couple of buddies and I that have been shooting 9 mm have no faith in the supply chain to keep our firearms fed in this caliber. We're thinking about starting up in the local tactical shotgun shoots. The thought is the 12 gauge will be the one thing that is available. Well, I should say that's the hope. The question is what shotgun? I'm not really that motivated to drop two grand on a Benelli tricked out. Yeah I can be talked into it, but I'm not there yet. What about the VR 80? Anyone out there do any tactical shotgun shooting? What are your thoughts.

Thank,
Pete

Might want to double check that ammo availability thing....only 12 gauge, or any gauge for that matter, available around me ( western N.C.) is steel shot waterfowl stuff, and not much of that!

You’re gonna spend that much on a mag fed automatic before it’s all over.

If I were starting from scratch for a tactical shotgun I’d get a 21” M2 with a standard stock, a Nordic tube, XS rear sight in the rib, open up the loading port, weld the lifter, extended bolt release button and charging handle, and a modify the bolt to allow ghost loading.

Just picked up a Beretta 1301 tactical Gen 2 (18 1/2”) added the nordic +2 extension, the Aridus stock adapter for the magpul stock, and am waiting for an Aridus CROM to come back in stock to co-witness an Aimpoint micro...

I got a VR80, 2 five shot mags, a 9 shot and a 20 round drum (fun).

It was a little finicky at first, it definitely needs a break in period. I probably would of bought a Mossberg retro if I could of found one.

Remington 870 or Mossberg 500, then customize to your desires.

What Modifications are most beneficial for the 870 and 500?

On the 870, a good barrel, plus 2 mag extension, and upgraded sights are the first thing I'd change. Maybe the extractor too.

I bought the police walnut model with 18" IC barrel and tritium rifle sights. No complaints and haven't wanted anything more.

This.
And you might want a cylinder bore barrel if you're going to shoot slugs.
870 and 500 are solid guns. You will be a little slower than semiauto.

Got a really custom 870 with the factory long mag and Mesa Tactical/Endine Hydraulic Buffer setup. It’s Cerakote with cylinder bore and even has a custom aluminum spacer for standard barrels. I’m planning to either Gunbroker it or list it to swap for a SxS 20 or 16 I can hunt with my kids with.


If it’s just a fun Gun/HD the tactical mag tube is nice since you don’t need an extension and it won’t hang up as I’m told extensions can. If you want a multipurpose I’d probably go with an 870 that has a standard mag and stock set so it’ll balance a little better if you hunt it.

Someone slicked up the feed, cone, and it feels like the trigger is as smooth as any shotgun I’ve tried so there’s options to upgrade an 870 anyway you like really. I may hang on to this one and track down a hunting gun. I’ve really come to appreciate the 870.

Had a Benelli SBE I believe or maybe a SBEIII if such a thing exists. Purpose built for Turkey and waterfowl I think but crude cycling, trigger, and felt like plastic. Sold it to a buddy cheap for mentoring Turkey hunters.

I’ve been interested in an FN Semi for a while. Think it’s the SLP so if you go that way would be interested in your thoughts.

For tactical games get an autoloader of some kind and extend mag and all the other stuff already recommended.

If your going HD, get a pump. But learn how to run it and don’t short stroke the thing.

I'm partial to the Magpul SGA stock for combat shotguns. The typical shotgun LOP is more suited to wingshooting than combat/defensive use, so I prefer being able to tailor my stock to fit me while avoiding the "snagginess" of a full pistol grip. A slightly more vertical grip angle is more comfortable for me as well.

Beyond that, a good weapon light and sidesaddle shell carrier are pragmatic additions. For field use, I usually download my weapon by one, stoke the tube with 00, and keep two birdshot shells and two slugs in the sidesaddle. For snakes/small game and larger/further critters, respectively.

For a while when I didn't have the money for an AR, my defensive weapon was an 18" 12ga pump. I got good with it, learned to cast and load my own slugs, and overall made the most of what I had.