- Location
- East ontario
Dominion Arms - Grizzly - First Impressions
- Thread starter lmar
- Start date
- Location
- East ontario
Tongue in cheek reply:
So charge me another $5.00 to have the $2.00 an hour factory worker deburr the receiver. I thought I was buying a shotgun - not a straight razor.
L
so maybe we should put a list togeather of what we want the 2009/10 DA arms 870 copy to be.
Can am seems to be open to stuff like that.
As thats how coem some of the new guns have the choke tubes.
things id like to see
1 deburred frame
2 4 drilled and taped holes on top of the frame.
3 flexi tab up grade
4 parkarised not oxy finish.
5 mag tube threaded in inch not metric so we can use mag tubes
stocks dont matter as id chnge them anyway
Id pay more for a gun that had this allready.
bbb
I had some more time today to play with the new toy.
Ended up swapping out Remington and Grizzly parts to see how well they interchanged.
Here is what I've found so far:
Remington Barrel swaps into Grizzly with no problems. Everything aligns properly and the receiver locks up tight to the barrel when in battery.
Grizzly barrel just fits Remington receiver. If someone had duracoated the receiver and got sloppy on the paint build up I could see where the Grizzly barrel might not fit the Remington receiver.
There was a slight hesitation of the bolt to lock up with the barrel when racking the slide forward. I thought it might be interference with the fore end but after closer inspection it appears the barrel locking lug cutout is further forward than the Grizzly. Its just hanging up when the lug tries to rotate into the barrel cutout. May require some additional fitting and/or metal removal if barrel is at the maximum material condition.
Grizzly magazine cap works fine for both Remington and Express receivers. Locks up barrels to receivers as it should. Remington cap does not work on Grizzly. It bottoms out before tightening the barrel to the receiver.
The barrel lug on the Grizzly is shorter than the Remington (ie. think of top barrel as a cylinder that is parallel with magazine tube - another cylinder). If you measure the distance between the cylinders at the closest points they should be the same (taking into account the taper). I suspect that you will find the Grizzlies decreases from the receiver out to the end of the barrel.
This would explain why you can't use front sling adapters on the Grizzly. The centre distances are too short. Next time I have it apart I'll measure the barrels and compare.
What this means is if you use identical front sights on various barrels the Grizzly will be off (shooting higher).
L
Ended up swapping out Remington and Grizzly parts to see how well they interchanged.
Here is what I've found so far:
Remington Barrel swaps into Grizzly with no problems. Everything aligns properly and the receiver locks up tight to the barrel when in battery.
Grizzly barrel just fits Remington receiver. If someone had duracoated the receiver and got sloppy on the paint build up I could see where the Grizzly barrel might not fit the Remington receiver.
There was a slight hesitation of the bolt to lock up with the barrel when racking the slide forward. I thought it might be interference with the fore end but after closer inspection it appears the barrel locking lug cutout is further forward than the Grizzly. Its just hanging up when the lug tries to rotate into the barrel cutout. May require some additional fitting and/or metal removal if barrel is at the maximum material condition.
Grizzly magazine cap works fine for both Remington and Express receivers. Locks up barrels to receivers as it should. Remington cap does not work on Grizzly. It bottoms out before tightening the barrel to the receiver.
The barrel lug on the Grizzly is shorter than the Remington (ie. think of top barrel as a cylinder that is parallel with magazine tube - another cylinder). If you measure the distance between the cylinders at the closest points they should be the same (taking into account the taper). I suspect that you will find the Grizzlies decreases from the receiver out to the end of the barrel.
This would explain why you can't use front sling adapters on the Grizzly. The centre distances are too short. Next time I have it apart I'll measure the barrels and compare.
What this means is if you use identical front sights on various barrels the Grizzly will be off (shooting higher).
L
My wish list would include the followng:
Magazine tube and/or barrel lug placement identical to Remington so standard remington magazine endcaps can be used. Currently, DA endcap can be used on Remingtons but Remington's can't be used on DA Grizzly.
Barrel lug lengthened to match Remington so that barrel bands, side slings, etc.. could be used. Distance between barrel/magazine is shorter for Grizzly. Can't use side sling plates without opening up the aftermarket parts.
Having the magazine tube diameter match the Remington is a must as it prevents the use of a lot of aftermarket forends. That is why I went with wood. Didn't have the tools/time/know-how to modify the aftermarket plastic fore ends. Wood was a lot easier to work with. Even then, I had to remove a fair amount of material.
Barrel Lug needs to be at least drilled for magazine endcap detente ball. I have the tool to add the detente ball/spring after the fact.
Without the detente one cannot use it on a wingmaster receiver without always checking for the endcap loosening. Express versions use a different system and would be compatible.
L
Last edited:
- Location
- East ontario
Why not just buy an 870? I think Remington makes them...
because of the short barrles.
bbb
So what are the advantages of the short "barreles" ( I think you meant barrels) Other than for a pack gun? I saw in another post "Grizzly Arms Music Video" The shot placement of that Buckshot would be lucky to kill a Rabbit let alone a dangerous animal. Are they any better with Slugs or is it spray and pray?
- Location
- East ontario
Just what you said.
a pack gun, guide gun, defence gun, tactical shooting, many more things to do with a shotgun them blast the birds.
bbb
What I didn't show in the video was the pattern from the #4 shot my son was using. At 20 yards 80% of the pellets were in a circle 26" in diameter. (If memory serves me this is how they told me to do it in the CORE outdoor program many, many, years ago).
Most of the shot was strung out uniformly in a vertical column only 20-24" wide.
It displayed nice patterning with the smaller shot, something that you wouldn't be able to tell from the 00 loads shown in the video.
I've never hunted so I don't know what the criteria for a "clean" kill is on small animals - but if I was a bunny I wouldn't want to be stepping into the pattern @ 20 yards
Slugs are on my list for the next session.
Also, not mentioned, is they are just plain fun to shoot !!!!
L
Smooth.
Trying to see what I can wring out of it with minimal amount of cash outlay for "improvements".
On that note I've rediscovered just how fast a plain brass bead on a shotgun is.
I've had ghost ring sights on my SG before they became popular. Funny how you get use to one thing and then something as simple as a dumb little bead changes your whole perception.
L
Okay,
The honeymoon is now over.
Had the shotgun for almost a week now.
Gone out to the range with it (40 rnds #4, 20 rounds 00 buck).
Ended up smoothing out the action.
Result - It has REALLY smoothed out. Pumping the action is smoother than an Express but not quite like a Wingmaster (I've got a lot more rounds through the latter in fairness).
Played with the trigger return spring. Ended up rotating it so the coils weren't binding as much and the trigger went from long gritty pull to slight takeup (slack) and then relatively crisp letoff (its a shotgun - right). Was surprised at the difference rotating the spring made - who would have thunk it. Tried rotating it to several different postions until I got the sweet spot. Million dollar question is will it stay there?
Overall I'd rate the Dominion equal to that of a Remington Express in fit and finish. If some small changes were made to the design to make it compatible with Remington aftermarket parts (forend, magazine tube endcap, front sling plates) and improve the finish - then I'd rank it as excellent.
Its pretty good value for the money in a neat, handy, 12.5" package.
(Just went and tried a 18" barrel Remington Express - Not too sure why it feels heavier and bulkier compared to the 12.5".
I'm a convert to shorter barreled shotguns.
L
The honeymoon is now over.
Had the shotgun for almost a week now.
Gone out to the range with it (40 rnds #4, 20 rounds 00 buck).
Ended up smoothing out the action.
Result - It has REALLY smoothed out. Pumping the action is smoother than an Express but not quite like a Wingmaster (I've got a lot more rounds through the latter in fairness).
Played with the trigger return spring. Ended up rotating it so the coils weren't binding as much and the trigger went from long gritty pull to slight takeup (slack) and then relatively crisp letoff (its a shotgun - right). Was surprised at the difference rotating the spring made - who would have thunk it. Tried rotating it to several different postions until I got the sweet spot. Million dollar question is will it stay there?
Overall I'd rate the Dominion equal to that of a Remington Express in fit and finish. If some small changes were made to the design to make it compatible with Remington aftermarket parts (forend, magazine tube endcap, front sling plates) and improve the finish - then I'd rank it as excellent.
Its pretty good value for the money in a neat, handy, 12.5" package.
(Just went and tried a 18" barrel Remington Express - Not too sure why it feels heavier and bulkier compared to the 12.5".
I'm a convert to shorter barreled shotguns.
L
darkshadow
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- OH Ontario, OH NO!
I got a used 870 cap off a forum member,(drilled a big ass hole in it to hold a mag light)
And it fit/threaded on just fine, not sure of the problem....
And it fit/threaded on just fine, not sure of the problem....
I've tried both a wingmaster and an Express endcap and both run out out thread before securing the barrel.
Both caps are from firearms that are 12-15 years old.
Been thinking about the Dlask endcaps myself. Might just buy one to see if it fits. Has anyone else used a Dlask mag cap on a Grizzly? Does it fit?
L
