I’m a big fan of the shotgun as a defensive weapon. When it comes to home defence, there is nothing better for me and my family. I understand why it’s not the best option for everyone, but I do like the benefits the shotgun offers. There have been rumblings here and there regarding the civilian PDW or personal defense weapon concept. As a shotgunner, I wanted to apply that thinking to the old scattergun and develop a Shotgun PDW.
A quick Google search tells me I wasn’t the first to think of this idea. Gabe Suarez has an entire post about it. We are primarily of the same frame of mind, but he advocates for a stockless design, whereas mine takes a stocked route. The Shotgun PDW came to be due to the stock design, which comes from Defender Tactical.
Defender Tactical makes many shotgun products and focuses a lot on Mossberg designs. One of their latest is the Predator Grip and QuickStock combo. This, plus a super short Mossberg, drove my idea forward.
The Civilian PDW
We need to establish what a PDW is, what it does, and why it could be valuable. The term PDW first came up in a military context for NATO and is quite specific to necessitate a special ammo type and select fire capability as a civilian, but that’s not an option, sadly. However, the civilian PDW concept has gathered a little steam.
A civilian PDW is a compact and often concealable weapon offering greater range, control, and better ergonomics than a handgun. It’s usually a large-format pistol with a brace. Think of stuff like the Flux Defense Raider. That’s a PDW. It allows you to shoot further, faster, and straighter.
It’s designed to be carried concealed; typically, the idea is that it’s a stop-gap between a pistol and a rifle. The civilian PDW is aimed at situations where civil unrest occurs, whether long-term or short-term. Why wouldn’t you just stay home with an AR? As Jack Clemons says, you still have to pay rent in the apocalypse.
It might not be a total Mad Max-style situation, but concealment is still necessary. However, it also might be when the police aren’t responding to every call, and you’re on your own. Having just a Glock 43 puts you in a rough condition, so why not have something concealable but more capable as well?
So, is the shotgun PDW a realistic concept?
BLUF – It’s Not Realistic
Bottom line up front: I’m not advocating for the average Joe to carry a short-barreled shotgun. This is more or less a thought experiment of what a shotgun PDW could look like. The tax stamp, the difficulty of obtaining parts, and the legal repercussions of carrying an NFA weapon make this an unrealistic proposition.
The Shotgun PDW is reserved for a time when the law doesn’t care about what weapon you carry, which seems fairly unlikely. So, to be clear, don’t carry sawn-off shotguns and expect not to get in trouble.
The Breakdown Of My Shotgun PDW
My Shotgun PDW started life as a Mossberg 590A1 receiver. I then filed an eForm 1 to officially and legally allow me to create a short-barreled shotgun. From there, I installed a 10.5-inch barrel, a three-round magazine tube with a +1 extension, and the Predator Grip and QuikStock from Defender Tactical.
The Predator grip looks and functions a bit like the original Shockwave grip. It’s the same design, but a little longer and straighter. The real trick to the Predator grip is the ability to fit a small, lightweight, skeletal stock known as the QuikStock. The QuickStok is a quick-attach and mostly quick-detach stock.
It slides into the rear of the Predator grip, transforming your gun from a pistol grip-only shotgun to a stocked shotgun. The stock is super light and short, so it can be stashed in a bag alongside the Shotgun PDW.
I’ve also equipped the weapon with a red dot and a Defender Tactical mini-shell adapter. The gun can typically hold four 2.75-inch shells and five mini shells.
Benefits of the Shotgun PDW
Most current civilian PDWs are pistol-caliber weapons. This means you’re stuck with pistol-caliber ballistics, which essentially suck. The Shotgun PDW gives you long gun power in a very compact package.
A buckshot round for this short gun is much more effective on target than a 9mm or any pistol round. The Shotgun PDW hits hard and has excellent terminal ballistics. Plus, you can swap between slugs and buckshot. Slugs can get through barriers and cover much better than pistol rounds.
Buckshot gives the advantage of multiple projectiles per trigger pull, making it easier to hit a threat where it counts. Hitting moving targets is much easier with a shotgun than a normal PDW. It’s just a factor of projectiles spreading several inches at close range.
Downsides
An uber-short, lightweight shotgun takes a lot of practice to use efficiently. The recoil can be intense, so you have to lean into that classic push/pull technique and provide zero slack. It’s easy for the gun to get away from you if you’re not experienced with shotguns.
It’s also deafening, and muzzle flash can be prominent with slugs. With Federal FliteControl, there isn’t much flash, but cheaper buckshot loads can be more noticeable. We are also limited in capacity. You have to load the gun to keep fighting constantly.
The tax stamp is an issue and might not be legal in your state. The tax stamp and its restrictions are a hassle and make this an unrealistic option under our current laws.
Taking the Shotgun PDW For a Walk
Shooting the Shotgun PDW isn’t as rough as I expected. I’m pretty accustomed to short-barreled shotguns, and with low-recoil ammo, I could place two rounds on two targets in less than one second with just the pistol grip. The Predator grip provides an excellent grip on the gun and doesn’t hurt the wrist.
Using the push/pull technique, the front grip helps control the gun and reduce recoil. Drilling targets with buckshot at close ranges is easy, just like with any other shotgun. Within 20 yards, the Shotgun PDW works quite well with just the Predator pistol grip. If we get a bit further back, we can quickly install the QuickStock.
It slides right into the grip, and you will now have a properly stocked shotgun. This makes it easy to hit threats from 25 to 50 yards. At 50 yards, I consistently hit with slugs and felt confident using the gun defensively.
Beyond 50 Yards
Beyond 50 yards, things got wonky. Typically, I can hit targets at 100 yards with slugs, but the shorter barrel may cause velocity and stability issues. I can hit a man-sized torso, but I’m not getting the accuracy I’d want for defensive use.
For this concept, 50 yards is perfect. In reality, we are likely to be much closer; slugs would be used to eliminate thin cover rather than long-range shots.
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The red dot makes a huge difference in speed and accuracy. Put the dot on the target, pull the trigger, and the target gets a load of buckshot or a slug. The shotgun PDW does a fantastic job of fighting at close range.
Personal Defender Redefined
If there weren’t so many legal restrictions on the Shotgun PDW, I think it would be a very valid concept. It’s a capable, short, and powerful weapon. It would be capable of self-defense and would overcome the pistol’s ballistic issues. It would be incredibly niche for self-defense, but it is incredibly fun at the range.
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