Shotgun Stock Review

[Scarecrow411]

I'd like to thank Firefox for crashing and eating my first post and Stella Artois for providing the strength to continue on.

There's a lot of different stock options out there for a shotgun. What advantages or disadvantages do they have? What do they take to install? Me and Highmeh met at the range today to test some stocks out.

We decided on two tests. The first would be a simple, timed, course of fire consisting of a clay at 15, 10 and 7 yards. We'd run this CoF three times and record the results. Each string started with the weapon at low ready with the safety engaged. The second test would have us shooting three loads, trap, 00 buck and slugs from both a control gun, and a gun with the test subject installed.

Highmeh's 870 would be our control gun. It has a beautiful wood stock, and a Hi-Viz (http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=24844&title=SHOTGUN%20FIBER%20OPTIC%20SPARK%20II%20SIGHT ) front sight. My 870 would be the test gun, it has a surefire mounted (http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1537&title=TACTICAL%20SHOTGUN%20MOUNT) and an XS Big Dot (http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=24532&title=SHOTGUN%20BIG%20DOT%20TRITIUM%20FRONT%20SIGH T) sight.

Choate Folding Stock (http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=21485&title=REM%20870/MOSSBERG%20500%20&%20600%20SHOTGUN%20FOLDING%20STOCKS)

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/1899/colbqy5.jpg

This was the first stock we tested, mainly because it was already installed on my gun. Installation requires a 7/16th wrench - a socket doesn't have enough clearence to reach the bolt.

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/7371/colinstallvx2.jpg

There are three sling loops on the stock; on the left side, the top and at the base of the pistol grip. The "comb" os the stock is square, which makes for a rough cheekweld. I had done a paracord wrap, but it came loose after the first string of fire. There's also a fair amount of play in the stock:

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3071/colwiggle1if7.gif

Speedfeed Pistol Grip (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/SHT404-19840-2166.html)

Thanks to BunnieLab for providing the comedy option. Installation requires a long 3/16th hex wrench.

Point and click camera my ass:

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/3200/pgoinstallco4.jpg

There's a pre-drilled hole for a sling swivel at the base of the pistol grip. Regardless of what Hollywood shows as the spread of a shotgun, we hit only 5 of 18 clays. So this stock really only has a place when it comes to amatuer (or perhaps professional) locksmithing and initmidation.

Have my daughter back by 10pm please:

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/9766/pgobza3.jpg

http://youtube.com/watch?v=L9xPJBVaO30

Knoxx Specops Stock (http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=22792&title=SPECOPS?%20RECOIL%20REDUCING%20ADJUSTABLE%20 SHOTGUN%20STOCK) ...brought to you by BLACKHAWK!!!11

This adjustable length stock is pretty much the best of the bunch. There's a standard AR15-style sling attachment point, and the stock requires a 3/16th hex wrench to install. While the stock's "recoil reducing" didn't do much for my whimpy slugs or trap shot, it was noticable in Highmehs 00 Buck.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=My6QOolK6Fw

Speedfeed IV Stock

Another pistol-gripped stock. The installation is the same as your standard OEM stock, requiring a phillips tscrewdriver to remove the recoild pad and a large flat-head screwdriver to remove the stock screw:

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/2770/sfinstallni6.jpg

Both Highmeh and myself noticed a little trouble picking up the front sight witha proper cheekweld.

So there's the general overview. How'd they do during the timed CoF?



Highmeh Scarecrow
OEM* 3.38 2.22
Folding 2.64 2.66
PGO** 2.81 2.45
Knoxx 2.41 1.98
SFIV 1.88 2.53

*we fired an additional string at the end of the day and factored that into the average.
**Remember, we hit less then a third of the time - even at 7 yards with this thing.

What about comfort? Well, Highmehs 00 Buck was agreed to pack more punch then my Reduced Recoil Slugs. Strangely enough, most times the tested stock was inline with the OEM stock.



Score
OEM
-Trap 3
-00B 3
-Slug 3
Folding
-Trap 2.5
-00B 1.5
-Slug 2.5
PGO
-Trap 2.5
-00B 1
-Slug 2.5
Knoxx
-Trap 3
-00B 4
-Slug 3
SFIV
-Trap 3.5
-00B 3
-Slug 3


These are the averages "comfort" scores. We each fired a shell from the control gun, and then from the testing gun and recorded our immediate impressions. The rating system used was:

1 - Sucks!
2 - Just a little worse then the OEM stock.
3 - No different from the OEM stock.
4 - Just a little better then the OEM stock.
5 - Awesome!

Here's the data - what conclusions can be drawn from it? Also, Highmeh, anything additional to add?

[highmeh]

Gun Science is fun as all hell.

Scarecrow, great job on the write up; not much for me to add. I will re-enforce a few of your points though:

1) The Speed Feed stock was difficult to get a cheek weld. When I had a proper cheek weld, I couldn't see the front sight. When I could see the front sight, I didn't have a proper cheek weld.

2) The Knoxx SpecOps is really heaven in HSLD-situations. While it gave no noticeable benefit with Trap/Skeet shot, it turned the normally punishing 00-Buckshot recoil to a purring kitten. I could shoot 00 Buck with the Knoxx all day without a problem.

3) Pistol grips are all but worthless unless you're blowing doors off their hinges or starring in a George A. Romero (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001681/) flick.

Final Thoughts:
- If i were in a tactical situation that required speed and mobility in close quarters, I'd have a Knoxx so fast my head would spin,
- For all other applications, nothing is wrong with the OEM stock.

A quick visual of our grading scale, to help you understand what these numbers mean:
http://thefiringrange.net/home/highmeh/.jordana/files/scale.jpg

[infrared35]

Speedfeed pistol grip army on scene!

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j139/infrared35/870_loudblanket.jpg

I agree that it's not very practical, but when you need to make the shotgun functional in as compact a space as possible, the Speedfeed pistol grip is probably the most comfortable option.



DIY option? Cut down a factory stock. Too short to be fired from the shoulder still, so not much point other than saving money.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j139/infrared35/870_badstock.jpg



ATI universal pistol grip stock.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j139/infrared35/870_early.jpg

Not great. Not very solid - it's made up of what seems like a dozen different pieces that you have to fit together a certain way, and unless you use some kind of thread locker the thing comes loose during shooting.



Speedfeed IV-S:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j139/infrared35/tdi/870stock.jpg

This one works great for me because the shotguns at work have the same stock. The shortened length of pull on the S model is perfect for me, and though the contour of the pistol grip was a little weird at first I got used to it. The stock is very solid and as a bonus it looks cool as hell.



Knoxx SpecOps stock:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j139/infrared35/knoxxstock.jpg

A very comfortable stock and a very promising design, but I decided not to keep it since almost everything I put through the shotgun is a reduced recoil load and the design differs so much from the guns at work.



Unfortunately I can't provide an accurate comparative rating for each since these stocks plus the OEM stock were on my 870 over the course of... 17 years now? But I will say that if there were no outside factors, I'd go with the SpecOps stock. The IV-S is a very close second.

[Pitch]

Knoxx SpecOps stock:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j139/infrared35/knoxxstock.jpg

A very comfortable stock and a very promising design, but I decided not to keep it since almost everything I put through the shotgun is a reduced recoil load and the design differs so much from the guns at work.
What about the Knoxx CompStock? Most of the recoil reduction inside of a more traditional stock shape.

[Al Thompson]

Be careful if you combine a Knoxx stock and a Surefire forend. The stock lets the shotgun move a bit which then lets the forend come back and smack the be-jebbers out of your support hand. With a less heavy (OEM style) forend, the stock works very well.

Great write up by the way! :thanx: