I've fired a 12 gauge pistol grip pump. It's a handful. I don't believe I fired reduced recoil loads through one. But for those that have fired a 20 gauge pistol grip pump, is the recoil impulse noticeably different than that of a 12 gauge?

Like one of these guys:

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GarandGuy,

You should try my 870 with a limbsaver.
It's super tamed down compared to how it used to be.

I think he means a Pistol grip only pump, like Mossberg's Shockwave.

ah - that makes more sense.
the shockwaves arent too bad (I have the tac14) - i think the grip angle alleviates some of the pain.

But the ones with the vert grip in the back and no shoulder stock... yeah those can be pretty brutal

quote:

Originally posted by xl_target:
I think he means a Pistol grip only pump, like Mossberg's Shockwave.

The shockwave isn’t what he shows in his example picture.

I don’t like vertical pistol gripped shotguns like the one pictured, though I have not fired a 20 gauge version. But with the invention of the Shockwave and Tac-14 I don’t see any reason to ever own one. The Shockwave grip handles recoil better IMO and with low recoil buck the 12ga is quite manageable.

Yes, I know.
I posted before he edited the post and added the photo.

Well yeah... the 20ga is less.


I've owned a 20ga camper, 12ga 500C PG and a shockwave.
Problem is there was a span of many many years in between shooting all of them so I have no side by side judgment. But the 20 was surely less. But that plastic grip is the painful part. The shockwave type grip does make it more comfortable.

It's 8 less gauges.

While it is less, many 20 gauges also weigh less, like the Mossberg 500s. For recoil sensitive shooters they still find it unpleasant. Adding a limbsaver and low recoil loads (980 fps) made it very manageable however.

Also, I've found everyone's hands are shaped differently and handle recoil differently. I personally like the old TacStar setup with the tommy gun style dual grips front and back. I find that dividing the recoil makes it much more pleasant. I dunno if they're still made, seems like I see the rear grips a lot but not the front. I suppose you could put a grip on a forend rail.

Mossberg makes the Shockwave in 20 gauge. Less recoil than a 12. Pistolgrip sort of amplify recoil vs the Shockwave grip.

I don't have a pistol grip shotty, but I own the Shockwave in 20 gauge and it does have less recoil than the 12 g model.

12 ga. with a pistol grip isn't bad at all IMO, provided you don't put 3" mags through it. That'll make your hand hurt for awhile. Stick with 2 3/4s and it's fine.

I will never buy/fire a 12 Ga pistol grip only shotgun again, unless it's the last resort. The first, and last, time I shot it, I had wrist drop for days.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
I will never buy/fire a 12 Ga pistol grip only shotgun again, unless it's the last resort. The first, and last, time I shot it, I had wrist drop for days.

Thanks for posting this. I have wondered about these since they came out and almost ordered one.Something inside me said this is not a good idea.

Ever watch any of those gun fail mashup videos on YouTube? About 50% of them feature one of these pistol grip type shotguns, or folks trying to fire a shotgun without properly shouldering it. I'll admit to having tried it myself once...only once. I have no desire to ever do so again, much less own one of these things.

quote:

Originally posted by wcb6092:

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
I will never buy/fire a 12 Ga pistol grip only shotgun again, unless it's the last resort. The first, and last, time I shot it, I had wrist drop for days.

Thanks for posting this. I have wondered about these since they came out and almost ordered one.Something inside me said this is not a good idea.

When you say “these” do you mean a shotgun like the OP pictured? Or the Tac-14/Shockwave type? Just to repeat what I said before they are two totally different shooters. I hate traditional vertical pistol grip shotguns but the birds head grip is amazingly easy to shoot.

I have shot an 870 with two different grips. The first was a solid plastic grip. It was awful. We were shooting shells from a bucket of miscellaneous leftovers that my buddy had collected. I accidentally shot a 3” magnum. My hand truly hurt for days.

I later shot one with the Hogue reduced recoil rubberized grip. Bracing it again my stomach, it was no problem at all. It is still my primary HD long gun.

quote:

Originally posted by chongosuerte:
I have shot an 870 with two different grips. The first was a solid plastic grip. It was awful. We were shooting shells from a bucket of miscellaneous leftovers that my buddy had collected. I accidentally shot a 3” magnum. My hand truly hurt for days.

I later shot one with the Hogue reduced recoil rubberized grip. Bracing it again my stomach, it was no problem at all. It is still my primary HD long gun.

Ha ha ha, I remembered doing that after shooting a few rounds unsupported. Really helped. But, by then, the damage to the wrist was already done.

The Marshals had what was called a WP 870; it was essentially the Shockwave, but built on an 870 receiver. The bird's head grip makes a world of difference,

I would go with the 12ga and use low recoil shells.