posted 01-17-2000 22:20               

I recently received my Remington 870 Police Magnum back from Vang Comp Systems (www.vangcomp.com). The beast has been tamed and become a quite a bit more useful as a social shotgun.

The base gun was a 870 PM that I choose over the Express model because of its all steel construction (trigger guard) and factory claimed tighter quality control. I didn't want to risk building on a questionable foundation. This decision was for my "peace of mind" more than anything else practical.

The Vang barrel modifications consisted of lengthening the forcing cone and back-boring the barrel. Flash and recoil reducing porting is optional.

The purpose of the forcing cone modifications is to allow the pellets to more gradually enter the bore from the chamber. This results in less pellet deformation and, thus, less disruption during flight. It also results in a is less harsh recoil since the pellets are eased into the tighter (than the chamber) bore instead of being forced in quickly. Imagine a 3 lane highway that turns to 1 lane in 25 yards distance (standard forcing cone). There will be a lot of pushing and shoving to get in that center lane---crashes and damage will result. The Vang modifications, in effect, lessen these "crashes" by extending the merging lanes to 500 yards instead of 25 yards.

The back-boring very slightly increases the diameter of the bore for its entire length, save about the last 3" which become the choke. This back-boring reduces the force (and therefore pellet disruption) needed to push the load down the length of the barrel. Less forward force required equals less reward push (recoil).

The combination of the forcing cone modifications and the back-boring serve a) to deliver tighter shot patterns through less pellet disruption and b) a softer "push" of recoil compared to the usual harsh "slap". I would estimate the recoil, with "tactical" loads, to be just a bit less than a M14 firing 7.62 Ball---this is a significant reduction.

The optional porting is claimed to reduce muzzle rise by up to 90% and to dramatically reduce muzzle flash. It succeeds on both claims. Muzzle rise using the afore mentioned "tactical" loads was subjectively estimated at around 1-1.5" of lift. Muzzle flash has been reduced to level where it no longer appears to be a significant tactical issue. I feel strongly that the porting is a worthwhile option and I see no real disadvantages in porting a long gun (as opposed to a handgun).

How much better are the patterns, you ask?

A) Factory 18" Remington IC barrel
B) Same barrel after Vang Comp modifications

-Federal Premium 9 pellet 00 Buck (full power load)
-A) NOT TESTED
-B) 14.5" patterns @ 25 yards

-Winchester Low Recoil 9 pellet 00 Buck
-A) NOT TESTED
-B) 8.5" patterns @ 15 yards
12.35" patterns @ 25 yards

-Federal H/LE 132 Tactical 00B
-A) NOT TESTED
-B) 10-11" patterns @ 25 yards

-Remington Reduced Recoil Law Enforcement 8 pellet 00 Buck
-A) 13" patterns @ 25 yards
-B) 5.5" patterns @ 15 yards
7.85" patterns @ 25 yards

All patterning consisted of 5 shot averages. Oddly, one shot from each load fired at 25 yards was missing a singular pellet. Based on the otherwise tight patterns, it was decided that these singular missing pellets simply followed the same hole as the pellet in front of it---two pellets, one hole.

Slug accuracy was tested at 25 yards using Remington's Reduced Recoil Law Enforcement Slugs and Winchester's Low Recoil Slugs. All 3 shot groups ran between 2-4" with the variation in group size being attributed to shooter, not equipment, error. (PS I'm now getting 1.5-2" groups at 25 yards---1-18-00)

Cost for the Vang Comp choke work is $150 and the porting goes for an additional $45 when done with the choke work. I highly recommend these Vang Comp Systems modifications. Hans Vang, the company owner, is as nice and honest of a businessman as one could hope to find. He went out of his way to accommodate my specific needs and actually returned my weapon in the promised time.

Hope this helps.