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03-15-2008, 11:50 PM
Special thanks to forum members Scarecrow411 and Highmeh for writing this informative review on shotgun stocks!
http://230grain.com/images/articles/shotgun-stock-review/img/colwiggle1if7.gif
There are lots of different stock options out there for a shotgun. What advantages or disadvantages do they offer? How difficult are they to install? We could engage in baseless speculation, but that's not the 230grain.com way; instead, Highmeh and I met at the range to test some stocks out.
We decided on two tests. The first would be a simple, timed, course of fire consisting of one clay each at 15, 10 and 7 yards. We'd run this course of fire three times and average the results. Each string started with the weapon at low ready with the safety engaged. This test would measure how controllable and maneuverable the shotgun was with each stock.
The second test would consist of shooting a variety of loads (trap, 00 buck and slugs) from both a control gun and a gun with the stock being tested installed. The purpose of this test would be to subjectively assess the perceived recoil when using the stock.
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.
Stock Overview
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://230grain.com/images/articles/shotgun-stock-review/img/colbqy5.jpg
This was the first stock we tested, primarily 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://230grain.com/images/articles/shotgun-stock-review/img/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 of the stock is square, which makes for a rough cheekweld. I wrapped the area with paracord to improve the cheekweld, but the paracord 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.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/shotgun-stock-review/img/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 five of 18 clays. So this stock really only has a place when it comes to ballistic locksmithing, or perhaps paternal initmidation.
Have my daughter back by 10pm please:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/shotgun-stock-review/img/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)
This adjustable length stock is the best of the bunch. It features a standard AR15-style sling attachment point and the stock requires a 3/16th hex wrench to install. While the stock's advertised "recoil reducing" features didn't do much for my light slugs or trap shot, it produced a noticeable improvement with Highmeh's 00 Buck.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=My6QOolK6Fw
Speedfeed IV Stock (http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=12704&title=PISTOL%20GRIP%20SHOTGUN%20STOCK)
This is another pistol-gripped stock. The installation is the same as the standard OEM stock, requiring a phillips screwdriver to remove the recoil pad and a large flat-head screwdriver to remove the stock screw:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/shotgun-stock-review/img/sfinstallni6.jpg
Both Highmeh and myself had trouble picking up the front sight when using this stock with a proper cheekweld.
Test Results
Here are the results from the timed course of fire. Again, this test consisted of shooting one clay each at 15 yards, 10 yards, and 7 yards. This was run three times and the results averaged.
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.
Although recoil can be rated objectively in terms of kinetic energy and gun weight, the subjective "feel" of recoil is harder to pin down. Rather than try to use an absolute scale of recoil, we decided to compare the tested stocks to the OEM stock on a relative scale. Recoil would be rated on a scale of 1 to 5, where 3, the middle, represents the OEM stock's perceived recoil, 1 is much worse, and 5 is much better.
For the visually-oriented:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/shotgun-stock-review/img/scale.jpg
To test, we each fired a shell from the control gun, followed immediately by one from the gun with the test stock, then recorded our impressions. Perceived recoil is very subjective, but we both agreed that the 00 buck packed more punch then my Reduced Recoil Slugs. Strangely enough, our perceived recoil with the test stocks matched up with the OEM stock most of the time:
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
Conclusions
Highmeh's conclusions:
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.
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.
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.
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, there's nothing wrong with the OEM stock.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/shotgun-stock-review/img/colwiggle1if7.gif
There are lots of different stock options out there for a shotgun. What advantages or disadvantages do they offer? How difficult are they to install? We could engage in baseless speculation, but that's not the 230grain.com way; instead, Highmeh and I met at the range to test some stocks out.
We decided on two tests. The first would be a simple, timed, course of fire consisting of one clay each at 15, 10 and 7 yards. We'd run this course of fire three times and average the results. Each string started with the weapon at low ready with the safety engaged. This test would measure how controllable and maneuverable the shotgun was with each stock.
The second test would consist of shooting a variety of loads (trap, 00 buck and slugs) from both a control gun and a gun with the stock being tested installed. The purpose of this test would be to subjectively assess the perceived recoil when using the stock.
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.
Stock Overview
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://230grain.com/images/articles/shotgun-stock-review/img/colbqy5.jpg
This was the first stock we tested, primarily 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://230grain.com/images/articles/shotgun-stock-review/img/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 of the stock is square, which makes for a rough cheekweld. I wrapped the area with paracord to improve the cheekweld, but the paracord 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.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/shotgun-stock-review/img/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 five of 18 clays. So this stock really only has a place when it comes to ballistic locksmithing, or perhaps paternal initmidation.
Have my daughter back by 10pm please:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/shotgun-stock-review/img/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)
This adjustable length stock is the best of the bunch. It features a standard AR15-style sling attachment point and the stock requires a 3/16th hex wrench to install. While the stock's advertised "recoil reducing" features didn't do much for my light slugs or trap shot, it produced a noticeable improvement with Highmeh's 00 Buck.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=My6QOolK6Fw
Speedfeed IV Stock (http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=12704&title=PISTOL%20GRIP%20SHOTGUN%20STOCK)
This is another pistol-gripped stock. The installation is the same as the standard OEM stock, requiring a phillips screwdriver to remove the recoil pad and a large flat-head screwdriver to remove the stock screw:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/shotgun-stock-review/img/sfinstallni6.jpg
Both Highmeh and myself had trouble picking up the front sight when using this stock with a proper cheekweld.
Test Results
Here are the results from the timed course of fire. Again, this test consisted of shooting one clay each at 15 yards, 10 yards, and 7 yards. This was run three times and the results averaged.
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.
Although recoil can be rated objectively in terms of kinetic energy and gun weight, the subjective "feel" of recoil is harder to pin down. Rather than try to use an absolute scale of recoil, we decided to compare the tested stocks to the OEM stock on a relative scale. Recoil would be rated on a scale of 1 to 5, where 3, the middle, represents the OEM stock's perceived recoil, 1 is much worse, and 5 is much better.
For the visually-oriented:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/shotgun-stock-review/img/scale.jpg
To test, we each fired a shell from the control gun, followed immediately by one from the gun with the test stock, then recorded our impressions. Perceived recoil is very subjective, but we both agreed that the 00 buck packed more punch then my Reduced Recoil Slugs. Strangely enough, our perceived recoil with the test stocks matched up with the OEM stock most of the time:
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
Conclusions
Highmeh's conclusions:
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.
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.
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.
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, there's nothing wrong with the OEM stock.