Hawk 981 Pump 12 Gauge 28 Inch Review
The shotgun is seen by many as the best choice for personal defense and especially home defense. The most powerful portable shoulder-fired weapon used for self preservation, the 12-gauge shotgun offers a multiple-projectile load that has been proven effective in close-quarters defense. With slug loads, it is even suitable for defense force confronting big, dangerous animals. In rural defense, there are enough of mortiferous predators in the land, feral dogs, mountain lions, and other unsafe animals that only an aggressive counterattack will end. But without proper firearm and load pick, likewise equally training, the shotgun will be underutilized. More than one citizen has defended himself with the shotgun, and mutual sense tells us that we should have one in the domicile.
In this examination, the shotguns nosotros chose are among the best in their toll range. The choices range from a pedestrian bead-sighted model to a tactical model with an AR-fifteen type stock. While self-loaders rule the twenty-four hour period at 3 Gun competitions and are very reliable, a dirty pump will work when a dirty automatic will non. We have seen cocky-loaders malfunction during our test programs, and nosotros know the pump-activeness shotgun is relatively like shooting fish in a barrel to master, equally long equally you get quality training then yous're confident in your skills and sure in your manipulation.
With this in mind, nosotros chose three likely shotguns for home defense. The pinnacle end of the budget was $450, but we would prefer to spend less to get a good pump-action gun, if nosotros could. We fired them with practice loads, home defense loads, good loads suitable for pest and predators, and slugs suitable for defence force against large animals. Nosotros used 5 different loads for testing these shotguns. We tried to discover the well-nigh economical offerings in majority. This included the Fiocchi 12HV75 birdshot ($97 for 250 shotshells from CheaperThanDirt.com) Fiocchi one-ounce Aero slugs ($8.10/10 from VenturaMunitions.com), Hornady 86240 Disquisitional Defense force 00 buckshot loads ($eleven.08/10 from CheaperThanDirt.com), Hornady's Varmint Express, a load using 24 pellets at 1350 fps ($xvi/10 from Gandermountain.com), and Winchester 3-inch 12-gauge 00 buckshot loads (No. XB12300VB, $17/fifteen from CheaperThanDirt.com) This selection covered the probable uses for personal defense, predators, and even large animals. Each shotgun was fired with fifty birdshot shells, 10 of each of the buckshot loads, and 10 Fiocchi slugs, for a total of at to the lowest degree 90 shells per gun. This is punishing work and was not accomplished in a unmarried range session. We fired mainly the light-boot birdshot to learn how to office the guns quickly and determine their smoothness and ergonomics.
Here are the results.
Remington 870 Constabulary Shotgun Modified with Adaptive Tactical Forend and M4-Type Stock, $420
GUN TESTS GRADE: B
This is one man's idea of an all-circular shotgun. Years of familiarity and trust are congenital into the package. With the Adaptive Tactical M4 stock, he at present has a shotgun that handles in a like fashion to his Filly M4 rifle. We liked the packet overall. This is the kind of lightly modified shotgun in use in the thousands beyond the country. The shotgun was rated down, nonetheless, in comparing to the magazine capacity and sighting equipment of the other shotguns. This is a good shotgun but it but isn't all it could be.
| Activity Type | Pump; 3-in. bedroom |
| OVERALL LENGTH | 35.viii to 39 in. |
| CAPACITY | 4 |
| WEIGHT UNLOADED | eight lbs. |
| Butt | eighteen in. long; steel |
| RECEIVER | Steel |
| CHOKE | Cylinder |
| BUTTSTOCK | Adaptive Tactical M4 type |
| BUTTSTOCK LENGTH OF PULL | 11.25 to 14.5 in. |
| FOREARM | Adaptive Tactical w/ Light Rail |
| FOREARM LENGTH | 9.four in. |
| Forepart SIGHT | |
| REAR SIGHT | Burglarize type |
| TRIGGER PULL WEIGHT | vii.v lbs. |
| WARRANTY | None/used |
| TELEPHONE | (800) 243-9700 |
| WEBSITE | AdaptiveTactical.com |
| MADE IN | USA |
We arrived at the package price for this gun by taking a reasonable conquering toll for an average used 870 Police model shotgun ($300) and adding to it the toll of the Adaptive Tactical Forend and M4-type stock, $120. One of our testers upgraded the Anarchism gun with the Adaptive Tactical stock and forend set. The EX Operation Adjustable Stock with pistol grip features an like shooting fish in a barrel-to-reach rapid-conform lever for custom length of pull, and includes an integrated QD hinge attachment and molded in non-rust standard sling swivel attachment. A non-slip vented safe recoil pad, oversized actress force adjustment pivot, and sleek industrial design complete the buttstock'due south specifications.
The EX Performance Forend features a 2-inch Picatinny track concealed under the nose cap. Uncovered, it's platonic for attaching tactical accessories like lasers or lights. The EX Functioning stock set is also available for the Mossberg 500 & 88, 590 serial shotguns. A drop-in replacement AR Rear Stock (RAS) is as well bachelor for AR-15/M4 carbines or other shotguns/rifles utilizing Mil-Spec sized extension tubes.
Afterwards many years of pedagogy the shotgun and carbine, our rater elected to add this AR stock to his personal long-serving 870 to provide a common experience between rifle and shotgun and also for ease of carry in the truck. And so, nosotros are rating both the shotgun's application and the parts. The parts are non plastic, but instead are made of high-impact polymer and have a solid experience. We fitted an inexpensive NC3 light for evaluation.
The stock is solid, and without rattles, and is easily adjusted. Being able to shorten it does help when storing the Remington in the abode or when using it as a truck gun. We really like the vented recoil pad, something you do not need with the M4 rifle, but which y'all do need with the hard-kick 12 judge. Nosotros liked the parts, and if we were rating the shotgun parts lone, they would go an A. These parts added a half pound to the base of operations Remington 870 Riot gun, making it the heaviest in the test. Equally might exist expected, it as well kicked the least, and felt recoil was mitigated by the vented recoil pad.
The Remington with Adaptive Tactical hardware fared well, but private perception can change the assessment, and so permit us tell yous where we started.
Every bit an example, shooters mostly using the AR-15 liked the set up meliorate than those using traditional shotguns for bird hunting. To each chore the proper tool. We liked the stock very much, and the forend with its mounted combat light makes a lot of sense. With a Blackhawk sling added, this is a swell tactical fix upwards.
The primary differences among the shotguns were the sights. The slide action, trigger action, push-push button safety, sliding bolt lock, and loading sequence are even so in the three shotguns. Merely the shotguns featured stock-still rifle-type sights, a simple bead, and Ghost Ring sights. This shotgun was the first tested, and it featured rifle sights mutual to riot guns. These sights are non equally fast every bit the dewdrop or Ghost Ring sights for rapid combat piece of work. We fired the buckshot at individual targets at vii, 10, and xvi yards. The densest pattern was with Hornady #iv buckshot, producing a 7×ix-inch grouping at xvi yards. The others gave a 9×12 to 9×15-inch pattern. The hardest-boot load was the Winchester three-inch 00 buckshot load. The Winchester gave a large pattern, but there are fifteen balls. Felt recoil was the least of the shotguns tested, although past a small margin; the shotgun was too heavier with the Adaptive Tactical stock. Earlier firing the shotgun for accurateness with slugs, we noted that the trigger was heavy at 7.5 pounds, mutual for older riot guns.
Firing the Fiocchi slugs at fifteen yards, two were in a unmarried ragged hole, touching, which we repeated with the Militarist 982. The slugs were on the point of aim because the possessor had previously sighted the shotgun in. The tertiary trounce in the iii-circular group was less than an inch abroad. The owner reports four-inch 50-1000 groups.
Our Team Said: This set-up is a good one, and nosotros feel that the Adaptive Tactical stock and forend are skilful features. Simply note it is for the shooter who wants to aim every shot rather than point the shotgun. We rated the package down a total course based on the sights, which weren't equally good as the Ghost Ring ready on another shotgun. Also, this unit only has a four-round magazine chapters, and it sports a heavy trigger. It will certainly do the job, only we think another selections offers more value for the money.
Remington Express Tactical 12-Judge Pump Action, $346
GUN TESTS Form: A-
The Remington 870 Limited Tactical is an affordable shotgun with the advantages of Remington's limited lifetime warranty and proven quality. We liked the magazine chapters, and nosotros will have the muzzle brake, even if we could not discern its effectiveness. The shortcoming is the elementary bead front sight, which limits slug accuracy by 10 yards. Conversely, as a shotgun to be used only with buckshot and only in the home, the bead front sight is a practiced selection.
| ACTION TYPE | Pump, 3-in. sleeping accommodation |
| OVERALL LENGTH | 40 in.; 38 in. w/o screw-in Tactical Brake |
| Capacity | vi |
| WEIGHT UNLOADED | 7.5 lbs. |
| Butt | 18 in.; steel |
| RECEIVER | Steel |
| Choke | Cylinder |
| BUTTSTOCK | Polymer |
| BUTTSTOCK LENGTH OF PULL | 13.eight in. |
| FOREARM | Polymer |
| FOREARM LENGTH | half dozen.75 in. |
| Front SIGHT | Bead |
| REAR SIGHT | None |
| TRIGGER PULL WEIGHT | 4.5 lbs. |
| WARRANTY | Limited lifetime |
| TELEPHONE | (800) 243-9700 |
| WEBSITE | Remington.com |
| Fabricated IN | USA |
This shotgun, purchased at retail from Impactguns.com, is something of a hybrid with the standard Express Tactical (No. 25077) economic system-line constructed stock, but a tactical muzzle brake. A fix of Ghost Band sights and the muzzle brake add more than $150 retail to the Remington, per our enquiry. In keeping with the upkeep theme, we selected a proven action at a fair toll. This Remington features a bead front sight. Controls and action are the same as the other shotguns. The matte cease is evenly applied. The forend is the skinniest of the iii, but worked fine in all of our testing. The trigger action is the nicest of the three shotguns tested at 4.5 pounds. The raters agreed that the uncomplicated front bead was plenty fast on target during rapid-fire combat shooting at 7, ten, and 16 yards. At useful buckshot range, the dewdrop gave skilful results. The pattern was centered, just as the other Adaptive Tactical-equipped Remington had been. The muzzle brake may have helped with recoil, just we feel that the extra weight of the previous shotgun helped more.
The Express Tactical gave good results, with nothing to complain near. Patterns were the same as the other Remington 870. The muzzle brake did not impact either patterning or recoil very much. The jagged edge, intended to let offset when using special munitions in door breaching, is a skillful touch but not i we have a mission for. The removable asphyxiate tube, however, is an advantage for those who may wish to turn the shotgun to area defence force. Even for personal defense in the home, some of usa would prefer a tight pattern. When moving to the Fiocchi slugs, the results were interesting. Perhaps the lite trigger gave an advantage, but at 15 yards, the aforementioned excellent results were had, with two slugs in one ragged hole. Non quite the same group every bit the others, but for practical purposes, the bead-sighted gun is skillful to become with slugs at xv yards. The slugs also struck to the point of aim.
Our Team Said: The Remington Express Tactical stock is slightly thicker than the Model 982, but non enough to make a difference in treatment that nosotros could discern. The recoil pad is solid, versus the vented pads of the other shotguns. The six-round mag is another advantage we really similar. But we rated the shotgun down a half grade based on the single bead sight, which would limit application at longer range.
IAC Hawk 982 12-Gauge Pump Action, $233
GUN TESTS GRADE: A (All-time Purchase)
The Hawk 982 is the least-expensive shotgun tested and among the least-expensive 12-gauge pumps we have tested. The Hawk never malfunctioned, never brusque cycled, and gave good results. The pattern with buckshot was slightly tighter than the other shotguns. The chief advantage discovered in firing was the excellent aperture sights. The Hawk is a Best Buy.
| ACTION TYPE | Pump; 3-in. chamber |
| OVERALL LENGTH | 38.v in. |
| Capacity | 5 |
| WEIGHT UNLOADED | 7.5 lbs. |
| BARREL | 18.5 in.; steel; matte black end |
| RECEIVER | Steel; matte black finish |
| CHOKE | Fixed cylinder |
| BUTTSTOCK | Blackness polymer westward/ rugger recoil pad |
| BUTTSTOCK LENGTH OF PULL | thirteen.8 in. |
| FOREARM | Black polymer |
| FOREARM LENGTH | nine in. |
| FRONT SIGHT | Post |
| REAR SIGHT | Ghost Ring aperture |
| TRIGGER PULL WEIGHT | 6 lbs. |
| WARRANTY | i twelvemonth |
| TELEPHONE | (800) 243-3006 |
| WEBSITE | IACShotguns.com |
This was our price for the gun from CheaperThanDirt.com. The IAC Militarist is near identical to the other shotguns. The slide action, safety, commodities release, and trigger are the same in appearance and function. The Militarist 982 is a directly copy of the Remington 870 made in Red china. The beginnings of this business date to 1960, when the original retail gun shop, know equally Ivanhoe Sports Middle, was located in Watertown, Massachusetts. It remained open for 25 years. A wholesale division was formed in 1974, and today is known as Interstate Arms Corp., a distributor supplying retail gun shops nationwide with firearms and accessories. IAC Imports is a sectionalisation of Interstate Arms Corp. that imports reproductions of classic firearms.
The 982 comes off well. The fit and finish are good. The blueing is attractive and evenly practical. The trigger action breaks at a clean 6 pounds, midway between the trigger-pull weight of the other shotguns. The Militarist features a v-circular mag, also midway between the 4- and half dozen-shell capacity of the other shotguns. The Militarist features synthetic furniture. The stock is slightly thinner than the Remington Express Tactical, only nosotros could detect no reward in either. The Militarist features a vented recoil pad, which nosotros liked ameliorate than the Express Tactical shotgun's solid recoil pad. Recoil, notwithstanding, was in the same category, nosotros thought, with only the Adaptive Tactical-equipped shotgun showing an advantage in recoil control.
Nosotros liked the sweeping design of the forend on the Hawk better than the Remington Express. The hand isn't going to slip off the rear of this forend. The barrel is xviii.v inches versus 18 inches for the other shotguns. The real advantage of the Hawk 982, especially in this price range, was the aperture, or Ghost Ring, sights. This sight is adjustable and features solid wings to protect from falls. (Self-defense guns get trounce upwardly.) The front post is well suited to all-round use with buckshot or slugs. The action is smooth and costless from binding. The only difference we could find in the Militarist and the Remington action is that the shell carrier of the Hawk does not have the small cut out in the carrier, which was designed to limit short cycles. In any case, at that place were no malfunctions of any of the shotguns used in this test. During the firing test, the Hawk 982 shotgun handled well. The 870 blueprint moves quickly, and the stock design lends itself to fast handling. The 982 did not disappoint in this regard.
The Ghost Ring sight naturally centers the front postal service to the eye. In addressing targets at 7, 10, and 16 yards, the Militarist gave excellent results. When firing at close range with buckshot, ane shotgun was near as good equally the other; nevertheless, the Ghost Band gave an advantage in speed, we idea.
The buckshot patterns were slightly tighter with the Hawk, which may have been an individual product of this shotgun, but were an inch or so tighter overall. When firing the shotguns with slugs, we had begun past firing two for practice to establish the signal of impact and point-of-aim correlation. Then we fired three standing for a group, taking our fourth dimension. One of the raters suggested firing five of the Fiocchi Aero slugs as rapidly as possible for a group at xv yards. Nosotros did so and plant the rifle-sighted Remington was slower than the Hawk and less accurate, and the bead-sighted shotgun was fifty-fifty less accurate in rapid fire. The Hawk 982, all the same, placed the five slugs in a tight group, even when fired quickly. We retrieve the Ghost Ring sight is a large advantage as a upshot. The slugs hitting virtually 3 inches beneath the betoken of aim, but the shotgun sights had not been adapted.
Our Team Said: We were impressed with the IAC Hawk 982. The shotgun performed flawlessly with good reliability. It handled quickly, and the recoil pad blueprint was praised by all raters. The Ghost Ring sights are ideal for personal defense. The rear sight may be removed if you lot wish to mountain a crimson dot sight. Role and tactical ability with the IAC Hawk 982 were excellent for the money. The Hawk 982 is a Best Buy.
Written and photographed by R.K. Campbell, using evaluations from Gun Tests squad testers.
Source: https://www.gun-tests.com/shotguns/shotguns-pump-12/home-defense-shotguns-we-compare-three-pump-actions-4/
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