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A shotgun is one of the most versatile firearms you can own, as each gauge can serve a lot of different purposes. Some of them, such as 12 gauge shotguns, can work as everything from hunting guns to home defense, target shooting, and shooting competition firearms without requiring any modifications. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t upgrade and specialize a shotgun, even though they’re often more barebones than pistols and rifles. And, you don’t even need a gunsmith to make some huge changes to your favorite shotgun; all you need is the right shotgun parts and some elbow grease, and you can turn a factory model into one that looks like it should be its own advertisement! If you’re curious about taking your shotgun to the next level, here are some of the best and easiest ways to upgrade it.
Swap the Stock & Recoil Pads
Most shotguns come with a stock, and the factory model can be useful, if lacking certain features. For example, many of the factory stocks are bare on the end with no extra padding or material to cushion the recoil for each shot. Thankfully, replacing both the shotgun stock and adding a recoil pad are very easy upgrades you can perform at home! For most pump-action and semi-automatic shotguns, all you need is a few screwdrivers to remove the stock from your shotgun and then you can attach a new one the same way. But what kind of stock should you get? Well, that depends on how you plan to use your shotgun, so we have a few suggestions.
If you’re planning on using your shotgun for home defense or in a tactical setting, such as a military or police mission, then we recommend opting for a collapsible M4/AR15-style stock, like the ones made by Black River Manufacturing. These are often made of hard polymer and much lighter than traditional wood or metal shotgun stocks, reducing the overall weight of the firearm. Plus, as a collapsible stock, you can shorten or extend it as needed, giving you more maneuverability in hallways and other tight areas, as well as make sure it’s the perfect length for when you’re shooting. This style also tends to have a built-in recoil pad, so it’ll be much easier to shoot for longer periods without issues. On the other hand, if you’re going for a purely hunting shotgun or a display piece, we have tons of beautiful wood shotgun stocks, like the Gladiatore sets from WOOX, that provide durability, excellent grip, and a timeless aesthetic. If the stock you choose doesn’t have a recoil pad, don’t fret! You can add one to nearly any stock, especially if the holes for one are already present. If they aren’t all you have to do is drill a few holes into the stock and sand the recoil pad to fit before securing it with the screws that came with the pad.
Mount Some New Gear
Like most modern firearms, many shotguns that you can buy right now come with some form of mounting system that allows you to attach a wide variety of accessories to your firearm. Generally, this comes in the form of Picatinny rails on the top of the receiver and along the sides of the handguard. If your shotgun didn’t come from the factory with any of these rails installed, then you’re still in luck! You can pick up a drop-in or saddle mount Picatinny or M-LOK Picatinny rail section that utilizes the existing screw holes on your shotgun model to secure the rails to the top. For the handguard, you can replace the entire thing with one that has rails attached. And, once you have the rails available, the real fun can start!
One of the best upgrades you can mount to a shotgun is a weapon light, and we have tons of them that offer more than just a hands-free flashlight. For example, the Viridian Weapon Technologies C5L is both a weapon light and a laser sight, so you can ensure the area is fully illuminated and get some help aiming quickly in the same small package. Both a weapon light and a laser sight are excellent choices for tactical shooting and home defense, as they help you stay on target and get clear sight lines in the heat of the moment.
Next, it’s time to consider the optic. For most shotguns, the best type of optic is a red dot sight. While shotgun scope bases can accommodate a rifle scope, there isn’t much point in attaching a high-power optic to a shotgun, as its effective range can’t keep up with the range of the optic. Instead, a non-magnified red dot is an excellent choice because it provides an easy, bright reticle that you can put on a target quickly and at short range. Red dot sights are very intuitive, so being able to point the shotgun directly at your target, see that it is lined up properly, and pulling the trigger becomes natural quickly, helping maintain your accuracy in stressful situations. Red dot sights are also excellent for more precise shooting, such as for shooting competitions, as they are much easier to see in different environments than standard iron sights. This helps ensure you’re putting your slugs into the part of the target worth the most points.
Keep Your Ammo Close
Probably the easiest upgrade on this list but no less impactful is adding a few shell carriers to your firearm! While some stocks have built-in shell carriers, most don’t, so you have to get a little creative. Thankfully, there are tons of options for shotgun shell holders available. Many of them are made to resemble an elastic fabric band, allowing you to easily slip them over your shotgun stock and fill them up. Others are made from polymer or metal and are designed to work side-saddle and attach to the receiver of your shotgun, ensuring your extra shotgun ammo is as close to the loading port as possible. Both options ensure that your shells are close by so that you can reload quickly, which is crucial when you can’t just swap to a new magazine like semi-automatic pistols and rifles. There are even rail-mounted shell holders available to add even more ammo storage, but these will take up space that you could use for other attachments.
Once you have your shell holder sorted, it’s time to fill it up! Like centerfire ammo, there are tons of different styles of shotgun shells, such as solid slugs, several varieties of buckshot with varying sizes and pellet counts, birdshot, and more. The variety expands with the popularity of the shotgun gauge, so it’s no surprise that the most options are available in 12 gauge ammo. With an attached shell holder to your shotgun, you can fill the slots up with different shot styles so that you can respond to changing conditions and different threats easily. For example, if you’re prioritizing home defense for your shotgun, you’ll likely load it with 00 Buck shells, as these offer an excellent blend of power without overpenetration. However, you may want to keep some 000 Buck and even slugs handy, as 000 buck reduces the amount of pellets and the overall spread, while a slug is a single, large projectile. This can help you focus your fire when necessary and eliminate potential issues with overspread and overpenetration.
Snag Some Gear & Start Upgrading!
Here at OpticsPlanet, our goal is to help connect you with everything you’ll need for all your favorite adventures and hobbies. We carry a wide range of gunsmithing tools and equipment if you want to make even more complex upgrades and repairs at home, as well as plenty of gun cleaning gear to help you clean up once you’re done. We also have a huge range of hunting clothes and tactical apparel to round out your setup.
