Completely Different: Remington’s V3 TAC-13

Don’t let appearances fool you, this is not a shotgun. It is something completely different. The 12 gauge Remington V3 Tac-13 is a 26.5-inch long semi-automatic firearm with a Raptor grip. Built on an aluminum receiver, it weighs under 6 pounds and holds up to five 2 3/4 inch shells in the tube magazine with one more in the chamber.

Those of you who are aware of NFA restrictions on shotguns may wonder why this doesn’t require a tax stamp, fingerprints, and six-month wait.  The short answer is with an overall length over 26 inches, a smooth bore and no shoulder stock, the V3 TAC-13 is classified as a firearm, not a shotgun.

• Chamber: 3″
• Overall Length: 26.5″
• Barrel Length: 13″
• Overall Weight: Approx 6 lbs.
• Capacity (2.75″ shells): 5 rounds
• Gauge/Bore: 12 Gauge
• Magazine Capacity: 5 Rounds
• Barrel Length: 13 inches
• Barrel Type: Cylinder Bore Barrel with a 3-inch chamber
• Sights: Bead and vent rib
• Receiver Finish: Black Oxide
• Overall Length: 26.5″

TAC-13 FEATURES:

• BIRDSHEAD PISTOL GRIP
  Allows for a more ergonomic hold to help control the firearm and reduce recoil for the shooter.
• HAND STRAP
  User adjustable to help control muzzle flip and improve handling characteristics.
• LIGHTWEIGHT ALUMINUM RECEIVER
  For easy, comfortable transport anywhere.
• 13″ LIGHT CONTOUR BARREL
  Cylimber Bore with a Vent Rib sight.
• RELIABLE FEEDING
  VersaPort gas system can run common light field loads or full power buck and slug and anything in between.
• LOW RECOIL
  Self-regulating VersaPort gas system offers very manageable recoil in a compact package.

When you pick up the Tac-13, you want to bring it to your eye to aim. We tend to go with what we know: shotguns and handguns. The TAC-13 is a whole different thing.

The best way of making this work fast is to hold it low and near your hip. The trigger is very fast. There is a little pre-travel but no over travel with a short reset. The video below was shot with Remington Reduced Recoil 00 buck.

In close-quarter engagements this is fast, but you need a sighting method.  The Raptor grip and forward hand strap give you a solid grip and good handling. To make this a really useful gun for home defense, you need to add a light to the forward rails. Now you can identify a threat in darkness and have aimed fire.

The receiver is drilled and tapped, and a newly redesigned barrel clamp at the muzzle provides two rail sections for a light, a laser or both. This is the key to accurate fire with the TAC-13.

I found that trying to hold the gun in front of my eye was slow and awkward. With a laser, I was able to straighten my arm out and look over the gun at the laser. This made all the difference, keeping my head up and stabilizing the TAC-13.

The Streamlight TLR-8 Weapons Mounted Light is a small yet super bright 500 lumen tactical light designed to fit a broad array of weapons. A red laser gives the TRL-8 an edge over other lights for a wide variety of situations. The low-profile design prevents snagging and a “safe off” feature prevents accidental activation, saving batteries.

I also used a Holosun LS221R dual laser sight with a class IIIa 5mw visible red laser and an IR laser. You probably aren’t using night vision in the bedroom, but the bright red laser is easy to see in daylight.

Both the Streamlight TLR-8 and the Holosun LS221R held up fine under over 100 rounds of 12 gauge recoil. The addition of an aiming device made all the difference in making the TAC-13 a practical firearm. Trying to point from the hip is very difficult, I found many rounds going high. Trying to hold the gun in front of your eye is very difficult and finding the sights again in recoil can be slow.

TAC-13 controls are what Remington shooters expect. There is an oversized button safety located on the trigger guard that can be reversed for lefties. The bolt locks open when retracted and is released by a button on the right side of the receiver. The V3 also has a magazine cutoff switch where the floor plate meets the trigger guard. This can make shell selection easier without dumping the rounds out of the magazine.

With fewer moving parts than traditional semi-auto gas actions and a rugged extractor and ejector, the V3 system is highly reliable and versatile. The TAC-13 is all that and more.

The V3’s VersaPort gas system reliably feeds everything from light field loads to magnum buck and slugs. This is not a phrase I throw around. I was unable to experience any kind of stoppage with this gun using the cheapest bargain field loads or 3-inch magnums.

The recoil was also a lot lighter than I expected. The gas system reduces recoil making it smoother shooting than a pump gun. Remington claims the V3 is “the softest-recoiling auto in the field.”

The VersaPort system reduces pressure over a longer time span reducing felt recoil.  It has a single gas block beneath the chamber that houses two short pistons. When a shell is fired, the gas depresses the pistons just  0.481″, precisely enough to unlock the rotating bolt head and shove the heavy bolt rearward with the momentum needed to eject the spent hull.  

There are eight ports in the barrel near the breech. It is a very simple system, a longer shell size covers gas ports reducing the number of gas ports exposed when there is more gas available; a 2¾-inch shell exposes all eight ports in the V3 while a 3-inch cartridge only exposes four of the ports.

This equalizes the effect of the gas in cycling the action and also to equalize the amount of recoil delivered to the shooter regardless of the load fired. The valves in the pistons open, venting the remaining gas into the forearm, eliminating carbon buildup inside the receiver.

Another unique feature of the V3 is the placement of the return springs inside the receiver. Tandem recoil springs are located on guide rails along the receiver walls. They compress as the pistons retract the action, then expand to bring the bolt with a new round into battery. This eliminates a push rod and plunger assembly which sticks into the stock of traditional gas guns and makes the V3 the perfect building block for the TAC-13 with its unique configuration.

I shot over 300 rounds in the TAC-13 so far, field loads, buckshot and slugs (both full power and reduced recoil) and even an old box of 3-inch magnums my uncle found in the back of his gun safe. I have not seen a single misfeed.

The process of loading and operating the TAC 13 is like a shotgun, but I found that trying to weak hand load, the way I would with a shotgun, was awkward because I couldn’t tuck the stock under my arm to support the gun. It was all wrist and not very stable.

Keeping my support hand in the sling kept the weapon balanced and under control, making loading a snap. In the video below, I do a slug select drill, shooting 00 buck first and then slugs. The gun runs with no surprises.

Slugs have very manageable recoil and can be aimed very accurately. From 15 yards I had no problems engaging small targets. The penetration of a 12 gauge slug makes cars concealment, not cover.

V3 TAC-13 ventilated rib provides a solid sighting system if you are looking for a platform to convert your firearm into a Form One Short-Barrelled Shotgun by adding a compatible stock.

There is a sling attachment point at the end of the grip to mount a single point sling. This is the only practical way to put a sling on. It hangs pretty low and smaller shooters may not find this a good option.

The V3 TAC-13 is an impressive and versatile combination of power and portability. The VersaPort system is a simple and elegant design with fewer moving parts than other semi-automatics. This allows you to run longer and more reliably. I found reliability and accuracy to be very good, even with an assortment of ammunition of varying power and quality.

This isn’t a firearm for everyone, but it provides a lot of protection in a compact form. With the quality and power of the V-3 system in a firearm chassis, the TAC-13 is a highly effective weapon, suitable for serious applications.

STARTING AT $915⁰⁰ MSR