"Cruiser shotguns"... Opinions?

M

Mokumbear

New member
I have been wondering about cruiser style shotguns and their
suitabilty for home defense.

I have held full size shotguns and the ones I have held at the gun store seem
way too long and heavy for me.

Now, for example, I was looking at this one, or one very similar to it at my
local gun shop this weekend:

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_336/products_id/46368

I also see that there is a 6 shot model with a 18" barrel and an 8 shot model with a 20" barrel?
I would be curious of the pro's/cons of which one would be best for me.

Anyone have any real world experience with this type of shotgun
in 12ga and have some tips to share?

I tend to overload my posts with questions, but please bear with me.
What is the proper firing technique with one of these?
Do you want it resting against your hip or pelvis or just hold it low and hang on?

For a 1st timer, would the recoil be less "punishing" because its not whacking you in
the shoulder, like a traditional shotgun?

This would be my 1st shotgun and I need all the advice I can get! :rolleyes:

Thanks...
 
Stockless pistol-grip shotguns hurt. I don't think anyone would recommend firing from the hip. You'd put it up just as though it had a stock, in the same position. Your hand and wrist will take some punishment. IF I decided that I needed one, I'd probably go with a 20ga to make it somewhat bearable. There's no way around the fact that long guns are heavy (some more than others), but if you learn some proper technique, they're not so bad. I bet you'll get almost no recommendations to go with the "Cruiser" style, though.
 
You're right, I'm the only person who WOULD recommend them, for some situations.


As for the OP, research here and look for old posts on this same question.

Do the same over at The High Road forums.

-- John D.
 
Hmmm....

Well, that is why I am here, to learn.

I am curious what the others have to say.

Someone must be buying them or Mossberg wouldn't make them.
I also knows my local gun shop does not carry models that don't sell.

For what it is worth, the gun shop guy, who seems fairly knowledgeable
specifically said it was to be fired from the hip.

When I raised it up to "sight it", he gave me an immediate "uh, uh".
 
Have you fired a pistol grip only shotgun? If you haven't then I suggest you do because more than likely you will be adding the traditional stock afterwards anyways.
 
Pistol grip

Years ago, a friend of mine and I spent an interesting afternoon putting about 60 rounds of buckshot through a 12 gauge Mossberg Cruiser. I was young, stupid, and probably tougher in those days. I wouldn't do it today.
As I recall, my hand hurt for a couple of days.

That said, we managed. Even from the hip, we were shooting it pretty well at ranges out to 15 yards. What it made up for in precision, it sure gave back in speed. Given in-house ranges, I'd have to assume that I could still connect with one if I had to.

Now...since I'm well past the half-century mark (hopefully wiser) and much more decrepit, I use an 870 with a butt-stock for my HD shotgun. :p

I remember a conversation I once had with my Dad, who was an Air Policeman (Korean War era Air Force Security Police) regarding the pistol grip shotguns. His opinion? "Son, I'd never use one, even if I could hit with it. If I was in my house and a bad guy closed with me faster than I could get on target, I'd butt-stroke him. You can't do that with a pistol grip!" It made a lot of sense to me. From that point on, I went to the full butt stock.
 
get both worlds in one stock, IE a top folder. It can act and a pistol grip no stock, unfold it then you got a pistol grip with a stock cant go wrong. I would say 18" for home defense if your using any type of buck shot. you wanna get the spread out a little and not such a tight pattern IMO. Any mossberg, benelli, or remmy would be the way to go, cant go wrong with proven classics
 
With birdshot it's actually just a whole lot of fun, and easily controlled.

Hip shooting, shoulder level, and you can even fire it one handed without too much trouble.

However, these are target loads and buckshot kicks wayyy more.

Very small, very quick, and if birdshot is your HD load, then great for that purpose. I think a combination of a cruiser shotgun and #6 shot would be a nice HD setup.
 
I have that sg in the 18.5" version with a top folder. Using the folding stock it has some substantial recoil, but in an sd situation I doubt it would be an issue. I haven't been to a range that allows hip firing yet, but judging from the shoulder recoil I don't think I want to try it with just the pistol grip, until I get the specops folder stock which should hopefully eliminate all of the recoil issues in either configuration.

http://www.knoxx.com/NewStyleKnoxx/Products/SpecOps_Folder.html

I went with the 18.5" barrel for the ease of turning in a hallway, not that another 1.5" is a huge difference.

edit: I think it's 18" not 18.5"
 
I have hip fired many times, it does not hurt. The only time i started to feel something was with 3" magnum slugs
 
My friend has that same exact model. Great gun.

However he almost immediately bought a folding recoil absorbing stock for it, which helped tremendously. If it'll be strictly for HD, go ahead. But take it to the range a few times for practice, you'll want something to make it easier on the body parts.
 
Mokumbear:

"For what it is worth, the gun shop guy, who seems fairly knowledgeable
specifically said it was to be fired from the hip.

When I raised it up to "sight it", he gave me an immediate "uh, uh"."



He's wrong. Also he sounds ignorant...probably doesn't know anything about them; just what he's heard. Like most other people.

Do the search here and at THR for earlier posts on this topic.

Merry Christmas,

-- John D.
 
Last edited:
"For what it is worth, the gun shop guy, who seems fairly knowledgeable
specifically said it was to be fired from the hip.

When I raised it up to "sight it", he gave me an immediate "uh, uh"."



He's wrong. Also he sounds ignorant...probably doesn't know anything about them; just what he's heard. Like most other people.

Do the search here and at THR for earlier posts on this topic.

Merry Christmas,

-- John D.
Click to expand...

I have seen mostly young people try to "sight" a PGO shotgun like that and ended up with a broken nose or busted lip etc. If you plan to do alot of shooting with a shotgun I highly recommend getting one with a shoulder stock. If you must have a pistol grip then get one with a shoulder stock like the Speedfeed IV.
 
get both worlds in one stock, IE a top folder. It can act and a pistol grip no stock, unfold it then you got a pistol grip with a stock cant go wrong.
Click to expand...

Yep, or for that matter, a side-folding buttstock gives you 2 versions in one.
 
I can't remember what show it was, but it was about guns and how the Norwegian (or something like that) Special forces used them. Anyway, one of the operatives had a pump-action (maybe a Rem. or mossy) with a top-folding stock, and it was folded as they practiced room clearing drills.

He had it raised to shoulder level and out a fair distance from his body. The way he was holding looked exactly like he had a stock on it, but it actuality it was folded.

If it's good enough for them........

I've actually found this to be the most effective way to shoot it in my own experience.
 
RevolverLover,

They weren't wrong holding it UP like that, they just didn't grasp how to SHOOT like that!

It's NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER shooting it, AIMING it like you would any other shotgun! No broken noses or any other BS will happen. Unless you do it WRONG.

Like I told Mokumbear, look for the older threads here and at THR for god's sake.

Merry Christmas,

-- John D.
 
rugerdude,

Give the man (you) a cigar...you're right on.

Except that *I* personally use TWO pistol grips for MY shorty, no folding stock.

My god, why all the confusion about something so VERY simple.

Merry Christmas,

-- John D.
 
Doing it "wrong"...

That's what I am trying to avoid, "doing it wrong", whether it's the
wrong gun, the wrong ammo, the wrong firing stance, the wrong gun care, etc.

I have been looking at the old posts and everything else I can find on the web.

You have to understand, for someone who is proficient with a semiauto
pistol, the shotgun is a new skill set. I want to do it right.

You can't fault me for erring on the side of caution and doing my homework.

Also, I have been looking at the Mossberg owners manual online and, for me,
it is not the clearest technical writing I have come across.

I think dangerous "power tools" deserve respect and the knowledge to use them safely and
effectively.
 
You said the shotguns you tried felt too big for you.

Have you tried a smaller youth model out? That might fit you well. Mossberg makes them.

I the regular version will be much easier to aim and hit with.
 
the only people i know that use cruisers are gangster-types or somebody who truely needs a cut down gun. I cant reccomend them because they dont look comfortable and i can cycle alot faster from the shoulder then i probably could with a cruiser at the hip. Also even though the shotgun is a point to shoot gun, it just feels aqward with a pistol grip, and no stock. Mossberg bantom 500 youth is a good gun, and you can buy a full sized stock for it and keep the riot barrel on there.
 
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