I’m beginning to suppose that every one the actually nice shotgun furnishings died within the Eighties and Nineties. Okay, that’s not solely true; now we have Magpul and Mesa Tactical immediately, so our present predicament isn’t all dangerous. Nevertheless, the Pachmayr Vindicator furnishings—which has lengthy been out of manufacturing—completely rocked the late twentieth century. This was a time when you might nonetheless use “tough-sounding” names with out worrying in regards to the billionaire gun management foyer suing you.
What’s the Vindicator Line?
The Vindicator line wasn’t relegated simply to shotguns. In actual fact, it was primarily a sequence of pistol grips for revolvers and semi-automatic firearms. These grips had been well-known for a rubberized design that was extremely cheesy, that includes an aggressive texture. Finally, the Vindicator system expanded to shotguns, providing each a rear pistol grip and an identical forend.
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The Vindicator pistol grip is their most well-known product. It’s pretty neat but additionally more and more robust to search out. I obtained fortunate on eBay and located a full set for my Remington 870 for about $125. I needed to have it—and seeing as some persons are attempting to promote simply the grip for over $500 for some absurd cause, I really feel like I obtained an ideal deal.
The Vindicator: In Dwelling Coloration
The Vindicator shotgun furnishings lives as much as its fame for being extraordinarily cheesy and grippy. It’s lined in a delicate, “sticky” rubber design that feels distinctive within the hand. Whereas the pump is pretty small and compact, the grip is the actual star of the present. It’s formed very similar to a revolver grip, giving off critical Colt Python vibes.
Most shotgun pistol grips rake backward, offering a slanted angle. The Vindicator, nonetheless, is forward-raking. This creates a really distinctive really feel. It’s rounded throughout the rear with a rubberized texture that’s each delicate and adhesive. That ahead rake is fascinating and surprisingly ergonomic.
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After putting in the grip, I observed that it makes the protection on the 870 a little bit more durable to succeed in. It has a small rubberized portion that sits proper above the set off guard, and my finger hits it each time I attempt to press the protection inward. It doesn’t cease me from manipulating the weapon, however it does require me to press previous a slight impediment.
To realize this ahead rake, the grip makes use of a two-piece attachment system: a small adapter piece attaches to the receiver, and the grip then attaches to that adapter. It’s easy to put in and feels strong. Pachmayr used to assert the grip featured an “air pocket” to assist scale back recoil. Whereas that could be true, I think the fabric itself does many of the heavy lifting.
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Rocking and Rolling with the Vindicator
With the Vindicator furnishings in place, there was nothing left to do however hit the vary. Taking pictures pistol-grip-only (PGO) shotguns with vertical grips is normally a wrist-hurting expertise. A lot of the recoil is shoved immediately into your wrist, making for an uncomfortable day. Whereas choices just like the Raptor grip make PGOs extra bearable, customary vertical grips normally fall brief.

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The Vindicator is totally different. While you’re nonetheless receiving extra recoil into your wrist than you’d with a stocked shotgun, the thick, vast, and closely rubberized grip makes an enormous distinction. It’s extremely comfy and doesn’t go away your joints aching after a couple of rounds.
The grip and forend work in excellent concord. The tackiness of the forend permits for a slip-free maintain, which is crucial for a correct “push/pull” taking pictures platform. I can pull towards the Vindicator grip to create the stress obligatory to regulate the 12-gauge recoil successfully.

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I can blast via a number of tubes of ammo with out feeling beat up. Certain, after 100 rounds, I’m getting a little bit drained, however shotguns in defensive encounters aren’t firing a whole lot of rounds. From a efficiency perspective, I used to be capable of put two rounds of buckshot on track in slightly below a second at ten yards. I’m sooner and extra correct with a inventory, however with this pistol grip, I used to be nonetheless capable of preserve my patterns inside the A-zone.
Deliver It Again
It’s time to carry the Vindicator grips again. Apparently, the Remington 870 MCS (Modular Fight Shotgun) truly used the Pachmayr Vindicator grip, so it even has a historical past with navy shotguns. The furnishings is implausible, and it’s a disgrace that Lyman acquired Pachmayr solely to kill off the road. I say carry it again!
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