Pistol grip shotgun choices

checkmyswag · October 1, 2011, 04:56 PM

What's a good choice for a pistol grip shotgun?

I'm mainly looking at something relatively stock/basic, but which is reliable and durable.

Need something super compact for storage, to pack. Not to look kewl.

g.willikers · October 1, 2011, 05:30 PM

Wouldn't a folding stock be better?
Have you tried shooting a shotgun with only a pistol grip?
If not, try one and betcha' change your mind about wanting one.

zippy13 · October 1, 2011, 05:43 PM

Do you want a pistol grip stock (common sporting style), detached pistol grip (like an M16/AR15) or pistol grip only? They are vastly different.

checkmyswag · October 1, 2011, 06:53 PM

Are there quality folding stocks? That would be best.

Dave McC · October 1, 2011, 07:32 PM

Have you shot a PGO yet? You may want to do so before plunking down your hard earned cash.

Most of the folks who have been into shotguns for a few decades do not have PGO shotguns. There's a hint there.

Search the archives, this has been well covered....

checkmyswag · October 1, 2011, 08:39 PM

For sure understand the limitations. Have shot trap some w 33" barrel. Had a Mossberg 590 that I liked but am now for a very short gun to store easily. Suppose I could take the stock off a regular shotgun to store it?

Coach Z · October 1, 2011, 08:51 PM

Butler creek makes a very sturdy folder for both the mossberg 500 and the Remington 870 which are two of the most proven shotgun designs out there.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

OkieCruffler · October 2, 2011, 09:01 AM

I set up a PGO once on a Mossy maverick. Had a heck of alot of fun with it playing terminator. Got pretty good at firing from the hip with light birdshot. Then I gave it a try with some OO. My wrist gave me trouble for a week. A little background here. My favorite pistol of all time was my .444 Marlin Contender, a close second is my .358 super Bower. I carry and run alot of hot 158gr round thru my 357 snubby. I'm not what one would call "recoil shy". But I wouldn't own a PGO for serious work on a bet.

checkmyswag · October 2, 2011, 09:26 AM

Wow, it's that bad?

No, I've never shot one, so on that recommendation...will look for a folding stock type.

Dave McC · October 2, 2011, 10:08 AM

Good decision.

Whatever folder you get, do run enough rounds through your shotgun to ensure some level of proficiency. Use the lightest loads you can find or make for starters.

Folders are doable, but few are quite as comfortable with heavy loads as we would like them to be...

hogdogs · October 2, 2011, 11:22 AM

If storage were my only concern, I would have a stock, stock bolt, nutdriver (for stock bolt) and a phillips screwdriver for the butt plate/pad all rubber banded or tied with a rag together for storage.

Otherwise, I guess a folder but I really wouldn't like it none...

Brent

Technosavant · October 2, 2011, 04:29 PM

Defensive shotguns (the type with anything other than a traditional stock) usually have a fixed cylinder bore choke. There's some with interchangeable choke barrels, but there's not much point to it on a defensive gun.

**Mike Irwin** · October 2, 2011, 04:48 PM

Pistol grip only stocks are HUGELY overrated. Most people can't shoot them worth a damn, even after fairly extensive practice. Can't tell you how many rounds I've seen go into the ceiling or the floor, not even near the target, at various ranges I've worked/shot at over the years. Usually some early twenties something thinking a PGO stock looks all hot an taktikhul.

And, as others have mentioned, recoil is generally a BEAR on these things unless you know exactly how to hold them to as to use your entire arm to absorb the recoil.

Most people lock their shoulders and elbows, and the wrist and thumb take the entire load.

checkmyswag · October 2, 2011, 08:01 PM

Thanks for the advice. Like I mentioned, never shot one, so glad I asked here.

Definitely not looking for something "cool", I'm a pretty utilitarian guy.

So who makes a good folding stock? Are the wire types, M4 types or the "over the top" types most acceptable?

October 1, 2011, 04:56 PM	#1
checkmyswag Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,328	Pistol grip shotgun choices What's a good choice for a pistol grip shotgun? I'm mainly looking at something relatively stock/basic, but which is reliable and durable. Need something super compact for storage, to pack. Not to look kewl.

October 1, 2011, 05:30 PM	#2
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Wouldn't a folding stock be better? Have you tried shooting a shotgun with only a pistol grip? If not, try one and betcha' change your mind about wanting one. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

October 2, 2011, 09:01 AM	#8
OkieCruffler Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2001 Location: Denison Texas on the banks of Texhoma Posts: 1,556	I set up a PGO once on a Mossy maverick. Had a heck of alot of fun with it playing terminator. Got pretty good at firing from the hip with light birdshot. Then I gave it a try with some OO. My wrist gave me trouble for a week. A little background here. My favorite pistol of all time was my .444 Marlin Contender, a close second is my .358 super Bower. I carry and run alot of hot 158gr round thru my 357 snubby. I'm not what one would call "recoil shy". But I wouldn't own a PGO for serious work on a bet. __________________ John A. Monroe, Never Forgive, Never Forget, Blood Pays Blood

October 2, 2011, 04:48 PM	#13
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	Pistol grip only stocks are HUGELY overrated. Most people can't shoot them worth a damn, even after fairly extensive practice. Can't tell you how many rounds I've seen go into the ceiling or the floor, not even near the target, at various ranges I've worked/shot at over the years. Usually some early twenties something thinking a PGO stock looks all hot an taktikhul. And, as others have mentioned, recoil is generally a BEAR on these things unless you know exactly how to hold them to as to use your entire arm to absorb the recoil. Most people lock their shoulders and elbows, and the wrist and thumb take the entire load. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

October 1, 2011, 05:43 PM	#3
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Do you want a pistol grip stock (common sporting style), detached pistol grip (like an M16/AR15) or pistol grip only? They are vastly different.

October 1, 2011, 06:53 PM	#4
checkmyswag Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,328	Are there quality folding stocks? That would be best.

October 1, 2011, 07:32 PM	#5
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Have you shot a PGO yet? You may want to do so before plunking down your hard earned cash. Most of the folks who have been into shotguns for a few decades do not have PGO shotguns. There's a hint there. Search the archives, this has been well covered....

October 1, 2011, 08:39 PM	#6
checkmyswag Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,328	For sure understand the limitations. Have shot trap some w 33" barrel. Had a Mossberg 590 that I liked but am now for a very short gun to store easily. Suppose I could take the stock off a regular shotgun to store it?

October 1, 2011, 08:51 PM	#7
Coach Z Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2011 Location: RI Posts: 795	Butler creek makes a very sturdy folder for both the mossberg 500 and the Remington 870 which are two of the most proven shotgun designs out there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

October 2, 2011, 09:26 AM	#9
checkmyswag Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,328	Wow, it's that bad? No, I've never shot one, so on that recommendation...will look for a folding stock type.

October 2, 2011, 10:08 AM	#10
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Good decision. Whatever folder you get, do run enough rounds through your shotgun to ensure some level of proficiency. Use the lightest loads you can find or make for starters. Folders are doable, but few are quite as comfortable with heavy loads as we would like them to be...

October 2, 2011, 11:22 AM	#11
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	If storage were my *only* concern, I would have a stock, stock bolt, nutdriver (for stock bolt) and a phillips screwdriver for the butt plate/pad all rubber banded or tied with a rag together for storage. Otherwise, I guess a folder but I really wouldn't like it none... Brent

October 2, 2011, 04:29 PM	#12
Technosavant Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO area Posts: 4,040	Defensive shotguns (the type with anything other than a traditional stock) usually have a fixed cylinder bore choke. There's some with interchangeable choke barrels, but there's not much point to it on a defensive gun.

October 2, 2011, 08:01 PM	#14
checkmyswag Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,328	Thanks for the advice. Like I mentioned, never shot one, so glad I asked here. Definitely not looking for something "cool", I'm a pretty utilitarian guy. So who makes a good folding stock? Are the wire types, M4 types or the "over the top" types most acceptable?