Home defense shotgun, pistol grip or buttstock?

We developed a 12ga shotgun slug and Buck shot 'Profeciency Test" for people deployed above the Arctic Circle working in polar bear country. You were required to fire a combination of 50 rounds slugs and buck shot at targets 3yds, 7yds, 15yds, 30yds and 50 yards as you retreated. You had 7 minutes.

We were issued the usual 6 shot pump shotguns with standard stocks - although most all of us carried the stainless Mossberg Mariner with pistol grips. Although everyone in our unit owned 12ga and fired them - none of us had ever fired more than 3 or 4 slugs or buck shot in one day.

The first time through - only half the guys passed. And nobody wanted to do it a second time that same day.

On the second day - the rest of the unit passed - and we had spare ammo. Six of us tried the same course of fire and targets with our pistol grip 12ga. None of us could get half of the 50 rounds off - and - all six of us had swollen useless hands and wrists for almost a week.

It's one thing to use a pistol grip shotgun at the range - when you can casually shoot and take your time. It is all together different when you are trying to thow as much lead as possible out the barrel, combat load and retreat backwards at the same time. It is very, very painful to do this beyond a dozen rounds or so.

Bottom line. If having a pistol grip means you will have your shotgun handy - in your truck, atv, boat - then do it. Just understand your accuracy is going to suck, and, you will not be able to toss out more than 12 rounds without your hand becoming almost useless afterwards. For home, or situations where you might need more than 12rds or accuracy - consider a folding stock - if size is a consideration.

Pistol gips are really not all that functional.

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Home defense shotgun, pistol grip or buttstock?

Should I use a shotgun with a buttstock or pistol grip, because the buttstock shotgun does not look as well designed as the pistol grip ones.

Mossberg 500 persuader for example, or should I use a remington 870?

Shotgun Buttstock

Stocked. Definitely One other very good reason is that a stocked shotgun makes a VERY good battering piece. As in "whups-no time/forgot to load" Ever try to use a pistol gripped one as a pole or club? Aim control is also better as is recoil absorption. Either one Mossberg/Remington will serve mightily. But, you won't feel so bad if you break the Mossberg.

The only advantage of a pistol gripped one is seen in very close quarters. Like a narrow hall. Or bathroom?

Go with a standard stock, but instead of using buckshot in the house use a bird shot load (4-6 should be more than enough). Since you are already shooting within 20 yds, you will want shot that is less prone to travel through sheet rock, thus endangering your family members.

"At "inside the house" ranges, 10 to 12 yards is a long shot, and shot size isn't critical. Even No. 8 birdshot will pattern into a six- to eight-inch circle at these distances. And it'll do plenty of damage, too."

"You do, however, need a buttstock. Pistol-grip stocks that are widely sold turn a decent shotgun into a useless piece of junk. Shotguns are amazingly easy to miss with under the best of circumstances, but cutting off or radically shortening the butt simply removes your ability to point the gun as it was intended to be pointed."

Read more: http://www.gunsandammo.com/content/the-home-defens...

Home defense shotgun!3 words,Remington Marine Magnun.

Get the buttstock model. Perhaps the pistol grip ones look sexier but the extra control you will have with the buttstock model is more than worth passing up a bit of sexieness. Either the Mossberd or Remington with a buttstock will do what you need.

butt stock no question, pistol grip shotguns have too much recoil for effective use and you can't aim with them(yes, you need to aim with a shotgun, especially well at the close ranges experienced in a house or apartment where the spread would be tight), a butt stock allows you more control, increased hit probability and your won't halfway break your wrist when practicing with it with buckshot, yes, the recoil is horrendous.

pistol grip shotguns only exist because they look cool, I swear more then half are immediately returned to the store when the customer realizes how much it hurts to shoot them and the lack of control they have, they're a show off and play thing gun, then people shove them in the safe and never touch them again.

Pistol grips suck, to be blunt.

go with a regular stock, or one that has a pistol grip and shoulder stock. I like the Benelli supernova tactical, i added a tube extension as well.

the only benefit to a pistol grip is to put the gun in a small space, like a lot of motorcycle cops do. they are very hard to use and impossible to aim well.

Pistol grip is a gimmick and a "fad", your better off with a "crowd pleaser" (sawed off) or at least an 18" barrel. You can pay an extra $200 to the feds or whatever and get a 14" barrel and use the buttstock for better aim and save you physical strength in your hands, for whatever happens after you shoot the perp. You might need your strength for "clean up'. Check out the Benelli Supernova and you can have the best of both worlds. http://www.guncity.co.nz/site/images/156254.jpg