[p99guy]

For the most part, even the U.S. Military has stopped using the handguards decades ago,
and loading is done from the shoulder these days(as opposed to turning the shotgun over on its back in the crook of your left arm like they did long ago..about the only time a handguard would come into play for most, or bayonet fighting with a hot shotgun in a trench in France- somewhat unlikely these days)

mostly they just look cool and remind people of the WW1 trench guns..the the very icon of the american fighting shotgun.