I'm looking to buy some sort of short double barrel or pump action shotgun in the smallest configuration possible (pistol grip) and was wondering what type of carry options are available for these. Ideally it would be carried on my back so I had both arms free, but still easily accessible.
Short shotgun carry options
- Thread starter KDX
- Start date
Having gone through just about every available configuration over the years, I would recommend a short-barreled/full-stock shotgun over a longer-barreled/pistol-grip model. A Dlask 870 conversion or Norinco factory 8.5' barrel with a full stock for a pump or one of the many ~12" barreled O/U or SxS Turkish offerings. A pistol grip pump with an 18" barrel is about as short as you can go and remain NR, but they are not all that practical in application, being hard to aim and easy to punch yourself in the face with if you're not careful. The full stocked alternative however still offers a short OAL but you can shoulder it and therefore steady your aim and let your whole body help absorb the recoil. I wouldn't use one to try to down a duck on the wing at 100 yards, but for up close and personal they fit the bill for me.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
How to carry? Like any other long gun, get a good quick adjust sling like the BFG Vickers or Ferro Slingster and when it’s not in your hands sling it American or African carry over your shoulder. Don’t bother with a scabbard unless it on a horse or a quad, good luck getting it out of a scabbard strapped to your pack if you need it fast.
I tried using a pistol grip on my old 870 with a slug barrel and hitting a five gallon pail at 50 yards was completely uncomfortable and difficult to do, and yes I smacked myself in the beak.
Ended up with a Grizzly 12.5" barrel and adjustable stock. I can easily hit a that pail at 100 yards with slugs and the ghost ring sites. I keep it slung when hiking in the deep woods, been rock solid for many years now, but it is heavy. I would take packing a bit more weight, and know it is tough and able to take field abuse.
A fixed stock is the only way to go in the field, if you want something not for field use and close work, than a pistol grip and #4 shot works to.
Ended up with a Grizzly 12.5" barrel and adjustable stock. I can easily hit a that pail at 100 yards with slugs and the ghost ring sites. I keep it slung when hiking in the deep woods, been rock solid for many years now, but it is heavy. I would take packing a bit more weight, and know it is tough and able to take field abuse.
A fixed stock is the only way to go in the field, if you want something not for field use and close work, than a pistol grip and #4 shot works to.
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Lots of options mentioned by other posters but the fundamental question is what are you carrying it for? Eg. Just in case bear protection, survival or other?
Many of the previous answers would suit well for predator protection/control but if you are looking more at a survival pack gun, a single-shot (or maybe SxS) with .22LR or pistol caliber adaptors may be another approach. Or a M6 scout-style combo.
Agree on bird head grip being better than an unstocked-pistol grip, but both are pretty useless for anything other than for troops breaching doors
Ex Coelis
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Yep. Ithaca M87 with factory 14 inch barrel here. Full stock on the back 14 inch L.O.P.
I have tried shorter stocks at 11.5 and 12.5 inch length of pull. Dismal handling. And feels like the whole thing is going to scoot up into a nostril upon firing recoil.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Agree on bird head grip being better than an unstocked-pistol grip, but both are pretty useless for anything other than for troops breaching doors
Ex Coelis
Might be useless if you don’t actually practice with it, it’s all about the technique. They’re not for the lazy though.
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Agree on bird head grip being better than an unstocked-pistol grip, but both are pretty useless for anything other than for troops breaching doors
Ex Coelis
I practiced with my Tac-14 a little bit .... and for me it is a 50 meter gun with low recoil slugs. And if I load it with my Tri-Ball hand loads .... a bit further ...
I transport mine in a scabbard .... and a simple sling for carrying it ... American style carry most of the time.
Lots of options mentioned by other posters but the fundamental question is what are you carrying it for? Eg. Just in case bear protection, survival or other?
Many of the previous answers would suit well for predator protection/control but if you are looking more at a survival pack gun, a single-shot (or maybe SxS) with .22LR or pistol caliber adaptors may be another approach. Or a M6 scout-style combo.
Agree on bird head grip being better than an unstocked-pistol grip, but both are pretty useless for anything other than for troops breaching doors
Ex Coelis
Bear protection out in the bush if I'm wandering around or metal detecting. Some areas might have cougars or wild boar. I'll likely be looking at a Mossberg.
Tac-14 ... non restricted ... just above the legal minimum total length requirement ...
Very impressive. I have trouble reliably staying on a 8" plate at speed with a 14" low profile XS sight 870 with a stock at that distance. My brain keeps saying "jesus, that front sight looks HUGE" and I feel like I am guessing or hesitating. Too many low shots, generally so I'm guessing I'm having trouble judging and correcting elevation quickly. Waaay more difficult for me than a 18" rifle sighted 870 which seems effortless and automatic.
I'm hoping it is a practise thing and not that I am just defective. Without a stock would be a whole other thing for me: like starting from scratch. I'm going to have to venture out of this god-forsaken city for more practise.
i am in the camp that says put a full stock on your gun. these birds head grip guns are not that much shorter than a full stocked gun and if you are carrying on a sling the extra length is not noticeable. i have played with birds head grips on shotguns and with a weak load they are manageable but i do not like the results with buckshot etc. the gun can and will get away from you . also i can shoot a full stocked gun a whole lot better and with more confidence than a pistol grip regardless of configuration.a twelve to fourteen inch barrel and a full stock is the sweet spot in my opinion.
My comment was more just in good fun to the old soldier.
Having said that, yes, everything is about practice and muscle memory. It is also about ease of repeatability, which in this case (for bear protection), would be firing under stress.
I'm sure there are plenty of weirdos practicing shooting a hunting rifle one-handed and unshouldered as well or simply those who don't believe in a proper cheek weld to see through optics, but that doesn't mean one has to make it harder on oneself.
So for me, a short-barreled, buttstocked shotgun would be appropriate with only a minor penalty in compactness and negligible weight. A TAC-14 or similar is something you give to the young troop with designated breaching duties as you've already given that soldier a bunch of other things to carry incl primary arm, load and now another thing just to blow the hinges off doors.
However, if that's your thing, fill your boots.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Winz, don’t get me wrong. I’d rather a full buttstock on any shotgun, that said the birdshead grip is pretty easy to control. I expected it to be brutal to shoot but after a few #7.5’s some full power 00buck and slugs I was pleasantly surprised, enough so that I used it for swatting grouse this season. I put my 14” rifle sighted barrel on it, having proper sights that I was used to using was key. I didn’t find it any harder to get on target than if I had a full stock, it was a successful test run and I wouldn’t hesitate to use it out to 50yds on animals depending on my load and chokes.
