Shotgun without a stock

[Gunsmoker]

I live in CA and am mildly considering a reliable shotgun for home defense/general defense. I've never shot a shotgun before, but for manoeuvrability purposes I would like one without a stock.

Is the kick so great that shotguns without stocks are just dumb?

What's the price range for a new reliable shotgun?

How much is the ammo? (you know, if I buy the shottie I gotta have fun with it too. )

 

[lawson]

pistol grip only shotguns are hard on the wrist and trickier to point. i don't really like them for home defense. some do, but i prefer a full stock. i find them painful to shoot with reduced range and accuracy. your mileage may vary.

 

[Coronach]

Get one with a stock. PG-only shotguns are less accurate, slower to recover for follow up shots, and actually harder to use quickly than stocked shotguns (the last is influenced by the first; you're left with the choice of a slow hit or a fast miss at anything beyond contact range). They're also hard on the wrists, so you tend to practice less, which is very bad due to the whole difficult-aiming thing.

Seriously. Get a 18" bbl pump shotgun in bare bones, out of the box configuration. It will be compact, really really really fast to point, and a pleasure to shoot. We used to carry shotguns like that on duty, then we got ours all Ninjafied. Now they're slow and unwieldly, and I wish I could carry one in almost-stock configuration (the Surefire fore-end was a great addition, the rest was dreck).

After you've done Dave's BA/UU/R drill, start thinking about what you want to put on it.

Seriously. A basic shotgun is about perfect for home defense, but you need to have a full stock.

Mike

 

[Coronach]

Oh, as to your other questions...

Go to gunshops and look for police trade-in shotguns. They'll look like they have been misused, but most of them will have low round-counts and will shoot just fine. Around here you can get an old police Remington 870 for $175 or so. Cali will probably be more expensive (everything there is). I have no idea what new Remingtons or Mossbergs are going for. There's nothing wrong with buying new, but it is so hard to wear out a Remington or Mossberg that the used market is generally the better deal unless you just must have a pristine exterior.

Ammo is not that bad...use whatever is cheapest for training, at least at first. Stick with whatever 00 Buck patterns best out of your gun for defense*.

Mike

* There is a neverending debate about the best home defense shotgun load. 00 buckshot will work just fine. After you have refined your skill and knowledge a little you can decide if you want to fiddle with other things.

 

[Fred Fuller]

'smoker,

Go to the end of the thread at http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=207361 and request the Awerbuck video. That'll help you with some basic defensive stuff re. the shotgun. Your only obligation is to mail it on to the next THR member who asks for it. You might want to see if a copy of Brister's book is available also.

Yes, it is a bad idea to attempt using a PGO (pistol grip only) shotgun for serious purposes, unless you are confined to a phone booth. You need a stock. Start out with light loads, get your basics down (stance, gun mount, administrative stuff like loading, unloading, making safe etc.) and above all...

Stay safe,

lpl/nc

 

[sm]

Shotgun without a stock.

Kinda be like findin' a gal with too bit a set of feet. Wait, that one liable to take to much explaining around here...Lemmee try this again


Shotgun without a stock.

Be kinda having bird dog without a nose for smelling birds.
I mean got bragging rights being a bird dog, and all 'bout it, not worth a flip for doing what the fella bred for.

 

[camacho]

Hey folks,

Since we are on the subject of recoil and pistol grips, has any of you had experience with the Knoxx COP folding stock? http://www.knoxx.com/NewStyleKnoxx/Products/COPstock.htm

Just wonder if it is as good as the company claims.

 

[Gord]

Depending on where you're at, Big 5 runs sales on Mossbergs all the time. I'm not sure whether it's the 500 or the Maverick, but you've got a choice of 5-round tube and long/short barrel combo, or 8-round tube and short barrel.

I checked the 8-rounder out once and it felt pretty loose and rattly, but maybe that was just because it was the display model.

They go for $239.

 

[foghornl]

Dunham's Sporting Goods here in the "Upper Midwest" part of the USA is essentially the same as the Big 5 Chain out in the Pacific Coast/Southwest area.

Dunhams frequently has the Maverick/Mossberg combos on sale for $200 or under.

My Homeland Security shotgun is a Maverick 88, with the 18-1/2" plain cylinder bored barrel. Throws slugs in really tight groups, and has a very dense pattern with #4 Buck.

Your Mileage Will Vary with different slug/shot loads.

Pistol Grip Only (PGO) ? ? ? Not for me. Tried it just for grins..Well I forgot I had installed the PGO, and tried a 'wing shot' at a thrown clay. Lets just say that my buds called me "Rocky Racoon" for a couple of weeks.....Matched pair of 'shiners', and a schnozz that resembled a stop sign

 

[JShirley]

Proper grip and stance will solve your perceived manueverability challenge. Additionally, that stock enables a quicker shot, even if the weapon doesn't come to your shoulder.

After some few years of practice and trial and error...like, 25, I bought a shotgun that had everything I wanted: short barrel, parkerized, ghost ring sight. All I needed to do, was swap the overlong stock for a shorter (Cadet) stock, and add a sling, and I was good to go.

Now, the park and the GRS are nice, but probably not too important to you at this point, but it's vital that you have a properly fitted stock.

John