I've wanted a short barrelled shotgun ever since I saw a witness protection shotgun by Scattergun Technologies in the 90's.
Just something about the abbreviated barrel appealed to me.
However, lack of availability, cost, and other more important purchases got in the way over the years.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago.
Needed another project SG to work on so I purchased a 12.5" Dominion Arms Grizzly over the weekend. Almost immediately, I had buyers remorse as I all ready owned a 12.5 but couldn't justify the 8.5 version. After giving it some thought I figured out my reluctance to purchase the 8.5" version was due to the "minuscule" 2 +1 round capacity. Basically, going from the 12.5 to 8.5 version resulted in a loss of 2 rounds (2-3/4). If I used it like I did 30+ years ago when camping in what is now the "Great Bear" rain forest I had empty chamber with full magazine. Should Yogi or Boo Boo appear it would just be a matter of pumping the action and chambering a round. With 4 round capacity in the tube I didn't feel under gunned.
With only 2 rounds in the magazine using the 8.5" version I considered the shotgun more a "toy" than a purpose built shotgun. This bias was further reinforced with the use of a forward folding (Serbu) or fixed pump handle on the forearm. Never understood the need to reduce the length of a shotgun only to increase the height - negating any advantage of the compact nature of the firearm. As I understood the sales information the gun was capable of firing 3" shells - meaning I might have some wiggle room to get 3 rounds of 2-3/4 into the magazine tube.
I ended up changing my order the following Monday and by Friday that same week I received the 8.5" Dominion Arms Grizzly. I immediately hauled out the dummy 2-3/4 test rounds and determined I need at least 1/2" of extra length in the magazine to get 3 rounds in (over compressing the spring will be fixed later). Work got busy so I wasn't able to try anything until last night.
The magazine cap retention system uses the same Remington Express divot with plastic spring retainer/mag lock. First thing I did was remove the factory follower and replace it with a shorter one I had in my spares box. Secondly, I deep sixed the plastic retainer which resulted in being 1/8" short of my third round. I then proceeded to back off the magazine endcap one full thread at a time until the shell fit into the magazine - success. The downside was I only had one thread holding the magazine cap onto the SG. Determined the sling swivel backing washer used up a lot of room in the Dominion
Arms supplied endcap.
I had a factory Remington Endcap which used the detente ball system to retain the tension on the endcap. The shape and depth appeared at first glance to give me the room I might need. Surprisingly, swapping over the part resulted in being able to tighten down the barrel and fit 3 rounds to test my spring compression. There was none.
Thought about installing a 1 round extension but I wanted to keep the magazine tube from projecting past the front of the barrel.
Gave Joseph a call @ Dlask and I have a 2 part Happy Face Cap being sent to my house. I figure I can modify the centre "cap" to provide the necessary depth needed to prevent full compression of the spring. I have 3/16 to 1/4 of extra length to build into the cap if I want to have the mag tube flush with the barrel.
I now will have to test the reliabiilty of the system to now hold 3 rounds in the magazine. I feel this is bringing it closer to functional shotgun than a "toy".
Stay tuned for the next step which is a choked barrel (may have to have a Dlask version made).
Just something about the abbreviated barrel appealed to me.
However, lack of availability, cost, and other more important purchases got in the way over the years.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago.
Needed another project SG to work on so I purchased a 12.5" Dominion Arms Grizzly over the weekend. Almost immediately, I had buyers remorse as I all ready owned a 12.5 but couldn't justify the 8.5 version. After giving it some thought I figured out my reluctance to purchase the 8.5" version was due to the "minuscule" 2 +1 round capacity. Basically, going from the 12.5 to 8.5 version resulted in a loss of 2 rounds (2-3/4). If I used it like I did 30+ years ago when camping in what is now the "Great Bear" rain forest I had empty chamber with full magazine. Should Yogi or Boo Boo appear it would just be a matter of pumping the action and chambering a round. With 4 round capacity in the tube I didn't feel under gunned.
With only 2 rounds in the magazine using the 8.5" version I considered the shotgun more a "toy" than a purpose built shotgun. This bias was further reinforced with the use of a forward folding (Serbu) or fixed pump handle on the forearm. Never understood the need to reduce the length of a shotgun only to increase the height - negating any advantage of the compact nature of the firearm. As I understood the sales information the gun was capable of firing 3" shells - meaning I might have some wiggle room to get 3 rounds of 2-3/4 into the magazine tube.
I ended up changing my order the following Monday and by Friday that same week I received the 8.5" Dominion Arms Grizzly. I immediately hauled out the dummy 2-3/4 test rounds and determined I need at least 1/2" of extra length in the magazine to get 3 rounds in (over compressing the spring will be fixed later). Work got busy so I wasn't able to try anything until last night.
The magazine cap retention system uses the same Remington Express divot with plastic spring retainer/mag lock. First thing I did was remove the factory follower and replace it with a shorter one I had in my spares box. Secondly, I deep sixed the plastic retainer which resulted in being 1/8" short of my third round. I then proceeded to back off the magazine endcap one full thread at a time until the shell fit into the magazine - success. The downside was I only had one thread holding the magazine cap onto the SG. Determined the sling swivel backing washer used up a lot of room in the Dominion
Arms supplied endcap.
I had a factory Remington Endcap which used the detente ball system to retain the tension on the endcap. The shape and depth appeared at first glance to give me the room I might need. Surprisingly, swapping over the part resulted in being able to tighten down the barrel and fit 3 rounds to test my spring compression. There was none.
Thought about installing a 1 round extension but I wanted to keep the magazine tube from projecting past the front of the barrel.
Gave Joseph a call @ Dlask and I have a 2 part Happy Face Cap being sent to my house. I figure I can modify the centre "cap" to provide the necessary depth needed to prevent full compression of the spring. I have 3/16 to 1/4 of extra length to build into the cap if I want to have the mag tube flush with the barrel.
I now will have to test the reliabiilty of the system to now hold 3 rounds in the magazine. I feel this is bringing it closer to functional shotgun than a "toy".
Stay tuned for the next step which is a choked barrel (may have to have a Dlask version made).
Last edited:
