VR82 20 ga.

[dwzuspsa]

I heard about RIA having a 20 gauge version of the VR80.  So while looking thru the internet trying to order one I happened upon to ealers with the ten round magazine so I ordered thre.  After browsing a little more I happend on the 19 rounders so ordered one of those.  That was back in early Jan.  After church this Sunday, God willing I was looking at the Gra-a-Gun website and just had to order one of the VR82 's they had in stock and low and behold the shipped it out Mon. morning so now I wait.  This seems like the ticket for smaller framed elderly like me and most kids and women.  Should be here by Fri. will let you know my initial impressions when I get this.

[Digital_Boy]

Did the Genesis 12 prove to be unpleasant to shoot? One good thing about 20ga, it's still somewhat readily available in this long term panic market. I just popped into Academy to pick up a pair of Romeo 5s for my Benelli and Panzer M4s, and the ammo shelves were stripped bare as per usual, save for some boxes of 20 and 28 gauge.

[dwzuspsa]

I can't complain about the Genesis 12, but I am pushing 73 and I figure the 20 ga. won't handicap me too much going from 1 1/8 ounce to 1 ounce pay load.  Looking to put the VR82 on a diet and take it down to 6.5 pounds.

[dwzuspsa]

Picked up the VR82 from the dealer.  I took it home and remover the pistol grip stock and pot on a regular grip and magpul stock.  Just that change dropped the weight from 7.6 poumds to 6 pounds 7.2 oz.  Going to be 60's tomorrow and will let you know how it runs.

[dwzuspsa]

Back from the range and after a good cleaning ran a box of shells thru the new gun.  I started with the five round mag and ran Win. universal white box...the only thing I could find these days of shortages....20 ga 2 3/4 1200 fps, 7/8 oz number 8's.  First mag had three failures to ejext....not looking good here!!  Next five round mag only one failure to eject but two failures to chamber fully.  Ten round down the bore....next tried the ten round mags and had better results but only loaded five round each time to break in the mags....the ten rounders are a bit hard to load.  You have to push down hard and insert the 20 ga. round and tip up the front end of the round to get the metal rim over the front of the metal end were the plastic meat the metal.  No failure to feed but one or two to eject but by the last five round in the ten round mag I got all five to go off as fast as my little fingers could pull the trigger.  So far pretty much of what I expected so back out to the range in a couple of days after the impending snow storm.

[dwzuspsa]

Have three 3-gun matches fired thru the VR82 and cannot complain except the Fiochi 20 ga shot shells that would not extract....everything else has been 100 per cent with the four ten round mags and the 20 round one.  Even the wally world 20 ga ran great with one failure to eject but I hand cycled that out and no further problem.  At 6 pounds 12 ounces the gun is easy to handle and drives on the targets and recoil is ok.  Long range targets at 30 and 35 yards are no problem and I took the swinger in four shots at one match....running a mod choke in it....would like to find a muzzle brake just for the cool llok for it....so fa so good.

[ridingshotgun]

I purchased the VR82 two months ago.  Ran 200 plus slug rounds due to range restrictions.   Found that the piston and barrel ports fouls up with lead after 50 rounds.  Makes separting the piston pieces (two) almost impossible.  Once separate, have to get fouling off via a brass wire wheel on the grinder and then interior of piston gets done with wire wheel on a dremel.  Haven't done bird-shot yet.  Like to see if the same problem occurs.  I don't have this issue to this degree with other piston-driven shotguns.  Lastly, had to polish (again with dremel, SS polishing compound and bullet-shaped pads) all of the bolt pieces that showed wear and also removed the pointy tops on the rear top of the magazines with a file.  Do yourself a favor and get the 12 gauge.  Same problems, but the ammo is cheaper and easier to get.

[CRBURB]

Hi All,

I'm new to the site and to the VR82. Took it to trap shoot for the first time today. Result with the following:

 

25 shells Heuters 7 ½ 1200 fps (3 inch) - I had perfect performance with no failures of any kind. I found the sights to be highly accurate right out of the box. It could not have been better.

 

20 shells Winchester 7 ½ 1200 fps (2 ¾ inch) - The shells fired with no problems, but I had 100% failure to cycle the bolt far enough back to pickup the next shell in the magazine. I also had about 95% failure to eject the spent shell with mostly stovepipes.

 

15 shells Federal  7 ½ 1200 fps (2 ¾ inch) - Exactly the same lack of performance as the Winchesters above.

 

Can anyone tell me what I missed here? It simply does not seem to be able to cycle 2 3/4 inch rounds  regardless of the manufacturer. Settings and choke are consistent with manual.

I Absolutely love the firearm and can shoot it with 3 inch only if necessary but that could restrict me from shooting buckshot and slugs.

 

Looking for your help on this.

 

CRBURB