pistol grip shotguns

[bravo308]

My home defense shotgun is a Remington 870 with pistol grips. I never see tactical training with this type of weapons system. Is there a reason?

[Michael Bane]

Strangely enough, there is a whole school of thought that the pistol-gripped shotgun is inferior to a more traditionally gripped gun. The thinking is that you give up very little by having a stocked gun vs. a gun with only a pistol grip.

That's probably truue, but I tend to be of the school of "whatever works." I'd also like to point out that I've shot 12-gauges fitted with the Knoxx Breachers Grip...

http://www.knoxx.com/products/BreachersGrip.php

...and it's amazing how much the Knoxx grip lowers recoil. You might want to give it a try. Me, I'm always on the verge of filling out the paperwork and ponying up the money for one of these little guys built on an 870:

http://serbu.com/top/superShorty.php

Put a Breachers Grip on it and keep it by my bed!

Michael B, pining for an Ithaca Auto & Burglar

[Hazcat]

I'll agree with MB and say it is what ever works for you.  For what it is worth my preference is for a traditional stock.  For me it works better in just every postition, especially the "low ready".

[TexasAggie01]

Strangely enough, there is a whole school of thought that the pistol-gripped shotgun is inferior to a more traditionally gripped gun. The thinking is that you give up very little by having a stocked gun vs. a gun with only a pistol grip.

I agree. After using several different pistol grips, I decided to never do that again. However, last night/early this morning I woke up to male voices at a very unusual hour for my part of town, under my bedroom window. Granted, this may have been due to being a very deep sleeper that wakes up to human voices instantly. Which, bothers my wife to no end, but I digress...

Anyway, I rediscovered the simple fact that the benefit of the pistol grip, IMHO, is that is shortens the gun and makes it more compact. Obvious, I know, but it really helps if you don't want the extra 6-8 inches of gun to beat you around the corner. That said, they hurt like the dickens when you use the Mossberg-supplied grip on the 20 inch Model 500. And on a Remington 870 with a pistol grip stock. After seeing the Knoxx folder stock a few years ago, I serioulsy though about getting one. Now, I may have to.

If you can reduce the punishment to your hand, then I'd definitely go for it. Thanks MB.

[pioneer]

M.B.
Are you also talking about tactical stocks with pistol grip?  If so, I must disagree.  I've experienced much better control in tactical situations using such a stock.

[Sponsor]

[Michael Bane]

Nope...just pistol grips, sans stock...

mb

[DonWorsham]

My home defense shotgun is a Remington 870 with pistol grips. I never see tactical training with this type of weapons system. Is there a reason?

Here's one: http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=11 scroll down the page.
Another: http://www.gunsite.com/courses/shotgun.html
Another: http://www.defense-training.com/courses/shotgun.html
One more: http://www.tdiohio.com/shotgun.htm

[CLP]

Strangely enough, there is a whole school of thought that the pistol-gripped shotgun is inferior to a more traditionally gripped gun. The thinking is that you give up very little by having a stocked gun vs. a gun with only a pistol grip.

That's probably truue, but I tend to be of the school of "whatever works." I'd also like to point out that I've shot 12-gauges fitted with the Knoxx Breachers Grip...

http://www.knoxx.com/products/BreachersGrip.php

...and it's amazing how much the Knoxx grip lowers recoil. You might want to give it a try. Me, I'm always on the verge of filling out the paperwork and ponying up the money for one of these little guys built on an 870:

http://serbu.com/top/superShorty.php

Put a Breachers Grip on it and keep it by my bed!

Michael B, pining for an Ithaca Auto & Burglar

Now that's a must have!

[m25operator]

Technically, with equal length barrels, there is no significant difference in forward of the body length if holding the shotgun in a low ready position, or in the firing position. There is a significant disadvantage to a pistol grip only, when using one hand, such as opening a door with your weakhand, it puts a lot of pressure on the wrist to hold it up in any kind of ready position, and lord help you if you press the trigger in this position. A full or short stocked gun can be pulled back against your ribs and pinched to your side with the strong elbow, yet still in ready to low ready position with a firing grip.

[warhawke]

If you are silly enough (or desperate enough) to go running through the house with your shotgun you should maintain an underarm grip to shorten the length and MAINTAIN CONTROL. Putting a full length in your hands reduces control, both in recoil and in movement. Try this, hold your shotty in both hands (UNLOADED with a block in the chamber, safety first) and have a friend try to take it as you come around a corner, then try it with a full stock in the underarm assault position and see which is better.

P.S. the full stock with pistol grip is pretty bad for the U.A.P. too