I’ve been on a shotgun binge, TAC-14 edition

[Lon]

Traded for this. Total investment $425. eForm 1 here I come. Patterned great out to 20 yards w 9 pellet Flite Control.

82037

[awp_101]

One of these is still on my “I want it for no valid reason” list. Eforms coming back might push me over the edge.

[Lon]

One of these is still on my “I want it for no valid reason” list. Eforms coming back might push me over the edge.

Me too. Lucked into this trade deal.

[Lon]

Hated the sidesaddle it came with. Took it off and added some Velcro for an Esstac card. And decided to make a Scattergun sling attachment work.

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[gato naranja]

Hated the sidesaddle it came with. Took it off and added some Velcro for an Esstac card.

Oh, I have SO been there. The Esstac velcro/card is the only way I would even consider adding "side storage" to my 870 "UtiliGun."

If you can pick one up cheap - or borrow one to try - a Vang or Wilson +1 extension might be worth experimenting with.

[WobblyPossum]

If you’re experimenting with the velcro shotgun cards, I highly recommend the Vang Comp ones. They’re much more durable than the Esstac ones and I’ve found they hold retention/elasticity much longer.

[Lon]

Oh, I have SO been there. The Esstac velcro/card is the only way I would even consider adding "side storage" to my 870 "UtiliGun."

If you can pick one up cheap - or borrow one to try - a Vang or Wilson +1 extension might be worth experimenting with.

The +1 is on my list to get. Just trying to decide which one.

[Lon]

If you’re experimenting with the velcro shotgun cards, I highly recommend the Vang Comp ones. They’re much more durable than the Esstac ones and I’ve found they hold retention/elasticity much longer.

Thanks. I’ll give them a try.

[Joe Mac]

The +1 is on my list to get. Just trying to decide which one.

When I set up my tac-14 recently, I was disappointed to find that the Wilson +1 I already had in my shotgun parts box didn't fit the new mag tube threads -- they've changed the threads.

I ended up using this one, with a Wilson spring and follower -- works fine.

https://www.briley.com/p-62048-remington-tac-14-and-870-one-shot-extension-12-gauge-only.aspx

[Lon]

When I set up my tac-14 recently, I was disappointed to find that the Wilson +1 I already had in my shotgun parts box didn't fit the new mag tube threads -- they've changed the threads.

I ended up using this one, with a Wilson spring and follower -- works fine.

https://www.briley.com/p-62048-remington-tac-14-and-870-one-shot-extension-12-gauge-only.aspx

I was looking at that one last night. No issues w it?

[Joe Mac]

I was looking at that one last night. No issues w it?

Working well, with two range outings thus far. Function is smooth with the spring & follower that came with the Wilson +1 kit.

[Lon]

Working well, with two range outings thus far. Function is smooth with the spring & follower that came with the Wilson +1 kit.

Ordered one.

[gato naranja]

When I set up my tac-14 recently, I was disappointed to find that the Wilson +1 I already had in my shotgun parts box didn't fit the new mag tube threads -- they've changed the threads.

Hmmm...
That would be a seriously bad move with regard to interchangeability across various 870 eras.

WRT the Wilson/Scattergun followers, I have seen some that were getting along in years and had started to distort a bit; maybe the material degrades over time or various oils/cleaners attack them. I consider it something worth checking now and then- it's cheap insurance.

[Joe Mac]

Hmmm...
That would be a seriously bad move with regard to interchangeability across various 870 eras.

WRT the Wilson/Scattergun followers, I have seen some that were getting along in years and had started to distort a bit; maybe the material degrades over time or various oils/cleaners attack them. I consider it something worth checking now and then- it's cheap insurance.

We used them for many years at work; I don't recall any of them distorting, but the little nipple in the center eventually breaks off, and isn't needed anyway. I have several of them knocking around my shotgun kit, along with some Remington springs and followers.

[Norville]

When I set up my tac-14 recently, I was disappointed to find that the Wilson +1 I already had in my shotgun parts box didn't fit the new mag tube threads -- they've changed the threads.

I ended up using this one, with a Wilson spring and follower -- works fine.

https://www.briley.com/p-62048-remington-tac-14-and-870-one-shot-extension-12-gauge-only.aspx


Hmmm...
That would be a seriously bad move with regard to interchangeability across various 870 eras.

WRT the Wilson/Scattergun followers, I have seen some that were getting along in years and had started to distort a bit; maybe the material degrades over time or various oils/cleaners attack them. I consider it something worth checking now and then- it's cheap insurance.

I am 99.9% sure I put a Wilson on my Tac14 with no problems. I’d have to see if I kept the packaging. If the threading was changed I’m sure the internet would be awash in conspiracy or pro-Shockwave threads.


Pun only slightly intended…

[farscott]

After learning that the Remington Model 11 was equipped with a steel magazine follower, I replaced my plastic followers with steel followers, originally Model 11 parts and later the Vang Comp part sold by Brownells at https://www.brownells.com/shotgun-parts/magazine-tube-parts/magazine-followers/remington-870-11-87-12ga-stainless-steel-follower-prod22732.aspx .

The three reported negatives with metal followers are 1) can corrode, 2) can stick on two-piece magazine tubes or extensions, and 3) can batter the receiver when the last round is fired. My experience is 1) maintenance and/or a good coating solve this, 2) not experienced this yet but none of my guns have dimples in the magazine tube, and 3) I would need to fire a lot of rounds to batter the receiver. I have coated the followers with orange Rust-Oleum left over from spraying my metal targets or NP3 with no issues. I need to try Cerakote on the next build, but the Rust-Oleum has been the easy button for this.

[Joe Mac]

I am 99.9% sure I put a Wilson on my Tac14 with no problems. I’d have to see if I kept the packaging. If the threading was changed I’m sure the internet would be awash in conspiracy or pro-Shockwave threads.


Pun only slightly intended…

Guys, I must apologize for the Russian Disinformation I just put out! When I got the tac-14 several months ago, that Wilson/SGT +1 absolutely would not thread onto the tube... I went to Wilson's site and misinterpreted this line with a hasty reading:

"Follower is not grooved to fit newer 870 magazine tubes. The detent in the magazine tube may be filed down for follower fitting."

I focused on 'not grooved to fit newer magazine tubes' (OF COURSE the detent has to be swaged), went in search of an extension marketed for the tac-14, bought the Briley, and it worked -- thus, I figured the threads had changed with the 'newer' mag tubes.

Well, I just revisited the issue, and now the bloody Wilson threads on without a fuss. I'm baffled. I swear I wasn't drinking when I tried it before!

Anyway...comparing the two just now, the Briley does actually work better for two reasons: the knurling on the end (rather than on the coupling) makes it easier to grab and tighten, and it allows for just a bit more spring compression, making the 5th round load more smoothly.

[Screwball]

I am 99.9% sure I put a Wilson on my Tac14 with no problems. I’d have to see if I kept the packaging. If the threading was changed I’m sure the internet would be awash in conspiracy or pro-Shockwave threads.


Pun only slightly intended…

For what it’s worth… zero issues with the Wilson +1 I installed on mine. Just needed to deal with the detents, which the XS swage was quick/easy.

Once I get my suppressors out of ATF jail, I’ll probably Form 1 my TAC-14.

[gato naranja]

The three reported negatives with metal followers are 1) can corrode, 2) can stick on two-piece magazine tubes or extensions, and 3) can batter the receiver when the last round is fired. My experience is 1) maintenance and/or a good coating solve this, 2) not experienced this yet but none of my guns have dimples in the magazine tube, and 3) I would need to fire a lot of rounds to batter the receiver. I have coated the followers with orange Rust-Oleum left over from spraying my metal targets or NP3 with no issues. I need to try Cerakote on the next build, but the Rust-Oleum has been the easy button for this.

A shotgun that had rusted away in an outbuilding gave me another lesson - as if I needed one - in corrosion being a dandy binding agent. The steel magazine follower in the mag tube had to be persuaded rather smartly to budge. I remember as a kid seeing sheet-steel "cup" followers that low/no maintenance owners would allow to get a bit crusty... then things would get a little slow.* Heaven forbid anyone ever maintain the inside of the magazine tube, the follower and the spring! For some reason, I seem to remember the receivers battering the follower rather than the other way around, but I may be mistaken on that point.

Anyway, while cultivating OCD on my 870 project(s), I amassed quite a collection of magazine extensions and followers, and found that the vast majority of them would work, but not all of those would necessarily stand a whole lot of guff. In time, I just standardized on the Scattergun (Wilson) follower. At some point in time, I probably had over a half dozen of the green things laying loose around the place, and at least two of them developed a slight "bend" of the tail (another one started to sort of crumble/disintegrate, but to be fair, I exposed that one to a pretty nasty cleaning agent from work). One mod I did make on them may have been unnecessary but was cheap insurance: I slightly radiused the sharp rear edge of the larger-diameter portion to make sure it did not hang up on any annular joint caused by a given magazine extension.

Eventually, I got S&J Hardware orange type 1 delrin followers for all the 870s and was quite happy with their performance/durability; I believe the type 1 could get hammered through the side of my house and still work.

For no reasons other than:

1. I pick up the color better
2. it could be a bit more easily distinguished from a shell by feel,

the only remaining 870 here wound up with an S&J Hardware safety green type 2 delrin follower, with which I am now perfectly content.


*"A Brillo pad will fix that right up," said the proud owner.

[farscott]

A shotgun that had rusted away in an outbuilding gave me another lesson - as if I needed one - in corrosion being a dandy binding agent.

I just got the same lesson with a Lodge cast iron charcoal camp grill used very sporadically in the last fifteen years. Left it in the outbuilding only to discover before the move that I have some orange rust on a portion of the cooking surface. So far I have just stopped the damage by using CLP as we are still in the pack/unpack part of our move. It looks like I will need something a bit more aggressive to resurface the grill.

[gato naranja]

I just got the same lesson with a Lodge cast iron charcoal camp grill used very sporadically in the last fifteen years. Left it in the outbuilding only to discover before the move that I have some orange rust on a portion of the cooking surface. So far I have just stopped the damage by using CLP as we are still in the pack/unpack part of our move. It looks like I will need something a bit more aggressive to resurface the grill.

My spouse is sort of a "foodie," and very particular about her cookware, including the rusty cast iron (new or old). She basically scrubs the crap out of it with plain steel wool to get the rust (mostly) off, then she rinses off the leavin's with water (no soap), wipes it down with a paper towel and immediately applies cooking oil to it, and then puts it in the oven at around 350 F for an hour or two. I think she got that technique right from Lodge, but I may be wrong about that. She is one of those people who considers removing any "seasoning" to be a high crime.

I once suggested using Ballistol on one of her skillets, and if looks could kill...

(It is supposedly a disinfectant, burn ointment, emulsifier, insect repellent and who knows what else, so I thought I was just being helpful. Wrong. Again.)

[Rex G]

When I set up my tac-14 recently, I was disappointed to find that the Wilson +1 I already had in my shotgun parts box didn't fit the new mag tube threads -- they've changed the threads.

I ended up using this one, with a Wilson spring and follower -- works fine.

https://www.briley.com/p-62048-remington-tac-14-and-870-one-shot-extension-12-gauge-only.aspx

Thanks for posting this.

[Joe Mac]

Thanks for posting this.

Please see my follow-up post, wherein I discover I was wrong about it not fitting...but I prefer the Briley extension in any event!

[Rex G]

Please see my follow-up post, wherein I discover I was wrong about it not fitting...but I prefer the Briley extension in any event!

OK, thanks.

[Grouse870]

Revisiting my tac14. How’s the recoil with the “brace”?

[Lon]

Revisiting my tac14. How’s the recoil with the “brace”?

It’s not bad (if you’re just wearing a hoodie) for 15-20 rounds with the brace I have on it. I wouldn’t want to do a class with it unless I was running body armor of some sort.

[Joe Mac]

It’s not bad (if you’re just wearing a hoodie) for 15-20 rounds with the brace I have on it. I wouldn’t want to do a class with it unless I was running body armor of some sort.

Which brace are you using?

[Lon]

83239


Which brace are you using?

Whatever this is. It came with the Tac-14 when I bought it. Looks like an SB-Tactical SOB.

[Screwball]

Whatever this is. It came with the Tac-14 when I bought it. Looks like an SB-Tactical SOB.

It is the SOB… have one that I have on AR15.com for sale. Got it with the Suarez folder… when it was legal to put a folder on the TAC-14.

[DDTSGM]

It is the SOB… have one that I have on AR15.com for sale. Got it with the Suarez folder… when it was legal to put a folder on the TAC-14.

I must be late to the party - why is it illegal to put a folder on the tAC-14? My guess would be because the shotgun can be fired with the folder folded and the OAL length is too short, correct?

[1slow]

What is the best brace to put on a Tac 14 ?

[Screwball]

I must be late to the party - why is it illegal to put a folder on the tAC-14? My guess would be because the shotgun can be fired with the folder folded and the OAL length is too short, correct?

ATF put out a letter for AR pistols, since over 26” OAL and adding a vertical grip makes it a firearm…

People were asking a lot of questions, especially about LAW adapter with the brace. So, they came up with the brace is an accessory, so OAL isn’t measured with the brace extended… like on a stock. And because it is a brace in this situation, it is included.

So, folder on TAC-14, you measure folded. Unless you increase the barrel to 16”, you are likely at 24” with it folded (similar to if you did a pistol grip). That makes an AOW. If you are going to Form 1 it, same price… just SBS and put a stock on there.


What is the best brace to put on a Tac 14 ?

I like the SBA3, which is what I have on mine.

[Paul Blackburn]

Sure wish Remington milled a rear sight channel in the receiver.

[OldRunner/CSAT Neighbor]

Got to sample some Tac-14s last Sept @ a DB SG tuneup @ the CADDO SO range but didn’t receive one until Friday. Adding an optic (Holo 507C-GR X2 maybe) but will end up w/ something very sim. to what’s pictured that a tact. friend loaned me for fam fire till mines been milled.

91626

[BobM]

I’ve seen the synthetic stocked ones in stores in 12 and 20 gauge but I really would prefer one with the wood furniture

[Malamute]

I’ve seen the synthetic stocked ones in stores in 12 and 20 gauge but I really would prefer one with the wood furniture


Like many things in the gun and shooting world now, if you want one, get what you can when you can. Waiting for the exact variation you want may leave you with none in the end. Stocks can be changed pretty easily later.

[JRB]

I’ve seen the synthetic stocked ones in stores in 12 and 20 gauge but I really would prefer one with the wood furniture

I hadn't seen them in stock anywhere since before Covid until I saw this listing:
https://www.smga.com/remington/870-tac14-12-14-bl-wd-3-58559??wk

[OldRunner/CSAT Neighbor]

I hadn't seen them in stock anywhere since before Covid until I saw this listing:
https://www.smga.com/remington/870-tac14-12-14-bl-wd-3-58559??wk

REALLY like the wood furniture on that JRB but the MLOK options for mounting a stick & light trump my needs + the < $425. I paid.

[JRB]

REALLY like the wood furniture on that JRB but the MLOK options for mounting a stick & light trump my needs + the < $425. I paid.

I think most of us that buy a hardwood TAC-14 are buying it for grins and good vibes, not as a working gun. I opted for the former after doing all the math adding up a TAC-14 build for serious work. By the time it was SBS'd and Vang Comp'd and set up for 'social work', I realized the costs were just shy of buying a 1301 outright.

Then of course I started looking at Langdon options for 1301 and *that* price went up too... so I decided avoid the hole altogether and stay happy with a hardwood TAC-14 in the safe and an already-vetted old school Mossberg 500ATP Mariner for shotgun work.

[BobM]

I think most of us that buy a hardwood TAC-14 are buying it for grins and good vibes, not as a working gun. I opted for the former after doing all the math adding up a TAC-14 build for serious work. By the time it was SBS'd and Vang Comp'd and set up for 'social work', I realized the costs were just shy of buying a 1301 outright.

Then of course I started looking at Langdon options for 1301 and *that* price went up too... so I decided avoid the hole altogether and stay happy with a hardwood TAC-14 in the safe and an already-vetted old school Mossberg 500ATP Mariner for shotgun work.

Yeah, it reminds me of those Witness Protection guns that showed up in the gun mags in the 80s or 90s.

[JRB]

Yeah, it reminds me of those Witness Protection guns that showed up in the gun mags in the 80s or 90s.

Exactly, they're damn close to the Witness Protection guns. I remember seeing a picture in a magazine with two of those Remington shorty 870's, a couple of S&W 1076's, and an MP5/10 all artfully arranged in the trunk of a Caprice in an article on "modern police guns". I was young and impressionable, maybe 10 years old and it was the early 90's.
I finally got the WitSec 870... still working on the 1076 and the MP5! :D

[JRB]

Double Post