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When it comes to purchasing firearms, there are certain types out there that aren’t practical or even all that useful. Sometimes it tugs at your heartstrings for no reason and you absolutely have to have it. For some odd reason, I have always felt the Remington 870 TAC-14 Hardwood has that classic cool pump action shotgun vibe and I’ve always wanted to have one to test out. These smaller shotguns can be quite a handful to shoot, but they do offer a number of advantages over something like a full-length shotgun for home defense. Let’s take a closer look at the Remington 870 TAC-14 Hardwood shotgun.
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Specs
When it comes to the Remington TAC-14 Hardwood, it’s certainly a case of a big punch in a small package. The TAC-14 is just over 26″ overall with a 14″ barrel. This model has a fixed cylinder bore with no choke threads. Remington included a one-round extension tube bringing the overall capacity of this TAC-14 to 5 rounds using the regular 2.75″ shells. This particular model comes with the classic wood pistol grip and forend as opposed to the polymer furniture on the standard TAC-14.
This newer Remington appears to have the new matte blue finish from Remington which looks consistent and much more uniform than the older Remingtons we have become used to seeing. Weight for this little freight train comes in at just over 6 lbs. Another feature Remington decided to include with the TAC-14 Hardwood is a sling attachment bracket at the front with a sling loop on the pistol grip as well. This allows you to install a sling for easier carrying. MSRP on this little bruiser is $604.99 and is currently available in stores.
Spec List
| MSRP Price: | $604.99 | Manufacturer | Remington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer Part # | R81231 | Model | Tac-14 |
| Model | 870 | Action | Pump |
| Caliber | 12 Gauge 3″ | Barrel Length | 14″ |
| Color | Blue | Grips | Walnut |
| Type of Barrel | Cylinder | Chamber | 3″ |
| Capacity | 5 Rounds | Description | 26.3″ Overall Length |
| Sights | Bead | Subcategory | Defensive Shotguns |
| Finish | Matte |
Range Time
So far my time with the Remington TAC-14 Hardwood has been a positive experience. If you’ve ever shot something like the Mossberg Shockwave, it gives a very similar experience. With the lack of a stock or any type of brace, it can be tricky to aim the TAC-14 reliably every time if you’re shooting anything past 10 yards. So far I have roughly 450 rounds with most being 2.75″ Federal #7 birdshot along with a box of the Federal Shorty shells and Noble 2.25″ Buckshot shells. The full 2.75″ 12 gauge shot shells were 100% reliable with no issues extracting or feeding which is to be expected.
Mini Shells
The Federal 1.75″ Shorty Shotshells did not perform as well, unfortunately. These shells have a tendency to flip and cause malfunctions based on their shorter size and don’t seem as stable while loading and racking them in. I had a number of malfunctions but it did increase the capacity from 5 to 8 rounds in the short tube. I don’t recommend the short shotshells due to their reliability issues but as a range ammo, the short shotshells do a fantastic job at putting a smile on your face.
The Noble MiniBuck shells performed much better than the smaller Federal Shorty Shotshells and the Noble MiniBuck shells had 100% reliability out of the 50 rounds I fired out of the TAC-14. Capacity in the TAC-14 went from 5 rounds to 6 rounds with the smaller Noble shells but the shells also had less recoil than the standard 2.75″ shells.
Quality and RELIABILITY
One of my biggest questions when purchasing the new Remington 870 TAC-14 Hardwood was the overall quality since this is one of the new models after they went through bankruptcy. I really wanted to see if the fit and finish would improve or if it was business as usual with the notorious Remington rust issues. I’ve had my example for quite a while now and took it out in the cold rainy/snowy weather of Michigan with no issues so far of rust or pitting. My pre-bankruptcy Remington 870 had rust after three months of pheasant and overland hunting. I can confidently say they are working towards having a better matte blue finish and getting rid of the common rusting problems.
When it came to reliability with the regular 2.75″ shotshells, the 870 TAC-14 was completely 100% reliable with no issues, the mini shells weren’t completely reliable but that’s pretty common between both my Remington and Mossberg shotguns. If you try to put them in a semi-auto shotgun, that’s when the problems really start to appear, so I’m not faulting the TAC-14 as the problem with mini shells. but with regular length and the Noble 2.25″ TAC-14 was fully reliable.
Is It A Home Defense Option
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this is the perfect home defense shotgun both online and in gun stores. As a whole, pump action shotguns can be one of the toughest to manipulate under stress. This model has no stock so it can be tricky to gauge where you’re aiming from shooting at the hip. When you’re in a tight hallway, or in various rooms, it won’t be tricky to make a connecting shot with a home intruder.
I think there are better options available, but the TAC-14 offers quite the bang in such a small package. If you’re set on getting a shotgun for home defense and don’t want the full-length variant with an 18-28 inch barrel, this little TAC-14 is a good option, especially with the extra shot tube extension. Combine this with the Noble MiniBuck shot shells, and you have a fairly good home defense option on your hands.
Overall Thoughts
This may not be the easiest or fastest shotgun to fire under stress, but the old-school vibes can not be ignored here. The new Remington 870 TAC-14s with their upgraded finish and wood quality are not to be ignored. If you’re like me and just wanted to own one because you think they’re cool, now is definitely the time to pick one of these TAC-14 Hardwood shotguns up. As a home defense shotgun, I think there are better options out there but all in all, it’s not the worst option at all.
Personally, I am very happy with this shotgun and the improvement in fit and finish is a huge plus for me. I have no regrets about purchasing this TAC-14 and I plan on keeping it to just have it as a fun range shotgun. Let me know what you guys think about the TAC-14 Hardwood down in the comments below. Is this little bruiser a great home defense shotgun or more of a range novelty? Let me know your thoughts down below, if you have questions about this shotgun or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there!
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