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Bulldog
04-25-2016, 10:12 PM
Are the 14 in shotguns worth going through the NFA trouble and acquiring a trust with all the extra costs involved. I have always regretted getting rid of my old shotgun, and have been wanting to get another. The SBS route is appealing to me for having it shorter and handier but is all that much gained by shortening the barrel? or is the difference negligible? the intended use would be home defense and if I do get it I may end up going back to using a shotgun on patrol for my long gun.

GJM
04-25-2016, 10:24 PM
Not sure if the paperwork hassle is worth it for home defense, but for my use the 14 inch shotgun is extremely attractive. My use is bear defense, and that means I am hiking with the shotgun, in the tent at night, in and out of boats and aircraft.

Keebsley
04-25-2016, 10:41 PM
I just went the 14" route from 18". I didn't think it'd make that much of a difference but after swinging the shotgun around the house, the 4" decrease is noticeable...and welcome. Is the juice worth the squeeze? Maybe. Maybe not. But from a cost/benefit analysis for me, it's worth it as it hefts and swings better for me. Also, holding it one armed is a lot better as well. If you have the funds and don't mind the wait? Go for it.

pablo
04-25-2016, 11:04 PM
I don't think it's worth it for around the house, it's still fairly long and if space is that tight a pistol might be a better option. Getting in and out of squad car, it's absolutely worth it.

GJM
04-25-2016, 11:20 PM
This thread won't be complete without pictures.

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg251/GJMandes/image.jpg1_zps2am0r6sb.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/GJMandes/media/image.jpg1_zps2am0r6sb.jpg.html)

** note you can push on that enlarged bolt release as much as you like without causing a jam

SLG
04-26-2016, 05:23 AM
This thread won't be complete without pictures.

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg251/GJMandes/image.jpg1_zps2am0r6sb.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/GJMandes/media/image.jpg1_zps2am0r6sb.jpg.html)

** note you can push on that enlarged bolt release as much as you like without causing a jam

Now you need to SMS your magazine...

Hansohn Brothers
04-26-2016, 05:42 AM
I prefer SBSs for the same reasons I like SBRs; compactness. The nice thing about SBSs is you don't lose velocity but gain a little more spread in the pattern.

Weapon Kingpin
04-26-2016, 06:01 AM
The real question is what do you want and prefer. When we delve into the realm of NFA weapons it's not about need or worth, it's about want and personal preference. I want what I want and can justify whatever that is. You will get arguments on both sides of this decision. A few years ago I got a 590A1 14" SBS and then tricked it out with a Magpul stock, Mesa Tactical side saddle, Vang Comp forcing cone and magna porting and it's about the perfect shotgun in my opinion. My dad just wanted to get into a shotgun, we're together on an NFA trust, but he felt it was too much work for the 4" reduction so he did a standard 18" Remington 870 Police and then did all the same mods. He feels his setup is perfect.

With the barrel work I'm crushing knock down steel at 20 yards at our local tactical style Outlaw 3-Gun match. It impresses the onlookers because they are expecting the shorty to fall short and not be able to get the steel at longer ranges. Now because of the limited capacity, I don't use it for USPSA Multi-Gun, that would be a little silly with a stage that has 25-30 rounds in it. But it's a fun gun and was worth the investment.

Due to inflation, my 2 cents is worth about nothing, but there you have it...

Weapon Kingpin
04-26-2016, 06:05 AM
FYI, Silencer Co is offering online NFA trusts for WAY CHEAP. We did ours with a NFA specific lawyer here in Colorado. The nice thing with that is he's available for all our stupid questions when we have them and if there's any law enforcement trouble we have someone to call if needed. But it was about $640 or something like that to have him set it up. There's a lot of information out now on the internet and it's become pretty mainstream to have NFA stuff so going on the cheap would likely be okay.

https://silencerco.com/nfa-trust/

Josh Runkle
04-26-2016, 12:03 PM
I don't think it's worth it for around the house, it's still fairly long and if space is that tight a pistol might be a better option. Getting in and out of squad car, it's absolutely worth it.

I would echo this. For the length, a 10.5" AR is still shorter and you have 30 rounds (or 28 in my case) vs 4-5. If you have any land, the versatility of animals or assailants makes the AR adaptable to more situations, IMO. You can still use it in the house, but you could still shoot a coyote at 200 yds that's attacking another animal or being a nuisance or something.

I have a 14" 12ga AOW "toy", and had previously used an AR SBR for home defense, but now, based on one of Tom Given's recent articles that reshaped my thinking, I have swapped that setup out with an 18.5" Rem 1100 for home defense. 2-3 rounds worth of buckshot in a bad guy from a commonly available shotgun looks way better than 15 rounds from a tricked out, rare, military looking, regulated/restricted weapon.

GJM
04-26-2016, 01:02 PM
Now you need to SMS your magazine...

It that extra length intentionally -- gets me 5+1 rounds (one extra) and helps protect the muzzle from damage and debris.

GJM
04-26-2016, 01:20 PM
Cruising around rig -- 14 inch shotty and Scandium 329 with extra Brenneke slugs in HP chest pack.

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg251/GJMandes/HP.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/GJMandes/media/HP.jpg.html)

Picking blueberries in grizzly country:

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg251/GJMandes/image_zpsu2oztkck.jpeg (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/GJMandes/media/image_zpsu2oztkck.jpeg.html)

JAD
04-26-2016, 01:26 PM
Cruising around rig -- 14 inch shotty and Scandium 329 with extra Brenneke slugs in HP chest pack.

Is that NP3, George? How do you like it on an 870 if so?

GJM
04-26-2016, 01:34 PM
Is that NP3, George? How do you like it on an 870 if so?

NP3 is fantastic on an 870, as it adds lubricity that helps the pumping action and makes it virtually impossible to damage in foul weather. I have shot multiple days in the rain, left the shotgun in the bottom of an inflatable canoe where it was sloshing in water, and it still looks new with no cleaning. The only downside is it sheds slightly, and you will have some black on your hands after carrying it, from holding the NP3 surface.

pablo
04-27-2016, 01:13 PM
GJM How's the front sight attached on the 870?

Hambo
04-27-2016, 01:44 PM
Is that porting behind the front sight?

Tom Givens
04-27-2016, 02:38 PM
I really prefer the 14 inch barrel for close in work. Very little of the gun protrudes past my support hand, so there is very little to grab at. It would be much harder to disarm the holder of a SBS compared to a longer gun.

Also, at low ready, the muzzle does not project any further ahead of me than does the muzzle of a handgun at low ready. It's a common misconception that the handgun projects less in tight quarters.

GJM
04-27-2016, 02:42 PM
Is that porting behind the front sight?

Yes, by Vang along with his choking thing. I have come to dislike the porting, as it is loud, especially in a 14 inch barrel. Also, I nearly blew my left thumb off (slight exaggeration), when I went to shoot some slugs off the seat of my atv from kneeling. My left thumb got far enough forward to cover a port, and I never hope to experience again what I felt at the first shot.

I ended up having replacement barrels made without ports, and actually have four NP3'd 14 inch barrels with porting and the Vang Comp choking, if anyone is interested.


GJM How's the front sight attached on the 870?

I have custom front sights by Jim Brockman. I believe they are screwed on, but I will need to check with him.

GJM
04-27-2016, 02:45 PM
Here is one set up by Brockman after I ditched the ported barrels.

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg251/GJMandes/image.jpg1_zpshivelsvt.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/GJMandes/media/image.jpg1_zpshivelsvt.jpg.html)

Keebsley
04-27-2016, 03:12 PM
Brockman is here in Idaho. Does excellent work with guide guns.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

GJM
04-27-2016, 03:14 PM
FIFY


Brockman is here in Idaho. Does excellent work with guide guns, shotguns and bolt action rifles.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

nalesq
04-27-2016, 03:43 PM
Here is one set up by Brockman after I ditched the ported barrels.

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg251/GJMandes/image.jpg1_zpshivelsvt.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/GJMandes/media/image.jpg1_zpshivelsvt.jpg.html)

Did you attach that bit of Pic rail to the factory fore-end, or is it an aftermarket fore-end?

GJM
04-27-2016, 04:17 PM
It is a G, G & G fore end, and comes that way. I prefer to the Magpul fore end, as the lip of the Magpul smacks me in recoil with Brenneke slugs. I

nalesq
04-27-2016, 04:24 PM
It is a G, G & G fore end, and comes that way. I prefer to the Magpul fore end, as the lip of the Magpul smacks me in recoil with Brenneke slugs. I

Sadly, the GG&G fore end seems to be discontinued. I too have had the same issue you describe with the Magpul fore end. And the Surefire fore end I currently have on my 14" 870 seems unnecessarily heavy.

jlw
04-27-2016, 05:44 PM
Sadly, the GG&G fore end seems to be discontinued. I too have had the same issue you describe with the Magpul fore end. And the Surefire fore end I currently have on my 14" 870 seems unnecessarily heavy.

FAB Defense:

http://www.brownells.com/shotgun-parts/stock-forend-parts/forends/remington-870-picatinny-rail-handguard-prod26773.aspx?avs%7cManufacturer_1=FAB+DEFENSE

I have one of these on an 870P, and I just ordered another one to replace a Magpul forend on another 870P.

Hambo
04-27-2016, 07:03 PM
Yes, by Vang along with his choking thing. I have come to dislike the porting, as it is loud, especially in a 14 inch barrel. Also, I nearly blew my left thumb off (slight exaggeration), when I went to shoot some slugs off the seat of my atv from kneeling. My left thumb got far enough forward to cover a port, and I never hope to experience again what I felt at the first shot.

I ended up having replacement barrels made without ports, and actually have four NP3'd 14 inch barrels with porting and the Vang Comp choking, if anyone is interested.


Yeah, thanks...but I'm going to pass...

Great shotgun setup, though.