A Bargain Priced Hunting and Defense Shotgun

 I want to address the complaints I have heard people list on these shotguns right up front and give you my opinions on them.  Most of these complaints are from people that have not shot these guns or even held them in many cases.

First, right out of the box you may want to know that these shotguns are made in China, so is a lot of other stuff we buy today including many of the AK models people speak so highly of.  It is getting almost impossible to buy a product that does not at least have some Chinese parts in them even if put together in the USA.  If you try to not buy anything from China good luck and you don't need to read any farther.

Second, it is a Remington 870 clone and the Chinese copied it almost exactly.  So what, the patent is up.  They didn’t steal it any more than Kimber, Springfield, Ruger, Smith and Wesson and others stole the expired 1911 Colt patents or designs.  Once the patent is expired it is free game to anyone by our own laws.

Third, the shotgun is made of all steel with no plastic or alloy parts except for the stock.  This makes the gun heavier, but also stronger and it absorbs recoil much better than say the Remington 870 Express.  If you are going to lug it around the country that extra weight probably makes a difference.  If you are going to carry the gun in a vehicle, sit at a pond or in a blind bird hunting or keep it in the house for self defense the recoil absorbing weight is a benefit in my opinion. If you are shooting 3 inch magnum loads you will for sure welcome the weight.  Also if it comes down to pounding someone in hand to hand combat the steel gun will hit hard.

The shotguns I am talking about are the IAC 981 and 982 Hawk model pump shotguns.  These guns are clones of the Remington 870 model and almost all after market accessories for the 870 will fit them. The shotguns come in Combat or Defense models along with a 26 inch and 28 inch vent rib Hunting model.  They are chambered for 2 3/4 and 3 inch magnum shot shells.  In all fairness these guns are not the quality of your father's Remington 870 Wingmaster Shotgun.  They may be equal to or better than the Remington 870 Express that is being made now, that remains to be seen.  They are not pretty shotguns, the finish is black, the polymer stock and recoil pad is black.  These guns are tools made to take hard work.  The main draw to these shotguns is a dependable design and a low price.  I have seen them as low as $149.99-$249.99 depending on the model and where they are being sold.  Davidson's Gun Gallery recently ran a combo including a 18.5 inch barrel and a vented rib 28 inch barrel with one gun for less than $200.00.  That means they can be bought in many cases for 1/3 to 1/2 the MSRP of a Remington.

The following link is to the IAC website where you can read the details and specs of each gun.

 http://www.iacshotguns.com/

 

The 982 is a 12GA pump shotgun patterned after the Remington 870. This shotgun features an adjustable ghost ring sight, solid steel machined receiver and an 18 ½ inch barrel with cyl choke.

I am carrying one of the 982 hawk short barreled guns around the ranch loaded with buckshot for predators and/or snakes.  We lose lambs to coyotes and have lost four ewes and two pets to venomous snakes in the past years so we carry a firearm within a step or two twenty four hours a day out here on the ranch.  A call to the sheriff out here means help is an hour or more away most of the time. therefore another reason to always have a firearm close by.  The guns we carry usually sit in a UTV or bounce around in a truck for hours each day no matter the weather. I don’t worry about scratching this gun up or getting it covered in dust.  I am quite pleased with the gun so far and plan on it being used as any other ranch tool out here where life can be rough on tools and people. I also bought one of the 28 inch vent rib barrel models so that I have a shotgun for the grand kids, friends or guests to use dove hunting or clay shooting here at the place.  This way I don't have to worry about them scratching up or harming one of my personal dove guns that have a fancy walnut stock and finish.

 

The Hawk 981 Field is a sporting shotgun patterned after the Remington 870. This shotgun features a solid steel machined receiver, ventilated rib barrel and a modified Win Choke by Trulock.

In reality these guns are just a plain Jane work horse copy of the Remington 870 that sells at a bargain price.  The design has been proven through the years and everyone recognizes the design and knows how it works.  Here are links to a couple of YouTube reviews so you can make up your own mind. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCUN-WuhafA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSbH4Wq5LYY

Remember I am not some famous big gun magazine writer that gun companies send free guns to or buy advertising from, forcing me to have a positive view of their guns. I have to buy my own equipment just like you or once in a while I borrow from friends that trust me with their gear so I can review it.  So when I review something, what you get is my honest opinion.  I bought two of these guns for the ranch because of the price.  So far I am pleased with my investment in these two guns.  Meanwhile I plan on using the heck out of mine and not worrying about scratching them up or having to clean them immediately after I use them for a change. Wild Ed