From everything I've seen, they will even run on fairy farts.

 

I like everything about it but the price.

 

May I ask what you paid?
A LGS near me has them for $789. MSRP is $915
https://www.remington.com/other-products/v3-tac-13

 

The V3 is the 3" version of the VersaMax (runs low recoil up through 3.5" Mag). The ARGO system is very good and what is also used on the Benelli M4. I really like the design and I designed the VM Competition for Remington. I have worked on a few of the V3s now and they do run really well if you have a sample without the QC issues.

All of the issues with the VM are present on the V3. Still don't shoot 2.75" Mags. If it is dirty and gets into a moist environment, it will malfunction for a round or two until the moisture is driven out of the carbon in the pistons. Those pistons BTW, are supposed to be run dry, no lube in the cylinders. The QC issues are that the lifter might need to be tuned and the bore might need to be honed through the forcing cone. Both are pretty simple fixes. I have not seen a warped barrel or a mis-aligned vent rib myself, but there is anecdotal information that these have been seen. If you were going to buy one, I'd buy a 12g chamber bore sighter and check the alignment at 30 yards to be sure before you take it home.

Yes, the samples I have shot all ran the low recoil slugs and buck without a bobble.

 

... I really like the design and I designed the VM Competition for Remington...

Hey that's cool to know, and also thanks for the heads up about QC glitches that might be present. I've had my eye on the VM Comp for a bit now, but they seem to be out of production. Do you know?

 

I have duck hunted all of my life and guided for 7 years. I have had excellent results with Beretta AL390’s, The Old Style Browning A5’s and Winchester SX3’s. I currently run a Benelli M2 and it is a great shotgun provided you remember to let the bolt slam home violently on the first chambered round or they won’t lock up and you will get a light firing pin strike known as the “ Benelli Click “.

My experience has been the Versamax is a soft shooting shotgun with the quirk of having a forearm that rattles. I have heard some are QC nightmares but never witnessed it first hand.

The SX3’s and Browning Maxus are excellent products. The SX4 is a cheap new version of the SX3. The later versions of the new A5 are nice. The Beretta Extremas are excellent as is their current 3” auto loader. My experience with Benelli’s is they must be broken in and once you get them broken in, they will run forever with little maintenance.

The only Remington shotgun I would trust is an 870 and despite the interweb lore, with the right prep, the newer express version is an excellent product. They are rough finished and need to have the crap shot out of the m to smooth out. I also used to take them down to the pins and soak the metal parts in CLP an entire weekend constantly re-applying as the oil wicked into the rough parkerized finish. After that, water beads up on them.

You cannot go wrong with a modern Beretta or Benelli. Next I like Brownings and then the Winchester SX3 —- don’t know about the SX4.

Shotguns are pricey and you get what you pay for in terms of reliability and ease of use/maintenance.

I hunted with 870’s for a long time but once you have a Benelli or a Beretta, you get spoiled. I hunt with a Benelli due to the light weight and ease of maintenance. They shoot relatively clean. I won’t shoot a 3.5” shotgun unless it is gas operated and keeping the gas mechanism clean is arduous to me as I approach 60 years of age.

Just the opinions of a seasoned Duck hunter FWIW.

 

I don't see any advantage over a Tac 14 that would justify the price. A pump is much simpler and more reliable.

Of course, the price on the Tac 14's is going up too. I just noticed they are over $400 for the plastic stock model now, at Bud's. I had one and sold it, planning to replace it with the hardwood model and I held off because they were $400+. Guess I should have gone for it at the time.

I already have a 590 so I have pumps covered. I want something compact that's not an AR "other". My thought process is that the gas system of the semi will help with the recoil I'd feel in the bird's head grip and technically allows for 1 hand operation.

 

I don't know about 1 hand operation of a 12 ga., but the recoil is nothing special. You can shoot it one-handed easy enough, but hitting anything and follow-up shots are another story.

 

If I was going to get a shotgun with a short barrel and a bird's head grip, the V3 version is the one I would get. Soft recoil is the main reason. I know what, and how to overcome all of the QC issues. That said, the general format is not something that appeals to me. Maybe if I lived in a more restricted place.

 

I bought a TAC-14 DM in October. I found a deal online and got a $50 rebate from Remington, so in the end I spent $207 on it. My only complaint is that I have yet to find magazines in stock anywhere, and right now Remington isn't producing anything due to Coronavirus.

I read somewhere that the DM has been discontinued. That and the rebate and online deal are probably their way of getting rid of guns they can't sell.

 

Taterhead, my understanding is that with the shutdown/bankruptcy, they took a lot of SKUs out of production. It has not been discontinued, but with a lot of 3Gunners who did not want to shoot Benelli having like 5 good choices now, I'd not be surprised to see the comp model out of the 2021 catalog. I sold all three of mine off when I was sponsored by Benelli.

 

My Tac 13 which I've only fired less than 25 rounds feeds fine with Fed and Rem low recoil buckshot. However ejection is weak with the low recoil rounds. I've tested Federal, Reminton, and Hornady buckshot, Like I mentioned mine was new and I believe it'll do better with a few more rounds for breakin. Like it better than my tac-14.

 

Mine has run perfectly with everything I've run through it. From light loads to buck and back. Very happy with it. Softest shooting 12 ga I've ever owned.

I put a Railmater green laser on it. Makes it possible to shoot and get hits from any posture - eye level, hip or prone.

Get one. You'll like it.

 

I love my Tac 13. Runs everything, except mini shells. Recoil is half that of my Tac 14. My Benelli M1 was immediately retired.

Problem is with Remington in limbo, they are hard to find. GunBroker has them for north of 2K. I wish I bought more of them when they were $700. I also wish I had bought the V3 version with the stock and 18" barrel. I also wish Trump won the election. Oh, well.

 

It's picky with ammo. Not the best trait for a self-defense weapon. It jams with certain ammo, and it won't load Aquila short shot shells at all.

 

What's the best alternative to a Remington TAC-13 and what are the latest rules for putting a stabilizing arm brace on them?
I have a SB Tactical SBA4 arm brace for a TAc-13, but not the TAC-13. I will likely sell the arm brace.