DA Grizzly 8.5" vs. 12.5"?

ryk

ryk

Regular
Rating - 100%
10   0   0
Location
Northern GTA
I'm considering a purchase of a mag-fed Grizzly for tactical sports (e.g. three gun).
The stumbling stone is the barrel length: should I go with 8.5 (more compact, CQB-like), or 12.5 (a little bit more precision, I'd assume)?

Are my assumptions even valid? What other considerations would you suggest to take into the account?

Oh, and there's also 18.5, to make the decision even more complicated... That can possibly be also used for some occasional skeet or trap shooting? Or am I delusional? :cool:
 
Last edited:
For the 3-gun I've seen, I'd consider the 12.5" or 18.5". Personally, I'd get the 12.5", and look for a good deal on the EE for an 18.5" 870 Express barrel to come up. The 8.5" is kinda silly (fun, sure!), and it limits your options for forend and barrel swapping. I haven't seen any 3-gun stage design where it would be an advantage to have a shotgun that short.

Yes, you can bust clays with a short cylinder choked shotgun. At short range. :)
 
These guns do not have a very good reputation. Quality is pretty hit and miss, closer to miss than hit.

Do some reading and ask some owners before buying one is my recommendation.
 
I find my 8.5 is only good to 25 yards at best, and that is hitting a static target with shot. keep that in mind
 
8.5 is a fun toy, but that's about it. Honestly, I would go with a 14", not much longer plus 1 extra shell, it's all good.
 
Neither is "precision" in any way.

However, if you get a 12.5", you may be able to fit a full length Remington 870 barrel, which you could use to bust clays or hunt birds. And swap between the two barrels easily, they just have a hand-tightened nut.
 
12.5 is compatible with all other aftermarket 870 parts & accessories , 8.5 is not. Let's be real here , if a 12.5 is just too long for your application , what you may be in the need for is not a 8.5 with a 3 round capacity but rather a pistol with way more capacity ... Which you can only use on the range. Oh Canada
 
(sorry for the 2 month bump, didn't wanna start a new thread)

Is it just me or is the 12.5" grizzly obscenely heavy? I didn't have a regular 870 to compare at the time but damn it felt hefty! Canada Ammo has it listed at just under 7lbs I believe, while a no-frills 870 with an 18" barrel is something like 7.5lbs... but it sure didn't feel this way. Any input? Has someone weighed their 12.5" Grizzly? Where's all the heft hiding?
 
knock-knock said:
(sorry for the 2 month bump, didn't wanna start a new thread)

Is it just me or is the 12.5" grizzly obscenely heavy? I didn't have a regular 870 to compare at the time but damn it felt hefty! Canada Ammo has it listed at just under 7lbs I believe, while a no-frills 870 with an 18" barrel is something like 7.5lbs... but it sure didn't feel this way. Any input? Has someone weighed their 12.5" Grizzly? Where's all the heft hiding?
Click to expand...

Lot of the weight itself is in the barrel. Compared to my 870 barrels they feel pretty slim compared to the thick profile of the Dominion Arms barrel.

The receiver is slightly larger then a standard Rem 870 as my Remington brand scope mount doesn't fit exactly properly, needs some clamps and elbow grease to get installed properly.

Just put it on my medical scale, floating on 7.5lbs unloaded.
 
I like my 12.5, seems ok for weight.

They do take a bit of working in, I had a few failures to feed to 2 3/4 shells. After about 75 rounds no more problems, cycles fine.
 
Grove said:
Lot of the weight itself is in the barrel. Compared to my 870 barrels they feel pretty slim compared to the thick profile of the Dominion Arms barrel.

The receiver is slightly larger then a standard Rem 870 as my Remington brand scope mount doesn't fit exactly properly, needs some clamps and elbow grease to get installed properly.

Just put it on my medical scale, floating on 7.5lbs unloaded.
Click to expand...

7.5lbs eh? Guess I'm being a pussy. Thanks ;)
 
The box magazine versions seem to have more "issues" with not working properly: many report they work well, but there's some who struggle a bit to get them going. Also, getting spares for the box mag itself could be an issue. The more typical tube-fed ones are usually reliable right from the start, and once proven, stay reliable.
 
I have hefted the 12.5" guns a few times, and they do feel heavy...maybe it's just something about how they balance...?

I sometimes wish I had bought a 12.5" instead of the 8.5"...I like the idea of the extra couple of rounds and the ability to use standard barrels and aftermarket parts. However the badass quotient of the shorter gun never fails to make me smile...
 
the synthetic stock is pretty heavy. a hogue is much lighter. Most of the extra weight is in the standard norinco butt stock (2lbs, fore end is about 0.5 lbs). With the hogue 12.5 LOP stock the DA 12.5" barrel version weighs about 6.75 lbs.


Tengoo said:
I have hefted the 12.5" guns a few times, and they do feel heavy...maybe it's just something about how they balance...?

I sometimes wish I had bought a 12.5" instead of the 8.5"...I like the idea of the extra couple of rounds and the ability to use standard barrels and aftermarket parts. However the badass quotient of the shorter gun never fails to make me smile...
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
I went with the 12.5" and transplanted Express 'wood' on it, and boy am I glad I did; the foregrip on the (tube fed) 8.5" has a 'knobbly' on the end which can mash yer forefinger pretty good (the magfed looks to have a more ergonomic foregrip). The 12.5" has the capacity of the magfed with one in the tube, the 14" will accept a +1 extension, and both should accept longer Express barrels if you want to blast some clays.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom