Pistol-Gripped Shorty Shotgun League

Brobee

Brobee

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Alberta
Hi Folks!

Back several months ago there was a thread wondering when/if the Mossberg Shockwave would be available in Canada. I talked a bit in that thread about my 590A1 Shockwave build and proposed that perhaps we organize a pistol gripped shorty shotgun league. I've been thinking about it ever since but with work and family, time just seems to be slipping by. So I figured rather than some sort of "official" league, why not a thread that shares some of what goes on whenever we're lucky enough to get out and play with these toys?

So here's my first entry!

Each year for the past several years I've done a shotgun deer hunting YouTube video project. I've been musing a bit about doing my next one with my Mossberg Shockwave, and have started devoting some of my recreation time to figuring out what it's limitations are and more importantly, what are my limitations when using it? I brought it out this weekend and did some patterning and general familiarization exercises, and I brought the camera along so I could film some preparatory material for my hunting video.

Here's some quick fragments from my range session:


I started out by patterning some Remington Managed-Recoil 00 buckshot. It's got 8 pellets, and I can actually shoot it through the shockwave quite comfortably! My targets were set up in 7 yard increments out to 28 yards. At 7, 14, and 21 yards I think the Shockwave and I would be pretty lethal, but at 28 yards I'm challenged both with my accuracy as well as the pattern is approaching the limits for an ethical kill. The short sight radius of the gun makes careful aim difficult, and you can see by my targets that elevation error is a big issue and that at 28 yards I had some lateral issues too. More practice required for me!!

I then set up my skeet field and went a couple rounds with the shockwave. Station 1, 2, 6, & 7...no problem! Station 3,4 & 5? Haha! Let's just say I have a lot of work to do there still. My big breakthrough was at Station 8. Whereas previously it was a lost cause, something clicked this time and I was much more successful. My high skeet score with the shockwave was a 19, low score was a 13 so I've still got a lot of work to do. Wish I had a delay mechanism for my wireless trap controller!

All in all, a fun range session and I can't wait to get out for my next one!

Hope you're all having a great summer, and hope to read about some of your pistol-gripped shorty shotgun adventures here.

Cheers,

Brobee
 
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I had a dual pistol gripped mossberg 400g that I used a lot for small game and skeet. Precieved lead is way more with shorter barrels

I regretfully sold it to a good buddy
I'm thinking of building another
 
I love a PGO shotgun. Totally impractical, and yet they bring me joy. I don't mind the vertical grips, but would love a bird's head...and another 870 to host it.
 
I've got one of the new regulators and a 14" HP9 with a knox breachersgrip.

These are seriously underrated weapons that probably got a bad rap from the old style cruiser grips transmitting all the energy to your wrist. The birds head and breachersgrip makes a world of difference. They are not as fast as a full stocked gun, but they fit into a small tripod bag and are plenty accurate for social distances.

I practice with them regularly and they go everywhere with me in my duffel bag, locked with a combo luggage cable lock I cannot think of a more convenient weapon for Canada that has such restrictive handgun laws.

I will post pics when I get back to base and get photo bucket running again.....
 
diananike said:
I've got one of the new regulators and a 14" HP9 with a knox breachersgrip.

These are seriously underrated weapons that probably got a bad rap from the old style cruiser grips transmitting all the energy to your wrist. The birds head and breachersgrip makes a world of difference. They are not as fast as a full stocked gun, but they fit into a small tripod bag and are plenty accurate for social distances.

I practice with them regularly and they go everywhere with me in my duffel bag, locked with a combo luggage cable lock I cannot think of a more convenient weapon for Canada that has such restrictive handgun laws.

I will post pics when I get back to base and get photo bucket running again.....
Click to expand...

Would love to see/read about how you practice!
 
Cobbled one together on an older 2 3/4" only grey cerakoted 870 Wingmaster receiver. (ain't gonna shoot 3" out of this anyway)

- 14" remington barrel
- XS tritium big dot front sight
- all 3 flex-tab modifications
- Wilson Combat 1 round mag extension
- Vang Comp over sized safety
- S&J follower & spring
- Shockwave Raptor grip. Double sided tape wrapped over with silicone rubber tape & sling stud added
- Slogan Outdoors rubber sling with Brute composite sling swivel
- Hogue rubber forend

Generally shoot regular #4 bk ( NOT reduced recoil).

Although really doesn't need it, might add a Timney trigger kit and Volquartsen extractor.


These SG's lend themselves very well to activities that should be legal in this country ... not that I would know anything about that of course.
 
madashell said:
Cobbled one together on an older 2 3/4" only grey cerakoted 870 Wingmaster receiver. (ain't gonna shoot 3" out of this anyway)

- 14" remington barrel
- XS tritium big dot front sight
- all 3 flex-tab modifications
- Wilson Combat 1 round mag extension
- Vang Comp over sized safety
- S&J follower & spring
- Shockwave Raptor grip. Double sided tape wrapped over with silicone rubber tape & sling stud added
- Slogan Outdoors rubber sling with Brute composite sling swivel
- Hogue rubber forend

Generally shoot regular #4 bk ( NOT reduced recoil).

Although really doesn't need it, might add a Timney trigger kit and Volquartsen extractor.


These SG's lend themselves very well to activities that should be legal in this country ... not that I would know anything about that of course.
Click to expand...

Please let there be pictures. The 4 buck seems to be the classic, though it has seen a bit of a surge in popularity with Gabe Suarez.
 
gwhysow said:
Please let there be pictures. The 4 buck seems to be the classic, though it has seen a bit of a surge in popularity with Gabe Suarez.
Click to expand...

No idea how to post my own pictures on here gwhysow. There's gotta be a headache free way though.

Well, #4 bk makes sense to me. Figured a bit of spread and coverage would be beneficial to the niche applications of this type SG. I see it as being very limited role, but one of the best hammers in those roles.
 
madashell said:
Well, #4 bk makes sense to me. Figured a bit of spread and coverage would be beneficial to the niche applications of this type SG. I see it as being very limited role, but one of the best hammers in those roles.
Click to expand...

I used to be a HUGE #4 buck fanboy, right up until I took it deer hunting for a season. Despite killing three deer and wounding/losing none, my experience was that it does not penetrate anywhere near as deep as OO nor kill as quickly. Made a video episode of the fastest kill (on my Brobee223 YouTube channel), but in the end I think the outcome was highly influenced by luck. I think 00 is a better choice.
 
Brobee said:
I used to be a HUGE #4 buck fanboy, right up until I took it deer hunting for a season. Despite killing three deer and wounding/losing none, my experience was that it does not penetrate anywhere near as deep as OO nor kill as quickly. Made a video episode of the fastest kill (on my Brobee223 YouTube channel), but in the end I think the outcome was highly influenced by luck. I think 00 is a better choice.
Click to expand...

I don't disagree with what you're saying here Brobee. If I were going after deer with it would be using 00 bk as well.
 
#1 buck is as light as I'd go, and then only in standard velocity (1250 fps) guise, not the slower Magnum stuff.

Out to at least 20 yards it appears to give up surprisingly little in individual hitting power and penetration compared to 00.
 
Great vid and shooting too!
I bought a JIC (many years ago) and installed a SW Raptor/Bird's head grip on it from day one. Very comfortable to shoot Hi brass ammo with but takes some practice for decent accuracy out to 25 yrds.
Also, the Raptor grip allows easy thumbing of the safety with the shooting hand vs the traditional PG (on a Moss 500 series)
 
Brobee said:
I used to be a HUGE #4 buck fanboy, right up until I took it deer hunting for a season. Despite killing three deer and wounding/losing none, my experience was that it does not penetrate anywhere near as deep as OO nor kill as quickly. Made a video episode of the fastest kill (on my Brobee223 YouTube channel), but in the end I think the outcome was highly influenced by luck. I think 00 is a better choice.
Click to expand...

I'm with you. #4 might be suitable for hallway distances but I work in the north and I wouldn't want to take a bear out with it.
I think bone would be a big job for shot that light.
I go with 00 reduced recoil, and trap loads for practice.
 
870P said:
#1 buck is as light as I'd go, and then only in standard velocity (1250 fps) guise, not the slower Magnum stuff.

Out to at least 20 yards it appears to give up surprisingly little in individual hitting power and penetration compared to 00.
Click to expand...

The only deer I've ever shot with buckshot was a big doe at 20 yards with 3" Mag #1 buck. She dropped like a stone and didn't move. I've heard that #1 is the best compromise between penetration and number of projectiles per shell.
 
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