What to do when you want a pistol gripped shotgun?

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BhmBill

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Whats a broke white boy to do when he wants a pistol gripped shotgun to compliment his collection?

Make his own of course!

I used to own a pistol gripped 18.5" Winchester 1300 Defender 12ga but sold due to hard times. I loved that gun, my only qualm was the safety. I strongly prefer the Mossberg safeties and I lucked out a few months ago when a guy offered me a Westernfield 550AB 12ga (Montgomery Wards branded Mossberg 500ab) for $125. The functions flawlessly, not a single problem with the hundreds of rounds I've already shot through it.

The first picture is not of my Westernfield 550ab (I never thought to take a picture BEFORE I started modifying), but of an identical one I came across.

IM001036.jpg

Tiz a mighty fine gun, fine as is, buuuuuttt..... I want a sawed off pistol grip and a 19"> barrel... so, like I said, whats a broke white boy to do? Make his own (especially the barrel since I'd rather not spend more money on a barrel than I did for the whole gun)


Note: The only tools I had handy were a Cheap Leatherman knockoff (which provided the saw), a homemade knife (pictured), my trusty files, and some sandpaper.

Marking where to cut...

0422090919.jpg


The stock sawed off and the grip shaped slightly....

0422091151.jpg


shaped the grip, filed the bolt to the proper length, and sanded the grip.

0422091241.jpg


Pretty much the finished slightly oiled grip (Idk why it looks so dirty, it's very nice in person). I also screwed in a sling swivel mount to the butt of the grip.

0422091243.jpg


Very comfortable and can't wait to try it out. It's weird with a 28" ribbed barrel, but that'll be cut down to 18.25" soon.

So far i've used the same basic hand tools to build 2 knives, a knive scabbard/sheath/holster/whatever you wanna call it, a speedloader holster, sporterize a M44, build a sawed off shotgun grip out of a regular stock, and bob the hammer on my S&W 581. It's cost $0 and just a few hours to do all this stuff. I love doin this stuff!

Just thought i'd share with my HighRoad Comrades, have a good day!
 
FWIW:

I just moseyed down to the local gun store and bought myself one... Neat that you have the skill to "do it yourself", is it legal?

100_0895.jpg ;)


Jesse
 
Nice project!
Here's one I started last year but I still need to get a bolt and bed it into the grip....
Grizclaw2.jpg
Grizclaw3.jpg
 
Leadhead,
I can't help but notice that "point" you left at the rear of the grip. Looks painful if you're firing that off the hip!
 
The point is there for a few reasons,

...so I can make legal overall length for non restricted status in Canada
...so I can still buttstroke a goblin to make a point
....and I liked the look!:)

It's a factory 14" 870 clone from china and it's actually a pretty decent gun!
 
Leadhead,
I can't help but notice that "point" you left at the rear of the grip. Looks painful if you're firing that off the hip!
Click to expand...

I've never tried firing from the hip with the grip up against my body...If I fire from the hip the gun is usually more to the side.

I really don't find it that hard to control the recoil of up to 2 3/4" slugs with a "birds head" style pistol grip.
 
Thank you gentlemen.

PX15, it's very legal. When the mods are done, it'll be around 29" overall with a 18.25" barrel. Plenty legal!

Leadhead, That's very nice! Looks like the Norinco version of the 870. Those are veeeery good clones. My brother has one and its.... dare I say.... as good or better than my Rem 870. For $225, you CANT go wrong with the Norinco 870 clone.

I forgot to add that I kept the grip kind of thick because of my big ol' hands and I wanted it as short as possible. It fits me PERFECT, but anyone with small - medium hands may find it a bit girthy :D

I can't believe how much more comfortable this is that the regular more vertical style shotgun pistol grips.
 
"Whats a broke white boy to do when he wants a pistol gripped shotgun to compliment his collection?"

Sit down and take a few deep breaths until the momentary insanity passes. :D
 
Bill, are you the guy that I buy my cast slugs from on Gunbroker??? Initials B.B.?

Just wondering. Your names are quite similar and you both are obvious shotgun folks.

richard
 
It's one thing to do that to an old Mossberg, but butchering an old Model 37 that way is not something I'd admit to in public, to say nothing of posting a picture.
 
VA27,
Where can I find this "dull" hatchet and how will it help me shoot better?

I'm guessing you had a "bad" experience shooting a pistol gripped shotgun....have you tried the horizontal types or has your experience only been limited to vertical style?

For the record,
Pistol grips don't out perform full stocks
Pistol grips do require a different technique and practice......ideally starting with light loads and working up to heavy...
Pistol grips are not for everyone.
Pistol grips are not created equally nor do they all perform to the same level.
Pistol grips seem to annoy some shotgunners probably due to Hollywood movies and the "look cool" factor.
 
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Nice looking gun. I have a Mossberg 500 Persuader 20" barrel. Was too lazy to cut one of my old guns down myself. Been thinking about having an old 12 ga SS cut down, they look mean, to carry in the truck.
 
Hold up your strong hand and have a friend whack the web of your hand with a dull hatchet until the 'want' goes away?
Click to expand...

Huh?

I had a Winchester 1300 pistol grip defender and regularly shot 3" magnum loads out of it, then would grab my .500 mag BFR and blow off a couple dozen loads.

Not everyone is sensitive to recoil.

I WANT a pistol gripped shotty.
 
First, sober up.

Second, do try one before laying out your hard earned cash.

There's a zillion slightly used PGs out there. There's a message in that alone.

As for folks burning off 3" maggies in a 5 lb PGO, I'd like to see it.

Will have a first aid kit handy when I do. If ever. It seems to happen more on the Net than on the range...
 
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......the problem with the zillion's of used ones is the majority are of the poor design......a speedfeed is a little harder to find used but they are out there....the pachmayer's aren't too bad either.

If you are going to try one pay an extra $25 bucks for a new Speedfeed is my advice......plus if you do want to sell it you won't have to compete with one zillion minus sellers! :)
 
The Knoxx Breacher's Grip is truely amazing for a PGO shotgun. Well worth the $100 or so.

FFMedic
 
Sorry for not modifying or owning the stuff you guys think I should.

Unless someone else donates the money for me to set up MY guns the way THEY think I should, I'll do what I please to MY guns. I guess dropping $100 on a grip may not be much to some of you, and to some of us, it is.

As for folks burning off 3" maggies in a 5 lb PGO, I'd like to see it.
Click to expand...

I'll see if I can get the videos from my brother (which may be hard with him recently leaving for Afaghanistan) of me chronographing 3" slugs and hot .500 mag loads.
 
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Unless someone else donates the money for me to set up MY guns the way THEY think I should, I'll do what I please to MY guns. I guess dropping $100 on a grip may not be much to some of you, and to some of us, it is.
Click to expand...

I think dropping $100 for a PGO is even worse.

At least what you did didn't cost a penny and was performed on a cheap shotgun. I would suggest that shooting a PGO shotgun before making one might have been the way to go. If you still want one then, I would be curious why. It is your stuff do with it as you will but it sure doesn't make it right.
 
Bill, are you the guy that I buy my cast slugs from on Gunbroker??? Initials B.B.?

Just wondering. Your names are quite similar and you both are obvious shotgun folks.

richard
Click to expand...

Probably not, I haven't bought any slugs on GB in awhile.

It's one thing to do that to an old Mossberg, but butchering an old Model 37 that way is not something I'd admit to in public, to say nothing of posting a picture.
Click to expand...

Who butchered a 37?

At least what you did didn't cost a penny and was performed on a cheap shotgun. I would suggest that shooting a PGO shotgun before making one might have been the way to go. If you still want one then, I would be curious why. It is your stuff do with it as you will but it sure doesn't make it right.
Click to expand...

Please refer to sentence 3 of the OP...

"I used to own a pistol gripped 18.5" Winchester 1300 Defender 12ga but sold due to hard times."

The PG was.... fun? I don't get what the big deal is. Are people really this sensitive to recoil?
 
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