Need a shotgun

[FJB]

Grant,
Smart decision. Get the 870P send it to Hans Vang to have him work the barrel, minus the ports, install his Safety and his SS follower. The Ghost Ring Sights as installed from the factory should work okay. You could have him install his new Ghost Ring sights. I would definitely have him install a piece of Picatinny rail on the receiver so you can run a Micro T-1 on top.

I now have two Micro T-1s that have gone through both Louis Awerbuck/Scott Reitz YFI Shotgun - 1 three day class, as well as Bill Jeans (Morrigan Consulting) 4 day CA POST Shotgun Instructor class sitting on 870s built by Hans. Each gun and optic have over 800 target loads, 200 00B, 150 00B.

You'll still need to pattern numerous loads of 00B and slug for your gun to find which load it prefers. Every shotgun, regardless of manufacturer, will shoot and prefer a different manufacturers load of ammo. Find which brands your prefers and understand which ones it doesn't. That way you'll know which brand to purchase and how the others will perform is forced to use them in a difficult situation.

Shotguns are very much under appreciated. Their power and versatility make them a very impressive close quarters weapon system, as well as more than capable of engaging threats out to 100+ yards with a good sights/optics and slugs.

Attached is my older 870 that Hans has worked his magic. It is an 18" brrl with LPA ghost ring sights, an older Surefire light, Vang Safety, Vang SS Follower, Vang Breaching Adapter (great for ballistic breaching, as well as "tagging and bagging" in a less lethal roll, i.e. sternum punch etc.), and Vang installed Pic Rail for a Micro T-1. It is currently wearing a 6 rnd Tac-Star Side Saddle, but intend to replace that with a 4 rnd Mesa Tactical when it wears out. I intend to get a 14" brrl for it as well some time in the future.

Also, attached is my son's 870 that Vang worked on. It is a 20" Brrl VangComp'd and ported (Hans threw the porting into the package, but I don't prefer for serious work guns) with LPA Ghost ring sights and Pic Rail for a Micro T-1, a new Surefire light, Vang Safety, Vang SS Follower, Vang 2 rnd mag extension, and a 4 rnd Mesa Tactical side saddle. It is being shot by a former Sgt of Marines that used to work for me and is now a CA LEO.

S/F

[Tom_Jones]

deleted

[C4IGrant]

Let us know if you do. I'll buy at least 1 (perhaps 2 as I like to have spares) from you.

Will do.

C4

[decodeddiesel]

As I have taught this class for years and seen hundreds of thousands of 12 gauge rounds go gown range out of tactical shotguns, this is a topic that I feel very comfortable talking about…

Without a doubt I would recommend a Remington 870P… The Police marked 870s are assembled on a completely different assembly line than the Magnums or the Express guns. The quality control is much higher on the Police 870s and they use better quality springs in the action…

The semi auto guns are nice, but the 870Ps are work horses…

Here is the configuration I would recommend:

20 inch barrel with rifle sights and 14 inch barrel with rifle sights so you can change back and forth as needed…

Meprolight makes a factory style, set of night sights that works very well. I do not care for the trijicon “pistol” sights.

Scattergun just glues their sights on with epoxy, they end up falling off and the front blade is way too wide…

I like the vang comp magazine extension with the solid fixed front sling swivel the best. It is machined from solid bar stock. The factory Remington and the Tac-star ones work just fine too… Avoid the scattergun magazine extensions at all costs… They are silver soldiered together and with hard use they are prone to separating and launching the extension down range making your shotgun a single shot.

If using the Remington or tac-star magazine extension the scattergun stand alone fixed front sling swivel is the best. The GG&G ones do not fit correctly…

Be sure to keep the factory nut so you can take off the magazine extension for use with the 14 inch barrel. And be sure to use the long spring with the extension and the short one with out.

Some of the newer production guns have a pressed in set of ears inside the magazine tube. Be sure that these are removed or pressed out prior to installing the extension or the spring / follower will not move freely.

Scattergun does make a nice high-vis lime green plastic magazine follower with a easy to feel button.

The Surefire dedicated light fore-end is the king of the plains, but be sure to put the limiter on the pressure switch to avoid turning the light on every time you rack the action.

The factory safety works just fine and does not need replacing… The extended models offered by several manufactures are a solution looking for a problem…

Tac-star six or four round side saddle…

Fixed rear side sling swivel plate between the rear of the receiver and the stock

Speed feed youth length pistol grip stock WITHOUT the internal magazine. The magazine collects junk and the rounds are not held in securely enough. They either fall out or get hung up. The shorter length stock is the correct length of pull for most shooters using a tactical shotgun. NOTE, the washer provided with the speed feed stock is junk. With any hard use it will turn into a soup bowl and the stock will become lose and start to bite. Go to your local hardware store and purchase two thick steel washers and a split washer to sandwich between them. This is the best fix for this problem.

I recommend a padded VTAC attached to the front and rear fixed side sling points or the Blueforce if you prefer. It drives just like your carbine…

I do not like butt cuffs… With any vigorous use the rounds always fall out and leave a trail of shotgun ammo like Hansel and Gretel…

If you think you will need more ammo, I highly recommend the California Competition Works 12 gauge tactical stripper. Order it directly from CCW and ask for the black nylon cover and the Bianchi M9 holster belt clip so you can put it on or take it off without having to remove your belt.

Put it all in a short Pelican hard case and you are ready to kick doors with the best of them.

As to ammo I really like the 2 ¾ Federal TAC 9 OO buckshot and the 2 ¾ Winchester Ranger 1oz low recoil slugs. You only lose about 200 feet per second with the low recoil slugs but the difference in the muzzle flash is dramatic when firing in low light conditions.

Just my .02

Buck

Sorry to bump such an old thread, however my goodness Buck, what an amazing post! Well done Sir!

[xtremejc]

That is it.

If I like it, I might just start stocking them.


C4

How much is that shotgun? Can you recomend a dealer for it? That is a good looking rig !

JC

[C4IGrant]

How much is that shotgun? Can you recomend a dealer for it? That is a good looking rig !

JC

We are starting to stock them. Contact us for pricing.



C4

[frbowers]

Vang can do some very nice work to the interior of the barrel, but I would advise against having it ported... The amount of flash that comes out of the ports at night is truly blinding...

Any other comments pro or con relative to Vang Comp's porting? Vang Comp claims that the porting actually reduces muzzle flash. I'm getting ready to send an 870 police magnum down to them for some work and am up in the air over porting. Also debating 14" barrel or keeping it 18". I like how handy the 14" 870s I've handled have been.

[Buck]

Any other comments pro or con relative to Vang Comp's porting? Vang Comp claims that the porting actually reduces muzzle flash. I'm getting ready to send an 870 police magnum down to them for some work and am up in the air over porting. Also debating 14" barrel or keeping it 18". I like how handy the 14" 870s I've handled have been.

It may decrease the amount of flash coming out of the end of the barrel, but thats because its redirecting it out of the holes in the top and into your line of site... I really like the work he does inside the barrel and his magazine extension, but I do not like his porting or giant safety....

14 inch shotguns as primary weapons are really used for dismounting vehicles in a hurry... An 18 or 20 inch, IC or mod barrel with rifle sights, gives you six or seven rounds in the magazine instead of four, and the ability to make 100 + yard slug shots as well as 00 buckshot or breaching rounds...

I seem to be a few months late to this one but...

If you are buying a shotgn to do one of R. Haught's classes, you need to use a 870 or at the very least a pump gun. 90% of Rob's unique technique centers around the pump action and will actually cause malfunctions sometimes in guns like Benelli's.

I love my old HK Benelli but Buck is spot on---the 870 is THE shotgun you want if you really need to rely on it. I've got a Wilson/Scattergun 14" 870 that shoots great and doesn't skip a beat.

Great minds think alike...

Buck

P.S. The new Federal tactical 00 buck has a flight control wad that is truly amazing... It patterns better out of a factory 870 Police IC barrel than the old ammunition in a reworked Vang barrel...

[Buckaroo]

Buck,
You've inspired me recently---I shot skeet today with the 14" 870 and have been putting major rounds through the snubby 642.

Just bought my first snubby and I am having a riot learning to shoot it!

My son shoots my 590A1 in wobble trap at the club.

Buckaroo

[Robb Jensen]

I'm planning on soon sending my Rem 870 Magnum to Wilson for the 'Remington Steal' w/Trak Lock sights (retail is $350) so I need to call them with what dealer is on that. Since they don't return the furniture I'm going to throw a beater Express wood stock and fore-end on it. When I get it back I'll add non pistol grip Youth length Speedfeed stock. I may later send the barrel to Vang but with the performance of the new Federal ammo I may not.