RIA VR 80 12 ga

It was a couple of months ago I received the RIA/Armscor VR 80 12ga shotgun for review, and after about 200 shells downrange without issue, this is what I have learned.

First Impressions  

 

The design is very similar to the AR-15 with a very similar manual of arms.

 

Here you see the bolt catch and the left side of the ambidextrous safety.  While the pistol grip looks a bit funky, it does classify as a thumb hole stock allowing this long gun can be shipped to the less free states.

The magazine catch and other side of the ambidextrous safety. The trigger broke at eight pounds with almost no take up but with right much over travel. You can see the portion of the Picatinny rail above the receiver.

Here you see the charging handle located on the bolt, which worked quite easily and can be reversed for those who are left hand dominate.

Notice the portion of Picatinny Rail at the top and side of the handguards, as well as MLoc on the port and starboard sides.

The three included choke tubes.

Using 2 /34″ Fiocchi 7 1/2 shot I patterned each choke at 15 yards.

Full was 16 inches from side to side measured from the furthest shot. Modified was 21 inches and Cylinder was 27 inches.

Next, I shot the VR 80 at 35 yards from a rest with 3″ Winchester rifled slugs. The three shot group measured just at 2 1/4″

Understand your results may vary from these depending but it will give you a good idea of spread and accuracy.

Range Time 

Conclusions 

The VR 80 is imported by RIA from a company called Derya, who makes a similar shotgun called the MK12. Throughout some 200 shells, it was reliable with the gamut of 2 3/4″ and 3″ shells I ran through it. Being gas operated recoil was somewhat lessened over a pump or break action shotgun, and with some range time and correct technique, it was not hard to control during live fire. Coming from RIA with flip-up iron sights mounted to the Picatinny Rail along the top and MLok machined into the handguard, the VR 80 can be configured to suit whatever your needs are, be it home defense, self-defense, range use, or match use.  Maintaining the shotgun is pretty simple, by unscrewing the barrel shroud and removing a hex head screw at the base of the bottom of the handguards you can remove the handguard. Once that is done it field strips similar to an AR-15 with the takedown pins. At that point, the bolt can be removed.  All in all, I am satisfied with the VR 80 as a reliable shotgun that would serve in a plethora of applications.

Specifications 

Caliber: 12 gauge
Capacity: 5 + 1
Sights: Front and rear adjustable flip up.
Weight: 8.3 pounds
Length: 40″
Height: 7″
Width: 2″
Barrel Lenth:  20″
Finish: Black Anodized
Upper and lower material: 7076 T6 aluminum
MSRP: $699
Acknowledgments 

Rock Island Armory/Armscor

Ammo For Sale.com 

Fiocchi Ammunition 

By Hunter Elliott

I spent much of my youth involved with firearms and felt the call early on to the United States Marine Corps, following in my father's and his brother's footsteps. Just after high school I enlisted and felt most at home on the rifle range, where I qualified expert with several firearms and spent some time as a rifle coach to my fellow Marines. After being honorably discharged I continued teaching firearm safety, rifle and pistol marksmanship, and began teaching metallic cartridge reloading. In the late 1990s I became a life member to the National Rifle Association and worked with the Friends of the NRA. Around that time my father and I became involved with IDPA and competed together up until he passed away. I began reviewing firearms for publications in the mid 2000s and have been fortunate to make many friends in the industry. Continuing to improve my firearms skills and knowledge is a never ending journey in which we should all be committed. I am also credited as weapons master on a few independent films.

6 thoughts on “Rock Island Armory VR 80 12ga shotgun.”
  1. Nice, can’t help but think about how this would fare with my Alaska DNR, USGS, Alaska Fish and Wildlife buds that do the Bear Defense classes up there, might need to see if we can get one up there for them to check out….

  2. Larry,

    Try Gun Traders on Muldoon Rd. in Anchorage (if they are still around). That’s where I got my Colt Delta Elite 10mm, 30 years ago.

    I live in Virginia now. I just purchased a VR80 last week, haven’t been to the range yet but can’t wait to shoot this beast… It is a beautifil weapon!

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