Why no single- and double-barrel AOW shotgun "pistols"?

[cluttonfred]

Thanks to the availability of factory pistol-grip pump shotguns from Mossberg/Maverick and Remington, there are a number of AOW pump shotguns available like the Serbu Super Shorty.

I wonder why no manufacturers are offering single-or double-barrel, break-open shotguns with factory pistol grips? Presumably, something like a pistol-grip coach gun would be almost as useful as a pistol-grip pump gun. Like the mare's leg pistols, the cool factor would be there and it would then be much easier to provide legal "sawed off" shotguns wiht shorter barrels.

What am I missing?

 

[MasterSergeantA]

I doubt you are missing anything. The limiting factor is, as always, the marketability of such items. If a company, Harrington & Richardson for example, wanted to make their single-shot, break-open shotguns with pistol grips (like a Thompson Center Contender) and sell them either as 'normal' shotguns with a barrel length >18" and overall length > 26" or as factory-original AOWs with lengths less than those, they could do so. The question is, how many of them would they sell? Is there a demand for such a firearm? Strictly a marketing decision on their part.

The only benefit I can see to doing so, would be for people in states that allow AOWs, but DO NOT allow SBSs. Otherwise, making a SBS out of a H&R shotgun can be done now. The same is true for double-barreled models.

The tax to 'make' an AOW out of a shotgun with a pistol grip is $200...the same as 'making' the SBS. There is an advantage to the AOW if the firearm is already made as the transfer tax is only $5. So the factory produced guns would have a little more appeal to folks on a budget.

But the "cool factor" might not be enough to sell many of them. And the companies who could do so, might consider that the "sawed off" shotguns might not be appropriate to the images they wish to convey. Who knows? BTW...I have three of the Mare's Legs and they ARE cool.

 

[Quiet]

There are a few double barrel AOWs being made. The market for them is small, which causes the price for them to be quite high.
You can typically get two 2+1 round pump-action AOWs for the same price as one double barrel AOW or one 12gauge semi-auto mag-fed AOW.

AOWs are popular in some states because...
... AOWs are legal and SBSs are illegal (like in WA).
... AOWs are easier to legally obtain than SBSs (like in CA).


OC Armory in California currently has a few double barrel AOWs in stock.
(make) Denny's Guns (model) New Model Auto & Burglar

 

[Sunray]

"...would be almost as useful as a pistol-grip pump gun..." Which is not at all. The most useless thing on Earth is a shotgun with no stock.

 

[MasterSergeantA]

"...would be almost as useful as a pistol-grip pump gun..." Which is not at all. The most useless thing on Earth is a shotgun with no stock.

I would argue that an AK with no stock actually meets that definition better, but only because I had a stockless (PGO) Rem 870 in Iraq as a breaching tool.

If one can own a SBS, it is (IMHO) a better choice because a stock CAN be used...or not as the owner prefers. The AOW can never have one and suffers because of it.

 

[mortablunt]

Shotpistols, because they use shotgun ammunition, are not the best creatures for control.

 

[Geno]

The T/C Encore pistol can be purchased with a shotgun barrel. I don't know though if that would fit what you looking for.

Gene

 

[Hoppe]

I have shot a Mod 500 with a pistole grip I agree not the most accurite way to do so but well with in reasonable even with slugs. When room is limited such as a truck gun it is a reasonable comprimize.

 

[moonpie]

http://milpas.cc/rifles/ZFiles/Manu...un Pistol/410 Single-Shot Shotgun Pistol.html

 

[armoredman]

Anyone who grew up watching Mad Max and The Road Warrior wanted a Mad Maximized shotgun at one time or another.