Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Another straight vs. pistol grip shotgun thread

This has been a recurring thread here. I know MD posited that the reason Americans are fond of the pistol grip because we're a nation of riflemen. Thus the fondness for pistol grip stocks.

This is an intuitive explanation to us riflemen, however almost all American rifles had straight grips until the 20th Century.

Turns out there may be another answer. This was posted on the doublegunshop.com forums, and may FINALLY be the real explanation. http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=222225#Post222225

Also more info can be had from Yardleys site.

http://www.positiveshooting.com/index.html

If you shoot prone or with your elbow low a pistol grip fits.
If you shoot with your elbow high then a straight grip fits.
Make a fist and hold it like you are shooting. Move your
elbow up and down and see what happens. Most "old timers" shot
offhand.

Pistol grips lower the hand in relation to the bore line ... this suits U/O guns with their deeper forearms ... that is if you value both hands in line which is a distinct advantage when shooting instinctively. The straight grip raises the hand in relation to the bore line, hence you saw them on SxS guns with splinter forends.
Cheers...
Con