Taming the 12-Gauge: Vang Comp Remington 870

When the topic of recoil administration comes up, we’ve observed that a component of machismo usually comes with it. Who cares if a weapon kicks like a mule? Lean into the recoil and suck it up, princess! say the self-proclaimed specialists with their chests puffed out. Admittedly, you shouldn’t be growing gnarly shoulder bruises after capturing a ten/22, however recoil administration is a worthwhile consideration for different weapons — shotguns are a primary instance. We’ve all seen movies of younger or inexperienced shooters selecting these weapons up for the primary time, and practically toppling over after the primary spherical. Extra skilled shooters might really feel discomfort after just a few dozen full-power masses. Reasonably than accepting these points as inherent to the platform, it’s worthwhile to check out what will be completed to handle them.

As with every weapon, proficiency with a shotgun is a by-product of two components: software program and {hardware}. The significance of software program — that means your coaching and expertise — can’t be overstated, however the gun itself can be a contributing issue. That’s why muzzle brakes, compensators, weighted buffers, and different recoil mitigation programs exist. Making an allowance for these two components, we got down to enhance the efficiency of our Remington Mannequin 870 pump shotgun.

This text was initially printed in Challenge 21 of our sister publication Concealment journal.

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Above: This is our humble Remington 870 Categorical Tactical earlier than we despatched it out to Vang Comp. It was utterly unmodified apart from the Streamlight TL-Racker.

The {Hardware} – Vang Comp Programs

Our venture started with an 870 that’s resided in our gun secure for a number of years. That is the Categorical Tactical — a slight step up from the fundamental Categorical mannequin. Out of the field, it included an 18.5-inch barrel with prolonged “Tactical” choke, factory-installed Picatinny rail, XS ghost ring sights, and black artificial furnishings. The gun labored superb on this configuration, however we knew it could possibly be higher, so we reached out to Vang Comp Systems in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their gunsmiths tore the gun aside and customised it to our specs.

Vang Comp Programs’ signature improve is its VCS Barrel Modification, which was developed by firm founder Hans J. Vang within the early Nineties. A authorities company was on the lookout for a approach to tighten the shot sample of its obligation shotguns with out including choke tubes, so Vang started modifying barrels to attain this end result. He lengthened the forcing cone to provide a smoother transition between the chamber and bore, then back-bored the barrel to squeeze the projectiles right into a denser column as they attain the muzzle. Lastly, he drilled a sequence of 62 holes into the barrel to launch a number of the increasing gases from every shot — this lowered felt recoil and muzzle flash. The top end result was a flat-shooting gun that produced constant 12-inch shot patterns at 25 yards with off-the-shelf 00 buckshot. At the moment, the VCS Barrel Mod is on the market with or with out ports for quite a lot of Remington and Mossberg shotguns. The corporate strongly recommends non-ported for semi-auto fashions, however we selected the ported choice for this pump-action construct.

Above: The protection, set off, bolt, loading gate, and motion bars had been coated in self-lubricating NP3 end at VCS, making the motion smoother to function and simpler to wash.

Along with the Barrel Mod, Vang Comp Programs carried out a set off job and motion job to clean out the operation of those shifting elements. In addition they offered a number of of their in-house upgrades. The usual journal tube was changed with a VCS metal journal tube and matching stainless journal follower. The unique flat cross-bolt security was changed with a higher-profile VCS Dome-Head Security button; this may be pressed rapidly with the center knuckle of the index finger, versus the fingertip. A VCS detachable ammunition carrier attaches through two substitute set off pins that cross by way of the receiver. It gives a further six shells on deck, and options tear-away hook-and-loop backing for quick substitute between drills.

Above: Vang Comp Programs ported our Remington’s barrel with a sequence of 32 holes on either side. This feature is just really useful for pump-action weapons.

Outfitting

We sourced extra elements for this construct from just a few different firms. Mesa Tactical offered an LEO Telescoping Inventory Equipment, which provides an AR-15 buffer tube, pistol grip mount, and a pair of QD sockets for sling attachment. The corporate additionally gives a model of this equipment with a hydraulic buffer to soak up recoil, however after discussing this with Vang Comp Programs, we determined to skip that choice (extra on that later). A Magpul CTR inventory with Enhanced Butt Pad and MIAD grip had been put in on the Mesa Tactical adapter. Magpul additionally offered a Ahead Sling Mount and MS4 QD sling.

A weapon-mounted gentle is among the first equipment most shotgun house owners buy, and we had been no completely different. The Streamlight TL-Racker forend was put in shortly after we purchased this 870 and carried over to its new type. It incorporates a 1,000-lumen LED gentle powered by two CR123A batteries, in addition to ambidextrous strain switches with momentary and constant-on performance. The sunshine’s central placement reduces barrel shadow, and it’s vibrant sufficient to light up an entire room in home-defense conditions.

Above: Our 870 got here with a Picatinny rail pre-installed, however mounting an optic on it resulted in a excessive cheek weld and unusable iron sights. The Aridus Industries CROM gives a cowitness-ready mount for an Aimpoint Micro sight, together with your alternative of an XS ghost ring or “Rob Haught mod” U-shaped rear sight (pictured). Vang Comp Programs’ Deluxe ammunition provider contains two hook-backed shell holders and a loop-backed mounting plate that attaches by way of the receiver. A slot is lower to maintain the serial quantity seen.

Those that have little expertise with shotguns are likely to assume their shot unfold makes aiming nearly pointless — this actually isn’t the case, particularly not with the tighter sample produced by the VCS Barrel Mod. Nevertheless, fast goal acquisition is clearly extra of a precedence right here than precision. Because of this, we determined to improve the iron sights and add a red-dot optic.

The Aridus Industries CROM — brief for Cowitness-Prepared Optic Mount — attaches on to the 870’s receiver instead of the unique Picatinny rail, and acts as a particularly low-profile mount for an Aimpoint Micro. The CROM additionally options your alternative of a typical XS ghost ring or a Rob Haught Mod rear sight aperture. The latter is a ghost ring that has been milled down right into a U-shape to hurry up sight acquisition and scale back visible obstructions. It was impressed by well-known shotgun teacher Rob Haught, whose son we’d be coaching with after the completion of this construct. As for the entrance sight, Vang Comp Programs changed it with a newly machined Sentinel prototype fiber-optic submit that slid into the manufacturing facility dovetail.

Lastly, the outside of our shotgun was refinished for a brand new look and improved corrosion resistance. The receiver, barrel, journal tube, and inventory adapter had been completed in FDE Cerakote at Vang Comp Programs. VCS can be one in every of 5 outlets within the U.S. that has partnered with Coating Applied sciences to supply its self-lubricating NP3 end to the general public. We took full benefit of this and requested for key shifting elements to be coated within the slick silver substance — this contains the loading gate, bolt, extractor, set off, security, and motion bars.

Construct Sheet: Remington 870 Categorical Tactical

Caliber: 12 gauge

Weight: 7.3 kilos

Weight as Proven: 9.6 kilos loaded

Barrel Size: 18.5 inches

Journal Capability: 6+1

Size: 40.5 inches (with Tactical Rem Choke)

Size as Proven: 36.1 – 39.4 inches collapsed

MSRP: $601

Elements Checklist:

• VCS Barrel Modification with Ports $255
• VCS Metal Magazine Tube $75
• VCS Stainless Magazine Follower $20
• VCS Dome Head Security $15
• VCS Removable Ammunition Provider (Deluxe) $110
• VCS Sentinel Prototype
• Fiber-Optic Entrance Sight $60
• Aridus Industries Remington / Aimpoint Micro CROM (with Rob Haught Mod) $125
• Aimpoint Micro T-2 $782
• Streamlight TL-Racker $225
• Mesa Tactical LEO Telescoping Inventory Equipment $190
• Magpul CTR Inventory & Enhanced Butt Pad $80
• Magpul MIAD Grip (Sort 1) $36
• Magpul Ahead Sling Mount $30
• Magpul MS4 Twin QD Sling (Coyote) $60
• VCS Gunsmithing: Cerakote and NP3 End, Set off Job, Motion Job, Meeting $575

As Proven: $3,239

The Software program – Symtac Consulting

A high-quality device remains to be solely as efficient as its person, so we determined to hunt coaching that pertained to utilizing a shotgun for private protection. As talked about earlier, Rob Haught and his son Matt Haught of Symtac Consulting are well-known for specializing in simply that. So, we took our freshly constructed 870 to the vary for a personal shotgun clinic with Matt Haught and a few of his buddies. Attendees included a number of younger and new shooters, and it was clear that a lot of them had been a bit apprehensive about their capacity to handle the recoil of a 12-gauge. That wouldn’t be the case for lengthy.

Haught defined that almost all of us are used to capturing carbines with comparatively gentle recoil, however what works for these weapons doesn’t essentially work for shotguns. Conventional pondering says to tug the gun firmly into your shoulder and lean ahead to soak up the recoil, however Haught says there’s a greater manner — he calls it push-pull. This method entails concurrently pushing the gun ahead with the assist hand and pulling it rearward with the dominant hand, as should you’re attempting to stretch it out. This opposing strain must be utilized a quick second earlier than breaking a shot, whereas resting the buttstock flippantly towards your shoulder. Getting the timing down and equalizing the push-pull forces took a little bit follow, however as soon as we obtained the dangle of it, we had been shocked by how little recoil we felt.

Drills had been easy at first — shoulder the shotgun rapidly and hit a single metal plate utilizing push-pull recoil administration. Subsequent, we started making use of it to follow-up pictures, studying to cycle the pump rapidly and apply the ahead movement into the following push-pull shot. We additionally frolicked on course transitions between a number of metal plates, push-pulling as we introduced the gun to a cease on the following goal.

Since most off-the-shelf tactical shotguns have 18- to 20-inch barrels, this poses some maneuverability points in shut quarters — clearing rooms in a home-defense state of affairs, for instance. As soon as we had the fundamental push-pull method down pat, Haught confirmed us a extra superior method known as short-stocking that may assist shotgun customers overcome this problem. He requested us to be very clear that this shouldn’t be tried with out prior coaching, because it’s very simple to punch your self within the nostril or enamel should you don’t handle the recoil correctly. Quick-stocking entails lifting the shotgun’s inventory over your shoulder, then rolling the gun onto its aspect so the sights are seen. With strong push-pull method, it’s attainable to shoot comfortably from this place, making the gun really feel a lot shorter and extra maneuverable.

Unfastened Rounds

Above: Haught’s short-stocking method entails turning the gun sideways with its buttstock over your shoulder for extra maneuverability in tight areas. Don’t try this with out prior coaching — in any other case you may find yourself with a break up lip, or worse.

In comparison with its unique type, this Remington 870 appears nearly unrecognizable. The refinished aesthetics are good, however we’re extra involved about the way it shoots. The Vang Comp Programs barrel mod and ports resulted in a noticeably tighter shot sample and softer recoil. The motion feels vastly smoother as effectively, because of the polished internals and slippery NP3 coating. Shells glide over the loading gate and into the magazine tube with minimal effort. The pistol grip and telescoping inventory on the Mesa Tactical adapter are snug to make use of, and provide a superb cheek weld along with the CROM and Aimpoint T-2. We’re glad we selected the Rob Haught mod rear sight, because it gives a lower-third cowitness with out intruding on the red-dot sight image.

Though Mesa Tactical gives a hydraulically cushioned model of the LEO Inventory Equipment, each VCS and Matt Haught steered us towards the non-hydraulic model for just a few causes. First, customers who turn into proficient with push-pull not often discover themselves in want of extra inventory cushioning — we are able to attest to this after the clinic. Second, the hydraulic buffer’s motion might trigger superior customers to short-stroke the motion whereas firing a number of rounds rapidly. That stated, it’s principally a matter of choice — editor Tom Marshall has a gun with the hydraulic setup and likes it.

Pairing these {hardware} upgrades with the software program we picked up through the clinic, we really feel dramatically more adept with our 870. Even should you’re not somebody who has left the vary with a black-and-blue shoulder, there’s a lot to be gained from studying to higher handle the recoil of a shotgun, particularly if it’s a weapon you’re planning to make use of for residence protection. And for many who might not be capable of drop hundreds of {dollars} on a personalized scattergun like this one, a fundamental $300 pump shotgun and some hours of coaching nonetheless gives an entire lot of bang to your buck.

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Written by Patrick McCarthy