doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Why do most prefer a straight stock?

I think I have to agree with Lloyd. I really like a straight grip for grouse,.just feels faster all my waterfowl shotguns have pistol.grips.

I'm sitting looking at my wall with eight hammer sxs from from 1850s to 1960s all double triggers. The three earliest ones have straight grips and the other five pistol grips.

In the safe my hunting shotguns are all two trigger pistol grip except for two with straight grips and they are the lightest short barrel fast handling of the bunch. I only have one single trigger left and that is my old Win 101trap gun and a still have it because it is an old friend and I would have a hard time letting it go,.haven't.shot.it.in ten years but.it.feals.good.to.have.it.

All but one of my sxs are double trigger. The one single trigger is a straight grip Francotte 28 gauge.

I have one PG SxS (of about 20). The rest are a mix between the semi pistol and POW styles and straight grips. I prefer the semi pistol style but love the look of a straight stock.

Guns I've had restocked get the semi pistol grip.

grew up on short barrels an pistol grips...

day jes feel right an look right...

but, nuttin wrong wid ah nice long slender straight gripped gon wid 30" barrels needer...

long an lean or petite an sweet...

both are jes fine by me...

but, a single trigger on a sxs?

ugh...

might as well finish the mutation...

an put ejectors an choke tubes on hit...

watts next?

a gas operated auto loader?

shudder at the thought...

I doubt there is any one answer that fits everybody. My dad had a wrist injury in his 20s that kept him from using a straight stock, I never used anything else if it was up to me. Can’t say I can document shooting one style better than the other, but, I sure like a straight stock.
I don’t hunt ducks, no pass shooting in my world, just flushes from close by by grouse or pheasants, I’m guessing that explains the preference in my case better than anything else.

Best,
Ted

Coosa, you are not in the minority at all. I much prefer a relaxed pistol grip with double triggers, too. I know I usually shoot pistol grips better. No question.

As Lloyd said, with heavier loads I have much more control over the gun (think controlling the recoil and getting on the second shot faster). I have a straight gripped 32" AH Fox A grade made in Philly that I dearly wanted to be competitive with in registered sporting clays competition. It didn't happen. The control just wasn't always there for that second bird of a true pair. My hand moves up the grip towards the trigger guard under recoil, and I hate it.

I do shoot my straight gripped Dickinson .410 well, even with 3/4 oz. loads, but there's a big difference between a 3/4 oz. load and a 1 1/4 oz. load, concerning recoil and control.

If all I used a shotgun for was bird hunting where I never needed a quick second shot on flushing birds I'd probably be fine with a straight grip. They are elegant in appearance. But, when it comes to shotgunning I hate missing. So for me, pretty is as pretty does in this matter.

Pistol grip and single trigger is the ''Best'' combo for Me. But I also can shoot a pistol grip and two trigger guns just find.

Dirty Harry

I think it all depends what you are going to use the gun for and what part of the country you are from. Among other things. Guys at my club wouldn't think of shooting a gun with a straight grip stock. Double triggers either. Of course it is a bona fide trap club. We do have a sporting clays course and two skeet ranges, but guys shoot pistol grips and single triggers. I don't think I have seen that many guns with double triggers in the 25 years I have been shooting there. Except for me and one of my 21s at skeet. Or maybe if someone brings their grandpas' LC out for a round of trap. (Yes, I did see that). It was about 3 or 4 months ago there was a nice looking (judging by the pictures) RBL straight grip-double triggers- 20 gauge out there on the bulletin board. It said "Like New!" $2100.00 I hee-hawed around for a couple days before I drove back out there to get the phone number to buy it.....It was gone. I'm still kicking myself about that. I like different combinations for the different shooting events that I shoot in. And different things I do with a gun.

English stocked guns are easier to carry in the field, and they help get your elbow up and out.

All of my doubles are straight stock and splinter except my skeet gun whick is pistol grip/splinter. I prefer the feel of a pistol grip, but the lines of a straight/splinter are just elegant. All are double triggers.

Life is to short to hunt with an ugly gun.