When I was down at Gunsite in November 2008 I dropped off a NIB 870 Police Magnum at Vang Comp in Chino Valley and told Hans to abuse my credit card. Just before the end of the year I received this via UPS:
Remington 870 Police Magnum
18" barrel with Vang Comp choke and porting
Vang Comp ghost ring rear sight/optic rail and Big Dot tritium front sight
Hogue short buttstock
Surefire 870 forend with LED lamp
Vang Comp magazine follower
Vang Comp big head safety
Mesa Tactical side saddle
GG&G sling plate
Wilderness Giles single point sling
metal finished in Robar Rogaurd with NP3 internals
This is the first weapon I’ve had a single point sling on and I’m not totally sold on it. Weather conditions this winter have prevented any range time yet, but I’ve got a good supply of buckshot and slugs from several makers for testing when weather allows.
I actually thought I had ordered a one round extension, but when I looked back over the build sheet it must have slipped between the cracks. Hans and I spent a lot of time talking about his optic rail/sight system and how good a T1 would look on there, so I must have just forgotten to mention the mag extension. I know that I was not looking for a two round extension because with a Surefire forend and two round extension they get a little heavy towards the muzzle. I may go with an extension at some point, but want to run through Gunsite 260 first to see how much I miss the extra round(s). With the standard magazine this shotgun is very pleasant to handle.
I always felt the magazine should be as long as the barrel. Extra rounds are more valuable than having a gun that swings a little smoother. This is a combat gun not a skeet gun.
Pat
I’m another fan of not getting so much weight out front. When I had my 870 and shot it a lot, I found that the extra weight of the extended tube caused me to swing past targets and have to backtrack when engaging multiples where as the one shot extension made it just light enough that I was able to stop the gun on the target.
This was on cardboard and other static targets, not birds and not people.
I agree that one of the limitations of the shotgun is magazine capacity, but with your 14" gun pictured you have about the same mag capacity that I do with an 18" gun. To me it is how the weight is distributed and I don’t care for the extra weight out front.
I’m looking for the shotgun to extend my range a little beyond pistol distance and to make it easier and faster to hit at those ranges than with the pistol. I’m also looking for devastating terminal ballistics.
I understand what you are saying. The 14 inch gun here is a 5+1. I just would rather have a few more rounds on a low capacity weapon and give up a bit in handling qualities vs having a smoother handler but with a 4+1 capacity. Its up to you in the end. Either way you have a nice gun.
It looks like you had it finished like mine with Rogard on the outside and NP3 on the internals.
Pat
That is the finish I went with. So far so good. I have several guns with Birdsong’s Black T and like it a lot as well. Roguard is a little shinier than Black T.
I got out and shot the 870 yesterday. Current production Federal Tactical 9 pellet buck performed really well, keeping all pellets solidly in the chest area of a Gunsite Option target out to 25 yards. I had some older Brenneke Rottweil MP slugs that I shot back to 50 yards and when I wasn’t getting blown around by the wind too much I was able to cut a single, large jagged hole with three of them. Unfortunately I don’t think they are made any longer and I don’t have much of a supply left. The newer Federal LE low recoil slugs also did well and will probably be my “go to” general purpose slug simply due to availability. For bear country I’ll stick with a Brenneke magnum slug of some sort.
I need a New finish and sights on my shotgun ,but won,t use Robar do to their firearm shipping policies.
I need to fine someone else who can do the work.
I myself have an 870 for home defense I think the real point is what is comfortable for you is not for others. I myself dislike the mag ext. due to the added weight it’s what works best for me, and at the end of the day it’s all about finding what works best for that individual not about being right. BTW nice setup keep us updated on how she runs
Vang Comp will put any thing you want on as a finish for the most part
std finish on barrels is bead blast with a hot blue. the receiver is left as is from factory
hope this helps
I wouldn’t concern yourself greatly with having an extra-shell or 2 in the gun. If you train to hit the target you shouldn’t have a problem. I have not personally used a shotgun defensively yet, but I have seen the results first-hand. 00 Buckshot is quite effective in anti-personnel role.
I contemplated ordering the same model, but I did not want to wait. I purchased a Wilson’s Scattergun Technologies 870 12 gauge shotgun instead. Great gun, but I will say that I would rather have the front sight welded-on like yours versus the gluing on the Wilson’s. Otherwise, I really love my shotgun.
What do you think of the Mesatactical Tactical shell holder? Seriously considering ordering a 6-shot model myself.
P.S. I just started using Hornandy 12 Gauge TAP 00 Buck. It groups really tight patterns. And, if you are looking for a good anti-personnel or defensive slug I have had a lot of luck with Winchester Ranger 12 gauge low-recoil slugs [some retailers sell to public online]. Not a lot of recoil and fairly accurate. I was lobbing them at 200+ yards and hitting some man sized targets with a fair amount of regularity (shooting off-hand).
Oh by the way, how much does your Vang Comp. 870 weigh?
To the OP
I know its kinda early to tell, but how do you like the NP3/Roguard? I have basically the same Vang gun and I’m thinking it needs a Robar visit…
I don’t have that much use on it yet. I really like the NP3 finish, but my gut feeling is that Birdsong’s Black T maybe a little tougher than Roguard. Time will tell, but that is my gut feeling. Having said that I would not hesitate to go with Robar again.
I’ve been shooting some of the Brenneke 2 3/4" magnum slugs lately. Heavy recoil, but very good accuracy. Federal LE 9 pellet buck is doing well too. I have some 8 pellet federal, but it does not pattern quite as well. I have no idea why an 8 pellet buck load exists.
Let us know how she handles.
