Dominion Grizzly

Drachenblut

Drachenblut

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Smithers, B.C.
Hello,

I am looking for information, specs, but most importantly testimonials from owners about this shotgun, how it handles, fires, what kind of rounds people like to use, if it's any good to do close-range hunting (waterfowl?). Let's here some chitter chatter about this. I am interested in getting one but no one seems to even have them anymore. Last I heard the pre-order sold the entire lot out of Canada Ammo they had this summer.

Yours,
Drachenblut
 
Lol. Of course. But for testimonials I prefer my friends here on CGN, not the cold, hard world of wide spread non-canadian sopmod tact shotty Internet. :)
 
I have the DA 12.5" (870 clone) kinda tacticool'd. I don't hunt with it. I just like to put big holes in targets. I use 2 3/4" and 3" rifled slugs. I use it more for fun than anything (and it's alot of fun!!!)...definitely gets attention when I bring it to the range.
 
for all intents and purposes its almost identical to an 870 Express... so any praise for or gripes about the 870 Express pretty much also applies to the Grizzly.

the differences:

pros:
-slightly beefier than the Express.
-has Wingmaster 'grooves' cut into the top of the receiver which looks a hell of a lot nicer than the flat ground Express.
-slightly nicer machining than an Express (who would have thought id say this about a Chinese gun?). my Grizzly receiver is pretty much flawless, whereas my brand new Express receiver is covered in little marks/pits.
-metal triggergroup (aluminum) as opposed to the plastic of the Express.
-external 870 accessories fit (sling plates, stocks, mag extensions/caps, etc) with the exception of having to relieve the inside of wood forends a couple thousandths of an inch. if you just try to force a wood Remington forend on a Grizzly, itll split.
-comes with short barrels that would on their own cost as much as the entire Grizzly ($300 Dlask 12.5" barrel + $400 870 Express). of course a Dlask barrel is much nicer but this is a non-issue for the average plinker.

cons:
-internal parts do not interchange. when i picked up my Grizzly i had plans to swap the guts out with a Wingmaster but nothing fits: bolt, triggergroup, etc are all slightly dimensionally different. this could be a problem if something breaks.
-Grizzly barrels do not index properly on a Remington, and vice-versa. so dispel any thoughts of taking your 12.5" Grizzly barrel and putting it on a Remington, because the front sight will be cocked to the side quite a bit. some people do this anyway - it blows my mind.



in general i would prefer a Remington for the seamless interchangeability of internal/external parts, but the Grizzlies offer more value for your $$ because of the configurations they come in.
 
manbearpig

Great answer and some good information. This isn't even my thread but i would rather see good individual opinions/experiences rather than the "search is your friend (even though it is)" response. :p
 
Mods? could we start a sticky much like the red rifles forum have with Dominion arms instead?
please?.......
pretty please?
With information, fixes, modding it, tricks and tips
I too have toiled over the use of the search function for to long here.
Good info, but I'd really love to see a sticky full of what MBP had to say.
 
i should also add that IMO 12.5" is the ideal 870 barrel length for a pump shorty bear gun, plinker, HD, etc.

its long enough to burn all the powder of most loads (and without losing too much shot velocity), yet short enough to be compact especially with a short LOP stock like the hogue (just under 31" OAL). its the shortest you can go with the standard 870 mag tube without altering the gun, you retain the full mag capacity and you also retain the option to swap in any 870 barrel.

unfortunately its too short for most folding stocks, but i actually prefer something like a short LOP hogue to a folding stock.
 
I am planning to buy magazine fed Grizzly. Any good or bad feedback? And before I see one more "search is your friend" response...First of all, this wonderful function for some reason does not work for me on this particular site. And second, if we refer everyone who has question to search function this forum will be dead in 2 days. After all, if you take time to type "search is your friend", you might as well use it to type more meaningful response.
 
I have the 15" grizzly-mag and absolutely love it, like manbearpig said its almost identical to the 870 express.. except manufactured slightly better.

I just use it for blasting trap and targets though.
 
I've really enjoyed my mag fed 15" so far, although I have to say I'm not in total love with the rifle style sights on it. But I'm working on it.

So have have swapped on a new stock and foreend intended for a 870 with no problems.
 
I called CanAm and apparently 15" barreled once are sold out and they are not sure when they will be back. So I am contemplating on whether to buy 18" barreled or wait and hope that 15" will be in stock again.
 
I've yet to shoot mine (12." with sights), but it will proabably be my go-to gun for shotgun only hunts for deer, at least when pushing the bush. I'm still on the lookout for a rifled choke and maybe the Lee mould for casting slugs.

I was thinking of using my Grizzly for Turkey last spring, but the thought of the ported, extra-full choke tube just 13-14 inches from my face got me thinking of screwing it into my Savage 24F instead.

While the shotgun might pattern fine for waterfowl with the right combo of shot and choke, I would imagine that such a short barrel would greatly handicap someone shooting at crossing game. IF a reasonably priced, longer barrel where available that would properly fit into the gun, that would be a tempting purchase in the future. I might eventually try it on grouse (with spreader loads in the modified choke, or with a more open choke installed), but it would probably be on a trip where I haven't use of my 20 ga SxS.

The gun feels hefty for something so compact, but with a sling attached, I can see it compete with the CZ 858 as the gun to carry in the bush for bear-defence and all around cool factor, and would favour it where a chance to harvest small game is present.

If I needed a gun for home defence, the Grizzly, or better yet the mag fed version, would win my confidence.

As you could probably surmise by my comments, I really like the fact that it comes with a screw in choke tube. It's a lot of gun for the money.

Frank
 
I have the version that came before the choke tube, I had one installed this year though. It's very well built and as such has very little recoil. It is Freaking loud however, to the point that I carry a set of plugs in the truck now.

I use and abuse it, (it's the only gun I treat this way) carry it when hiking, rides in the truck, on the sled etc...

I have had many chinese guns over the years and this is the only one I have kept, I think that speaks volumes by itself.
 
I have a pump with 18 inch barrel and a mag fed with 12 inch barrel (or the other way around depending on my mood) both with ghost ring sights so I can swap barrels.

Minimal mods, no jam follower/sling plate on the pump, and telescoping stock on the mag fed. Got rid of the flashlight forend, limited utility.

Very happy with them, mainly shoot buckshot at 15-40 metres.

shotlu1copy.jpg
 
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