Poll: Pistol grip or no pistol grip

[Garet Jax]

Title says it all. Is it purely preference or are there considerations that aren't obvious?

 

[E.Shell]

What for?

Assuming you mean an actual pistol grip like a Vindicator, I think a regular buttstock is easier to wield under duress. The stock can be tucked under the firing forearm or in the armpit and easily fired one-handed if necessary. One-handed is tough to do with a pistol grip and such a front-heavy rig. I have a Pachmayr Vindicator set for an 870 in a box someplace that I thought would be wonderful and it wasn't.

If you mean pistol grip vs a straight wrist, I think it's personal preference and the feel is not that different.

 

[md77]

I voted pistol grip, but in fairness don't have a pistol grip on any sporting shotgun, never even considered it on a skeet gun. So I guess my correct response is, it depends.

 

[Bertfish]

What for?

Assuming you mean an actual pistol grip like a Vindicator, I think a regular buttstock is easier to wield under duress. The stock can be tucked under the firing forearm or in the armpit and easily fired one-handed if necessary. One-handed is tough to do with a pistol grip and such a front-heavy rig. I have a Pachmayr Vindicator set for an 870 in a box someplace that I thought would be wonderful and it wasn't.

If you mean pistol grip vs a straight wrist, I think it's personal preference and the feel is not that different.

Is that the one that sort of looks like a revolver grip?

 

[Garet Jax]

What for?

Home defense.

Honestly didn't understand your distinction between a Vindicator and a regular pistol grip. As an example, the M4 is available with a pistol or without one.

 

[River02]

Bought a Benelli M3 w/pistol grip...didn't like it at all. Changed to a traditional stock ASAP-- much better.

 

[AlBeight]

For HD, pistol grip all day. For sporting purposes, standard stock. Although I would say that the standard grip would work well in either scenario, I doubt the pistol grip would work very well on a duck gun or skeet rig. So, for a pick one and live with it....I’d have to say no pistol grip.

 

[E.Shell]

Is that the one that sort of looks like a revolver grip?

Yes.

Home defense.

Honestly didn't understand your distinction between a Vindicator and a regular pistol grip. As an example, the M4 is available with a pistol or without one.

Ahhh, NOW we're going places...

The (Benelli) M4 has a full stock AND an available pistol grip that supplements the stock. As I had mentioned above, the Vindicator IS a regular pistol grip...no stock. That's why I was specific with the device. Your choices in the poll were "either/or" a pistol grip or a stock. I've used a Benelli M2 with a full stock and pistol grip for 3-gun and it was fine. I personally prefer a regular stock.

 

[-Z/28-]

Magpul SGA stock if you're buying a gun that can be fitted with one. (Remington 870, Mossberg 500/590, Beretta 1301) It's the best of both worlds. Steep grip angle akin to a pistol grip, but still a regular stock that short and maneuverable.

 

[Mule]

Magpul SGA is a good way to split the difference. It's a traditional-style stock, with an angled somewhat pistol-style grip, and it also has spacers that let you adjust length of pull in half-inch increments from 12.5" to 14.5"

Shoulders perfectly (for me, anyway), it's super comfortable to hold, and the grip design makes it easy to hold and shoot one-handed, if the need arises.

SGA® Stock – Mossberg® 500/590/590A1

Ambidextrous buttstock for Mossberg 12ga

magpul.com

One area where a pistol-grip puts you at a disadvantage is if you have a gun with a tang-mounted safety, like a Mossberg, as you have to take your thumb off of the grip to work the safety.


Edit...took to long to type, and Z beat me to it. So, "what he said."

 

[erwos]

For me, the preference equation is fairly simple:
Mag-fed = AR-style pistol gripped stock
Tube-fed = straight/traditional stock like the SGA

Preference is purely due to reloads; I'm told there's a difference in recoil management and traditional is better, but I'm skeptical.

 

[alucard0822]

Pistol grip only suck, hard to control and aim. Pretty much only as a range toy or short "non NFA firearm".

Pistol grip with a stock offer a bit better control, but gets in the way of loading, for me it does make it a little more comfortable racking a pump, and it places your elbow lower, so a little easier maneuvering around doorways and barriers indoors.

Straight stock, no pistol grip, is the easiest to swing, aim, and load, especially with twins or quads, it's sleeker and a little easier to carry. For me placing the elbow out helps control and shooting multiple targets faster provided you have enough room to move freely.

I have both, for 3 gun, clays or most things it's straight stocked only. I have taken my PG/recoil reducing stocked 870 pump to a tactical class, and it did well with slower tactical pouches and over/under single loading and top-offs. Using my semi-auto JM 930 in the same class I could shoot multiple targets MUCH faster, and with comp style 2/4 load shell holders it was far easier to keep loaded up, just a little less comfortable, and took a little more room maneuvering around doorways. For home defense, simple answer is either or neither. Both shotgun styles have benefits/issues and comes down to skill/training, but IMO a compact AR is a far better HD weapon, and offers a much better choice than either shotgun style.

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

Full pistol grip shotguns I've tried...actually not very many...all seem to have the same problem...they tend to increase felt recoil due to a higher sight line. At least to me they do. Plus...I think they aesthetically suck...but that takes a back seat to performance.

 

[hodgepodge]

Only shotgun I own:

So I vote for pistol grip.

 

[Pale Ryder]

No pistol grip!
Especially HD. Pistol grip is much easier to disarm if it comes to retention in a struggle.
Hold your remote, phone, etc like your holding a traditional grip, see how much upward rotation is required to lose grip. Then repeat as holding a pisto grip. Upward rotation is way less. IOW’s if someone grabs your shotgun barrel and rotates it upward and back on you you will lose grip on pistol style sooner.

 

[jrumann59]

I bought a shotgun with a pistol grip, it was a 590A1, the ergos made me switch to a magpul stock, pistol grip and 590 with the safety at the top the receiver is bad combination, either take your hand off the pistol grip to disengage/engage the safety or take your support/pump hand of the gun.

 

[Garet Jax]

A little surprised by the poll results. Keep em flowing.

 

[Michigander08]

I just don't want extra parts on a shotgun.

 

[fabsroman]

I have a pistol grip on my M4. SBE is a regular stock. My brother put a pistol grip stock on his SBE and shoots clays, doves, geese, etc. with it.

 

[Sirex]

This weekend I plan to swap the pistol grip stock on my M2 over to a regular style, Comfortech stock. I like the traditional stock a little better on the shotgun, and makes it a tad easier to store in the safe.