My Versamax has been faultless for the 6 years I have owned it , great gun, Put the bolt back in before the trigger group , you can then put the bolt tail in the correct place much easier.
That Shell size is one of the reason I picked my Versa Max alone with Gas operation and most of all the Kick was easier on my Shoulder. I have had it for 8 or 9 yrs. and never had any trouble out of it. I hunt Ducks and Dove with it enjoyed it.
Great video! Just the right stuff Without the B.S and fluff. Currently looking for s semi auto 12 gauge. Your video was very informitive. Thank you for your expertise and sharing Happy Hunting!
@@Huntinggearguy Since the Remington is essentially a copy of the Benelli M4 the Benelli trigger group components can be used in the Remington. I got a new old stock versa max tactical recently and that was what helped me justify picking it up along with the reviews of how good the platform is. If you can find them for the right price it's definitely worth it.
As reliable as any other semi auto shotgun shooting the cheapest target loads available. The action itself is extremely reliable, but sometimes a welded or smooth lifter can cause shell alignment issues compared with the factory fork.
Because of our horrific experience with Benelli's, waterfowler's want to know what that recoil tube and spring look like in the stock and whether or not we're going to have to replace it. If the spring and tube are trash, you can bet we will, please advise.
With Remington's 870 issues in the QC department there's just no way I would pay what they're asking for this gun when I can get a Benelli for about the same price. I just don't trust Remington anymore.
Sure, I've got 2: 1 for hunting: www.huntinggearguy.com/shotgun-reviews/browning-a5-review/ and 1 for 3 gun: www.huntinggearguy.com/shotgun-reviews/browning-a5-3-gun/
Bought one several years ago in 2013 extractor broke first then charging handle flew out and folks at Remington rude and ugly on phone. Fore end can also loosen, sight came loose. I fixed all these issues myself and gun works well. Would never buy another Remington.
I still can’t figure out the verses max.....why have a inertia style bolt with the rear recoil spring and then spend all the money designing the gas system when u coulda just had a inertia driven shotgun
Yeah, they could have just added that inertial spring and called it a day, but I think the Versa Max is unique in the marketplace in that it handles everything from light target loads to heavy stuff, while inertial style usually don't handle 1oz target load AND 3.5" goose loads. The porting in the barrel on the Versa Max makes that possible.
Beretta is using a similar system for quite some time now. That turning head on the bolt is not inertia specific. It’s aimed at locking chamber without needing parts moving cross of action direction.
Hell its not just the bolt its almost the entire gun bud!! The gas system is almost an exact clone of the gas system used on the m4, the trigger guard look and design is pretty much a SBE II or III, they made their own version of the comfort tech stock but overall its basically a Remelli or Benington lol
I bought the Remington VersaMax because it was falsely advertised as a faster shooting 12 gauge and was supposed to be the "perfect" shotgun. If I would have known that the VersaMax was so poorly engineered, I would have bought a Mossberg! The bolt does not close to finish the cycle, I had to buy a +25% more power inertia spring made for a Benelli M1. For those of you who have the bolt not finishing the cycle and staying open... I bought a Benelli M1 +25% more power inertia spring to replace the under engineered Remington action spring that is too weak to to return the bolt to chamber the next shell. It seems that the bolt catches on the carrier leg, which, by design is used to hold the bolt open. (how ironic) This video explains it very well: czcams.com/video/FfgpPrGFqug/video.html A very well explained example starts at around 1:38 minute mark. While you are at it, check out his channel as he is a VersaMax junkie and has more info on how to DIY "gunsmith" and fix the rest of these under engineered parts inside the VersaMax. The feed ramp seem to catch a finger inserting shells into the magazine tube, and sometimes it jams feeding the next shell. And, the shell latch locking spring can be usually hard to push the shells into the magazine tube to reload, which is probably part of the reason the feed ramp snags a finger when you over compensate and push too hard to get the next shell into the magazine tube. For those of you still deciding what shotgun to buy, learn from the best and buy the gun Jerry Miculek helped design, the Mossberg 940. The Mossberg may not be perfect either, but when Jerry says it is ready to go right out of the box, I believe him. Way I see it, my VersaMax is no longer a Remington because the parts that actually make it work is Benelli. I regret my purchase of the Remington VersaMax, nothing versatile about it.
The Mossberg 940 is not really an upgrade from the Versamax and there are similar issues with having to do home gunsmithing to get many of them to run. Talk to anyone in 3 gun or in action shotgun sports and you'll hear about the "JamPro". The Stoeger M3K, Benelli M2, and Beretta 1301 Comps are better.
@@Huntinggearguy Thanks for responding. I understand that firearms need work and maintenance to operate and function the way they are designed, but I got a lemon and customer service was not not going to help after hearing about the issues this shotgun had. Just like the retailer who sold it to me said, "once you walk out the door with a firearm, it is yours." (just like ammo and reloading supplies). The government has made it too difficult to return a firearm due to all the paper work involved and the red flags it raises. I understand there are un-constitutional infringements and that adds to the frustration. By the way I never said the Mossberg was better or worse, "it may not be perfect either"... but the VersaMax I bought was not a semi auto out of the box, it was a modified single shot. :) With all the time and the money I have put into my Benelli-VersaMax it will be better than how I got it from factory, whether I fix or have to hire a professional to fix it - it is my gun now. (I just hope it doesn't cost 6 million dollars, like Steve Austin, and I don't mean the WWE guy either. Hopefully you are old enough to remember the bionic man.) I rather enjoy maintaining and accessorizing my firearms, but I don't like having to put Chevy parts on a Ford - nothing but trouble later on down the road. I don't usually bad mouth any gun, different strokes for different folks. After reading the blogs and watching videos, it turns out that I was not the only one who had issues. I will never part with my Remington Model 700's (I have two of them), and I say that even after the trigger fiasco, and having extraction and ejection issues with the bolts on both guns. I fixed them and these guns are better than the day I bought them, just like my Benelli-VersaMax will be. I have a Rem 1187 also and I won't get rid of it even though the O-rings need replaced quite frequently. I like Remington overall, I think your video was well done... Bravo! - - Nevertheless, my comments (just like your video) was meant to inform not to insult, so I hope you did not take it that way. I did provide a video on how to try and correct the issues I explained. So, in closing, all I will say is "buyer beware" and shop around and investigate as much as you can, because there are very few gun shops that let you test fire before you purchase, some places you are lucky to inspect the chamber. After the form 4 4 7 3 is signed sealed and delivered, your options is either deal with it yourself or sell it as a used gun and get what you can out of it, which will never be what you put into it. See ya on the next video.
Best non-shooting review I've seen for ages. Full marks to you, Sir.
My Versamax has been faultless for the 6 years I have owned it , great gun,
Put the bolt back in before the trigger group , you can then put the bolt tail in the correct place much easier.
That Shell size is one of the reason I picked my Versa Max alone with Gas operation and most of all the Kick was easier on my Shoulder. I have had it for 8 or 9 yrs. and never had any trouble out of it. I hunt Ducks and Dove with it enjoyed it.
Great video! Just the right stuff Without the B.S and fluff. Currently looking for s semi auto 12 gauge. Your video was very informitive.
Thank you for your expertise and sharing Happy Hunting!
One thing that's changed since the video is that Remington went bankrupt and was sold off to different parties. Consider that when buying.
@@Huntinggearguy Since the Remington is essentially a copy of the Benelli M4 the Benelli trigger group components can be used in the Remington.
I got a new old stock versa max tactical recently and that was what helped me justify picking it up along with the reviews of how good the platform is.
If you can find them for the right price it's definitely worth it.
Great overview! New Remington V3 is 1.5 pounds lighter so it might be a good choice for 3Gun now.
Thanks for the great video! Best demonstration of the Versamax I have seen. Are these proving to be reliable in 3 gun, in your experience?
As reliable as any other semi auto shotgun shooting the cheapest target loads available. The action itself is extremely reliable, but sometimes a welded or smooth lifter can cause shell alignment issues compared with the factory fork.
Excelente revisión!!!!! Excelente arma!!!!
love my two
i have buy one its a good gun trust me its better than my a 400 it have a long range than beretta
Because of our horrific experience with Benelli's, waterfowler's want to know what that recoil tube and spring look like in the stock and whether or not we're going to have to replace it. If the spring and tube are trash, you can bet we will, please advise.
With Remington's 870 issues in the QC department there's just no way I would pay what they're asking for this gun when I can get a Benelli for about the same price. I just don't trust Remington anymore.
That's the one I use only in 26". Trevor
Very good video nice tutorial on function. Do you have one on the V3 too?
Are all versa max barrels interchangeable? Tactical on waterfowl.......
Awesome review! Can you do one on the new A5?
Sure, I've got 2: 1 for hunting: www.huntinggearguy.com/shotgun-reviews/browning-a5-review/ and 1 for 3 gun: www.huntinggearguy.com/shotgun-reviews/browning-a5-3-gun/
nice review
can I buy a shorter tactical barrel instead of cutting the hunting barrel
Exelent video very informative, question between the Versa Max , Stoeger M3K, and 940 JM Pro which one you thing has the less recoil ?
The Versamax because it's gas operated and heavy. I think the M3K is the better overall shotgun though.
@@Huntinggearguy GREAT thank you SR. sorry for typos
Looks a little like a Franchi 720 crossed with AUG gas port?
Bought one several years ago in 2013 extractor broke first then charging handle flew out and folks at Remington rude and ugly on phone.
Fore end can also loosen, sight came loose.
I fixed all these issues myself and gun works well.
Would never buy another Remington.
I just bought one and I need an extension tube what brand is yours and how many 3.5 shells does it hold
I still can’t figure out the verses max.....why have a inertia style bolt with the rear recoil spring and then spend all the money designing the gas system when u coulda just had a inertia driven shotgun
Yeah, they could have just added that inertial spring and called it a day, but I think the Versa Max is unique in the marketplace in that it handles everything from light target loads to heavy stuff, while inertial style usually don't handle 1oz target load AND 3.5" goose loads. The porting in the barrel on the Versa Max makes that possible.
Beretta is using a similar system for quite some time now. That turning head on the bolt is not inertia specific.
It’s aimed at locking chamber without needing parts moving cross of action direction.
does this gun come from the factory with any cast off or is it neutral?
That's a benelli bolt!
Hell its not just the bolt its almost the entire gun bud!! The gas system is almost an exact clone of the gas system used on the m4, the trigger guard look and design is pretty much a SBE II or III, they made their own version of the comfort tech stock but overall its basically a Remelli or Benington lol
I bought the Remington VersaMax because it was falsely advertised as a faster shooting 12 gauge and was supposed to be the "perfect" shotgun.
If I would have known that the VersaMax was so poorly engineered, I would have bought a Mossberg!
The bolt does not close to finish the cycle, I had to buy a +25% more power inertia spring made for a Benelli M1.
For those of you who have the bolt not finishing the cycle and staying open... I bought a Benelli M1 +25% more power inertia spring to replace the under engineered Remington action spring that is too weak to to return the bolt to chamber the next shell. It seems that the bolt catches on the carrier leg, which, by design is used to hold the bolt open. (how ironic)
This video explains it very well:
czcams.com/video/FfgpPrGFqug/video.html
A very well explained example starts at around 1:38 minute mark.
While you are at it, check out his channel as he is a VersaMax junkie and has more info on how to DIY "gunsmith" and fix the rest of these under engineered parts inside the VersaMax.
The feed ramp seem to catch a finger inserting shells into the magazine tube, and sometimes it jams feeding the next shell.
And, the shell latch locking spring can be usually hard to push the shells into the magazine tube to reload, which is probably part of the reason the feed ramp snags a finger when you over compensate and push too hard to get the next shell into the magazine tube.
For those of you still deciding what shotgun to buy, learn from the best and buy the gun Jerry Miculek helped design, the Mossberg 940.
The Mossberg may not be perfect either, but when Jerry says it is ready to go right out of the box, I believe him.
Way I see it, my VersaMax is no longer a Remington because the parts that actually make it work is Benelli.
I regret my purchase of the Remington VersaMax, nothing versatile about it.
The Mossberg 940 is not really an upgrade from the Versamax and there are similar issues with having to do home gunsmithing to get many of them to run. Talk to anyone in 3 gun or in action shotgun sports and you'll hear about the "JamPro". The Stoeger M3K, Benelli M2, and Beretta 1301 Comps are better.
@@Huntinggearguy Thanks for responding. I understand that firearms need work and maintenance to operate and function the way they are designed, but I got a lemon and customer service was not not going to help after hearing about the issues this shotgun had. Just like the retailer who sold it to me said, "once you walk out the door with a firearm, it is yours." (just like ammo and reloading supplies). The government has made it too difficult to return a firearm due to all the paper work involved and the red flags it raises. I understand there are un-constitutional infringements and that adds to the frustration.
By the way I never said the Mossberg was better or worse, "it may not be perfect either"... but the VersaMax I bought was not a semi auto out of the box, it was a modified single shot. :)
With all the time and the money I have put into my Benelli-VersaMax it will be better than how I got it from factory, whether I fix or have to hire a professional to fix it - it is my gun now.
(I just hope it doesn't cost 6 million dollars, like Steve Austin, and I don't mean the WWE guy either. Hopefully you are old enough to remember the bionic man.)
I rather enjoy maintaining and accessorizing my firearms, but I don't like having to put Chevy parts on a Ford - nothing but trouble later on down the road. I don't usually bad mouth any gun, different strokes for different folks. After reading the blogs and watching videos, it turns out that I was not the only one who had issues.
I will never part with my Remington Model 700's (I have two of them), and I say that even after the trigger fiasco, and having extraction and ejection issues with the bolts on both guns. I fixed them and these guns are better than the day I bought them, just like my Benelli-VersaMax will be.
I have a Rem 1187 also and I won't get rid of it even though the O-rings need replaced quite frequently.
I like Remington overall, I think your video was well done... Bravo! - - Nevertheless, my comments (just like your video) was meant to inform not to insult, so I hope you did not take it that way. I did provide a video on how to try and correct the issues I explained.
So, in closing, all I will say is "buyer beware" and shop around and investigate as much as you can, because there are very few gun shops that let you test fire before you purchase, some places you are lucky to inspect the chamber.
After the form 4 4 7 3 is signed sealed and delivered, your options is either deal with it yourself or sell it as a used gun and get what you can out of it, which will never be what you put into it.
See ya on the next video.
@@mountainace6057 From what I see and hear , I will stick with my 1993 -11-87. Doesn't spit in my face, and handles low brass target loads nicely.
@@robertboreman7672 Good decision. I can not seem to get my single shot