So those new pistol grip 12 ga. firearms (which, technically, are not shotguns) are kind of the rage these days. I first became aware of them when I saw one on Gunbroker. A little later, I saw that Mossberg was going to introduce them. And then finally I got to shoot one. My ardor was cooled a bit after shooting one.
Unless your plans include spending a lot of time in hallways and elevators, it seems that a shoulder stock would be a better option. Really, a ‘wrist brace’ on one of these 14″ wonders would be the way to go. But, surely at the usual 7-yard distance the advantage of a stock versus stockless shotgun isn’t that great right?
Well, Gun Jesus explores that with some really interesting results:
TL;DR is that unless you’re someone who practices a lot with your pistol-grip-only shotgun, you are going to get better (and faster) results with a stocked gun.
Personally, I keep an 18″ 870 laying around for repelling boarders, but thats only because I don’t want the paperwork hassle of a 14″ or 16″ barreled gun. If barrel length legalities weren’t a thing, a 14″ stocked gun would be my first choice for operating in the confines of my humble abode.
This isnt to say that there is not a situation where something like the Shockwave would be exactly what the doctor ordered. But nine times out of ten, you’d probably be better served with the stocked gun.
This mean I won’t get a Shockwave or two? Nope. Because I love ‘rulebeater’ stuff. And, like wrist braces, I suspect there’ll come a time in the not too far future where ATF will get serious and tinker with their regulations and rulings. (“They can’t make laws! They can only enforce them!” is what I can already hear people typing in the comments. Dude, they’ve already proven they can classify/declassify/reclassify whatever they want. No one wants to be the test case.)
So…the 18″ full-stocked gun remains on night duty. But, an interesting video to watch for those who think about the efficacy of new goodies like the Shockwave.
Hacksaw blades are still legal right? Plenty of cheap 12ga second-hand shotguns to be had. Stevens, H&R, Weatherby, even Mossbergs can be found <$200. Few of these with a round file and hacksaw blades in deep storage perfect for the zombie invasion. I don’t care much for those stubby pistol grips.
I’m sure you are aware that Remington offers the Tac-14 with a wrist brace. I’d like to have some of that. Since I bought a KSG, I can’t (won’t?) justify the Remington.
Im holding out for the 1100 version.
Not a 1100 but… https://www.remington.com/other-products/v3-tac-13
I’ve fired a Mossberg Cruiser with an 18″ barrel – it is a challenge to hit a target 10 yards away with it! I’m with you – I’d rather a stocked weapon.
As far as 14″ goes – does the 4″ shorter barrel really make much of a difference? I don’t think it is worth the hassle (or expense). I often see used Mossberg 500s around here for $150 to $200; I’d rather go for one of them, or a pistol.
Im not sure what you mean by ‘make a difference’. Make a difference in what? Price? Handling? Terminal Ballistics? Cool looks?
On its face, it seems likely that a 14″ barrel would handle better indoors than a 18″ barrel.
I’m thinking about the overall length of the weapon and handling where the 4 ” change in barrel length is significant. To me, if you are in a place where it matters, you are too close to your opponent – as Tamara Keel likes to say, at that point you don’t have gun; y’all have a gun.
P.S. I’m in one of several states where I can’t buy these (yet) since they are assumed to be shotguns and therefore subject to an 18 inch minimum barrel length, even though federally they are NOT shotguns.
I’ve shot both the Tac14 and the Mossy 590 shockwave, both were interesting and recoil was pretty mild once you fire it properly – Clint Smith did a excellent video on how to shoot them. The traditional pistol grip vs the birdshead grip makes a huge difference in the recoil. I’d have to go with the Mossberg for three reasons. QC of Remington lately is just garbage, the safety location is easier to engage and the addition of the front strap on the mossy is a must to keep the support hand from becoming hamburger. I did see that Charles Dailey is making their version of the little ‘other firearm’ with a couple new features. Will I add one to the locker? Probably not especially since they’re in a really grey area with ownership in my state.
I have an 80’s Mossberg Camper model, the factory 20 guage pistol gripped pump sold back then. Not fun to shoot even as a 20. The OP is correct that it takes some (and by some we mean a lot) practice to really become proficient with it. Where these guns DO excel at is being handy.
A lot of my use of this is night time camp security. I live in the desert southwest and visitors from foreign lands are definite posibilities. A handgun and shotgun (night ranges are much shorter) and the pistol gripped shotgun can be easily slung and kept on a person.
A slung long arm WILL be left at some point. Whether by laziness or having both arms carrying materials, it will happen.
For me, its more of a readiness item. But shooting it at targets – not so much fun.
My 2 cents.
I always liked Ian’s videos. If you are going to use a 12G shotgun for home defense this is what you want.
https://dlaskarms.com/collections/870-shorty/products/remington-870-shorty
I’m sorry to say it, but the folks at Dlask don’t ship to the USA.
Man, the comments on the linked article are funny.
I guess if you live in a state where a pistol “permit” requires a kidney donation and NFA items are a no-no, these might have a use case. I got to shoot one this summer. I’d recommend a laser as aiming without a stock is a new challenge.
I am one of those people who just have a thing for fighting shotguns. Built my first one on my 870 that came with a deer slayer barrel. In those days you couldn’t walk into a store and buy one. Unless you came across an Ithica cop gun that was traded in they weren’t out there. Got my mag extension from Garth Choate. Only place to get those and the sling base as well. That was forty years ago. Still have it and when I stopped hunting waterfowl my Wingmaster Magnum has undergone the same transformation. Recently I picked up two RAM line polymer stock sets and now both wear nice stocks that lighten the guns and fit and point better. An yes I want to get my MIT’s on one of these new short shotguns. I can see many advantages for someone in the personal protection industry. Especially when used in an automobile and the tight confines. Anything takes time to learn to use properly. The current age of fighting shotguns has so many great choices. It’s really never been better. Even some of the stuff that will accommodate the 3.5 super Magnum. They aren’t fun to shoot but if it’s life or death it’s better hurt than the alternative.
The British did extensive testing on shotguns and their ammo. Maybe a hundred years ago? One of their more important conclusions was to not drive the shot supersonic. Which is what most Magnum loads are all about. IIRC, what they found was poor range and accuracy when round balls are moving that fast, and accuracy/pattern suffers greatly when they pass thru the trans-sonic region.
I move around too much to go for anything in the questionable category, both in terms of use (leads to much to pack up and haul around) and legality.
Unless you’re shooting doves, stick with a rifle for dealing with unwanted visitors. An SBR’d or braced-pistol .300 BLK AR will do everything a shotgun can, with less recoil. better accuracy and better ergonomics.
There’s a reason even gun-banning shit-holes like the UK still allow shotguns: they are second-rate weapons.
I still think this is a setup by the atf guys like the bump stocks and ak pistols. you know, give the yoyos enough rope to hang themselves. maybe the over-reaction to the first mass slaying with one of these will be the straw that breaks the gun lover’s backs sort of ploy. and they look like they were just made for thugs to boot. who will be able to defend them when the grabbers hold these type guns up to ridicule. home defense wise you just can’t beat a handgun. I’ve had training , yet an ex-con neighbor that trains leos now can snatch a shotgun out of my hands every time even when I know he’s going to try. they train each other in prison just for taking a shotgun away and using it on you.
I’m curious about how you are holding that shotgun when he takes it away from you.
Almost everyone carries a shotgun with the muzzle up. Hunting and shooting games and square range training reinforce this habit. It needs to be carried muzzle down for serious social purposes. Much more difficult for a grabber to keep you from shooting some part of him.
I’m not a big shotgun for home D type. For any funhouse shooting episodes I have a dedicated .40 pistol and a .45 carbine with appropriate “enhancements”. The GF on the other hand likes shotguns but she’s very petite so I’ve outfitted her with an 870 20 gauge with a magazine extension (she says she’d rather use her machete though… something about “issues”). For Christmas she’s getting a AR shockwave braced pistol with a 10.5 barrel on it and all the trimmings.
She’s a pretty decent shot and I think this will do well in that big old house of hers. PLUS she’s gonna look GREAT blasting away in a bikini and heels in our shoothouse! OOOhhhhh…… wait… Ain’t gonna happen… told me to stuff it where the sun don’t shine when I mentioned that – something about not getting burn marks on exposed parts…
Well, maybe just the bikini top…..
Best Regards!