New range toy/HD gun - Update w/Upgrades

[GunnyGene]

I've been considering a new shotgun for the past couple weeks, and finally settled on a IWI Tavor TS12 Bullpup, that I picked up this morning. Very SCIFI looking with three 5rnd rotatable magazines. Not a gun for anyone with hand or finger problems tho. I've been getting acquainted with it this morning and will probably burn some shells tomorrow if the weather cooperates. I'll be installing Magpul flip up sights for now. Maybe a optic later.

[Cofisher]

Serious firepower there.

[GunnyGene]

Serious firepower there.

Yeah. Ain't it cool? Also accepts Beretta & Benelli chokes, and includes the adapter, etc. in the box.

[JEBar]

one of our sons has one .... serious firepower indeed

[GunnyGene]

one of our sons has one .... serious firepower indeed

How does he like it? Has he had any issues with it - ammo, etc.? Recoil heavy or mild (depending on load of course)?

[DsGrouse]

I would love to read more about your experiences with it.

[GunnyGene]

I would love to read more about your experiences with it.

If I get out to shoot tomorrow, I'll post about it. In the meantime, there's a good video from a couple years ago on the MAC Youtube channel. About 30 minutes long. Has some good tips about the gun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKGTy0WqRTQ

[JEBar]

How does he like it? Has he had any issues with it - ammo, etc.? Recoil heavy or mild (depending on load of course)?

I just got off the phone with him ..... he said that it is one of the best shotguns he's bought in a long time and is one of his favorites .... magazine tubes hold 5 - 2 3/4" or 4 - 3" shells .... it has two recoil gas settings, low and high .... set on low for skeet level load makes recoil a total nonissue .... when set on high for hunting level shells, the felt recoil is on par with the best semiautomatic .... if you make a mistake and set it on low when firing hunting ammo, it will pound your shoulder with the best of'um .... the manufacture offers a recoil pad upgrade which he says is very good .... an optional lever of some type is Fine .... he has a small red dot on his that has a small circle around a small "x" --- he really likes it for shooting skeet

hope this helps

[DsGrouse]

I watched theac vid a couple years back and held on at the lgs. My issue with guntuber vids is that noatter what they say, they are selling you something. It may only be their own youtube content. With that i take any youtube review with a trailer full of skepticism.

[GunnyGene]

How does he like it? Has he had any issues with it - ammo, etc.? Recoil heavy or mild (depending on load of course)?

I just got off the phone with him ..... he said that it is one of the best shotguns he's bought in a long time and is one of his favorites .... magazine tubes hold 5 - 2 3/4" or 4 - 3" shells .... it has two recoil gas settings, low and high .... set on low for skeet level load makes recoil a total nonissue .... when set on high for hunting level shells, the felt recoil is on par with the best semiautomatic .... if you make a mistake and set it on low when firing hunting ammo, it will pound your shoulder with the best of'um .... the manufacture offers a recoil pad upgrade which he says is very good .... an optional lever of some type is Fine .... he has a small red dot on his that has a small circle around a small "x" --- he really likes it for shooting skeet

hope this helps

Thanks! Good info. I'm not sure what he meant by "hunting level shells". I'm guessing that would be around 1400fps and 1 1/4 oz or more? The manual isn't clear about that either. I've got it set on Low right now and will be shooting some RIO #4 shot (1330fps, 1 1/4 oz Game Load tomorrow I hope. I've used this ammo in the past in my Mossberg pump and it didn't seem bad. Stout, but not painful. I did see that butt pad on the IWI site. Expensive, but I might have to buy one.

[leverjc]

This is one range report i am really looking forward to. Thanks gunny.

[JEBar]

I'm not sure what he meant by "hunting level shells".

sluggs, 00 Buckshot, high brass shells

[GunnyGene]

This is one range report i am really looking forward to. Thanks gunny.

I'll do what I can. I don't do video's tho. What is amazing to me is that this shotgun is LEGAL in CA! I mean it's just about the scariest looking shottie ever! It checks just about every box that gets the AR-15 banned! 15+1, pistol grip, semi-auto, threaded .729" bore barrel, barrel shroud, OMG! I wonder how this thing ever escaped the ban list! About the only thing missing is a bayonet lug, and I'd bet somebody has an M Lock adapter for that! Not that I care since I live in MS, but some anti-gun group on the left coast really dropped the ball on this one!

[GunnyGene]

Ok, here's the first target from the TS12. Distance approx 25 yds. Shot 5 rounds of each of the below shown ammo, and left the gas piston set to Low. The Brenneke slugs were pretty stout as I expected, and I'll probably set the piston on High for slugs or heavy 00, next time out. 15 rounds wasn't too bad on my 77yo shoulder but I wouldn't want to shoot much more than that in a single session. I'll probably order the better butt pad from IWI.



Everything patterned well, but I need to crank in a couple inches of windage to get it centered based on the slug results. Doesn't make much difference at this short range, but it would matter at longer range, say 50yds or more. Elevation was good.

Ejection: This gun throws them pretty far and a little forward. I could only find 11 empties in the grass, so 4 of them probably disappeared in one of the stump holes that were near, never to be seen again.

There were no functional problems at all. Everything worked perfectly, even the low power target load (1200 fps, which is a little under the recommended 1250).

All in all, I had a good time.Weather was perfect T-shirt conditions.

This is the small (about 3/4 full size) silhouette.

Enjoy counting the holes.



Oh, one other thing. Opened it up to see how dirty it was. It wasn't. Just a little powder residue in the barrel, and minute bit of carbon in the receiver area. Nothing to get excited about, so I'll probably not clean it at all unless it tells me it needs it.

[Headhog]

I do believe with that sitting by your night stand you will get a very good nights sleep.

Paul

[fortyshooter]

Looks like you killed it good! Nice shotgun!!

[Hatchdog]

Great way to show the differences between the different hole diameters. Lots of left side bias there so nice to have adjustable sights.

[GunnyGene]

Looks like you killed it good! Nice shotgun!!

It will be nicer in a few days. Decided to accessorize today so ordered all the goodies that Manticore has for this gun. Knurled charging knob, muzzle brake, & curved butt pad. The last two are to reduce felt recoil. The knob just because it looks cool . Still have a little shoulder soreness from yesterday, and I ain't gettin' any younger.

https://manticorearms.com/product-categ ... avor-ts12/

[GunnyGene]

Manticore upgrades came this morning. Took all of about 3 minutes to change out the factory stuff. All set to try out the butt pad & muzzle brake, hopefully Sunday. Too cold and wet to get out back now or tomorrow.

[markiver54]

Gunny, just curious if you care to share. How much $ did that set you back?