bad. Usually 40-60 shells each is enough "fun" and then we put it away. Makes a mess of the targets too.

Practical? Nope, not even a little. Fun? You bet it is.

[Al Thompson]

The 20 should be fine. What mission does the SG have? HD, hunting, survival - what? :)

Shooting from the hip is a last ditch technique - much eaiser to get the hits from the shoulder.

[AirPower]

Will be mainly HD but it could double as the only shotgun so other scenarios may apply as well. Another thing is if 20ga is more costly to shoot than 12ga? it appears to be the case from the prices I've seen. The rounds are smaller but more expensive? somehow doesn't make sense to me.

[Dave McCracken]

20 gauge ammo is proof that the makers understand the dictum,"Less is more". They charge more for a shell with less lead and powder, and get away with it.

The 101 threads include one inveigling against PGs, but it includes a section on how to do it right.

I shot hundreds if not thousands of rounds this way when I HAD to. In a crisis, I'm employing my shotgun from the shoulder at anything past contact distance.

[Mike Irwin]

Depending on the ammo, either could be a serious chore to shoot from a pistol-grip position.


"Less is more, less powder & lead, more money..."

That's called the economics of scale.

[AirPower]

The key for me is the recoil of 20GA vs. 12GA. Some say it's the difference between 9mm and .45, where one's a quick snap, while another is more of a push. Is this true? I don't intend to use the pistol grip only alot, but it'd be good to know what to expect.

[Dave McCracken]

I don't feel any difference in kind, and little in degree. I may not be the best one to ask, though.

[carpettbaggerr]

20 gauge ammo is proof that the makers understand the dictum,"Less is more". They charge more for a shell with less lead and powder, and get away with it


9mm is cheaper than .25 acp too. Some of the pricing is due to how much the manufacturer sells. They can make it cheaper in larger lots.

[G. Glock]

Dave,

Carpetbagger beat me to it, but I think he has a point. Pricing is as much a function of market demand as anything. If my 10mm were as common as .45 ACP or 9mm, the ammo would be more reasonable.

[Dave McCracken]

Yeah, volume counts, but we're not talking of something obscure. Just about evey shotgunner I know has a 20 of some kind.

[retiredsgt]

AirPower: Shooting from the hip is NOT ACCURATE!
We used to train our officers to shoot a shotgun(870)
from the hip. From 7 yds, it takes a lot of practice
and a great deal of concentration to hit
a man sized target. Some bosses from our Tact.
Section then decided to equip their 870's with
a pistol grip. That didn't work either. The way to
shoot a shotgun is from the shoulder. In a very close-
in situation, all you need do is bring the gun
up to eye level, look down the barrel and "PRESS"
the trigger to the rear.
Good Shooting!;)

[Sunray]

"...smaller but more expensive..." A Porche is smaller than my PU. It's more expensive too. And just as useless as a shotgun with no stock or firing from the hip. Always use the shoulder stock for aimed shots. Especially, if you use a 20 guage. The shot pattern at phone booth fire fight ranges is tiny. It must be aimed properly.

[AirPower]

Thanks for all response, it looks like shouldered is the best way to shoot a SG. One more thing I was originally asking is the recoil difference between 20GA and 12GA. I've shot 12GA, and it's not bad, but I sure wouldnt do it all day long. Would 20GA be easier to handle?

[Dave McCracken]

That's not a question that can be answered with a simple yes or no.

Fire the same weight load at the same velocity from two shotguns of the same weight and fit, the recoil will be very similar regardless of gauge.

20s use lighter ammo for the most part, but oft weigh enough less that the kick feels the same or more so. There's other factors.

The 20 gauge 870 YE here is a stout kicker with 1 oz loads. It has a 21" barrel that's the same length as the one on Frankenstein, my 12 gauge parts 870. Frank kicks little with oz loads, only partly because it's slightly heavier. It also has a larger pad and butt. This spreads out the push.

To lessen kick, one can lighten the ammo, slow it down, and/or make the gun heavier. Target shooters shoot 100 rounds a day or more in trap and skeet events. Target shotguns run heavier than field guns and use lighter loads for the most part.

New shotgunners oft take a beating because their form is bad, they use light shotguns and heavier loads than optimum. Regardless of gauge, get your form right, use light loads, and you'll have lots of fun and get proficient in short order.

HTH....