Screwball
11-07-2023, 06:13 AM
So, I sort of did this a little backwards, but figured I’d ask…
I Form 1ed my TAC-14, which is on its way back from being refinished. We used to have 14” 870s at work, but the Field Office pulled them in their unquestionable wisdom. Being I loved that gun, figured I’d do my own take on it.
Magpul furniture, Inforce WML, +1 extension and Remington 14” barrel with XS sights. We had Ghost Ring sights on the work guns, but think they had the same fixed choke as mine. Changed out the side-saddle to a Velcro setup (used to be a TacStar) and now have a direct QD point at the interface with the stock and receiver. I also got a +2 extension and 18.5” barrel in case I ever wanted to run the gun as a normal shotgun without the NFA headache. This also gives me another 870 size, as I have a 20” 870P… then the longer barreled 11-87s that I used for hunting.
The TAC-14 had that crappy matte Remington finish prior to going bankrupt. You know… rusts if you look at it wrong. Barrels and extensions had actual Parkerizing, but even though I bought the 14” barrel new, it was all marked up prior to arriving. Picture was to show the front sight… but some of the marks that came on that barrel new.
https://i.imgur.com/Q8coWgl.jpg
I get that guns become banged up with use… but rather I be the one to put the marks on it instead of the factory or someone in shipping.
Sent the bolt parts and shell lifter to CCR for CPII and the rest of the larger metal parts went to VT to Greg at American Bluing for Parkerizing. I used Greg prior for my WASR and Remington Model 7 and was very pleased with his work. And the cost is pretty affordable… and it’s shocking with how well his work is. Once I get it back, I’ll build it up as the 18.5” shotgun and then send to Tar Heel for the engraving.
So the 18.5” barrel is threaded for choke tubes. The 14” has a fixed modified choke. Zero issue with that choke when it was a braced TAC-14. Considering I just had the barrel Parkerized… should I send it to Steve Rose and have it threaded for REM chokes? Anyone know Parkerizing better than me, and foresee any issues arising from that work? Unsure if the threading would mess up the finish, but think it would only happen where the threads are cut, which would be oiled/cleaned yearly.
Only negative I can find is the costs… which isn’t that bad. I standardized on REM chokes years back, to include what my Ithaca 37 has in it… after Steve shortened it to like 19” and threaded it for REM chokes (was an Ducks Unlimited gun that I used as a donor for the stock to replace my dad’s cracked one). Have the tubes to support it, but may buy a duplicate if I find one that works better.
Positives… better flexibility with patterns. Not stuck with the one choke. I’m still up in the air with it, but was considering a shotgun suppressor (Salvo 12), which the threaded 14” barrel would be good for it. That would be an investment down the line… if I do it.
Obviously, I doubt anyone has threaded a barrel for choke tubes and been unhappy with it (unless the gunsmith screwed up). Anyone feel it is a waste of time in a SBS? I know I’ve seen pictures online of a guy turkey hunting with his SBS. I doubt I’d do something like that… maybe take it trap shooting for s***s/giggles.
Or should I just leave well enough alone and be happy with the shotgun? It will be a defensive shotgun, so I necessarily don’t need all the bells/whistles. How it will be setup likely will be more than adequate.
I Form 1ed my TAC-14, which is on its way back from being refinished. We used to have 14” 870s at work, but the Field Office pulled them in their unquestionable wisdom. Being I loved that gun, figured I’d do my own take on it.
Magpul furniture, Inforce WML, +1 extension and Remington 14” barrel with XS sights. We had Ghost Ring sights on the work guns, but think they had the same fixed choke as mine. Changed out the side-saddle to a Velcro setup (used to be a TacStar) and now have a direct QD point at the interface with the stock and receiver. I also got a +2 extension and 18.5” barrel in case I ever wanted to run the gun as a normal shotgun without the NFA headache. This also gives me another 870 size, as I have a 20” 870P… then the longer barreled 11-87s that I used for hunting.
The TAC-14 had that crappy matte Remington finish prior to going bankrupt. You know… rusts if you look at it wrong. Barrels and extensions had actual Parkerizing, but even though I bought the 14” barrel new, it was all marked up prior to arriving. Picture was to show the front sight… but some of the marks that came on that barrel new.
https://i.imgur.com/Q8coWgl.jpg
I get that guns become banged up with use… but rather I be the one to put the marks on it instead of the factory or someone in shipping.
Sent the bolt parts and shell lifter to CCR for CPII and the rest of the larger metal parts went to VT to Greg at American Bluing for Parkerizing. I used Greg prior for my WASR and Remington Model 7 and was very pleased with his work. And the cost is pretty affordable… and it’s shocking with how well his work is. Once I get it back, I’ll build it up as the 18.5” shotgun and then send to Tar Heel for the engraving.
So the 18.5” barrel is threaded for choke tubes. The 14” has a fixed modified choke. Zero issue with that choke when it was a braced TAC-14. Considering I just had the barrel Parkerized… should I send it to Steve Rose and have it threaded for REM chokes? Anyone know Parkerizing better than me, and foresee any issues arising from that work? Unsure if the threading would mess up the finish, but think it would only happen where the threads are cut, which would be oiled/cleaned yearly.
Only negative I can find is the costs… which isn’t that bad. I standardized on REM chokes years back, to include what my Ithaca 37 has in it… after Steve shortened it to like 19” and threaded it for REM chokes (was an Ducks Unlimited gun that I used as a donor for the stock to replace my dad’s cracked one). Have the tubes to support it, but may buy a duplicate if I find one that works better.
Positives… better flexibility with patterns. Not stuck with the one choke. I’m still up in the air with it, but was considering a shotgun suppressor (Salvo 12), which the threaded 14” barrel would be good for it. That would be an investment down the line… if I do it.
Obviously, I doubt anyone has threaded a barrel for choke tubes and been unhappy with it (unless the gunsmith screwed up). Anyone feel it is a waste of time in a SBS? I know I’ve seen pictures online of a guy turkey hunting with his SBS. I doubt I’d do something like that… maybe take it trap shooting for s***s/giggles.
Or should I just leave well enough alone and be happy with the shotgun? It will be a defensive shotgun, so I necessarily don’t need all the bells/whistles. How it will be setup likely will be more than adequate.