Has anyone here shelled out the bucks to get the VC treatment done on their shotgun barrel? Did you think it was worth it at the end of the day (ie did it make a noticeable difference in terms of less recoil/tighter shot patterns)?
Vang Comp Worth It?
- Thread starter kingdarb
- Start date
- Location
- East ontario
Well. Worth it
I had it done to my 590 at TacOrd, well worth it, much better pattern with buck shot, can't coment on the recoil, I'm running a Knoxx SpecOps stock so there isn't much recoil to begin with, however with those two, stock and ports, slugs don't feel bad at all. But it is a bit louder with the ports.
You guys really like the ports on the shotgun? I have a factory ported 590A1 SPX and I didnt think it made any difference in recoil or pattern compared to say a non ported 870. Subjectively I couldnt feel any less recoil shooting slugs. Muzzle flip maybe down marginally but didnt think it was any big thing.
You can have it done with or without the porting. I had one done without the porting. I ended up selling it. I don't mean this to knock Casey's work, which I have found to be of the highest caliber, and I will continue to have work done by him (if he'll still have me after this post), but personally it wasn't worth it to me, especially with the advent of Federal's Flight Control Wad buckshot - this stuff is AMAZING. Easily cuts your patters from 1/3 to 1/2 of what you would expect with "regular" buckshot. It's like a pre-fragmented slug out to 15 meters, and then starts to open up a bit. The last target I shot at 30 meters kept all 45 pellets of five rounds of Flight Control inside of 14" with an I/C choke. I gotta try some at 40 and 50 meters yet, but with the results at 30, I think the Flight Control Wad is going to make buckshot effective up to 50 meters, which is pretty amazing.
The only other thing I didn't like about the Vang Comp treatment is that it didn't shoot slugs as well after it was done, no matter which brand I used. Now this comparison may mean absolutely nothing with a total of only one item, others may have had opposite results.
I really like the versatility that Flight Control buckshot brings to the shotgun - if you want tight patterns, shoot Flight Control - if you want more open patters, which by the way in certain situations is more desirable than tighter patters (ie. one hole like a slug), then shoot regular buckshot.
To each their own. If you choose to get the Vang Comp, Casey will do you right, the work will be superb, and you will see tighter patterns.
The only other thing I didn't like about the Vang Comp treatment is that it didn't shoot slugs as well after it was done, no matter which brand I used. Now this comparison may mean absolutely nothing with a total of only one item, others may have had opposite results.
I really like the versatility that Flight Control buckshot brings to the shotgun - if you want tight patterns, shoot Flight Control - if you want more open patters, which by the way in certain situations is more desirable than tighter patters (ie. one hole like a slug), then shoot regular buckshot.
To each their own. If you choose to get the Vang Comp, Casey will do you right, the work will be superb, and you will see tighter patterns.
I had a chance to try out my vang comped Remington 1100 that I had Casey at Tac Ord do for me.
Below is a very rough experiment, but I think it answers your question.
25 Yards with Winchester Ranger 00 buck, Low Recoil , 9 Pellet, 2 3/4, 12 Guage.
3 guns
Stock Norinco HP-9 with 14" Barrel
Stock Remington 870 Tactical with 18.5" Barrel and breecher choke installed
Vang Comp Remington 1100 18.5" Barrel, ported and back bored.
Disclaimer*** This is the full extent of my scientific analysis abilities.
Below is a very rough experiment, but I think it answers your question.
25 Yards with Winchester Ranger 00 buck, Low Recoil , 9 Pellet, 2 3/4, 12 Guage.
3 guns
Stock Norinco HP-9 with 14" Barrel
Stock Remington 870 Tactical with 18.5" Barrel and breecher choke installed
Vang Comp Remington 1100 18.5" Barrel, ported and back bored.
Disclaimer*** This is the full extent of my scientific analysis abilities.
I just bought a 14" 870P that was fully Vang Comp'd by Casey at Tac Ord in 2009. I never shot this particular shotgun before Casey did the work for comparison, but I can say I was very impressed with the recoil reduction, minimal muzzle climb and tight groups that his work produced on a 14" barrel. I've owned a variety shotguns in the past for subjective comparison, including a 18" 870, 18.5" Mossberg, 14" and 18" Benelli M4's, and I think that this shotgun is my first, never sell shotty.
The picture below is of 24" circle. The newer silver marks were shot from 25 yds to 35 yds using 20 rds of Fed Tac 00 Buck 8 pellet Flight Control. I think that a 14" barrel producing 12" to 15" 00 Buck groups at that range is pretty impressive. The combo of the Vang Comp barrel modifications and Flight Control Ammo is awesome. I have not shot slugs threw it yet.
The picture below is of 24" circle. The newer silver marks were shot from 25 yds to 35 yds using 20 rds of Fed Tac 00 Buck 8 pellet Flight Control. I think that a 14" barrel producing 12" to 15" 00 Buck groups at that range is pretty impressive. The combo of the Vang Comp barrel modifications and Flight Control Ammo is awesome. I have not shot slugs threw it yet.
Agreed, as stated above - however - also as stated above, there are instances where one may NOT want extremely tight patterns. How long is the longest hallway in your house? And yes, I'm referring to the possible use of buckshot for repelling boarders. Yah, yah, yah, some "experts" suggest using birdshot for home defence, but I've seen a couple people that have been shot with birdshot, and they weren't in all that bad of shape. I think you're far better off knowing all the angles, etc. in your home than spraying birdshot.
I know many fancy themselves standing off hoards of zombies or aliens, but much of the time a shotgun will be used under 15 meters. The biggest advantage that the shotgun gives us in a dynamic, moving environment is the shot pattern, IE. it's easier to hit a moving target because of the larger pattern. Up close I want neither a Vang Comp nor Flight Control buckshot - I want a larger pattern. Under 15 meters with either a Vang Comp or with Flight Control, you're essentially shooting a slug.
Agreed. But nothing comes with a free lunch - if you shoot slugs with your barrel before and after it's Vang'ed, I suspect you will find that while it now shoots buckshot tighter, it will very likely shoot slugs not as well as before. At least that was the my own experience, and that of a colleague that still has his Vang'ed shotgun.
And again, I post this not to put down anyone's work, or to try and sway anyone's purchase, but rather to say there are other options out there that may be practical as well.
+1 to the above, I've never really understood the desire for an ultra tight pattern outside of the hunting and gaming arenas. The "burst fire" effect effect of a spreading load of buckshot is a key point in favor of a defensive shotgun.
Personally if I want a really tight "pattern" at a distance I'll send a slug.
Personally if I want a really tight "pattern" at a distance I'll send a slug.
Only as long as you don't have to account for the stray pellets that miss your intended target. Difficult to call "do over" once they leave your barrel......
Also difficult to call "do over" because you missed your entire load of buckshot because the pattern was so tight and your target bobbed when he should have weaved and you've got zero pellets on target and 8 or 9 screaming down range....
mudgunner49
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I just bought a 14" 870P that was fully Vang Comp'd by Casey at Tac Ord in 2009. I never shot this particular shotgun before Casey did the work for comparison, but I can say I was very impressed with the recoil reduction, minimal muzzle climb and tight groups that his work produced on a 14" barrel. I've owned a variety shotguns in the past for subjective comparison, including a 18" 870, 18.5" Mossberg, 14" and 18" Benelli M4's, and I think that this shotgun is my first, never sell shotty.
The picture below is of 24" circle. The newer silver marks were shot from 25 yds to 35 yds using 20 rds of Fed Tac 00 Buck 8 pellet Flight Control. I think that a 14" barrel producing 12" to 15" 00 Buck groups at that range is pretty impressive. The combo of the Vang Comp barrel modifications and Flight Control Ammo is awesome. I have not shot slugs threw it yet.
That's a sweet boom stick - if for some bizarre reason I could only ever have one shotgun that would be it...
blake
mebiuspower
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Morontario
I love my vang comp'd 870s... best part is you can get it done in Canada without having to send it down south.
