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Very late comparison between V3 and A300 Outlander

8K views 55 replies 9 participants last post by  FullandFuller 
#1 ·
Even though it is a bit too late for the information to be useful to most, I did end up purchasing a V3 a couple of weeks ago. I purchased it with my young son in mind. My 18 year old daughter claimed the Outlander when I purchased my Versa Max, so it won't be available for my other kids when they get ready to start shooting with me. I hope to get a 20 Gauge A300 for my middle daughter should they ever manufacture one as rumored. If they aren't, I'll likely get an SX4 in 20 gauge for her.

I wanted a soft shooting auto loader for my son to hunt with when he gets old enough. Seeing as how my Versa Max is the softest shooting gun I've ever pulled the trigger on, I am guessing the V3 shoots very soft as well. There was 1 black synthetic 26" V3, and 1 in 28" new on the rack at our local Gander. I prefer a 28" gun myself, but I purchased this gun with my children in mind. I shouldered both, and the 28" did feel more front heavy. Neither were what I considered heavy for a gas gun, but the 26" would be easier for a young person to shoulder and swing, so I purchased the shorter barreled gun.

I considered getting one of the walnut versions on the shelf, as there were several of them to choose from, but they were $100 more. This gun will be used for everything from clays, doves, squirrel, to waterfowl hunting. However, it will be used most heavily for clays and waterfowl hunting. The synthetic stock will handle the harsh elements we waterfowl hunt in much better than the walnut version. I also noticed the grip on the walnut version is much wider. I have very large hands, so it felt fine for me, but this gun is for my children. Their hands are much smaller, and I knew they'd have trouble with the grip. I am aware that walnut can be worked with and customized to fit, but I felt the synthetic version was a better purchase for my application. My son will grow into it.

I have yet to fire the V3, but I have broken it down and cleaned it. I did not clean the pistons, but I did use an Allen wrench to loosen and remove the gas plugs. I've read where at least one of the gas plugs were sometimes too tight to break free on new V3s. One of the plugs was much tighter than the other on mine, but I did manage to free both of them, remove them, and reinstall them. Both threaded fine. The gun is very easy to field strip. Not quite as easy as the Versa Max and inertia guns, but it was easier than most gas auto loaders, including the Outlander.

I disassembled the bolt, so I could grease the cam pin (the one part of this gun I'm concerned with). The bolt is not as simple to dissemble as other guns. There are a couple of small parts on it that fall out and have to be put in the proper place when reassembled, and two spring loaded rods (one being the firing pin). I did not remove the rotating head from the assembly, but I do intend to do it in the future. I plan to polish the sharp edges of it before putting many rounds through it in hopes it won't score the cam pin. I did manage to get the bolt reassembled, but it was by far the most complicated part to reassemble in the whole gun. The bolt on the Versa Max is much simpler and easy to disassemble and clean.

I checked the weight on the V3 with my digital lymon trigger scale, and it was 7 lb and 4 ounces rounded to the nearest ounce. About 3 ounces lighter than my Outlander, however, my Outlander is a 28". The trigger pull on the V3 is in fact very nice, breaking at between 3 lbs 11 ounces and 4 lbs, however it isn't better than the Outlander as some have claimed. My outlander has an average trigger pull of 3 lbs 10 ounces. It has lightened up a little over the years, as my daughter and I have fired thousands of rounds through it. It has always had a very good trigger as well.

I did push some rounds into the magazine and cycle the action to make sure everything functions as it should. The shells start fine, but pretty stiff when pushing them into the magazine. It's very similar to my Versa Max, and doesn't glide nearly as easily as loading the Outlander. The bolt release is small, but not too stiff. The bolt release on the Outlander is a little stiffer, but it's larger. I'll likely have an oversized bolt release pad installed on it as I have with my Versa Max. The action doesn't feel as smooth as my VM, or the outlander, but I'm guessing that will get better after a few rounds have been fired through it. The safety is large enough and not too stiff, but it isn't quite as large as the one on the Versa Max, so I can't easily push it with the inside of my finger as I put it on the trigger. I have to adjust my grip to click it off. I'm sure I could get used to it, but the safety on the Outlander and the Versa Max are much easier to click off.

I hope to get some trigger time with the V3 soon, however, I'm not sure how much I'll get. The ammo shortage has slowed our shooting considerably. This gun will not be my primary shotgun. I am thoroughly impressed with my Versa Max. I am a big fan of the Versa Port gas system, and I suspect the V3 will be softer shooting than the Outlander. I wanted to get the softest shooting 12 gauge I could possibly find for my other two kids to use when they are ready. I hope I have. Not that the outlander has harsh recoil. It's easily adjustable to fit the shooter. I removed the spacer for my 18 year old daughter, and she has not complained about the recoil at all. She's even fired 3" bbs from it when snow goose hunting. I just thought this may be my last opportunity to own a new V3 and pass down to one of my other kids.
 
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#2 ·
Excellent report. The V3 bolt disassembly/assembly is to me exceedingly easy, but then I have the benefit of having done it at least 8-10 times. In the beginning it may seem complicated but there is a very sharp learning curve and it will become very easy in due time.

I found that if I shoved the shells into the magazine "with vigor", it would not be as difficult but that is a characteristic of the V3.

I like the fact I don't have to use any special tools to disassemble the entire gun. That is different from other semi autos I have owned. As for the Outlander comparison, I don't have one so of no benefit there.

IMO, it still holds the crown for softest shooting 12 gauge. Good luck with yours and mine has been flawless.
 
#3 ·
oyeme said:
Excellent report. The V3 bolt disassembly/assembly is to me exceedingly easy, but then I have the benefit of having done it at least 8-10 times. In the beginning it may seem complicated but there is a very sharp learning curve and it will become very easy in due time.

I found that if I shoved the shells into the magazine "with vigor", it would not be as difficult but that is a characteristic of the V3.

I like the fact I don't have to use any special tools to disassemble the entire gun. That is different from other semi autos I have owned. As for the Outlander comparison, I don't have one so of no benefit there.

IMO, it still holds the crown for softest shooting 12 gauge. Good luck with yours and mine has been flawless.
I have wanted one for years. It would be tough to find a gun that shoots softer than the Versa Max. I hope the V3 is in the ball park. The Outlander is a fantastic shotgun, and is a pretty soft shooter on its own. I'll update this thread once I've fired some rounds through it.
 
#4 ·
I finally got my hands on a few hundred rounds of target ammo. I hope to put some rounds down range with the V3 and A300 this weekend. A female friend is in the market for a gas operated 12 gauge auto loader. She's already shot the A300 a few times and likes it, but she's interested in the V3 as well. It may not be a fair comparison though. She's only 5' tall and I've already removed the spacer on the A300. I'm afraid the LOP on the V3 will be too long for her. I know it has a reputation as a soft shooter, but I'm concerned it won't fit her right, and may appear to recoil more. She wants to shoot it though.
 
#5 ·
Since the V3 does not have a recoil spring and tube in the buttstock shortening a walnut stock is a pretty easy thing to do. Of course there are many other guns with recoil tubes and springs that can also be shortened.

If you have good woodworking skills and the appropriate tools the stock work can be easily done. The recoil pad work is also not that difficult, but most people are intimidated by it. Shortening a stock and fitting a new recoil pad is a basic gunsmithing skill and should not break the bank.

Remington also made a synthetic compact stock although finding one might be problematic at this time.
 
#6 ·
As Road Man said, you can reduce the LOP by shortening the stock. The buttstocks are very reasonably priced and still available from CDNN for about $30+HIS. It might look strange with the synthetic forend but would not be a big expense to have her try it out by buying and shortening a walnut butt stock.

https://www.cdnnsports.com/remington-v3 ... stock.html
 
#8 ·
.45colt said:
Good report. :D . "I disassembled the bolt, so I could grease the cam pin (the one part of this gun I'm concerned with). Did Remington grease the bolt/cam pin before it left the factory? just wondering......


No, I didn't notice it on mine and I don't think it matters anyway because the owner's manual recommends that it be greased on page 19. So, that is what I do.
 
#9 ·
oyeme said:
.45colt said:
Good report. :D . "I disassembled the bolt, so I could grease the cam pin (the one part of this gun I'm concerned with). Did Remington grease the bolt/cam pin before it left the factory? just wondering......


No, I didn't notice it on mine and I don't think it matters anyway because the owner's manual recommends that it be greased on page 19. So, that is what I do.
Me too. Didn`t see any on mine either when I broke the bolt carrier down. Greased it up rather generously. Of course, wear is non-existent if you`re not shooting the gun!
 
#10 ·
Tidefanatic indicated that, "Of course, wear is non-existent if you`re not shooting the gun!" :( Unfortunately very true but hopefully the ammo issue will get better.
 
#12 ·
.45colt said:
Thanks Guys.......makes No sense to Me that Remington would ship the Guns with out grease in a critical area.
I think they use an easier and much faster to use spray lubricant. IMO no manufacturer is going to be fastidious enough to use different lubricants for different applications on a mass produced gun; especially at this price point. However, they do recommend the correct lube for the owner to use so it is up to us owners to use that information, and provide the proper long term maintenance.

Sorry, but that makes complete sense to me.
 
#14 ·
.45colt said:
I know it's too late as Remington is long gone , and never had to address the cam/pin issue , but if they would have been around longer it wouldn't have cost 50 cents to include a tube of Remgrease in the box with the Gun. :roll: .
Remington`s customer service was very good right up to the very end. No way to know for sure, but they may have redesigned the part and provided it under the warranty. Unfortunately, we`ll never know.
 
#15 ·
Tide Wrote : "Remington`s customer service was very good right up to the very end. No way to know for sure, but they may have redesigned the part and provided it under the warranty. Unfortunately, we`ll never know. "
I got My V3 synthetic 13 months ago and right out of the box the vent rib wasn't on perfect. I thought I was going nut's as it looked like an illusion . I called Remington they sent Ups with a call tag and a few weeks later I had it back with a new barrel. I could hardly believe it.
I bet I know how to fix the cam pin.......even a cave Man could do it. Too Bad for All of Us..... :( .
 
#18 ·
Road Man said:
Since the V3 does not have a recoil spring and tube in the buttstock shortening a walnut stock is a pretty easy thing to do. Of course there are many other guns with recoil tubes and springs that can also be shortened.

If you have good woodworking skills and the appropriate tools the stock work can be easily done. The recoil pad work is also not that difficult, but most people are intimidated by it. Shortening a stock and fitting a new recoil pad is a basic gunsmithing skill and should not break the bank.

Remington also made a synthetic compact stock although finding one might be problematic at this time.
Believe me, I searched hard for a compact V3. I am aware the Walnut stock can be shortened. Tbh, I was not impressed with the quality of the walnut, and didn't think it was worth the extra money. Especially for my application. My friend also wants a black synthetic. Though she will likely shoot clays most, she does waterfowl hunt on occasion. My guess is she will likely choose an A300, or a 26" compact SX4 if we can find one. I may purchase a walnut stock for my V3 and have it shortened for my kids. The gun will be ugly, but they should be able to shoot it that way until they get big enough to put the synthetic stock on. I do not have wood working skills, and the palm swell will have to be reduced quite a bit as well as the stock shortened, but I'm sure I can find someone to do it. I'm not sure I can convince my friend to change her mind on a black synthetic gun though. She can be a stubborn little thing lol.
 
#19 ·
oyeme said:
How would you have redesigned the cam pin? Just curious.
One member mentioned a tailless bolt designed after the Versa Max/Benelli bolt. I have to admit, the bolt is a much simpler design, and parts would have been readily available. I'm no engineer, but the bolt on the Versa Max is much easier to disassemble and clean. The cam pin also floats in it, rather than being pressed in.

Another member had the idea of polishing the edges of the slot in the bolt head that contact the cam pin. I mentioned doing this to a friend who's a gunsmith. He suggested I wait and shoot mine to see if there are any signs of scoring before taking those steps. His reasoning is thousands of V3s were sold, and only a handful seemed to have the issue. He said it may be best to have no slack in the slot, and just keep it well greased. If there does end up being signs of scoring, we can always polish it then.
 
#20 ·
Oyeme Wrote : "How would you have redesigned the cam pin? Just curious."
..............." I would redesign the bolt carrier and have a roller bearing on the cam pin. the bearing would be replaceable ".
About forty years ago I borrowed/ was going to buy a Winchester model 1200 Trap Gun from a member of the club. there was a problem with it and I took it to the local Gunsmith . one of the things He told Me about it was one part of the bolt that would break under hard use..............I bet We can all guess what that would be. :? .
 
#21 ·
My hunting buddy and I finally got a chance to pull the trigger on some clays on his farm today. I brought my Versa Max, the A300, and the V3 with me, and he brought a 20 gauge 1100 lw, a Turkish made .410 pump, and his SX2. We shot a few rounds through the 20 gauge, and the .410, but our main objective was to do a comparison between the big guns. Specifically the A300, and the V3. His SX2 has had thousands of 3.5" rounds out through it, and for whatever reason, it will no longer cycle low brass rounds. I suspect the piston spring may be weakened. He only fired a few rounds through it today, before putting it down.

We shot an assortment of ammo. He brought a tub full of old low brass rounds he had left over from previous hunts and shoots over the years. I seem to be the only one of my circle of friends who doesn't own a miscellaneous bucket of loose shotgun ammo lol. All of his rounds were old rusty 7.5 and 8 shot. Some 1 oz, and some 1 1/8 oz loads. I brought a few boxes of different types of shells to see if all three of my guns would cycle them.
Ammo list:
10 rounds of Winchester Super X 3" 1210 FPS 1 7/8 oz 4 shot
Kent first dove 2 3/4 1 oz 1300 FPS 7.5 shot
Winchester super target 2 3/4 1 1/8 oz 1200 FPS 8 shot
Estate super sport competition target load 2 3/4 1 oz 1235 FPS 8 shot

As I mentioned earlier, my buddy's SX2 wouldn't cycle most of the rounds we had, so we only fired about 10 rounds through it. We fired about 40 though the Versa Max. Mainly so my buddy can get an idea of how soft it shoots. The Versa Max cycled everything we put in it as always. We really wanted to get a good side by side comparison of the V3 and A300. Up until Remington went out of business, these two guns were two of the most popular $600 to $800 3" gas auto loaders made. There are so many reviews online about these guns, and both have their loyal followers. There are also some "gun experts" who get paid to push one product over another, and will put out false information about a competing product to help sell the one they are paid to push. I know this is a bit late, but there are still some new V3s on shelves, and some used ones that will be available in the future. So here is an unbiased comparison from someone who owns both guns.

My buddy and I took turns with each gun, firing them each 3 times before swapping. The first thing my buddy noticed was how much easier the A300 was to load. I do agree with him here. The shells slide into the mag tube on the A300 very smoothly. It's a very easy gun to load. The shell catch on the V3, however, is very stiff. It takes quite a bit more force to get the brass past the shell catch in the mag tube, and when it did give way, it caught my thumb. I learned that I had to bend my thumb, align it with the shell, and push the rounds in that way to prevent getting bit by the inside of the mag tube. The shell catch on my Versa Max is kind of stiff as well, though not quite as stiff as the V3

The second thing we both noticed was how much easier it was to push the safety in on the Outlander when ready to shoot. I know there are plenty of shooters who prefer the safety at the rear of the trigger guard, but the fact is, we could both easily push the safety on the outlander without adjusting our grip, before placing our fingers on the trigger. The safety on the V3 isn't quite big enough for me to use the inside of my finger, as I do with my Versa Max. I have to adjust my grip, push the safety off, re adjust my grip, and then prepare to fire. My Versa Max is much easier to take of safety before shooting due to the large safety button.

I put modified choke tubes in the A300 and the V3 before shooting today. We shot both guns well. However, I have shortened the LOP on the A300 to fit my teenage daughter, so it was much too short for me. The V3 fit me better. Both are very soft shooting guns. I could not tell any difference in the recoil of either one when shooting the low brass 1 oz loads. My buddy and I did fire 2 rounds each of the 3" Turkey loads through the A300 and V3. The edge of the trigger guard on the V3 caught his middle finger when he fired the Turkey loads through it. He said he couldn't really tell much difference between the two, but felt the A300 may have shot a little lighter.

I, however, felt the V3 may have shot just a little softer. The LOP was so short on the A300, the receiver brushed my nose when I fired it. It didn't injure me at all, but I knew what happened. Both guns kicked with that heavy ammo though. I have fired thousands of rounds through the A300 over the years, and I already knew it was a fairly soft shooting gun. It's the first 12 gauge my 18 year old has ever shot, and she has never complained about the recoil. I still have to give a slight nod to the V3 here, however. My Versa Max shoots softer than both of them though.

My buddy clearly preferred the A300 over the V3. He said the V3 was a nice gun, but he'd choose the A300 over it every time. I felt I needed to put more rounds through the V3 to get a good impression, so I continued shooting it. I did experience blow back on two occasions. Both instances were with Estate ammunition and when I was swinging up and to the right. Particles flew into my left eye both times. It didn't affect my shooting, and was only mildly uncomfortable for a few seconds. This didn't bother me too much, as I have shot AR15s for years at work, and was accustomed to blowback.

I also had one failure to fire in the V3. I removed the shell, and observed a dimple in the primer as it should have been. It was an old shell from my buddy's miscellaneous ammo tub, so I believe it was just a bad round. I did, however, have one failure to feed on the very last attempted shot of the day with the V3. It was with the Estate ammunition. My buddy and I had fired around 80 rounds through the gun prior to that with the only other issue being the shell that didn't fire. If anyone has read my initial review of my A300 from years ago, you may recall where I had a couple of ftfs in the first 100 rounds with it as well. However, I didn't clean the gun before taking it out and shooting it for the first time. I cleaned it after that first 100 rounds, and it has not failed to cycle 1 single round in the thousands that have been fired through it. I did clean and lube the V3 before taking it out and shooting it today though.

Once we got everything cleaned up, I came home and broke the V3 down to inspect the cam pin. This is the one part of the gun I've read about that has experienced failures. My buddy and I fired approximately 80 rounds through it. All but the 4 3" Turkey loads were low brass rounds. There is scoring on the cam pin of my V3. I believe I will polish the edges of the bolt head that contact the cam pin as another member recommended before taking it out again. I'll try to post a picture.

In summary, I have experienced every single issue that has been reported on here about the V3. I can say that the issues are not as bad as it sounds. I had blowback with 2 rounds out of 80, the mag tube did bite my finger a little, I also have noticed scoring on the cam pin. It has been greased prior to shooting as instructed in the owners manual. I also had a ftf on the last round. I have only put 80 or so rounds through it so far, so it's possible it just needs a break in period as well. As of right now, even if remington were still in business and making the V3, the A300 is the better shotgun imo. It is reliable, adjustable, affordable, and I haven't experienced any issues with it. I do think the V3 is a good soft shooting gun, however. I prefer my Versa Max over both of them though. It has not ever failed me.

I'll continue updating as I get more rounds though the V3. Maybe some of the issues will work themselves out.
 

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#24 ·
I am an unabashed Remington fan, having nothing but first rate service from the Remington guns I`ve owned and the company`s customer service. Having said that, I don`t believe I would buy another product from a company that was no longer in business.
 
#25 ·
You wouldn't be buying the product from the company. You'd be purchasing "new old stock" just like many do with other guns no longer in production. Personally I always wanted a V3, so I took some stimmy money, and got one for myself. It's a good gun, but not the gun some here have touted it to be. It is easier to field strip, and clean than the A300, and does shoot a little softer IMO. It will be a good waterfowl gun for my son someday. If I do end up wanting to get rid of it, I can part it out and make a profit on it.
 
#26 ·
I have thoroughly enjoyed shooting my walnut model V3. It`s performance has been flawless. Like a number of folks on SW, I think that Remington would have sold more than a few in 20 gauge. Alas, I think we will most likely never know for sure.
 
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