Remington VERSA MAX Tactical

The issue that I see (with legality) in this case is that my gun is labeled as 2-3/4 to 3"... but the chamber is indeed 3.5"

So if I modified it to fit 5 3.5" shells, I could potentially be in hot water because the gun isn't labeled as such.

From gunblast.com
The chamber of the VMT is identical to the other Versa Max shotguns; therefore, it will chamber and fire the 3 ½ inch 12 gauge shotshell. The problem comes with inserting six of those long shotshells into the mag tube. They go in perfectly fine, but with some brands of ammo, those long plastic shells can buckle slightly under the pressure of a fully-loaded magazine tube of shells under recoil. Those long shells usually carry a two-ounce payload, and under recoil, the walls of some brands of shell will buckle enough to cause feeding problems. Loading two into the mag tube causes no problem at all, in my experience, and with two in the tube and one in the chamber, this makes for a wonderful, soft-shooting turkey gun. Three shots are more than enough for turkey hunting, and for defensive use, the 2 ¾ and 3 inch shells are better anyway. So, while the VMT will feed and fire 3 ½ inch shells, it is best to not fill the mag tube with those, but use them as a standard-capacity shotgun.
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knock-knock said:
The issue that I see (with legality) in this case is that my gun is labeled as 2-3/4 to 3"... but the chamber is indeed 3.5"

So if I modified it to fit 5 3.5" shells, I could potentially be in hot water because the gun isn't labeled as such.

From gunblast.com
Click to expand...

True, but the R-12 is labelled for 3.5"
 
7.62mm said:
Is the receiver marked...or the barrel?
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Just went to look at it. The barrel has the marking, the receiver has nothing.

I haven't tried 3.5" in mine, but the gunblast guy did and it worked fine... he noted the problem is with loading 3.5" shells to max capacity in the tube. I did more searching online and others too have fired many 3.5" shells from their VMTs without trouble.

Here's a question: if you load and fire a 3.5" shell from a 3" max chamber, is it guaranteed to blow up? Or it is it just 'kinda possible'?
 
1. Barrel markings have nothing what so ever to do with the legality of loading 5. 3 1/2" shells, or the capacity of the tube with the receiver...the receiver was made to accept 3 1/2" shells, so that is what "I" would go with...how you interprete the law is up to you.

2. The barrel is marked 2 3/4"-3" shells.....you would have to be a complete idiot, imho, to use 3 1/2" shells in that barrel....
 
7.62mm said:
1. Barrel markings have nothing what so ever to do with the legality of loading 5. 3 1/2" shells, or the capacity of the tube with the receiver...the receiver was made to accept 3 1/2" shells, so that is what "I" would go with...how you interprete the law is up to you.

2. The barrel is marked 2 3/4"-3" shells.....you would have to be a complete idiot, imho, to use 3 1/2" shells in that barrel....
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1. My interpretation of the law doesn't matter.

2. It seems many folks disagree... but that's why I posed my question

Is shooting 3.5" shells in a 3" chamber ALWAYS going to result in bad things, or is it just a 0.01% chance that it explodes? Im asking this because so far, many people have fired 3.5" shells from their VMTs without problem. Have they all just been lucky, or does the gun indeed work perfectly fine with 3.5" shells?

I'll take mine apart and measure it.
 
I just took her apart here are some measurements:

loading port 3-3/4" opening
ejection port 3-5/8" opening

Distance to the last set of gas ports in the barrel is around 3-3/4" and it definitely looks like a long chamber... but Im not sure how exactly this is supposed to be measured? Can anyone chime in?
 
Do regular Remington pattern fixed buttstocks fit on these? If so that would be a big point in their favor vs most other systems.
 
Nothing 'regular' fits them, its an entirely new gun. One guy at a 3-gun forum attempted an 11-87 stock and it was painfully evident that the receiver on the VM is wider and not at all compatible with other Remington stocks.

He went on to fit a Benelli pistol-grip stock (I believe from an M2 but I could be wrong) without much hassle at all. All it required was a longer bolt.
 
Was finally able to get my Versa Max Tactical out on the range today. I brought 2 3/4" high velocity slugs, 3" magnum 00 buckshot, light 2 3/4" target loads, 3" magnum steel shot, and some 3 1/2" BB shot. All loads were cycled flawlessly! I had absolutely no failures or issues with this firearm. To see what would happen (famous last words, I know) I loaded a 2 3/4" light target load into the chamber then into the magazine went a 3" magnum steel shot, 3 1/2" BB shot and a 3" magnum 00 buckshot. I pulled the trigger as fast as I could and the Versa Max ate it all without a hiccup (I was actually able to get video of this). After a brief gun #### man shiver I was all smiles. I was also very impressed with firearms performance with the high velocity slugs, although I was only able to test them at 25 meters. If I could use only one word to describe this shotgun it would be "smooth". I have had the opportunity to briefly play with a Benelli M4 semi auto and would easily have trouble choosing between the two. I am VERY happy with my purchase and would absolutely recommend this firearm.
 
How many 2-3/4 does it take in the mag tube? Mine unfortunately only fits about 4.5 of them. I took the thing apart and the Nordic extension is all for show, as I figured. I'm gonna have a closer look at it one of these days to figure out how to unblock the extension and get that 5th round happening... but it will definitely require a new spring and blocker for the tube.

Also my chamber gauge came in from Brownells yesterday, I will verify the size of the VMT chamber and post my findings tonight, to put the 3.5" thing to rest.
 
Four 2 3/4" rounds are all that I can fit in the magazine... When I broke the gun down prior to shooting it I did notice that there is a plug glued into the mag extension. After taking it to the range and beating it up at little (I think I fired close to 100 rounds of various brands, shot type and shot length), I noticed, while cleaning it afterward, that there was something rattling around inside the mag extension forward of the glued in plug. Weird... Regarding shooting 3 1/2", I do know of others who have inquired with Remington about the Versa Max Tactical and were told that there are no issues. I have fired off an email to Remington myself to verify but have yet to hear back.
 
Sorry it took so long, I totally forgot to measure it!

I can now confirm without a doubt that the chamber of the Versa Max Tactical is indeed 3.5"

The tool (notice the offset numbers on the tape measure, the final mark is 3.5", then 3" then 2-3/4"):
9iek4m.jpg


The VersaMax Tactical barrel:
35cr5fb.jpg


Valtro PM5 barrel advertised as 2-3/4 to 3"
1hcq5f.jpg
 
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