I'd appreciate comments on the advantages and disadvantages of Vang Comp ported and unported Rem 870 defensive shotguns. Thanks.
BRET

I'd be glad to give you my opinon on this.  I do not subscribe to porting any weapon whether it is a handgun, rifle or shotgun.  I am of the opinon that there is no substitute for practice when it comes to the improved handling of any weapon.  Porting to me is analogous to wanting "improvement in a bottle".  I suggest you forgo the gadgets and modifications to save the money for a few extra cases of shells.

By far the very best shotgunners I know have simple shotguns, without the gadgets, and have mastered their technique with only these 3 things:

practice
practice
practice

About the only modification I would suggest for an 870, if you don't already have it, would be to have choke tubes installed to tighten up your pattern.

Shoot well.

CMOS

I had a S&W 3000 Police Model that Vang Comp worked on about 8 - 9 years ago, when getting established.  More than the comp, I was very impressed with the "jug" choke and the lenghtening of the chamber throat.  Reduced the recoil impulse and improved the pattern quite a bit.

Here's a retention scenario where porting has it's advantages, say you're in a home defense situation and BG grabs for and gets a hold of the shotgun by the barrel, you pull the trigger hoping the BG takes the round in cardio-pulmonary region, center torso, yet the muzzle wasn't directed quite correctly, porting will cut and burn through the hand on the muzzle even if shotgun round misses.

or youre temperarly blinded by the flash..

Hey Maverick, where are you at in NH? I'm in Rochester. Got any good gunshops in your neck of the woods?

Manchester Firing Line (www.nhguns.com) has good prices and a good indoor range. In Hooksett, Riley's (www.rileysguns.com) has a lot of everything, but runs a bit higher on gun prices.

What's up your way?

BRET