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Posted: 10/16/2004 4:26:22 PM EDT
| I have an 870 police magnum and was thinking about the vang comp system on my barrel. Is it worth it and should I also do the porting? Thanks. |
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A Gunsite instructor and ex-Border Patrol agent I know speaks very higlhly of their back-boring. From all reports Hans Vang is a great guy to deal with. I would probably stick to the back-bore and not bother with the porting unless it's nothing more than a game gun in which case the added noise & flash shouldn't matter. I've always wanted to have a Vang modified 870, but other projects have always come first. |
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EPD makes a very valid point. Shotgunning and shotgun mods are a art not a science. Before I spent the money on VC system I would spend lot's of time on the patterning board. Shoot several brands, several different sizes of buck and shot, 3", 2 3/4" and reduced recoil and compare to expect results with the VC system. Keep written results as you shoot. Porting= loud guns not softer recoil IMHO. MIKE. |
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Porting will reduce recoil some do to the muzzle blat being redirected. If a true muzzle break was placed it could reduce recoil substantially more. Porting is a band aid mostly to reduce muzzle climb. I have been doing a lot of research in this area and hope to within a year or so to have a working muzzel break. |
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this is a legitimate question, coming from a shotgun noob. As I understand the vang comp system or backboring, is used to improve patterning, wouldn't that defeat the purpose of a shotgun being a cqb weapon? What I'm trying to say is that my idea of a shotgun is to shoot and have the shot spread to better your chances at hitting your taget, isn't that what the shotgun was intended for? And backboring prevents the spread at closer distances, so you would have to aim better to hit your target, instead of point and shoot. I'm not trolling around, just want to understand this better. Thanks 
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Absolutely not! Every weapon should be a precision weapon in its designed engagement envelope. The purpose of a shotgun is to saturate your target with a whole lot of lead in a short period of time. The shotgun is easier to hit with, not because of its pattern, but because it is a shoulder-fired weapon that points more naturally than a handgun. The only time you want a spread pattern is in certain shooting sports and for bird hunting, but even then you still want a dense enough pattern to either break the target or get a clean kill on the bird. |
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The smaller shot pattern can indeed be a concern. Shot patten at close range is suprisingly dense, even with large shot and cylinder bore (as in no choke at all). Some people think they fire like a blunderbuss and hit everything in the quandrant the shotgun is pointed at. If you are using one indoors CQB, you had better aim that thunderstick well. However it's at the longer distances (say 15+ yards?) that are of concern and that's when the Vang Comp system really helps. I suppose it may not always work but I have been amazed at every one I have seen done. Of course no one would so proudly show their Vang Comp'ed shotty to me if it wasn't helping. |
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I have had the fortune of shooting a few of the Vang 870's and one of the Mossy 590's. They shoot very well. Although the porting does provide a small reduction in felt recoil, the major difference I noticed was in muzzle jump/climb. Follow up shots were much quicker. Didn't notice much difference in noise or muzzle blast with it. As soon as I can afford it I am sending my 870 in. All the guys up here who have Vangs have meet Hans personally and only speak highly of him. Chris |
In addition to the other replies, I'll add that it's also a liability issue. If you do use a shotgun in a defensive situation you're responsible for all the projectiles that leave that barrel. If you're shooting 9 pellet OO buck, and 8 pellets hit the intended target, but the 9th one goes through your window and hits your neighbor in the head, you'll be in some trouble. Therefore, it would seem like a good idea to keep your shot spread minimized so you have a better chance of keeping all the pellets on target. Also, by having a tighter pattern you increase your effective range with buckshot. Hope all that made sense! |
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I have an Vang comped 870 with the ports and love it. All I shoot is full powerloads (no tactical loads) and my particular barrel patterns my primary load (Fed prem 12pellet 00B 2 3/4 mag) great (read very tight). I have never shot an unported Vang barrel so I have no recoil/muzzle rise comparision but both are much better after the Vang comp. Just my pocket change opinion. |
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I performed some of the independent pattern testing shown on his website. I'm a believer in the system. When I originally ordered my barrel, I had intended to NOT get it ported because I suffered some of the beliefs listed by previous posters (louder, flash, etc.). Vang told me flash would be a non-issue. He was right. I don't notice any difference in noise shooting it side-by-side with other shotguns. It flips just a little less than non-ported guns, and maybe it doesn't kick quite as hard. I'm using all low-recoil loads, though, so it's nothing dramatic either way. It patterns beautifully! Best thing I could do for my shotgun, IMHO. Glenn R. |
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I'd have it done on my Benelli M4 if the option was available. GG&G said they only handle the M1 as it is now. Benelli and Beretta barrels typically cannot be backbored, so a complete new barrel is required. This would probably be some extensive work/cost for the M4 due to the gas system. Reguardless, I would get it if it was available. -Steve |
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