Vang Comp Ported Barrel?

[CCMO]

I just finished browsing some 400 threads resulting from a search on "Vang," but didn't see anything within the past few years about his ported barrels.

Naturally I like the idea of tighter patterns from the back boring, but...

My primary desire is to reduce recoil on a defensive 12 gauge (870 Marine Magnum). This porting system looks effective for that purpose, but I hope to get feedback from some folks who have actually tried it out. Does anyone here have one? Would you recommend it?

Thanks in advance for any insight or advice!

[Lee Lapin]

http://www.shotgunreport.com/TechTech/TechnicalTracts/ChokePort.html

That said, Hans Vang does good work. It's up to you to decide whether you want to invest in porting or not. Porting will increase 'felt' muzzle blast a good bit in most cases. That can have almost the same effect as actual recoil.

Chokes can control patterns perfectly well without backboring a barrel, it costs about the same thing to have the forcing cone extended and choke tubes installed in a standard CYL bore barrel as to have Hans work on it. Again, you decide. Keep in mind Remington's standard factory short (18- 20") barrels these days are IMP CYL in most cases, a few are MOD and a few (on the Express HD guns) are still CYL.

IMHO you'll get better results in cutting recoil by adding a better recoil pad (Remington R3) or adding some weight to the gun than by porting the barrel. Shifting to reduced recoil loads is another option to consider, though terminal performance can be an issue sometimes.

If felt recoil is a function of your form or gun mount, having a pro coach you a bit in those areas might be worth your while. If it's a matter of gun fit then getting your stock adjusted to fit you properly might be a big help. There are lots of factors to consider with this problem.

hth,

lpl/nc

[kayaker63]

I have a Mossberg 590 that I sent off to Vang. Before I did that however I had installed and tried out both a Knoxx COP Stock, the wire folding version with a 13 1/2" pull, and there adjustable pull Spec-Ops stock. Both will reduce recoil to "***** cat" levels. I liked the Spec-Ops better since I can reduce the pull to 12 1/2" and it also can be equipped with a shell holder.

I could not really decect in additional reduction in recoil after I had the Vang Comp job done but patterns were much tighter at all distances even out to 40+ yards. You can find the Knoxx stocks at Cabela's, Midway or Brownells. If you don't want to spend $245 for Vang job just for recoil reduction, try the Knoxx stocks first.

[CCMO]

kayaker63,

You're reading my mind! Knoxx finally worked off their backlog, and I just installed our new SpecOps stock. We haven't had a chance to try it yet. I was really wondering whether the expense and time involved with sending the barrel off to Vang would result in enough additional reduced recoil to be worth it.

Since this shotgun is being dedicated to home defense, I'm not concerned enough about extended range patterning for that alone to justify the expense. I'm beginning to lean towards not using Vang, depending on how the new stock feels at the range this weekend...

[sm]

Vang does great work, and I respect the R&D and T&E they do.
I also use their oversize safeties and turn them down as I do not do oversize safeties.

Scattergun Technologies used to be a great Shotgun with their R&D and T&E. Wilson bought ST and totally ruined the S&T. I do not do anything Wilson.
One is spending money to inflate ego, and in return get logo, DVD and wallet flushed.

~ My Point :

-Lee Lapin's post above.

-Learn gun fit, correct basic fundamentals, and get lessons.

-If something sounds too good - it is.

~~While there is a place for LEO, Military, and other Specially trained persons using some of the equipment on the market- Worse thing is for a New Shooter to learn on Recoil Reducing Stocks, and All this Gee-Whiz Wallet Flush.

One cannot buy Skill and Targets.

Too many folks, including Ladies that vary from petite teenagers to frumpy college teachers can use a 12 gauge shotgun with regular loadings of 00 buck, Forster Slugs, Brennek's , etc.
They use regular full stocks, that fit, they have correct basic fundamentals, and continue quality practice.

~~
Lee knows this too, WE both have gotten pattern results like Vang, without spending the money for Vang.

Wilson S&T ain't worth spit.

Recoil Reducing stocks break when you butt stroke vehicle glass, BGs dummies, steel plates, and ...

Took me 15 sec to render a Wilson ST useless buttstroking vehicle window glass with a recoil reducing stock.
Immediate threat was vehicle fire, and getting a child in a car seat out.
[Training session]

OLD bone stock Ithaca 37 did this fine. It also shot better patterns than the Vang or W-ST.


90% of fishing lures and equipment are designed to catch fisherman wallets - not fish.

[sm]

There are Shotgunners and there are those that just happen to own a shotgun.

[CCMO]

Hi sm, and thanks for your input.

My wife and I are both licensed master shooters with the US Forces Sport Shooting Association in Europe and we both qualified for our German hunting licenses in 2005, which include practical shotgun tests on both hunting trap* and 5 stand (rolling rabbit). So we have no difficulty with shooting a shotgun per se. We have fired thousands of rounds through a variety of long-barrelled over/unders loading 7.5 bird.

The tricks are first that our size differences require different length stocks, and second that my petite wife dislikes the amount of recoil that the heavier buck/slug defensive loads generate compared to the bird shot sporting loads we shoot so much more frequently. Not that she has any trouble hitting the target with them, she just would prefer less "kick!"

Since I don't plan on buying two defensive shotguns, my goals are to find a way to mitigate recoil and to use one adjustable stock to deal with our different trigger reach lengths.

Before I learned about Knoxx, I had planned on a ported barrel for recoil mitigation and "some kind of" adjustable stock. My initial research led me to believe that Mr. Vang's shop offers what seems to be a great method of reducing recoil. Since I don't know anyone who has used his system, I decided to post here.

On to stocks. I don't anticipate butt-stroking anything, so that isn't a determining factor for my application. The Knoxx stock is adjustable, of course, which meets one requirement. It also offers recoil reduction, so maybe both birds get killed with one stone. Also, now that it's paid for, delivered and installed, I'm pretty sure I'm going to at least try to live with it... :D

The big unknown for me was the effectiveness of the Vang system. Would it add enough additional recoil reduction to justify the expense, especially since the Knoxx stock offers recoil reduction in its own right?

I also appreciate your insight on Wilson / ST. Like Vang, they look really good on their Web site. It's good to learn about how they actually perform! Appearance obviously does not always match funtionality/quality. Too bad. I'd almost decided to buy their Border Patrol. After reading your post, I'm glad now that I went the "build my own" route instead.

------
*I'm not sure what the U.S. term for this discipline is, but the pigeon is thrown randomly at one of ten possible angles - low or high, in five horizontal directions. The shooter moves through five positions, changing after each pull, and beginning each pull from the low present (butt of the shotgun approximately belt level). So, the shooter has to be able to shoulder the shotgun and engage fifty possible flight angles, not counting wind conditions.