Bradgsxr

These are very cool!! Always fun to get some aerials in a stage, and very reasonable price, gonna have to pick up a couple -

I really like the Safariland 3 gun case as it has the little extension built into it for your shotgun tube, it is 47-48 inch bag with another 4 inch extension for your mag tube plus tons of other pockets and compartments for all your gear etc... very well made also - I had a Voodoo tactical bag that I really liked but when I went to a 10 round tube it wouldn't fit anymore so I went to the Safariland and it is even nicer - Holsters.com is where you will find it -

Yeah I would like to see someone do this from the caddie on video too! I have tried but keep losing a shell when I pull them from the caddy -

I want to try the IP chest rig as it would be nice to be able to quad load off your chest but it gets awfully hard to keep up with all the new stuff that comes out nowadays. I still like my 4x4 ap's, my qualoads, ap L2,s etc... and I like my matchsaverz too !!

I am surprised that this is still being beat to death here, it is obvious to me that the new design being referenced in this thread IS different from the IP design , very similar as far as the " ramped arrangement, but clearly different as far as the clips and how the shells would come out. All of the different manufacturers have many similarities but all have a little different way of accomplishing the same thing ( getting shells off your belt ). I have many different caddies from many different makers and they all have their pluses and minuses, but just because you like one or the other don't knock the others just for the sake of arguing. In fairness if someone was saying I copied something that I clearly did not, it would piss me off too - just my opinion -

Your Versa will run the Federal Field and Target multi-purpose loads all day , everyday. I use the 7.5 shot, 1-1/8 oz., 3 dram eq. at 1200 fps ( this is the Federal bulk packs from Wal-Mart) .You won't have the issues with bad crimps etc... that you get with the Winchester crap. I have run thousands of these through my Versa with no issues whatsoever. If you have any long shots on heavy poppers or you need a little more power, the Remington Premier Nitro sporting clays are 1300 fps and Federal also has some 1300 fps , 3-1/4 dram that work great.

I think common sense tells you that you aren't going to get a gun that runs like a Benelli or a versamax for 500-600 bucks, I'm sure you can get a Stoeger to run well and I have seen JM pro's that have run well ( finicky on ammo though from what owners have told me ) but you don't get a Mercedes for the cost of a Hyundai. In other words you get what you pay for definitely applies here. The phrase I have heard on here many times rings VERY true, " Buy once, cry once " I have learned this the hard way myself and now am more careful buying things because they are less expensive, there is usually a reason why they are cheaper -

Safariland told me 773's for the XDM, and they do work fine, you have to adjust the tension screws to get the right fit but they work fine. I had to call as their website doesn't even list them for xdm's. Holsters.com is safariland's website - hope this helps -

Look in the shotgun technical section, everything you want to know about the versa max and others -

Yeah I need it welded on mine too, I think if you have fatter fingers it might not be as big of an issue but I have skinny ones and it gets me on the load 2 as well. When I go get the second shell past the catch it wedges my thumb in there and when trying to go fast it can smart pretty good. It doesn't draw blood like my stock Versa Max lifter did but still gets you. I have been watching for Brownells to get it in stock ( someone posted a link to the stock Beretta lifter) but it has been on back order for 6 months I think. Guess I am going to have to disassemble the 1301 and just send in the lifter to be welded, unless someone knows where a stock one can be found -

I believe Shooters Source used to sell the little spacers for the tek loks, they even had different size ones ( thicker and thinner )if I remember correctly -

I've got a +5 Nordic mxt tube on my 1301 with the regular Nordic cap and 10" of spring past the tube end. I can get 10 Federal bulk 7.5 in the tube and 3/4 of the 11th shell. With my Fiocchi dummy rounds it fits 11 no problem but can't quite get the 11th one in with live rounds. Mine has the stock follower.

A major 3 gun anywhere in the UPPER Midwest would be awesome but I think finding the right facility will be the hard part, I think there would be plenty of participants if there ever was one . The Nordic match is the next best thing to a major though, and it's always fun to shoot that many shotgun shells in a weekend!

I got one of the Rugged gear Deluxe 4-gun carts, it holds 4 long guns muzzles upright with nice soft holders so it won't scratch your guns. You just Velcro them in and out, it has solid rubber tires so no flats, has a custom rain cover ( very nice to have ) and will hold a cooler, ammo, built in range bag, has a reloading shelf and folds down to go in your trunk etc.... Not cheap but well worth it if you shoot much - check out their website - Ruggedgear.com

For 3 gun you can likely get by with a light mod but if you do any shotgun matches or other shotgun shooting, I like to have a skeet or cylinder for clays in the air etc...(fairly close ) an Improved cyl, light mod, and at least a full or light full for longer shots on steel etc... You also may need to control your pattern better if there are no-shoots next to your targets etc... so I have 5-6 chokes and I use the extended as they are nicer to deal with -

I have gone with the Safariland 3 gun bag as it has the nifty extension built in for the longer shotgun tubes, can hold all your guns and mags etc... but then I keep my other gear in plastic bins that I leave in the truck. When I get to the range I transfer everything I need for the day into my rugged gear cart ( best money ever spent for the cart ) it will hold all my stuff for the day. Have a separate range bag for doing USPSA pistol matches -

I just asked Safariland the same question when ordering my els. You go 1 size bigger on the els belt from your waist size, if you wear 36 pants you order 38 belt etc... you just order your regular waist size for the Velcro underbelt. I found you can never have too many els forks and receiver plates so order extra so when you get new or different equipment you can set it up for your belt. ( this is what safariland told me to order and it came out fine for length)

After doing some dry fire training with the VM and the 1301 today, I am starting to see the appeal of the Beretta as it makes my VM feel really heavy when I switch back and forth. Fit and finish is a little better on the 1301, ( still can't get over the rib on the VM not being true to the barrel but it hasn't really affected the performance at all, just looks cheesy ) but there really isn't that much to these shotguns so you don't really notice a difference. But the VM still feels better for me and loads way better, reliability has been stellar on the VM and I have thousands of rounds through it with no issues to speak of. I have to shoot the 1301 to compare recoil but I have a hard time believing that it will beat the VM in that department. Just by weight alone I would think the VM would be much softer shooting but will have to report back once I have gotten to shoot the 1301. But I will say the way the lighter gun transitions from target to target etc... is very appealing and it is making me want to try a M2 to compare, I know the Benelli's are nice guns but I would like to try one out and see what the trade offs are etc... is the recoil much worse etc..? Durtywrench, you will love your VM and you don't have to worry about what ammo to run as it will shoot just about any brand or load type you want to put in it - enjoy!

As far as I know, the main benefit of the extended choke is being able to quickly change them out with no tools.

I don't want to speak for the guys running this match but we have shotgun matches at this range every month in the summer and there is some nice natural terrain stages and bays both. They have a nice " jungle run " through the woods, a duck tower to shoot off of etc.. etc... I am sure for the Nordic match they will be using a lot more of the range than I have even seen. IMO this is a great place for a big shotgun match -

+1 on the Benny Hill VM, that's what mine is and it has been well worth the $

Anyone seen any competition tacticals released yet? Been looking but haven't found any yet-

Really liking mine, so much nicer than carrying a regular timer. Just going to take some time to remember all the functions and controls-

It's amazing how much the load 2 set up changed the game. I practiced my ass off to be decent at weak hand reloading only to go to my first big shotgun match and watch these guys blow me away throwing deuces, needless to say I bought some load 2 setups that day and started practicing and I am glad I did. Now just need to get quads down, but I still work on weak hand and deuces as you can never have too many tools in the tool box -

I have both a 24" 1301 and a versa max tactical and they both need the same things done, lifters need to be welded and loading ports need to be opened up. The versa comes with a 8+1 capacity where the beretta needs a tube to get going. I have had more stuff done to my versa but it was not necessary to make it competitive. I have not had a chance to shoot the Beretta as it is colder than sh#t here now but it points and swings etc... very nice as it is lighter than the Remington. I have shot a lot of rounds through my Versa max and it has been flawless so far. It all comes down to what fits you better and personal preference. Lighter recoil on the Versa, lighter feel to the Beretta but I don't think you could go wrong with either, or wait for the competition tactical and you won't have to do much to it - The versa loads easier IMO though -