Pistol Grip Shot Guns

[Glockman17366]

If one does want to shoot a shotgun equipted with a pistol grip (not a pistol grip stock), what is the best way to hold the gun?

The shotgun is a Mossberg 500 Persuader I've owned many years. The gun came with a standard stock and a pistol grip.
I recently installed a Choate top folder (my boyish enthusiasm may have overcome my manly common sense...not an uncommon thing).

Anyway, one handed is definetly out...I'm not the Terminator. But a hip shot or hold it up eye level and aim?

The folder was installed due to the way I'm going to stash this weapon...limited space (up under a platform bed, held in place with vecro straps).

 

[L-2]

The Mossberg instruction manual recommended hip-level only. Recoil is quick, hard/sharp without a shoulder stock to back it up. It's difficult to keep the support hand on the shotgun after shooting which can result in a loss of control, possibly dropping the weapon. The trigger hand will, likely, hurt, too.

 

[Fred Fuller]

I have not a lot of use for pistol grips on shotguns, but have been forced by circumstances to use one for a while once upon a time. This gun was a Winchester 20 ga. pump with an 18" cylinder bore barrel. I fitted it with the Speedfeed version of a pistol grip only (PGO) stock, which looks very much like the conventional stock would if it were sawed off around the curve of the original pistol grip. This gentle curve is IMHO a great advantage in managing the gun and accurately placing fire as opposed to a PGO which presents a more acute angle to the gun. The safety was easily accessible also, a disadvantage with PG equipped Mossbergs is that the safety is hard to get to.

I also outfitted this gun with a laser, the only gun serious or otherwise I have ever used a laser sighting device on. I could find no other way to get lead on target reliably with the setup other than using the laser. It was easy to zero the gun and the laser pretty much stayed zeroed even when its mount slipped a bit under recoil. Shotguns are tough on the equipment attached to them, sometimes including the shooter...

I found it best to employ the gun 'across the body' leading with the weak side (left) shoulder, with my right elbow bent, forearm pretty straight directly behind the gun and the arm 'swiveled' at the shoulder. That put it somewhat higher than waist high when in firing position but allowed better control and faster followup shots.

All I can say is, practice A LOT...

lpl/nc

 

[joab]

hold it up eye level and aim?

I got broken nose number 5 from doing that

Hip shots are probably best

 

[scout26]

or hold it up eye level and aim?

only if someone is with you videotaping the event !!!!!


If you absolutely insist on doing this, then Lee has the best advice. Having done this in my, ummmm, younger days, I can assure you that the forearm will leap out of your hand. Since you installed the top folder, I would practice getting that flipped down and mounting the gun to your shoulder, rather then explaining to the Ortho-surgeon why you have a compression fracture in your wrist and the that front bead imprint in your forehead.

Go ahead and touch off that magnum load of 00 buck with that PGO shotie. Kinda the opposite of Lay's potato chips, "betcha won't do it more then once."

 

[trueblue1776]

just for the record, the mossy 835 with 3-1/2's was not meant to have a pistol grip, mine took a 15 foot leap It was hilarious though.......

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

I resurrected this thread after reading this one about Oleg's latest photo composition.

Question: Does anyone make a very short stock that would let the lady shoot the thing from the shoulder? (Ignoring the red-dot, which should go away anyway.)

- NF

 

[V4Vendetta]

I saw a video about a product from Knoxx. With it the guy could fire the shotgun, with the special pistol grip attached, single handedly. Then in under 3 seconds, he flipped the shoulder stock down & started firing again. I think it's called the COPSTOCK.

 

[Ironballs]

i have fired a few out of a knoxx compstock (folded, just using pistol grip) and it was super easy/not much kick... and right after that i bought their specops stock

 

[357wheelgunner]

I fired a PG shottie once, and never again. I tried shooting from the hip and felt like a dumbass and missed everything. So I brought it up to eye level, fired 4 fast shots, and each one brought the weapon closer to my face. After the fourth shot a steady stream of blood was coming out of my busted nose.

PG shotguns are useless. A PG shotgun is a powerful inaccurate slow firing pistol. If space is a consideration a S&W K-frame has done the job for many many years, and when shoulder weapons come in a fully stocked 870 suits me.

 

[shecky]

Question: Does anyone make a very short stock that would let the lady shoot the thing from the shoulder?

For a very short stock that also does a good job at recoil absorption, the Knoxx Specops comes to mind. It's adjustable over quite a range. However, it does have a pistol grip integrated, which I find not terribly practical on a Mossberg, as it puts the safety, and (for a righty without large hands) the action release both unacceptably out of the way. With a traditional stock or the Speedfeed PG that Lee Lapin mentions, both the safety and the action release are easily manipulated without the trigger hand ever leaving a trigger-ready position.

ISTR Hogue made a traditional aftermarket stock with a very short LOP, like maybe 12". Or an existing stock can be cut down.

Lee Lapin's advice is pretty good about pistol grips. A laser is probably the only way to effectively aim the pistol grip shotgun. The Speedfeed PG is probably the easiest to shoot and most compact. And most practical to operate a Mossberg with. Knoxx also makes a PGO grip with their recoil absorbing properties, but they're a little bulkier and have the same disadvantages with Mossbergs previously mentioned.

 

[carebear]

Mossberg makes a smaller shoulder stock (shorter LOP) for their youth models. They fit on the full size receivers IIRC. Remington has downscaled ones as well. 3rd party manufacturers offer some options as well, Brownell's has them or you can order from the manufacturer.

The shotgun in Oleg's picture has a shoulder stock, you can just see the leading black edge of it above her thumb knuckle and below the last round in the sidesaddle and then her hair covers it.

 

[kage genin]

I put a "Youth" stock on my Mossberg 590, like carebear said, it does fit. The LOP on the youth stock is only 12" (standard LOP is 14"). I can't remember where I bought the reduced-LOP stock.. I think it was either Brownells or Cabelas.

Note: in case anyone is wondering, the 12" LOP youth stock's recoil pad and the standard one are NOT interchangable.

 

[Manedwolf]

If one does want to shoot a shotgun equipted with a pistol grip (not a pistol grip stock), what is the best way to hold the gun?

The shotgun is a Mossberg 500 Persuader I've owned many years. The gun came with a standard stock and a pistol grip.
I recently installed a Choate top folder (my boyish enthusiasm may have overcome my manly common sense...not an uncommon thing).

Anyway, one handed is definetly out...I'm not the Terminator. But a hip shot or hold it up eye level and aim?

The folder was installed due to the way I'm going to stash this weapon...limited space (up under a platform bed, held in place with vecro straps).

If you mean JUST a pistol grip and no stock, if you hold it up to eye level, you're asking for an emergency trip to the dentist.

Seriously, people HAVE bashed their own teeth out or broken their nose doing that.

 

[Glockman17366]

As a follow up to my original post...

The Chaoate folder has been installed. I've fired the gun using the stock and just the pistol grip.

Unfolded stock is right rough against the shoulder using standard 00 buck, Using just the pistol grip...well, I'd better make that first shot count!

Lower recoil 00 buck isn't too bad though. Bird shot isn't a problem at all...

As this is strictly a home defense gun, I don't think it'll be fired too often...just enough to keep my hand in.

That Knoxx system looks very interesting...might end up swapping over to that, but I'd be real interested in getting some other testimonials...if any of you have used it.

 

[DMK]

When I bought my Mossy Persuader, it came with a PG only. I ordered a full stock at the same time, but it was backordered so I had a few weeks to play with the PG only. I found that with Federal LE Low recoil buckshot and with birdshot, I could fire it at eye level. I kept the supporting arm fully extended, with the right wrist locked, the elbow loose, straight out to the right and parallel to the ground. When the gun recoiled, don't fight it. Instead allow the gun to come back and using your elbow as a toggle hinge, guiding it to the right around your head. Very tough to get the gun back on target and reload quickly though.

 

[CaCrusin]

As a follow up to my original post...
<SNIP>
That Knoxx system looks very interesting...might end up swapping over to that, but I'd be real interested in getting some other testimonials...if any of you have used it.

Visit the Knoxx website and watch the videos. You will enjoy them and I'm sure they will answer most of your questions.

CaCrusin

 

[Glockman17366]

I did look at the Knoxx site...before I posted requesting other's opinions. I'd just like to read of any other folks who have actually used Copstock or one of the other ones.

That copstock looks damned impressive...one handed shooting a slug!

 

[SemiAutoMan]

K I'm not going to make suggestions I always shoot shotguns single handed though just saw it in the movies and like to do it even though it can be a lil painful but just way cool

 

[jeremywills]

years ago i had the chance to fire off a mossy 500 with the grip only, had it up near my face and split my lip good

learned that lesson, shoot from the hip only

I have a 590 that I just bought and those Knoxx stocks are so tempting, too bad the gunshow came up dry this weekend or I would have bought one, I have had the chance to shoot one of these too and they do work wonders with recoil, why I was at the gunshow purposely trying to seek one out this weekend

They have a breachers grip, basically appears to be the Spec Ops AR style stock of thiers, minus the adjustable shoulder part, looks tempting if you wanted a grip only style of stock, I would definately check that out

http://www.knoxx.com/NewStyleKnoxx/Products/BreachersGrip.html

 

[rudolf]

Hold the shotgun at breast level, resting the palm of your hand on the breast muscle close to the solar plexus. This is the best way to handle the recoil and to aim. Holding at hip level will hurt (and possibly damage) your wrist.

 

[thebigc]

i love the top folding copstock on my 1300 its really easy to fire 00 buck or slugs one handed with the pistol grip or from the hip and it has way less on the sholder l than my single shot pardner with pheasant loads

 

[Hairback]

I have used shotguns in various configurations for many years around the world for serious "social work", and in close encounters it remains my weapon of choice. If you must use the pistol grip configuration I suggest that you get a forend that includes a pistol grip and hold the weapon out using a straight left arm (assuming you're right handed) . The recoil is much easier to control this way and won't make you wish you hadn't pulled the trigger.

My personal choice for configuration is 18 1/2 in BBL with the standard issue pistol grip stock, but I place the butt under my right arm tight into the arm pit. This shortens the weapon in tight quarters, allows quick movement and brings it up to a point where aim is natural as the barrel remains in your peripheral line of sight. Try that a few times and I think you'll see the advantage. An underbarrel laser is always a nice touch for serious moments

 

[MacMatt]

Knoxx Copstock

I bought a Copstock(the folding pistol grip) for my Remington 870 this summer, and absolutely love it. I have heard some complaints that the stock is a little wiggly when unfolded, but have no problem with mine. If you are strong enough to lift the gun and keep steady aim, one handed Terminator shots are no problem. Makes for some serious, and seriously expensive, plinking fun, kind of like a ten pound .45.

 

[Glockman17366]

Yeah, I just bought a Copstock...guess I'll pull the Choate folder off. Anyone want to buy a brand new folder?

I did talk to a few guys whjo have experience..e-mailed, actually. All of them liked the stock...none complained or even made comment about the folder being wiggly.

The only "mistake" I made was buying directly from Knoxx..Cabela's sells the Copstock $15.00 cheaper then Knoxx