Pistol Grip Shotguns: Function or Fantasy?

[manbearpig]

let me start out by saying this isnt a typical Fudd thread.

compact PGO shotguns (pistol grip only) have proven military/LEO applications as breaching weapons, but I am interested in hearing any constructive arguments for or against pistol grip shotguns for typical civilian applications such as home defense, wildlife defense, trunk guns, etc.

there are plenty of threads showing off PGO shotguns in this forum - usually accompanied by brief Fudd-ish comments on them - but its been awhile since there has been a civil discussion on their merits (or lack thereof).

so, lets hear it. do you think PGO shotguns are functional, or fantasy?

 

[canucklehead]

It makes the gun shorter. That's about it for the benefit category.

I bought one a tried it once. It's ridiculous. Sure it's fun for hip-shoot blasting of clays/targets, but for anything else, it's next to useless. Breeching, yes, but no civvie is doing that anyway.

Better bet is to get a 12.5" or 14" 870, and put a collapsing or folding stock on it. Still plenty short, but the full stock allows it to be useful in the field.

For instance - bear defence. Do you REALLY want to have next to zero accuracy when a big boar is charging you? You'd need to wait until he's mauling you until you shoot to get a round in the boiler room. Follow up shots? Forget about it.

Just my opinion only - I'm no fudd, I've just tried the pistol grip and found it to be useless for my needs.

 

[Dacton]

I bought one cause it looked awesome, and thats all its good for lol, looking awesome

 

[sunray]

They're the most useless thing on Earth. You have zero control when actually shooting it. Cop's break doors down with a great big steel bar with handles. Not any kind of firearm.

 

[sherlockbonez]

I've shot a few, it's ok for bear defense IMO. You don't really have a case unless you should it within 10 yds or so.

No recoil problem for me with bucks or slugs as long as I don't go overboard and only shoot a few.

Personally I don't own a PG shotgun tho, I just use my hp9.

 

[Tan]

Ammo is too expensive to "Rambo" it at water jugs with poor performance and life is too precious to defend oneself without properly aiming!

However, with the proper breaching attachment and a short barrel, I have no doubt it's a useful tool for a specific purpose. As is the battering ram, cutting torch and C4. None of which I'd want to grab for combat, camping or crooks!

 

[mp5k]

I prefer a folding stock, Best of both worlds!

 

[Eric_911]

It has a place in certain circles, but has a very limited role IMHO.

You have to consider... If you have a PGO shotgun as a utilitarian "truck gun", and should you encounter a situation when you actually need the shotgun, will the PGO actually be an asset or a liability versus a full stock?

I think "Full stock, short barrel" beats "PGO with longer barrel". With "Full stock, short barrel" you can actually shoulder and fire the firearm with some accuracy at moderately longer distances, while it takes just as much room in the trunk as a PGO SG with 18" bbl.

The only benefit I can see for PGO is greater mag capacity than "Full stock, short barrel".

But if folks want to slap one on their shotgun, who am I to judge?

 

[Eric_911]

I prefer a folding stock, Best of both worlds!

A "folding stock" isint a "PGO" !!! .

I agree though, if you absolutely need the compactness of a PGO, a folder is definately the way to go.

 

[Gatehouse]

I'd rather have a short "youth" stock made by Hogue than a PG.

That being siad, you CAN train yourself to shoot a PG accurately enough at bear defense ranges. Hold the shotgun at eye level, straight arm on the slide, pistol grip held liek a pistol...You can now aim down the barrel and not smash yourself in the face.

For home defense (range is typically a few feet) I don't' see why they wouldn't' work well as you will be using shot and holding at waist level.

They aren't useless, just need to practice with it...However, a regular stock is a better tool, no question.

 

[manbearpig]

here are two of the shortest non-restricted options:

approx ~27" for either.
i put a PG stock and an 18" 870P barrel on my Wingmaster to compare it to the 8.5" Grizzly. a Hogue short LOP stock would cut another 1/2" or so from the Grizzly, it currently has a shortened Speedfeed II.

if i had a scale i would weigh them. but just by feel, they seem roughly the same weight (sans flashlight) empty -- but obviously the one with the mag extension would be significantly heavier when fully loaded.

 

[1300_stainless]

I've shot both, I know people who have shot both. You can get OK at shooting short range with am PGO and some practice. My first shotgun (and first gun in general) was a PGO shotgun. I shot it for a long time and it was a blast, but I found having any sort of accuracy at a distance or moving target was difficult. Try too hard to take aim and you will end up with the rookie busted lip experiance as well lol.

After experiancing both IMHO a stock is the way to go. It makes things much easier, and with todays short shotgun options you can still have a stock and keep your OAL to a minimum.

PGO guns have their place, they look "bad ass" and are a ton of fun. Sometimes thats enough. However if you need the shotgun to be practical in a few aplications my vote goes to the stock.

 

[7.62mm]

If you need it to actually hit something, like say your life depended on it, it needs to have a stock!

For S's and G's, and all but the most specialized tasks, breaching etc. Pistol Grip

I think those short barrels can be a bit of a detriment as well. The longer the barrel, the more the shooter will be able to control the recoil because of the added weight, and swing the shotgun smoother. Short barrels tend to be too light, and you actually end up swinging though a target, or over compensate for recoil. YMMV!

 

[Claybuster]

Buy one and try one. They aren't expensive and you can find out for yourself.

If it works for you then keep it. If not sell it to the next victim.

 

[ipscgraz]

Set out 20 ballons in the trees spread over 50 yards.

Engage the targets as you walk through the home-made field course. Re-engage all missed targets until they are all hit. Keep track of the time and the number of missed targets, using a SG with a solid stock.

Repeat with a PGO. Keep track of the time and the number of missed targets. Plus keep track of the times you have to go back to the truck for more ammo.

 

[t-star]

I prefer a folding stock, Best of both worlds!

that what i got as well- the pistol grip is sitting in my bottom desk drawer- and i STILL HAVE MY TEETH

 

[Northman999]

Home defense, maybe, as ranges would be under 30' and you would be using buckshot.

For everything else, I'd have to call these things window dressing for mall ninjas.

 

[Greenhorse six]

Something to be carried lots and hopfully never needed, kind of like a big bear banger.

it does have a place, just very limited,very very limited. I sometime throw a pistol grip on one of my 590s ,from time to time ,when I want something really compact, for a camp or truck gun, when space is an issue, and only for that reason. it takes it down from a 40" to a 30". something to have just in case.

 

[Hawes]

It seems that most people who are serious about shotgunning all have experimented with a pistol grip, and almost all have switched back to a full stock. The first couple of shots are fun though.....

 

[supernova]

I've got both and love both. Maverick 88 PGO is plenty accurate within 50 yds with bead sight, but Benelli Supernova Tactical (my namesake) with steadygrip stock and GRS... whole nother level of accuracy, but the 88 fits on the quad, and I dont get mad when I scratch it