Review: Knoxx Spec Ops Stock Review

[roo_ster]

A buddy of mine installed one of these on his Mossberg 500, the HD model with the 20" bl & 7 round mag.

I helped him evaluate it with slugs, buck, & bird shot.

GENERAL
It looks to be a well-made bit of kit. Yeah, it is almost entirely made of plastic, but it is solid, nonetheless.

GOOD
It soaks up recoil like nothing I have yet experienced. I shot Remington hunting-type slugs and 00 buckshot without a bruise.

Felt recoil of those slugs & buck is negligible. You still get pushed around, but no sharp jerk. Low-power target birdshot is a series of puffballs.

Did I mention it soaks up recoil?


BAD:
I have never shouldered a more unwieldy shotgun setup in my life.

It might as well be a kayak paddle as a shotgun. It pointed like a water-warped 2x4. The only way I could get lined up with the bead or in any way with the bbl was to cant the setup at 45deg and then lay it on target.

For me to have proper sight alignment would be to install raised AR15-style sights: raised front & rear a couple inches off the bbl & receiver.

The collapsible stock does not like the cold. To adjust it while cold, you must press the lever, move it in the direction you like, push back down on the pin, wiggle it back in forth to find the indentation it is supposed to seat in, and hope it seats. Repeat the wiggle/push as necessary.


CONCLUSION:
I'm glad it was my buddy and not me who bought it. He has a bad shoulder, so he is willing to struggle with it and make it work for him.

I have some wingshooting in my background and expect something more point-able. I think pistol grips & funky collapsible stocks are no friend to quick & natural shotgunning.

No doubt the recoil reduction is significant. It just is not worth losing pointablity and handiness in my case.

I had thought about buying one of Knoxx's folding stocks, but this experience has caused me to re-evaluate any pistol-grip configuration shotgun.

 

[Robert Hairless]

That's a good brief review.

A question, if you don't mind. When I worked with a Knoxx Compstock on a Remington 870 some time ago each shot felt obtrusive to me. When the shot went off I could feel the stock compress a little. Then it would decompress as the stock returned to its ready position. The movement was slight but enough to destroy my timing. I used the shotgun that way for a couple of sessions to see if I could adjust to it. Perhaps I did a little but not enough. I decided that whatever the benefit in recoil reduction the cost wasn't worth it to me.

Did you feel a similar effect?

 

[roo_ster]

Robert:

I experienced something similar.

The after-shot POA was different. I couldn't put pointed/aimed fire out at a rate any faster than a standard-stocked Mossberg. Oh, I could send shot downrange faster, but not with any precision. We were shooting at clay bird boxes at 7, 15, and 25 yards. We could see clearly when we missed, as it would chew up the dirt where the shot connected with the earth. Get that? We were missing stationary 2' x 1' x 18" targets with buck & bird shot at 7-25 yards.

When I shot slugs, I was REAL careful, as I didn't want one to sneak 'round the backstop. I would cant the weapon at 45deg to get the best possible alignment and let fly. I could hit dead center, then, but the time it took and un-natural hold made me shoot only one box of slugs and save the other for later.

Also, the compensated stock had an effect on my operation of the slide. It felt...different. I suspect some of the rearward impact of the slide stopping at the end of its travel was soaked up. I think that contributed to the lack of difference in pointed/aimed fire as my mind was expecting a particular feel but got something different.

Perhaps the above could be ironed out with training. Initial feel, however, is gawddawful.

I am disappointed in your report of finding similar problems with the comp stock, as that was to be my backup recoil-reduction plan.

I think I am going to try a different route in 12ga recoil reduction:
Rem 1100
Wood stock cut to fit
Tuned to shoot low-recoil buck & slugs

Somebody, I am sure, has tried that route.

 

[Snarlingiron]

I bought one a while ago strictly for tactical stuff. I guess I am lucky, because my eye lines up pretty well with the rifle sights on mine. I do bust a few clays with it every now and again, but I have other guns for that. All in all, after a thousand rounds or so give or take, I like it. By buddy on the other hand hates it, but he hasn't put in the trigger time with it.

Bottom line, it IS different, and takes some getting used to. Fact is, the Spec Ops was never designed for skeet or birds.

 

[Mainsail]

On my 590A1 with the Knoxx I have no problem lining up the ghost ring with the orange front sight. I can keep six slugs on the paper, touching or very close to touching, rapid fire at combat distance.

 

[vzwnnj]

I have ghost ring sights on my 870 marine magnum, so maybe that cured the sight problem...but i luv mine. No issues whatsoever

 

[MarcusWendt]

I'm surprised to read that review. I installed mine a few months ago and consider it one of the best shooting investments I've ever made. I like my 870 so much now I wish I could just sling it and carry it with me everywhere I go.

I have no problem what so ever acquiring or reacquiring my sight picture. A few people who've shot it said it hurt their face, but I've not had that experience at all.

Perhaps it's the application that makes the difference. Mine is set up for home defense, not skeet, or trap. I couldn't speak to those disciplines.

 

[chris in va]

I had one on my 500. I'll echo your review pretty much verbatim.

My sights wouldn't line up and I had to install a drop spacer, which helped some.

I couldn't hit clays worth a flip with the stock installed. Maybe it was just the pistol grip, don't know. Put the wood back on, clays evaporated just fine.

One thing, you forgot to mention how inaccessible the forearm release button is on the 500's.

Definitely look at the CompStock though, reports are very favorable for those wanting recoil reduction but still keep the standard setup.

 

[rero360]

interesting reviews, I ordered one for my 500 back in early Dec. still waiting on it, I called them last month and they said it was on back order and that they would get back to me with an expected ship date, still no word, i think I'll give them another call here soon.

 

[mjrodney]

Knoxx has been bought out by Blackhawk. Back in November of 2007.

I'll assume the transition has messed up the supply chain and that's why every retailer I've contacted has them on backorder or not available. Or maybe Blackhawk has decided to sell them direct.

So I called Blackhawk today and ordered a Spec Ops direct from them to try on my Mossy 500.

They said it should ship within 24 hours, UPS ground, from the factory in Idaho.

http://www.blackhawk.com/
1.800.694.5263 x3450

 

[rero360]

intersting, I think I'll make a call

 

[mjrodney]

Update:

I was just informed that the Knoxx Spec-Ops stock I ordered direct from Blackhawk a week ago.......is now on backorder until the end of March.

http://www.blackhawk.com/
1.800.694.5263 x3450

 

[MASTEROFMALICE]

They told me yesterday it was April.