English or Prince of Wales stock?

Grouser

Grouser

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Fredericton, NB
I know this has been done before but .....
I am by some quirk of nature a lover of 16 gauge SxS shotguns and collect them vigorously. Recently I have the urge to acquire a good quality 20 gauge SxS -- why, I have no Idea but want one just the same. The gun I'm looking at (on line) is available in both English and Prince of Wales with a 1.5" drop at comb and 2.5" at heel with a 14.5 LOP (should fit me well). Any of my guns with these measurements are my best shooters,
Now, all of my guns are pistol or "Prince of Wales" grips. I like the lines of a English stocked SxS but have little experience with them.
Any comments on the merits of each would be much appreciated.
Thanks, John
 
I believe its 100% a personal preference. Makes no difference in overall feel and/or handling. The straight grip has an edge, albeit a little bit, when one is making incoming shots overhead (for example -driven bird scenario).

In my view, an English stock (thin wristed) on a SxS game gun looks so much more, er, "immaculate"......but only when that is also equipped with DTs and a splinter forend.
 
The theory on straight hand stocks is that it keeps both hands closer to the plain of the bores, thus enhancing instinctive shooting and also to make getting at the back trigger easier by just sliding the hand back a wee bit. Like all theories, you have those who believe it, those who don't and those who just don't care. It's interesting to note that the straight stock was so prevalent across the pond that it's often called the English grip, but the prevalence of pow's or pistols on this side of the pond hasn't seemed to put American and Canadian shooters at all that much of a disadvantage. Having said all that, I much prefer the straight stock, but if a shotgun I liked didn't have one, I'd still buy it, if it fit otherwise.
 
The theory is as described by vega. Count me in as one who subscribes to said theories.

I prefer straight , or English, stocks for double-triggered field guns. I like them for the alignment of the hands, the easier access to the second trigger, and because I tend to keep my elbow up when shooting a straight stock. This serves me well when mounting and pivoting for a snap shot. Prince of Wales grips are a close second.

A full pistol grip, IMO, belongs on a waterfowler or a target gun. In most cases, these are equipped with a single trigger.
 
Grouser said:
I know this has been done before but .....
I am by some quirk of nature a lover of 16 gauge SxS shotguns and collect them vigorously. Recently I have the urge to acquire a good quality 20 gauge SxS -- why, I have no Idea but want one just the same. The gun I'm looking at (on line) is available in both English and Prince of Wales with a 1.5" drop at comb and 2.5" at heel with a 14.5 LOP (should fit me well). Any of my guns with these measurements are my best shooters,
Now, all of my guns are pistol or "Prince of Wales" grips. I like the lines of a English stocked SxS but have little experience with them.
Any comments on the merits of each would be much appreciated.
Thanks, John
Click to expand...

Hi John,
I too have been looking for a 20 ga (2/34") SXS in English or Prince of Wales stock. can I ask you from where did you found yours & what manufacturer??
Thanks and have a good day
P
 
A straight grip looks and feels better to me on a light double barrel with double triggers. It really is personal preference, but those who obsess over such things do have some well thought out reasons why.
The other factor seldom talked about is that cast off is much more important for proper gun fit when combined with a straight grip, because you can't use the shape of the grip to torque the gun over into your face like you can with a curved grip. I can shoot shotguns with a pistol grip and no cast, but I like about 1/4" cast off with straight gripped guns.
 
For field shooting I like the straight grip because it which makes instinctive shooting easier. I also prefer the straight grip because it I find it easier to carry in the field with the barrels pointed skyward. The only challenge with the straight grip is a more of a tendency to use the back hand to raise the gun to the shoulder. It helps to practice your gun mounts a few times if switching from a pistol grip.
 
I have had two guns with straight Grips, I found that unless they have longer barrels for a double say 26in+ that they are "pokey". I shoot them well upclose but after 35 yards or so I become miserable, I prefer a pistol grip on a Serious work gun but when I'm wading through bush for Ruffies A straight grip is nice.
 
Thank you all for your responses! I'm going for the single trigger with the straight stock -- I have no problem with double triggers other than I am small handed and the double trigger guards beat the hell out of my middle finger. I've tried bumpers and adjusting my hand placement and so far my most success is to reload low pressure low recoil loads.
Cheers, John
 
I don't see a problem with single trigger unless one has a constant need for instant choke selection - particularly when confronted frequently with far flushing birds or in scenarios where one always has a number of birds rising up simultaneously and hence a need to shoot the farthest one first.

The conditions in your Province may vary. Frankly, in ON, I've rarely come across such scenarios. As such, my Upland guns are all choked IC/Sk despite having DTs.
 
Ahsan Ahmed said:
I don't see a problem with single trigger unless one has a constant need for instant choke selection - particularly when confronted frequently with far flushing birds or in scenarios where one always has a number of birds rising up simultaneously and hence a need to shoot the farthest one first.

The conditions in your Province may vary. Frankly, in ON, I've rarely come across such scenarios. As such, my Upland guns are all choked IC/Sk despite having DTs.
Click to expand...

I very seldom if not ever attempt to use a barrel selector -- here we are hunting grouse or woodcock and preserve pheasants over pointing dogs. I choke all of my fixes choked guns skeet 1 and skeet 2 (which is light modified). In all likelyhood, the new gun being IC/MOD, depending on patterning results mat end up as skeet 1 & 2.
Cheers, John
 
Grouser said:
I very seldom if not ever attempt to use a barrel selector -- here we are hunting grouse or woodcock and preserve pheasants over pointing dogs. I choke all of my fixes choked guns skeet 1 and skeet 2 (which is light modified). In all likelyhood, the new gun being IC/MOD, depending on patterning results mat end up as skeet 1 & 2.
Cheers, John
Click to expand...

I was just going to suggest open chokes, they maximize the quickness of the straight grip.

I agree 100% on Skeet 1 and 2 for Upland hunting, I only use a modified choke now for windy days and wild pheasants.
 
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