Remington VERSA MAX Tactical

Hey guys, just picked up the sportsman model, and must say it shoots really nice, I think, the only thing I'll do is get the mag extension and maybe get a pic rail for the receiver, it seems already drilled for one.... So if anyone's not using theirs I'll take it off their hands...

Not sure about accessories though, I'd like to be able to carry more shells on the gun, with a side saddle like my 870, but it looks like you can't mount one without an adhesive... I've seen some setups where ppl have 2 shells on the fore end for a quick reload

Any thoughts guys?
 
After doing soe research, the good guys over at Mesa Tactical have a new stock and fore end in the works as of late last year. So it looks like it should hit the market soon....

h ttp://www.mesatactical.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1209
 
phatman said:
Yes as a matter of fact I'm going to be shooting it tomorrow at a match in Hamilton. This will be the second match for the versa max - the first match um well encouraged me to tackle the magazine issue. Now that I have that resolved and the drop and cast adjusted I expect to do a little better. Of course with any shotgun competition the biggest the problem is reloading and counting the number of rounds you shoot to ensure that you can finish the stage.
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Wentworth? Goodluck! So, I guess you're running 6+1 on the buzzer then?
 
It seems that a few of these are getting out without "permanent" factory plugs installed. If someone where to receive one without the plug and installed a standard plug to limit it to the 5 rounds of 3", does this not meet the legal requirement? Does it need to be permanently affixed? How would one go about doing this without piling p the spring compression? What would be the best compound to glue a plastic plug base to the end of the aluminum Nordic extension so as not to interfere with the spring travel?
 
Anyone figure a good way to unplug and replug the mag tube? Pictures? Also how does the action work for slug change overs and stuff? Does ir know if the trigger has been pulled or if ur just pulling the bolt back like the benelli? Or does it function just like the 1187? Where you have to surf the round out?
 
stoop14 said:
Anyone figure a good way to unplug and replug the mag tube? Pictures? Also how does the action work for slug change overs and stuff? Does ir know if the trigger has been pulled or if ur just pulling the bolt back like the benelli? Or does it function just like the 1187? Where you have to surf the round out?
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Works exactly like a Benelli M2, from which it was pretty much copied from. I've read a few ways of trying to remove the dimples to install a mag tube extension that I've ordered. But I have yet to try any, a guy in the states going by "StealthyBlagga" has done a bunch of mods to his Versa Max with fairly good results. You can read abt it here:
brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=136625

He pretty much drilled his dimples out. However, I found a slightly more elegant solution on rem870:
rem870.com/2010/01/17/removing-dimples-on-remington-870-magazine-tube/

I'd like to try that solution, however I can't seem to source parts for it, nor do I have the means to cut the socket as described. I'll probably just end up sending it over to Casey at Tac-Ord or seeing what my local gunsmith can do.
 
I cant really help with the mag extension as I have the tactical and it came with an extension. Mine came unplugged so I ended up buying a toilet plunger (yes I know) but that dowel ended up fitting really well. I used a two part epoxy and epoxied that sucker in. I then ran a screw in the end of the magazine tube. This meets the regs as being permanently affixed and requiring tools to remove. I have run over 50 rounds through it and it is holding. I had to cut the spring down to improve loading though. From what the guys on Eno's are saying, you want the spring to extend 12" past the mag tube fully extended to maintain proper tension. Any more than that just makes it difficult to load. I have spoken with Casey at Tac Ord and he has ordered in a Versamax to work on as well as a couple of carriers to weld on. I am getting him to weld up a carrier for me to stop it from eating my fingers when loading. It is a pretty standard mod on the Benelli M2 and definately needs to be done on these. So far wicked impressed with Casey at Tac Ord and the lengths he is willing to go to for his customers. If you need some work done, I would definately call him. Here is another couple of good links for modifiying Versamaxes I have been cruising.

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=155631&st=0

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=169930&st=25
 
Re: mag tube extensions from the factory.
According to the RCMP Firearms Reference table (web version...A.K.A. most up to date) , the Versa Max is listed as non-restricted with both an 8 round magazine and a 7 round, both with the 22" barrel.

Ref# 133263-3 for 7 rounds 3"
133263-6 for 8 rounds 3.5"

Perhaps a factory mag extension may get around the 5 round limit.

FWIW, the Mossberg 930 SPX with the 7 shot magazine is also listed as non-restricted (ref # 128208-1), as is the Remington 1100 Tactical with 6 (2 versions...18" barrel and 18.5" barrel) and 8 round magazines (Ref # 125112-2, 125112-6 and 125112-4).

Gotta love Canadian gun laws. Even the RCMP seems confused by them.
 
Schecter 81 said:
So far wicked impressed with Casey at Tac Ord and the lengths he is willing to go to for his customers. If you need some work done, I would definately call him. Here is another couple of good links for modifiying Versamaxes I have been cruising.
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I couldn't agree more...

He did some work on my 590. I have a versa max on order and will be sedning it off to him for some work. He knows what he's doing and his cutomer service is second to none.
 
smashwagon said:
Mag extensions for shotguns don't get pinned at all
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Semi auto have to be pinned to 5 rounds max.

Really frustrating with the size of some of the Mag extensions you can get. the annoying part is, they have to be a hard max of 5. cant use a piece of dowel or the green Remington plugs. they have to be hard pinned to 5 rounds with something that cant be removed by any easy at hand tool.
 
I picked up a Versa Max Tactical a few weeks ago and it is plugged at 5 and a bit 3" shells so six 2 3/4" fit in the tube, I fired a mix of 30 full power and reduced recoil slugs and it ran without a single problem first time out.
The plug in the magazine tube is riveted in place under the barrel clamp so you can't see it.
 
woolly said:
Re: mag tube extensions from the factory.
According to the RCMP Firearms Reference table (web version...A.K.A. most up to date) , the Versa Max is listed as non-restricted with both an 8 round magazine and a 7 round, both with the 22" barrel.

Ref# 133263-3 for 7 rounds 3"
133263-6 for 8 rounds 3.5"

Perhaps a factory mag extension may get around the 5 round limit.

FWIW, the Mossberg 930 SPX with the 7 shot magazine is also listed as non-restricted (ref # 128208-1), as is the Remington 1100 Tactical with 6 (2 versions...18" barrel and 18.5" barrel) and 8 round magazines (Ref # 125112-2, 125112-6 and 125112-4).

Gotta love Canadian gun laws. Even the RCMP seems confused by them.
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Can you clarify on this woolly? Does this mean that the Versa Max Tactical is legally good to go with 8 x 2.75" capacity out of the box? Does the FRT info count as a 'by-name' exception to the max 5 capacity limit like the Garand?

Otherwise, as far as squeezing as much capacity out as we can, I have a question for everyone regarding shotgun competition divisions. I'm looking really hard at the Versa Max as a do-all shotgun, but my main goal is to use it as a competitive gun. With that in mind, I'm torn between a Tactical limited to 6 shells and a Sportsman with a +3 3.5" extension that could hold 7.

So, what are the rules for shotgun divisions? I'm having trouble finding a comprehensive list for shotguns compared to handgun rules, which are all pretty easily accessed. As far as I've gleaned, some divisions have a max 8+1 at start rule, optical sights are only allowed in tactical optics and open, and loading assist devices including detachable magazines are only allowed in open. Is there a stock division for shotguns?

So if I needed to modify a Versa Max Sportsman myself, I can probably do the stock, enlarged controls, opened loading port, , smoothed lifter, and mag extension myself, and then send the barrel to a smith to get shortened/reamed/rethreaded for chokes. (are the 26-28" Versa Max barrels thick enough to be cut down and rethreaded?) What would doing these modifications myself do to the divisions I could compete in? If I just bought a Tactical instead, is there a stock division that I could compete in as opposed to I guess tactical division with either a Tactical or modified Sportsman?
 
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Called the CFC myself, I guess the exception for the Garand at 8 rounds despite being a centerfire semiautomatic refers specifically to the inability for it to be practically limited. Because a tubular magazine CAN be practically and permanently limited, the 5 shot capacity limit applies and supercedes the FRT information, which is descriptive for identification purposes rather than functional ones.

So I guess the best we can do is still 5.9 x 3.5" = 7 x 2.75" from any of the Versa Max models marked for 3.5" shells (all but the Tactical).
 
phatman said:
Basically the mag extension is phony or at best for looks only. Much the same as the Bennelli M4.

knock-knock covered it above when he stated that the mag is set up as it would be for a stock Versa max (4 rounds)

Also like knock-knock I have decided to leave it alone.

I don't want any questions from the boys in blue...
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The magazine extension is 100% real and functional. I got my VMT second hand with just 35 rounds through it in an EE deal. At first I could load just 4 x 2-3/4 rounds. I could see some sort of steel plug in the magazine. Then with no encouragement whatever on my part, that "plug" literally fell out. It's a steel "dome" with a slot in it so it can be compressed and put into the end of the magaizine. I fabricated a plug for the extension tube so that the gun will load five three inch shells with a bit of wiggle room. The gun now takes six 2-3/4 shells with a bit of wiggle room but no more than five three inchers.

I love the gun and with the supplied pieces modified the fit to suit me. The plates allow a 1/4 inch shift in cast which brings the beads directly under my eye. The supplied raised comb did not give me the right sight picture and so it was removed. The gun fits perfectly. I'm going to get a few mods done to make loading faster in three gun.

The VMT shoots perfectly for me. Standard target loads are a breeze while slugs are just a bit of an adventure. I bought low recoil slugs for competition. I LOVE this gun !!
 
metcalfe said:
If anyone hears back from Rem, let us know why they don't mark and/or market it as a 3.5". I want to think that there is a good reason, but can't think of any since the chamber checks out.


..
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The best I have heard reportedly from Remington was that a full load of 3-1/2 shells were causing some ammo to disfigure under the compression of recoil. Initially shooters were advise to load fewer 3-1/2's but even that has been corrected in some way. For Canadian shooters, it's all irrelevant.
 
Great thread! Anyone in the GTA have a versamax 26" or tactical 22" I could check out?

My 12.5" grizzly ain't the best 3 gun shotgun out there...lol
 
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