If you get the Reduced LOP hogue stock, the 12.5 is only 2" longer than the 8.5. But with the 12.5 you get the option of ghost rings (which I prefer), threaded chokes and interchangeable longer barrels as an option.
More range, more velocity, better potential accuracy, more capacity and cheaper by a wide margin.
I believe the price is different because of the volume of the orders, so it appears the 8.5" is less popular so you're paying extra for that.
Btw, the hogue stock is quite a bit lighter than the norinco one, so if weight is an issue, that's worth changing for sure.
Going back to the OP, I recommend that any new Norinco / Dominion Arms be stripped and have all fasteners lock tited and tightened before shooting. They make great copies, but the assembly QA is poor. Sometimes screws/nuts aren't even finger tight. So it's in your interest to make sure yours is in 100% condition first. That out of the way, they are fantastic.
The 12" Outlaw SxS is the most fun to shoot of all I have tried.
Are they reliable enough for bush defense? Certainly the tube feds are. I would certainly trust all the ones I've tried. They always work.
I suspect the reason that many people say they wouldn't trust one for bush defense is shot a new one with loose parts. A few 12 gauge shells later and they experience reliability issues.
