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Posted: 6/16/2005 10:23:46 AM EDT
| Any one have real world experence with Vang Comp'd Shotguns? Better yet, Anyone patterned there 12ga before and after Vang Comp'ing?... Im thinking about this for my Mossberg, It throws prety good patterns ...............udog |
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I have a vang 870, but I purchased a Bar-sto barrel that had the vang comp modifications on it, so i wasn't able to see a before/after. However with my other non-vang'd 870, it's easy to see that the vang system does have a tighter pattern because of the way the forcing cone is shaped. The barrel is nice, but i don't think that it's worth the $$. If your gun is patterning pretty well (ie. the right size for whatever your purpose is for), and you are familiar with it, just stick with your regular barrel. If you want to slightly (and sometimes significantly) adjust patterning, I would first try different brands of ammunition to see if that solves what you are looking for. It's a cheaper and more effective way to go. In a recent shotgun class that I took, I've seen an out the box 870 pattern tighter with the right ammo, than my vang w/cheap ammo. I still have to experiment to find that right ammo/barrel combo. |
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This is the best load Ive found out of the 15 or so ive tried, Shotgun is a 14" mossberg SBS Cyl bore,.. The dots in the pic are 1". About 4 1/2" at 15yrds. I havent tried it at 25yrds yet.... So I guess what Im asking is will the Vang comp tighten this up? Vang comp promises 12" patterns at 25yrds, I belive mine will do that now. 
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A vang should tighten your grouping up. during the class we patterned at about 5 to 30 ft, and my 30ft groups were similar to your 7 yard pattern. I was shooting s&b 00 buck (cheap stuff), and would get an occasional flyer. The instructor said that one of the points that we should be looking for (at least to avoid) were the occasional flyers - like the 2 that are on your lower right target. a vang mod would pull that tighter, IMO. |
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Underdog; Those are some danmed tight patterns from Buckshot. I would not want to guarantee than Vang can improve a lot on them. Other than perhaps making your patterns more consistent from one shot to the next, I think you will not see a whole lot of improvement from a Vang Comp'ed barrel. His work IS excellent, but I just don't know that he can improve a whole lot on your pictured results. Me? I would save my money, but it is your call. |
| Well let me say that the Hornady is the oddball of the bunch, Most pattern around 7-9 inches at 15yrds. I have tried the S+B 12 pellet and it prints around 10 inches at 15yrds with a few fliers............Just trying to see if Ill get my 200$ worth with the Vang Comping...On a related note do you feel Vangs porting is a worth while addition?...........Udog |
What are you doing with the gun? For home defense, no, I don't think the money spent for exotic backboring and porting is usually worth the results for most shooters, but that is an opinion colored by decades of working with hundreds of issue shotguns and LEOs who, as a generalized group, tend to be mediocre shooters at best. For guys like these, ammo, some range time and a good, standard gun will make much more difference than anything else. On the other hand, what you see as you begin to try and improve performance of both weapons and shooters is a "diminishing return" factor. I.E. generally, you will spend more and more money and time for less and less improvement. That is not criticism...it is fact. My personal opinion is that a good shotgun class, or $200 more in ammo (assuming you will actually shoot it) , or a SureFire fore end are all more valuable than the Vang work on the barrel...for most guys who plan to use the shotgun for serious purposes. On the other hand, there is certainly nothing "bad" about Vang's work nor anything "wrong" about spending the money required to have it done, and his prices are at least competitive while his work is superb. |
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To answer the question: "What am I doing with this shotgun?" Well, Everything. Ive sold 90% of my firearms in the last 8 months in order to focus on a select few, Or more like one rifle one carbine one shotgun and one pistol. Ive comitted myself to spend range time to improve my skills instead of playing. Im promised myself Ill get some classes(time permitting). Basically Ive comitted myself to becoming a Rifleman instead of a man with a rifle. Patterning, zeroing with slugs etc is just part of the shotgun side of things and begining down the path to total understanding of my weapons, in this case the boomstick..... And Ive allready got a surefire. 
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