It’s been a simple, effective short-range firearm, a reliable hunting companion, and a specialized weapon of war. Easy to use and versatile, shotguns have served many purposes and have become an American icon (cue the “Terminator 2” Winchester Model 1887 lever-action footage).

Like an elongated, horizontal mortar tube, the first incarnation of a shotgun was used for wing shooting in the late 1700s. Since then, the scattergun family tree has grown massively in popularity to support a variety of shooting requirements. With its range of gauges—and that one caliber, in the case of your friendly neighborhood .410—and actions, the shotgun meets a variety of needs. They can be used to take down a duck or drop a deer on a hunting trip. They also excel at close quarters work where precision comes second to putting a lot of energy into an area target. In combat, shotguns gained popularity when the Winchester Model 1897 was modified for trench warfare in World War 1 and they have evolved as up-close-and-personal weapons, including the Modular Combat Shotgun, the Mossberg 590A1, the M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System, and the Benelli M4 that is now housed in armories all over the US military. Inexpensive and birthed with a straightforward purpose, shotguns have also found their place for home defense purposes due to their simplicity and effectiveness.

It’s been a simple, effective short-range firearm, a reliable hunting companion, and a specialized weapon of war. Easy to use and versatile, shotguns have served many purposes and have become an American icon (cue the “Terminator 2” Winchester Model 1887 lever-action footage).

Like an elongated, horizontal mortar tube, the first incarnation of a shotgun was used for wing shooting in the late 1700s. Since then, the scattergun family tree has grown massively in popularity to support a variety of shooting requirements. With its range of gauges—and that one caliber, in the case of your friendly neighborhood .410—and actions, the shotgun meets a variety of needs. They can be used to take down a duck or drop a deer on a hunting trip. They also excel at close quarters work where precision comes second to putting a lot of energy into an area target. In combat, shotguns gained popularity when the Winchester Model 1897 was modified for trench warfare in World War 1 and they have evolved as up-close-and-personal weapons, including the Modular Combat Shotgun, the Mossberg 590A1, the M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System, and the Benelli M4 that is now housed in armories all over the US military. Inexpensive and birthed with a straightforward purpose, shotguns have also found their place for home defense purposes due to their simplicity and effectiveness.

All The Shotguns

Two of the most well-known versions of the home defense firearm are the Remington 870 and the Mossberg 590. Incredibly popular due to their price, reputation, and availability, these two models have found their way into the hands of millions of firearms owners. Like their cousin the AR platform, they have been the subject of much fine-tuning and customization. If you find your way out into the Nevada desert, you won’t find a more mission-honed version of these guns than with the upgrades Vang Comp Systems has to offer.

Two of the most well-known versions of the home defense firearm are the Remington 870 and the Mossberg 590. Incredibly popular due to their price, reputation, and availability, these two models have found their way into the hands of millions of firearms owners. Like their cousin the AR platform, they have been the subject of much fine-tuning and customization. If you find your way out into the Nevada desert, you won’t find a more mission-honed version of these guns than with the upgrades Vang Comp Systems has to offer.

In the late 1980s, the FBI needed a way to make shotguns more precise when shooting buckshot without the use of a choke. An essential tool on duty, they needed their shotguns to be safer when used in situations where there were potential bystanders down-range, while minimizing felt recoil and muzzle rise. As a result, they approached a man named Hans Vang. After spending time in the Navy as a Seabee, Hans attended the Colorado School of Trades for gunsmithing. Following school, he apprenticed for a German Master Gunsmith, working on high-end double guns and shotguns, mastering new lengths of forcing cones to reduce recoil in their guns. He made a reputation for himself in the Santa Barbara area and eventually ended up working on President Reagan’s personal guns. When the need for tighter shooting shotguns arose, the FBI had a good idea who to talk to.

When his barrel system effectively solved the FBI’s dilemma, the way was paved for one of the most effective tactical shotgun systems in the world, and one year later, Vang Comp Systems was born. Since then, they have made their name legend by turning everybody’s first shotgun into a precise, defensive fighting machine.

Last December, we grabbed an old Remington 870 and Mossberg 590 of ours and hopped on a plane to the Vang Comp headquarters in Las Vegas. We wanted a firsthand experience on what went into the Vang Comp process, and how they transformed our guns into 50-yard hole punchers.

In the late 1980s, the FBI needed a way to make shotguns more precise when shooting buckshot without the use of a choke. An essential tool on duty, they needed their shotguns to be safer when used in situations where there were potential bystanders down-range, while minimizing felt recoil and muzzle rise. As a result, they approached a man named Hans Vang. After spending time in the Navy as a Seabee, Hans attended the Colorado School of Trades for gunsmithing. Following school, he apprenticed for a German Master Gunsmith, working on high-end double guns and shotguns, mastering new lengths of forcing cones to reduce recoil in their guns. He made a reputation for himself in the Santa Barbara area and eventually ended up working on President Reagan’s personal guns. When the need for tighter shooting shotguns arose, the FBI had a good idea who to talk to.

When his barrel system effectively solved the FBI’s dilemma, the way was paved for one of the most effective tactical shotgun systems in the world, and one year later, Vang Comp Systems was born. Since then, they have made their name legend by turning everybody’s first shotgun into a precise, defensive fighting machine.

Last December, we grabbed an old Remington 870 and Mossberg 590 of ours and hopped on a plane to the Vang Comp headquarters in Las Vegas. We wanted a firsthand experience on what went into the Vang Comp process, and how they transformed our guns into 50-yard hole punchers.

Tagged For Work

In the early days, 90% of their work came from law enforcement. Now, it’s about a 50-50 split with civilians who send in their personal gun for a performance enhancement and a facelift. With the high expectations set from their highly-regarded, transformative work, when you enter the Vang Comp warehouse, you half expect to come across mad-scientist types who’re working with reverse-engineered alien technology. Instead, we found a group of personable folks who are experts at their craft, really know their way around a lathe, and who are incredibly passionate about the guns they are modifying.

In the early days, 90% of their work came from law enforcement. Now, it’s about a 50-50 split with civilians who send in their personal gun for a performance enhancement and a facelift. With the high expectations set from their highly-regarded, transformative work, when you enter the Vang Comp warehouse, you half expect to come across mad-scientist types who’re working with reverse-engineered alien technology. Instead, we found a group of personable folks who are experts at their craft, really know their way around a lathe, and who are incredibly passionate about the guns they are modifying.

After

Broken out into multiple stations, the long line of shotguns queued for work makes their way from one expert’s hand to the next. In total, it’s a three-person operation when they take a gun into work. After the initial disassembly, most of the effort is focused on the barrel. It’s given the Vang Comp barrel modification system, which includes compensation porting and backboring. At the same time, the receiver gets drilled and tapped for the sight. After that, a good pair of Vang Comp Ghost Ring Sights and a magazine tube extension are installed before a Cerakote finish is applied. Next—and we love this part, obviously—the whole gun is put back together with a Magpul SGA Stock and M-LOK Forend. Because the modification mitigates the need for choke tubes, the newly-modified guns won’t limit the choice of ammunition you can safely fire through a Vang Comp-modified barrel.

You can get a more detailed look into their process in our video…minus a few trade secrets we promised them we’d keep close hold.

Broken out into multiple stations, the long line of shotguns queued for work makes their way from one expert’s hand to the next. In total, it’s a three-person operation when they take a gun into work. After the initial disassembly, most of the effort is focused on the barrel. It’s given the Vang Comp barrel modification system, which includes compensation porting and backboring. At the same time, the receiver gets drilled and tapped for the sight. After that, a good pair of Vang Comp Ghost Ring Sights and a magazine tube extension are installed before a Cerakote finish is applied. Next—and we love this part, obviously—the whole gun is put back together with a Magpul SGA Stock and M-LOK Forend. Because the modification mitigates the need for choke tubes, the newly-modified guns won’t limit the choice of ammunition you can safely fire through a Vang Comp-modified barrel.

You can get a more detailed look into their process in our video…minus a few trade secrets we promised them we’d keep close hold.

The Vang Comp Port Pattern

After running two tubes of shells through the action to identify any tolerance issues during function testing, we headed out into the desert of Nevada to gather some proof on how transformational the Vang Comp Treatment really is. We took both shotguns, several different types of cartridges, and two factory shotguns with us for a side-by-side comparison of pre- and post-mod performance.

With modern 00 Buck Shot being fired through most factory barrels, you’d expect to see about one inch of spread per yard from the target. So, at 25 yards – where we were shooting from – you would see a 25-inch pattern.

After running two tubes of shells through the action to identify any tolerance issues during function testing, we headed out into the desert of Nevada to gather some proof on how transformational the Vang Comp Treatment really is. We took both shotguns, several different types of cartridges, and two factory shotguns with us for a side-by-side comparison of pre- and post-mod performance.

With modern 00 Buck Shot being fired through most factory barrels, you’d expect to see about one inch of spread per yard from the target. So, at 25 yards – where we were shooting from – you would see a 25-inch pattern.

Left Side: Factory / Right Side: Vang Comp

Mossberg Test Fire

After firing our first shells, we saw the expected spread from our factory guns, but our Vang Comp modified shotguns created a pattern that was close to half that size. The Vang Comp forcing cone and backbore clearly create a more constricted the shot column which, along with the effect of reduced pellet deformation, creates the tightest shot patterns available.

We spent some time shooting through the rest of our ammunition, comparing how different loads perform at different distances between the factory and Vang Comp setups. The minimized recoil and tighter spread remained consistent through the rest of the time spent at the range. So far, the results have been amazing, and it’s not hard to see why Vang Comp has a growing line of guns awaiting an upgrade that will keep them doing the work they enjoy for a long, long time.

After firing our first shells, we saw the expected spread from our factory guns, but our Vang Comp modified shotguns created a pattern that was close to half that size. The Vang Comp forcing cone and backbore clearly create a more constricted the shot column which, along with the effect of reduced pellet deformation, creates the tightest shot patterns available.

We spent some time shooting through the rest of our ammunition, comparing how different loads perform at different distances between the factory and Vang Comp setups. The minimized recoil and tighter spread remained consistent through the rest of the time spent at the range. So far, the results have been amazing, and it’s not hard to see why Vang Comp has a growing line of guns awaiting an upgrade that will keep them doing the work they enjoy for a long, long time.

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