I have several of each grip style and I like them all, in context, but I find my wrist gets sore in the first few weeks of the grouse season from carrying a straight grip "at the ready" for hours every day. It's less of a problem with a POW or pistol grip because the wrist is not "cocked" as much in an unnatural position. I suppose the English didn't walk all day carrying their guns at port arms so the straight grip was OK.