"The pistol is good because it's more concealable...." The pistol grip shotgun is BAD because it's more concealable? "The pistol is good because it's maneuverable...." The pistol grip shotgun is BAD because it's more maneuverable? Should I go on?
That is so disingenuous. The pistol is not only more concealable by a much greater degree but it is also more concealable with out sacrificing nearly as much in controllability and for lack of a better term usefulness. A pistol can be concealed and carried all day, a PGO shotgun cannot, unless you are using a method that would likely let you conceal a stocked shotgun or one with a folding stock. In short, the advantage of a PGO shotgun vs. a full stocked one in that respect is minimal to the point of being irrelevant. The same can be said for maneuverability. I'll note only those without training and know how seem to think that a stocked shotgun is too unwieldy. The PGO is not bad because it is more concealable or more maneuverable; it is bad because to achieve those minimal and insignificant gains it sacrifices far too much in way of usefulness. It becomes much harder to aim, control and make accurate shots with. In fact, one loses all the advantages of a long arm save its superior power.
You pointed out that someone somewhere had challenged someone else to shoot a pistol grip next to a conventional stocked shotgun and that proved its uselessness. I'll challenge you to the same thing. Skeet. You use any pistol you want and I'll use a pistol gripped shotgun loaded with the usual 7.5. Which of us do you reckon would win?
Your suggestion is not analogous at all. The original statement was taking two weapons for a like task, defensive style shooting (or at least the nearest thing to it that we can replicate). A stocked shotgun is undoubtedly better for this task. That is the point. If it were not true people in the know would be using PGO shotguns. They are not. Even if one can make hits (at stationary targets in a non pressure environment that does not mean that they could not do much better with the stocked gun. I have never seen a shooter that is not superior with a stocked gun. Also the highest level of proficiency achievable with a stocked gun is much higher than with the PGO, so why not put time and money into the first. Your comparison of shooting skeet is irrelevant to the discussion at hand. If we grant that the PGO shotgun would be superior that speaks nothing to the serviceability of each as a defensive weapon, which is what is being discussed. If your point is certain weapons have advantages in certain tasks then yes you are indeed right. A PGO shotgun has no significant advantages over a stocked one for general defensive shooting. It loses most of the advantages of a long gun with out gaining the advantages of a pistol.
You pointed out that someone somewhere had challenged someone else to shoot a pistol grip next to a conventional stocked shotgun and that proved its uselessness.
Indeed they did. You pointing out that a pistol is useless for skeet doesn't change that. In fact it underscores it.
Here's a tomahawk....there's a stump....how many times do you reckon you'll need to throw that hawk at that stump before you get it to stick?
Here is a tomahawk here is one without a handle; which will take more practice? Which would you prefer if the chips were down?
You have pointed out the importance of practice and you are right but given x number of hours and y number of dollars I would wager anyone would become more proficient with a full stock shotgun than a PGO only shot gun. Also the highest level achievable is higher for the former. In short why waste the time and money on the PGO.
As I stated before, the DEA uses pistol gripped shotguns. The FBI has often. The Israeli Mossad and air marshals use pistol gripped shotguns.
For what tasks. PGO shotguns are good for a door breaching and that is the only thing I have ever seen them used for. I am wondering where you found your info on air marshals using them. I was unable to find any such information. They would seem a very interesting choice for such a task. Most of "those types" diplomatic protection, swat team guys etc I have ever known or seen used SMGs when they need concealability and more fire power than pistol.
One last note, I would greatly prefer a SBS to a PGO if size really is that big of an issue. I know this might not be an option in some places. In such a case I would greatly prefer either a folding stock or I would rather have a pistol than a PGO shotgun.
For the advocates of the PGO:
What shotgun training do you have?
What competitive shooting have you done?
This really is a trite debate. PGO shotguns may have a very limited number of applications for which they are the best choice, HD is not one of them.
