I'm bored right now... snow on the ground, cold as hell in the shop and not much to do, so I decided to write what I call a "cautionary tale" for new and potential tactical shotgun owners.
Is any of this gospel? Nope... just opinion based on experience and observation. Take it for what it's worth... and as it's on an interwebnet forum and costs nothing, it's worth nothing but 5 minutes of your time to read.
There seems to be a substantial upswing in the sales of everything tactical, military, semi-automatic and high capacity. In other words, if it's black and looks like it came out of "Half Life 2"... it's really flying off the shelves.
The dreaded "Obama Factor" no doubt.
Tactical shotguns for civilians... are a mixed bag.
The more exceedingly tactical they are, the less multi-functional, the less generally useful and less frequently used they seem to become. This last facet of tactical shotgun ownership is the worst possible aspect, as it creates a large group of people that don't really know how to use the gun they own.
If you're a 3-gun competitor, or a cop, or military, you may be the only true exceptions... especially the rabid 3-gun guy, who will send more pellets downrange in a year than many will do in a lifetime.
So, what does "Joe Average gun doode" do with a tactical shotgun... I mean besides set it next to your nightstand or behind a door and forget about it?
For most... accessorization seems to be a popular pastime. Another term for it is "farklization"... a farkle being a thing which you don't necessarily need, but you've rationalized it's value sufficiently that you must have it.
For some... it's all about how evil their guns look in pictures they post in forums.
What farkles are good... and what farkles are mall ninja useless, you may ask? That's a good question, and depending on how rational and objective you can be, there are good and near useless tactical shotgun accessories.
You could search for and read every post by objective and rational thinkers like Scattergun Bob (this post in particular), DaveMc, Super Dave and others, find the gems that directly correlate to tactical shotguns, and apply that information to your particular weapon... or, you can wing it, based on what you've seen in movies and video games.
The former is time consuming (but perhaps a worthwhile project), the latter could be expensive, and you'd end up with a photogenic, "tacti-cool" 13 pound shotgun that is less useful than if you'd left it completely alone.
A shotgun, like any gun, is a tool. Each tool has a purpose, and unless you've been in a few fights that involved a shotgun, you may not know that modifying a tool can have "unintended circumstances" which will have a negative effect on the function of the tool.
Lets look at some of the not bad tactical shotgun "accessories".
The sling.
Although this should be the first, and is possibly the only thing that is a truly useful, all purpose shotgun accessory... surprisingly, it's low on many people's list of things to buy.
A shotgun, when not actually in use, is a cumbersome device. A sling allows you to use your hands. Being able to use your hands allows you to do many useful things... like open and close doors, turn lights on and off, manipulate other tools like flashlights and handguns, and reload your shotgun more easily.
There are many sling manufacturers and we all have our favorites... however, if you spend more than $40 for a sling, you probably spent too much.
Specter, Wilderness and Urban ERT are some of the more popular ones... buy one if you don't have one already. If you do have one, fit it correctly and practice it's use as a tactical tool.
The magazine extension.
Capacity... that's what it's all about ain't it? Most Tactical shotguns have an 18.5" barrel. That means that unless you want a magazine tube to extend out (way) past the end of the barrel, rendering your gun less useful in close environs, your maximum capacity is around 8-9 rounds of 2.75" shells.
Magazine extensions run between $45 and $100. The quality of the magazine on a shotgun is just as important as that of a handgun... if it's poor quality and causes your shotgun to jam, all those extra shells aren't going to do you much good.
Do you know how to clear a jam on your shotgun? If not, put it real high on your list of things to learn well.
If you must have a extended mag tube... buy a good one and stay away from the not so good ones. Nordic, DMW and SureCycle make the best... none cheap, but I've never heard of one causing a jam or flying apart.
Before you buy a extended tube, consider this. Mag tubes (when loaded) add weight and affect the "swing" of a shotgun. Do you want an extra 1-2 lbs... do you want a shotgun where being able to move it quickly is important? Temper your desire for capacity with practical logic.
The one rational exception to this might be the aforementioned 3-gun competitor who must have X capacity to be competitive.
Shell carriers.
Back to capacity again. I don't think shell carriers that hang off the receiver or attach to the butt-stock are as bad an idea as extended magazine tubes that stick way out past the muzzle. Why, because adding weight to the center or rear of the gun does little to create the "overswing" or pendulum effect that occurs with long extended mag tubes.
With some guns, a buttstock shell carrier actually will improve balance.
If you have an extended mag tube (that doesn't extend past the muzzle) and a receiver mounted shell carrier... potentially, you can have as many as 17 shells in or on the gun. Add a buttstock carrier and you can get well over 20.
That should do the trick right? If not, you may really need to stop playing "Metal Gear Solid"... it's affecting your concept of reality.
Mesa Tactical make the best hard shell carriers.
Shell carrier/bandoleer/sling things make you look just like Poncho Villa... and are a complete pain in the ass to use when you're in a hurry. Get a shell carrier(s), get a sling... don't try and combine the two.
Sights.
Some supposed "tactical" shotguns come with pretty crappy sights.
Under stress, the bigger, easier to see and simpler to align sights are the best. For many, this means large ghost ring sights.
Sights are a personal thing and may be affected by the quality of ones eyesight and even physical build, so I'm not going to go out on a limb and recommend specific brands or types... just remember that as cool as it may look to shoot a shotgun from the hip, they are much more accurate when you use the sights, so get good ones that allow rapid target acquisition in all types of light.
Optics.
This tends to go with sights. I'm not a big fan of optics on a tactical scattergun... a slug gun sure, but magnifying optics on a gun where the typical max range is less than 30 yards... not so much.
The other type of optic is the red dot or holographic sight. No magnification (usually), but rather a bright red (or maybe green) dot or triangle that subtends your target by X value.
For some people with eye issues, the red dot/holo sight brings an entirely new quality to their ability to hit the target... which is a good thing, and the reason why I can't say anything negative about them.
Just remember that cheek-weld and optical alignment are critical to use and accuracy... any add-on optic should be very close to the original open sight alignment, or you may have problems with holding the gun and seeing the target at the same time.
Lights.
To add lights, you usually need a mount, and sometimes a mount for the mount... and perhaps even a extended mag tube to put the mount for the mount on. Starts to add up don't it?
I got nothing against gun mounted lights... especially on a dedicated HD gun, because a good number of HD situations occur at night.
Because you never know when a light can be a tactical advantage or disadvantage, lights that are easy to turn on and off without removing your hand from the forend are the best ones to consider, meaning that Surefire forend lights ($$$) with built-in controls are a good choice... if they make one for your gun.
The lights that come with remote switches would be a close second, or maybe a better way to go... again, depending on the gun. Just make sure the switch cable, if there is one, is securely attached to the gun and more or less snag-proof.
Farkles of dubious value.
Compensators/Muzzle Breaks.
If you've read up on shotgun ballistics, you know that comps, breaks and ported choke tubes are of limited to no value. Simple as that. If you must have one, Royal Arms has the best options I've found.
Don't confuse comps and breaks with breaching stand-offs. Breaching stand-offs are a application specific device used by police and military for entry purposes and are not sold as a recoil reducers/muzzle rise reducers.
Saying all that, comps and breaching stand-offs look cooler than all get out, and that would be the most honest reason to buy one... 'cause they look cool. Royal arms and Vang Comp are the two makers that come to mind.
Pistol grip only shotgun stocks.
Other than for an military/LE entry gun, or a bank robber hiding a shotgun under an overcoat... this is the dumbest accessory there is, IMO. It makes shooting from the hip a virtual requirement, so accuracy and gun control go out the window.
Thats about it for generic tactical shotgun accessories. There are lots of brand and model specific accessories intended to correct or upgrade a stock guns short comings that I won't go into.
Everything you buy effects the function of your gun and your interaction with it.
A tactical shotgun is designed to be used quickly and effectively in a relatively closed environment under stress... anything that reduces that effectiveness may get you and/or your loved ones hurt, or worse.
The very best accessory you can buy?
That would be practice... lots and lots of practice, on a regular basis.
Until the operation of the gun you may use to defend your life is second nature and total muscle memory... under the worst conditions and pressures.
The next time you're looking on-line and think... "Hey, that pistol grip/laser/illuminator/battering ram/flare launcher/espresso maker would sure look bitchin' on my shotgun"... instead, spend the money on ammo, practice and perhaps even professional training. It doesn't look as cool in photos, but it might save your life.
C
Is any of this gospel? Nope... just opinion based on experience and observation. Take it for what it's worth... and as it's on an interwebnet forum and costs nothing, it's worth nothing but 5 minutes of your time to read.
There seems to be a substantial upswing in the sales of everything tactical, military, semi-automatic and high capacity. In other words, if it's black and looks like it came out of "Half Life 2"... it's really flying off the shelves.
The dreaded "Obama Factor" no doubt.
Tactical shotguns for civilians... are a mixed bag.
The more exceedingly tactical they are, the less multi-functional, the less generally useful and less frequently used they seem to become. This last facet of tactical shotgun ownership is the worst possible aspect, as it creates a large group of people that don't really know how to use the gun they own.
If you're a 3-gun competitor, or a cop, or military, you may be the only true exceptions... especially the rabid 3-gun guy, who will send more pellets downrange in a year than many will do in a lifetime.
So, what does "Joe Average gun doode" do with a tactical shotgun... I mean besides set it next to your nightstand or behind a door and forget about it?
For most... accessorization seems to be a popular pastime. Another term for it is "farklization"... a farkle being a thing which you don't necessarily need, but you've rationalized it's value sufficiently that you must have it.
For some... it's all about how evil their guns look in pictures they post in forums.
What farkles are good... and what farkles are mall ninja useless, you may ask? That's a good question, and depending on how rational and objective you can be, there are good and near useless tactical shotgun accessories.
You could search for and read every post by objective and rational thinkers like Scattergun Bob (this post in particular), DaveMc, Super Dave and others, find the gems that directly correlate to tactical shotguns, and apply that information to your particular weapon... or, you can wing it, based on what you've seen in movies and video games.
The former is time consuming (but perhaps a worthwhile project), the latter could be expensive, and you'd end up with a photogenic, "tacti-cool" 13 pound shotgun that is less useful than if you'd left it completely alone.
A shotgun, like any gun, is a tool. Each tool has a purpose, and unless you've been in a few fights that involved a shotgun, you may not know that modifying a tool can have "unintended circumstances" which will have a negative effect on the function of the tool.
Lets look at some of the not bad tactical shotgun "accessories".
The sling.
Although this should be the first, and is possibly the only thing that is a truly useful, all purpose shotgun accessory... surprisingly, it's low on many people's list of things to buy.
A shotgun, when not actually in use, is a cumbersome device. A sling allows you to use your hands. Being able to use your hands allows you to do many useful things... like open and close doors, turn lights on and off, manipulate other tools like flashlights and handguns, and reload your shotgun more easily.
There are many sling manufacturers and we all have our favorites... however, if you spend more than $40 for a sling, you probably spent too much.
Specter, Wilderness and Urban ERT are some of the more popular ones... buy one if you don't have one already. If you do have one, fit it correctly and practice it's use as a tactical tool.
The magazine extension.
Capacity... that's what it's all about ain't it? Most Tactical shotguns have an 18.5" barrel. That means that unless you want a magazine tube to extend out (way) past the end of the barrel, rendering your gun less useful in close environs, your maximum capacity is around 8-9 rounds of 2.75" shells.
Magazine extensions run between $45 and $100. The quality of the magazine on a shotgun is just as important as that of a handgun... if it's poor quality and causes your shotgun to jam, all those extra shells aren't going to do you much good.
Do you know how to clear a jam on your shotgun? If not, put it real high on your list of things to learn well.
If you must have a extended mag tube... buy a good one and stay away from the not so good ones. Nordic, DMW and SureCycle make the best... none cheap, but I've never heard of one causing a jam or flying apart.
Before you buy a extended tube, consider this. Mag tubes (when loaded) add weight and affect the "swing" of a shotgun. Do you want an extra 1-2 lbs... do you want a shotgun where being able to move it quickly is important? Temper your desire for capacity with practical logic.
The one rational exception to this might be the aforementioned 3-gun competitor who must have X capacity to be competitive.
Shell carriers.
Back to capacity again. I don't think shell carriers that hang off the receiver or attach to the butt-stock are as bad an idea as extended magazine tubes that stick way out past the muzzle. Why, because adding weight to the center or rear of the gun does little to create the "overswing" or pendulum effect that occurs with long extended mag tubes.
With some guns, a buttstock shell carrier actually will improve balance.
If you have an extended mag tube (that doesn't extend past the muzzle) and a receiver mounted shell carrier... potentially, you can have as many as 17 shells in or on the gun. Add a buttstock carrier and you can get well over 20.
That should do the trick right? If not, you may really need to stop playing "Metal Gear Solid"... it's affecting your concept of reality.
Mesa Tactical make the best hard shell carriers.
Shell carrier/bandoleer/sling things make you look just like Poncho Villa... and are a complete pain in the ass to use when you're in a hurry. Get a shell carrier(s), get a sling... don't try and combine the two.
Sights.
Some supposed "tactical" shotguns come with pretty crappy sights.
Under stress, the bigger, easier to see and simpler to align sights are the best. For many, this means large ghost ring sights.
Sights are a personal thing and may be affected by the quality of ones eyesight and even physical build, so I'm not going to go out on a limb and recommend specific brands or types... just remember that as cool as it may look to shoot a shotgun from the hip, they are much more accurate when you use the sights, so get good ones that allow rapid target acquisition in all types of light.
Optics.
This tends to go with sights. I'm not a big fan of optics on a tactical scattergun... a slug gun sure, but magnifying optics on a gun where the typical max range is less than 30 yards... not so much.
The other type of optic is the red dot or holographic sight. No magnification (usually), but rather a bright red (or maybe green) dot or triangle that subtends your target by X value.
For some people with eye issues, the red dot/holo sight brings an entirely new quality to their ability to hit the target... which is a good thing, and the reason why I can't say anything negative about them.
Just remember that cheek-weld and optical alignment are critical to use and accuracy... any add-on optic should be very close to the original open sight alignment, or you may have problems with holding the gun and seeing the target at the same time.
Lights.
To add lights, you usually need a mount, and sometimes a mount for the mount... and perhaps even a extended mag tube to put the mount for the mount on. Starts to add up don't it?
I got nothing against gun mounted lights... especially on a dedicated HD gun, because a good number of HD situations occur at night.
Because you never know when a light can be a tactical advantage or disadvantage, lights that are easy to turn on and off without removing your hand from the forend are the best ones to consider, meaning that Surefire forend lights ($$$) with built-in controls are a good choice... if they make one for your gun.
The lights that come with remote switches would be a close second, or maybe a better way to go... again, depending on the gun. Just make sure the switch cable, if there is one, is securely attached to the gun and more or less snag-proof.
Farkles of dubious value.
Compensators/Muzzle Breaks.
If you've read up on shotgun ballistics, you know that comps, breaks and ported choke tubes are of limited to no value. Simple as that. If you must have one, Royal Arms has the best options I've found.
Don't confuse comps and breaks with breaching stand-offs. Breaching stand-offs are a application specific device used by police and military for entry purposes and are not sold as a recoil reducers/muzzle rise reducers.
Saying all that, comps and breaching stand-offs look cooler than all get out, and that would be the most honest reason to buy one... 'cause they look cool. Royal arms and Vang Comp are the two makers that come to mind.
Pistol grip only shotgun stocks.
Other than for an military/LE entry gun, or a bank robber hiding a shotgun under an overcoat... this is the dumbest accessory there is, IMO. It makes shooting from the hip a virtual requirement, so accuracy and gun control go out the window.
Thats about it for generic tactical shotgun accessories. There are lots of brand and model specific accessories intended to correct or upgrade a stock guns short comings that I won't go into.
Everything you buy effects the function of your gun and your interaction with it.
A tactical shotgun is designed to be used quickly and effectively in a relatively closed environment under stress... anything that reduces that effectiveness may get you and/or your loved ones hurt, or worse.
The very best accessory you can buy?
That would be practice... lots and lots of practice, on a regular basis.
Until the operation of the gun you may use to defend your life is second nature and total muscle memory... under the worst conditions and pressures.
The next time you're looking on-line and think... "Hey, that pistol grip/laser/illuminator/battering ram/flare launcher/espresso maker would sure look bitchin' on my shotgun"... instead, spend the money on ammo, practice and perhaps even professional training. It doesn't look as cool in photos, but it might save your life.
C