Home defense? Stock or pistol grip

Status
Not open for further replies.

m715

Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2012
Messages
51
So list pros and cons to pistol grip 12ga 20" barrel versus having a stock on your 20 " barrel shotgun for home defense.. lets hear what yall have to say. Both will hold 7 2 3/4 rounds.
 
Stock.

Even if just pinched under your arm and into your ribcage, it offers stability and a consistent fulcrum to point the gun from. It's also possible to hold a shotgun in this position with one hand whilst using the other for something else (including topping off). Which means you can still shoot the gun.

A pistol grip seems like a good option for mobility and maneuverability, but it's actually quite limiting IMO. And not that much shorter than pinching a stock in the armpit.
 
Last edited:
Take 6 soda cans with you next time you go shooting and set 3 of them at ranges you might see in your house. Have a buddy with a stop watch say “go” and start the clock, then stop it when you hit the last one. Do it once with a pistol grip shotgun and again with one with a stock.

For me the stocked one wins every time.

Do it with 3 1/2” buck and unless you have thumbs of steel, the decision will have been made before you even move on to the stock.
 
PGO is good for when you need a compact shotgun to blast a lock off of a door. Last time I checked, locks do not move or fire back.

I like a good heavy stock. A shotgun doesnt need to be compact. It needs a good way to absorb recoil.
 
I registered my sawed off with a pistol grip OAL.
So I have to keep the pistol grip and remember where it is. But I find the full length wood stock works best.
 
Stock, especially with the 20" barrel.

It's amazing, but that extra 1.5" feels like an extra foot.

I have a pistol grip on my 18.5". It's pretty useless, but I need it tiny as possible for camping.
 
Use what your proficient using. I've owned a pgo 500 a few years back. I could hit what I aimed at. Took alot practice more so then using a stock. If you have time,ammo, and range to practice with get a pg and shoot the snot out of it. Currently I have a 590 sitting beside my bed w a stock.
 
ok so everyone seems to like the stock,and I agree.But I have an 870 with a ribbed barrel and pistol grip that I wiretied a laser pointer to .I push the button and hit whatever the laser is on. I am really shocked how many stay with the stock.
 
next question, is fiocchi high velosoty 00 buck ammo reliable? I have never shot it.
 
next question, is fiocchi high velosoty 00 buck ammo reliable? I have never shot it.
Buy some and shoot it. The only way to tell. What works in mine might not work as good in yours. Only one way to find out.
 
Unless you are carrying the shotgun as a tertiary weapon attached to your body armor for ballistic breaching, use a stock. You are supposed to aim these things for the application you are describing. That requires a stock. Police officers are subject matter experts on use of the shotgun for antipersonnel applications. How many cops do you see with pistol grip scatterguns? I've never seen it.
 
Both for me. My HD shotgun is a Beretta 1201FP with a combination butt/pistol grip stock.

View attachment 860978
That is a stocked shotgun. OP was referring to stock vs. Pistol Grip Only. I actually have one that is truly both, I have a John Masen stock on my Ithaca 37; I can take out the stock bolt for the buttstock, and put a shorter one for the PGO. I fired 5 rounds PGO when I got the stock, just for giggles, then put the buttstock on. It has resided beside my bed ever since.
 
About 17 years ago I bought a mossberg 500 with a stock, and I got a "free" pistol grip. I took the shotgun out with the pistol grip installed and shot one box of 2.75" no. 8 dove loads to check my skill. I finished that box and put the stock back on and sold the pistol grip to someone else at the range later that week. PGO shotguns look cool, but are completely impractical for anything other than Hollywood.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top