Remington's Versa Max Comp Tactical

Opening a box that holds a gun I’ve not worked with before is not a cause for much consternation. Working with lots of firearms, the common components are easy to identify and a learning curve mostly applies to unique features. However, when the box holds a shotgun and a bunch of… “stuff”, and is intended for some dedicated but unknown purpose, the thought goes more to “Che cosa è tutto questo?”…as my little grandma Rose would say.

I’ve worked with the Versa Max before; Versa Max Tactical Part 1 & Part 2. There are actually 10 Versa Max Models, right and left hand, for hunting and tactical applications. The Comp Tactical is a version aimed at 3-Gun competition. I used to think that meant three people competing, each with a gun, which made a whole lot of sense to me. In actuality, 3-Gun is a competition that simulates combat or self defense situations. In short form, the participant competes on a course that tests accuracy, speed and situational decision making, with a rifle, shotgun and handgun. Shooting distances can vary from 1 to 500 yards and equipment varies within, generally, 5 divisions.

Rifles are typically semiauto Modern Sporting Rifles. Shotguns are autoloaders or pump, typically with an extended magazine, and are set up to handle shot or slugs as both are typically used in competition. Handgun of choice is the 9mm autoloader, however, 38 Super and 40 S&W are also in use… which of course takes us back to the beginning and Remington’s Versa Max Comp Tactical.

At the core of the Remington Versa Max Comp Tactical are the features desirable in shotguns that are ideal for everything from bird and deer hunting to shooting clays. There are, however, finessed features that target competitive shooting.

At the heart of the matter… for all Versa Max guns

Notice what is missing? A lot of parts. This is not a converted pump gun with vestigial guide bars and other forms of linkage. The Versa Max short stroke gas system handles 2 3/4″ to 3 1/2″ shells (defined by barrel), target or magnum loads. Sort of like a gas driven pushrod AR.

There are 7 gas ports between the shotgun’s chamber and gas block. The shorter the shell, the more ports are exposed; 7 for 2 3/4″, 4 for 3″ and 3 ports for 3 1/2″. When charged with chamber bleed, the gas pistons drive the bolt body rearward, extracting and ejecting an empty, and action spring in the buttstock, drives the bolt forward to chamber a round and close the breech. Gas piston/Bolt body contact points indicated with arrows below.

The gas block, gas pistons and gas cylinder plugs form a simple assembly that is self cleaning, but accessible and easy to clean after many hundreds of rounds of use. Nothing more than an Allen wrench is required for disassembly and that tool is included with the shotgun.

Adjustments to accommodate the shooter

I am one of those guys with short legs, long trunk and extended arms that put my hands somewhere near my knees. The result, no doubt, of years of manual labor… or at least a pretty good imitation of the same. To compound the problem, I have high shoulder, a very short neck and a somewhat prominent noggin. Consequently, the only way a factory rifle could fit me like a glove would be if I were putting that glove on my foot. Usually, I just accept the fit, but with the Remington Versa Max, that is not the case as it is a highly adaptive system.

The Remington Versa Max has an action spring tube that projects from the rear of the receive. A stock bolt passes through a steel insert that is recessed into the rear of the stock, a cast plate, and into the action spring tube’s threaded end to secure the stock to the receiver. Remington includes two cast plates with the Versa Max Tactical, as seen above, a three hole and a five hole. By inserting the stock bolt through different holes in the cast plate, the stock is offset, drop or cast, to the associated degree. The front of the buttstock is ball mounted to the receiver so regardless the drop or cast position selected, the stock is fully engaged at the receiver. The range of adjustment is significant. Drop at the heel can be set at 2″, 2 1/4″ and 2 1/2″. Drop at the heel can range between  1 7/16″ to 1 9/16″ in 1/16″ increments. Cast can be set right or left 1/4″.

In addition to drop and cast adjustment, length of pull is easily adjusted by pulling the recoil pad and inserting single or multiple pull length spacers. The spacers are 1/2″ and 1/4″, one of the first type and two of the second, so a minimum add of 1/4″ and a maximum possible 1″.

In terms of noggin support, some folks like a straight cut stock, other like a little head propping Monte Carlo comb. No problem. You just pop one soft insert out and pop the other in. It is a little more effort than that, which is why they stay put. Nice feature.

Argh, awk, gasp, gak… The ProBore choke system

The Versa Max Comp Tactical utilizes Remington’s ProBore system with Improved Cylinder, Light Modified, Modified, and Skeet chokes included with the purchase. The chokes are extended type for greater pattern influence, each marked on the exposed portion and side with the type and amount of restriction so the information is visible with a choke installed.

The chokes are blackened stainless, the wrench is supplied and removed before shooting. There are 11 types of Remington ProBore chokes with more available from third party suppliers like Briley or Carlson’s.

More than one way to look at this… some Comp Tactical touches

The Comp Tactical has a full ramp, but it also has an XS Systems Express rear sight and accessory kits with two different height blades and a Delrin rod for horizontal drifting. Generally, only the front sight is used in 3-Gun, but the Express sight speeds alignment without getting in the way as a more conventional sight might.

The front sight, used with or without the express sight, certainly lights the way with fiber optic inserts. One installed, two alternative colors, the change is made by sliding the pictured key under the element, compressing a flat spring lock and releasing it from its mount.

Removing the standard spring retainer permits installations of a +2 round magazine extension… which brings the Comp Tactical’s capacity up to 10, plus one in the chamber for 2 3/4″ shells.

Both stock and forearm are equipped to accept quick disconnect sling swivels with bossed to also accept conventional swivels.

This Versa Max has oversize controls all about and an oversize loading port. The trigger guard is oversize to permit unfettered access with gloves. The top of the receiver is drilled and tapped, a pattern that fits the included Picatinny rail that is packaged with the shotgun.

More ammo!

The Remington Versa Max Comp Tactical was shot with everything from 2 3/4″ target loads to magnum lead and steel 3″. We also ran slugs through the gun with good success. which surprised me because the slugs were sabot type. Patterns were appropriate tight for the choke selected. The sight system worked well enough to make me look good shooting clays tossed from the shop trap… which is not an easy task. Recoil was relatively soft for a 12 gauge, and the Versa Max cycled without hesitation, even with a magazine full of mixed shell length and charges.

I go this far in looking at the Remington Versa Max Comp Tactical and felt the primary issue not examined to my satisfaction was the shotguns performance with slugs, one or more of the 3-gun stages with most sanctioning organizations and clubs. Some call out paper targets to 25 meters and only 10% of all shots fired during competition. Some indicate steel targets at longer distances with a higher concentration of slug shooting. Some extend ranges to 50+ yards.

The backbored barrel clichés…

I mentioned to someone that I was working on identifying the best choke/slug ammunition for the Versa Max and was immediately met with “Don’t bother. You can’t shoot slugs from a back bored barrel”. When I indicated I had fair results even with sabot ammo and a tight choke, the person launched into an explanation of why slugs would tumble and why they would not group under barn door size beyond 30 yards or so. Yeah… not really.

12 gauge cylinder bore is 0.729″. Backbored guns typically have a 0.742″ to 0.749″ bore forward of the gun’s chamber and forcing cone, all the way to the choke at the end of the barrel. Backboring allows heavier shot charges with reduced bore friction, less deformed shot and a shorter column for more dense target coverage. The problem with backbore and slugs is the 0.742″ to 0.749″ bore and 0.730″ slug diameter; full bore slugs or sabot slugs. Compounding the problem is the fact that the standard barrel is smooth bore and will not provide stabilizing spin with a sabot slug.

In practice, it appears that the slug’s gas seal can expand enough to seal the bore. Additionally, full size rifled slugs will spin and leave a shotgun’s bore accurately if driven through some degree of choke before it leaves the barrel. If it is an extended choke, all the better. The Versa Max Pro Bore extended chokes are: Cylinder 0.735″, Skeet 0.730″, Improved Cylinder 0.725″, Light Modified 0.720″, Modified 0.715″, Improved Modified 0.710″, Full 0.705″, Extra-Full 0.695″.

With a cylinder choke in place I was unable to 3 shot group within a 12″x12″ target at 30 yards. Changing to a Light Modified choke, I was able to shoot the two 50 yard groups above; 1 3/4″ left and 2 1/2″ using the supplied XS Express sights. Considering most 50 yard 3 Gun targets are 18″x32″ and closer targets are 20″ in diameter, shotgun accuracy would not be a problem.

The smallest group, 1 3/4″, was shot with Remington Slugger Rifled Slugs 2 3/4″ 1 Oz. The largest, 2 1/2″, was shot with Federal Trueball Rifled Slugs 2 3/4″ 1 Oz. In between those groups sizes were Federal Power Shok Maximum Rifled Slugs 2 3/4″ 1 Oz and Winchester Super X Rifled Slugs 2 3/4″ 1 Oz. Beyond 50 yards? I did not test for longer distances, however, these preliminary results suggest optimal ammo selections and better shooters than I could cover significantly longer distances.

And then…

The Versa Max is a terrific Remington system. It is easy to shoot, reliable and digests anything it is fed. It handles shot and slugs. If the Comp Tactical version leaves a shooter wanting more, there are other barrels, smoothbore and rifled and a whole range of extended and flush Pro Bore chokes. This one was shot over the vented rib, through express sights, through a red dot and through a scope. The Comp Tactical is supplied with a receiver mount Picatinny rail. A lot to like in a shotgun.