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There are many aftermarket stocks to choose from as well. There are also compact and junior versions of the Express, which lessen the length of pull of the shotgun and allow for younger or smaller arms/hands to take part in shooting this firearm. I think there are better options available, but the TAC-14 offers quite the bang in such a small package. If you’re set on getting a shotgun for home defense and don’t want the full-length variant with an inch barrel, this little TAC-14 is a good option, especially with the extra shot tube extension. Combine this with the Noble MiniBuck shot shells, and you have a fairly good home defense option on your hands.
Same class more or less as the silly AR/AK pistol nonsense imho. I’m not sure it’s much of a middle finger to the ATF to make a shotgun less effective to avoid regulatory hurdles. This is easily one of my favorite range toys.
Printers Go Brrrr: Brooklyn Gun ‘Buyback’ Paying $500 For Operable Handguns
An ideal 12-gauge home defense gun featuring an 18 1/2″ fixed cylinder choke barrel, single front bead sight, non-glare matte finish, and extended magazine tube with 6 shell capacity. So far my time with the Remington TAC-14 Hardwood has been a positive experience. If you’ve ever shot something like the Mossberg Shockwave, it gives a very similar experience. With the lack of a stock or any type of brace, it can be tricky to aim the TAC-14 reliably every time if you’re shooting anything past 10 yards. So far I have roughly 450 rounds with most being 2.75″ Federal #7 birdshot along with a box of the Federal Shorty shells and Noble 2.25″ Buckshot shells.
Either way, you are going to be happy with your purchase. Over 10 million units of the 870 have been built since its inception, and the numbers keep on rising. The Express line has a lot to do with it, but even other models can be found for very affordable prices.
Reviews
I’ll stick to my Maverick (with Limbsaver recoil pad and 18.5″ and 28″ barrels). I’ve always considered the action of the 870 to be more substantial than that of the 500. Both are proven, although I don’t think the 500 feels like its going to fall apart.
The Super Magnum (able to fire 3½ shells), the nickel-plated Marine version, and the specially-stocked Police version (12-gauge only, 18- or 20-inch barrel) are also very well-known. I now have a new 870 in 20 gauge (thanks Dad!), 28″ barrel. Ran 2 boxes of ammo through it last week to shoot skeet as its first action, no problems at all (other than accuracy and not having a skeet choke!). The only potential issue I see is the fore grip seems to be tighter to the receiver on the left, and is rubbing a bit, looking at it from above you can see slack on the right side and snug on the left side. I was going to see about taking that off and maybe take some sandpaper to it.
REMINGTON 870 HOME DEFENSE
If you try to put them in a semi-auto shotgun, that’s when the problems really start to appear, so I’m not faulting the TAC-14 as the problem with mini shells. But with regular length and the Noble 2.25″ TAC-14 was fully reliable. The Federal 1.75″ Shorty Shotshells did not perform as well, unfortunately. These shells have a tendency to flip and cause malfunctions based on their shorter size and don’t seem as stable while loading and racking them in. I had a number of malfunctions but it did increase the capacity from 5 to 8 rounds in the short tube. I don’t recommend the short shotshells due to their reliability issues but as a range ammo, the short shotshells do a fantastic job at putting a smile on your face.
The other Mossy 500s I’ve handled always felt a little rickety, had cheap feeling polymer and rattled a little too much for my liking. They also don’t really pass the eye test for me. My knock is that people gripe about the current non metal trigger guard/ housing. There’s no doubt that the Remington 870 is still the king of the pump action shotgun.
REMINGTON 870 HOME DEFENSE Model 81197 - The Long and Short of it!
Federal Low Recoil slugs produced a very respectable group at these longer distances, especially from a TAC-14. That being said this gun is much smaller and lighter. If size is an issue, a TAC-14 packs a significant punch.
Based on my friend’s experience (and I have him to blame if things don’t work out), a search went out for a Remington 870. As soon as I saw the “Home Defense” variation in my search, I knew which shotgun was right for me, the “Remy HD”. If Big Green moved those trigger safety’s to where Mossberg does? I personally don’t think anyone would be upset. To improve their shotguns by making them pretty much ambidextrous seems to me a no brainer. The Mossberg is the only shotgun that passed the military 3443g test…firing 3000 rounds…with only 3 failures aloud….The 870 didn’t pass…The winchester wasn’t entered…All other pump shotguns failed.
It is the last year of production, and many of them were “parts clean up” guns. They looked high and low for any 97 parts, and built as many guns as they could from them. Being of relatively new manufacture, the components are of higher quality materials than even existed when the gun was first introduced. I never knew about it until I saw the movie “Bullitt”, where the back-up hit man takes the two sections from his coat and assembles a shotgun. I had to have one, and found one for $150.00, it already having had the barrel cut to 20″. I had another stock cut down and made into a pistol grip, and the barrel cut to 18 1/4″, Hastings chokes installed, and it is now a very concealable 27 +/-” long.
The only issue is the finish, but Rem-Oil does the job. Yes the safety placement sucks, but as I hardly use the safety I have had no real issue with it. My choice was a Maverick 88, due to the layout of the controls . I could shut my eyes and operate all of them easily without moving my hand grip. It was easier to swing through an arc and just felt better to use.
The Model 870 is versatile enough to accept all kinds of modifications. I know the complete history and would like to be put in contact with Mr Pike so we can clear up some of these misconceptions. The TAC-14 Hardwood is an extremely stylish weapon. The old school cool look with its solid hardwood grip and fore-end is fantastic. The wood is well done and the combination of the sling and sling keeper on top of that give you a very stylish range toy.
Have a safe full of all types of full-sized shotties, for lots of purposes. The only people bashing the “idiots” enjoying the Shockwave and TAC-14 don’t own one. They’re selling because a lot of people like them. It’s not designed for a sniper defending the Pope, but I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of this novelty.
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