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The Stock Grip Options for Shotguns

I was asked some weeks ago to do a post on the various stock configuration options that are offered when we make a gun. There are essentially 5 different named options, all of which can be adapted to suit an individual for; length of hand, position of comb, angle of hand, thickness of grip etc.

Confusion for most people comes with the difference between the Prince of Wales and Woodward type grips, these are both very similar with the difference being the angle of the pistol grip cap, a parallel finish on the Woodward and angled on the Prince of Wales.

There are no particular rules as far as choosing what grip works best, I think it is a matter of what works best for each individual. For a side by side shotgun the straight hand and either POW or Woodward grips look best and people choosing a single trigger will often opt for POW.Semi or Woodward style as hand position remains static. The full pistol grip is normally only seem on Over Under guns but occasionally I have seen them on live pigeon side by sides.

Straight Hand Grip

Prince of Wales Grip

Woodward Grip

Semi Pistol or Rounded Grip

Full Pistol Grip

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Comments

11 comments

NM

Neil McVeighon November 04, 2025

Neil McVeigh on July 19, 2016 at 1:02 pm

Simon thanks very much for the clarification.The pictures illustrate perfectly the various “grips”.Thanks also to your loyal assistant who I believe assisted you with this post.
If he could only find me a WR 16 shotgun with either a POW or Woodward grip I would be most happy!