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The Hornady Rapid Safe Shotgun Wall Lock

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hornady rapid wall safe

The Hornady Rapid Safes are designed to fill the gap between safety and rapid access to your firearms. A home defense weapon should be secured, but also be easily accessed. With this in mind, how do you find a compromise between safety and access?

The Hornady Rapid Safe series is attempting to provide an easy solution to a complicated problem. The Rapid Safe series includes options for handguns, shotguns, and rifles. Today we going to talk about the Hornady Rapid Safe Shotgun Wall Lock

How The Rapid Safe Shotgun Wall Lock Works

This safe is no bigger than a textbook in width and length, although it’s thicker than most. (Unless that book is a classic Western Philosophy.) The safe only locks around the receiver of the shotgun and can be opened via 3 different methods.

The RFID Bracelet

The first is the old and reliable key lock. Twist the keep and the safe pops open. It’s simple, not the fastest means, but is a reliable, nonelectronic manual means to access your firearm.

The Rapid Safe Shotgun Wall Lock also has a programmable key code that the user can plug in and open the safe a little faster than the key. There are only four different buttons and they are massive in size so they are quick to hit.

Lastly is the RFID portion of the kit. The Shotgun Wall Lock comes with a wristband, key fob, and sticker that all have a mini RFID chip that can be programmed to open the safe. Simply scan the RFID chip over the control panel of the safe and it opens in a flash.

The safe can be mounted vertically or horizontally and simply needs to be screwed into a wall.

How Safe is It?

If you notice the trigger is exposed, so is this a safety issue with the Rapid Safe Shotgun Wall Lock? No, actually Hornady seemed to prepare for this issue by adding a bar on the inside of the safe. This bar goes into the action of the gun.

The only way to mount the shotgun to the safe is to open the action and put the bar through the action. The gun cannot possibly be fired in this safe.

hornady rapid safe inside
Notice the bar to make sure the action is opened.

However, this means you’ll need to close the action to ready the weapon. I leave a round on the liftgate, so all I need to do is push the pump forward and I’m ready.

What’s great about it

First, it’s fast and easy to access. I scan the RFID or I toss in the combo and boom, I have the gun in my hand.

I’ve used the RFID chip, Keyfob, and wristband over and over, and it’s never failed to open. Even quick scans or partial scans seem to open the safe without issue.

The keypad is illuminated so it’s easy to find in the dark too. The large keys are easy to access in the dark, and the safe flies open. It doesn’t slowly open, it literally shoots open.

Electronics can fail, and the power can go out. In that situation, the safe does implement a battery backup and a manual key option.

The safe is safe, the gun can’t be fired, and it fits a wide variety of shotguns. No issues with my Mossberg 590 or Remington 870.

What I don’t like about it.

It’s not perfect. It will basically only fit a shotgun that has zero accessories. Any side saddles or optics are going to be a no go.

The safe can’t close and the shotgun won’t fit. So that is bummer because I’m a big fan of red dots and side saddles on home defense shotguns. It also doesn’t fit my Mossberg 930 with the extended charging handle. It’s very size picky.

Would I buy it Again?

Yes! I actually bought the Hornady Rapid Pistol safe as well. It’s not perfect, but I really like it. It does blend safety and access very well. The Hornady Rapid Shotgun Wall Lock is also affordable and comes in at under 200 bucks. If a shotgun is your home defense go-to, this safe is for you.

My pistol version is where I store my EDC before bed, and I think the AR variant will be coming in down the road for my 80 percent lower AR pistol, so stay tuned for that.

My Custom Tac 14 – Improving a Firearm

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custom tac 14

I’ve owned my totally not a shotgun, pump action, 12 gauge Tac 14 for a year now, and in that short period of time, it’s become a favorite of mine. Being built on a Remington 870 means I have tons of choices for upgrading and modernizing the platform. One golden rule about customizing this gun is simple, and the result must be over 26 inches overall. My custom Tac 14 is well over 26 inches OAL and is now easier to shoot faster, straighter, and over long distances. It also looks much cooler.

Brace Adapter – Ergo 870 Adapter

The first thing you likely notice is that this custom Tac 14 is now wearing a brace instead of a bird’s head grip. The bird’s head grip is excellent, but it does have its own set of limitations. The addition of a brace makes the gun much easier to handle. To start this custom gun I needed an AR buffer tube adapter, and Ergo’s 870 adapters came to the rescue. This simple piece replaced my Raptor grip and provided me a point of contact for both a AR-15 grip and buffer tube thread.

Brace – Gear Head Works Tailhook Mod 2

My brace of choice is the Tailhook Mod 2 from Gear Head Works. This brace is made from hard polymer and makes handling the hard recoiling Tac 14 much more comfortable. It grants the user a third point of contact and helps balance the gun for rapid follow up shots. It’s much easier to aim and take more precise shots with the Tail Hook Mod 2 brace. This model was originally on my 80 percent lower build, but I felt the design was much better for a heavier recoiling gun. 

Th best part about this brace is the fact it has four different positions of adjustment. It’s like a carbine stock in that regard, but does use a proprietary tube that a stock cannot attach to. This keeps any ideas of constructive possession from being tied to the design.

Pistol Grip – Ergo Sure Grip (flat top)

The Ergo Sure Grip was chosen because of its somewhat soft design that helps dampen the effects of recoil on your hand. I like the Suregrip, and the flat top designs allow it to attach to the adapter effortlessly. It has some finger humps which is something I usually dislike, but they didn’t bother me here. The grip is comfortable and fills the hand. My hand didn’t get tired or start to feel cramped in any way.

Pump – Surefire DSF 870

A home defense weapon needs a white light, right? My Custom Tac 14 is my home defense weapon, and I knew I needed a view of some kind. While researching the idea, the Surefire Model quickly became the only choice I saw worthy. It’s rugged, reliable, and made by a company I’d trust with my life. The DSF 870 gives me a high 600 lumens, and low 200 lumens beam as an option for momentary on and off. The controls are ambidextrous and very easy to reach. This is by far the best light option for any shotgun.

Shell Carrier – Archangel 7 Round Sidesaddle

Extra ammo is always a must-have for shotgun use, and the Archangel side saddle gives me an impressive seven additional rounds. That allows me to keep the gun in the fight for an extended period of time. Of all the side saddle choices, the Archangel drew me in due to the ability to tighten the carriers individual slots. The ability to increase and decrease tension for each shell could be valuable if you decided to run slugs or an alternative load upside down. This was the first touch for my custom Tac 14, and it seems to be working very well.

My Ammo Of Choice – Federal Flight Control

The long name for this ammo is Federal Flight Control Law Enforcement ammo is a reduced recoil brand that gives shooters a very tight pattern over extended distances. This ammo also recoils lightly and is quite affordable.

So there we have it, my Custom Tac 14 is totally not a shotgun firearm. It’s a short, lightweight, but powerful weapon for home defense, or just for fun. It defies expectations, as well as the NFA. What was once a niche weapon and a range toy is now a handy close quarter fighting weapon. All with a little help from my friends.

Boost Your Carbine Training With These Drills

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Pincus discussing shot placement on a Balance of Speed and Precision Target.

Just about all serious students of home defense have a handgun or two and probably a shotgun prepped and ready around the house. But few folks I know and train seem to consider the carbine for home and vehicle defense. Aside from some potential legal issues while carrying in your car (know your state and local laws) I routinely carry a carbine in my vehicle and have the same placed in a strategic location in the house.

About a year ago I had the opportunity to attend a Combat Focus Carbine course in Gypsum, Colorado. This class is part of a series of courses sponsored by Personal Defense Network (PDN) and Rob Pincus, Executive Director of PDN. Although there are numerous instructors working nationwide for PDN, Pincus was the on-site instructor for this class.

The emphasis of Combat Focus Carbine was the defensive use of your carbine (both AR and AK platforms were present) in and around your home and vehicle. If you have watched Pincus’s training or YouTube videos, you know that his approach is focusing center of the target or threat from about ten yards and closer, rather than a focus on the front sight. Hence his “Combat Focus” trademark. This carbine course, as the name suggests, was no exception.

Pincus challenged the class with a series of drills and shooting techniques designed to enhance the shooters’ manipulations of the carbine. I wholeheartedly agree with making manipulation skills core to any firearms training course. Four key drills from the class are as follows and are worthy of incorporating into your carbine time on the range.

CQB Carbine drill
Students working on close quarter carbine drills.

1. Extend/Touch/Press

The first drill of the day started out at the five yard line. This distance is realistic to defensive actions taken within your home or around your vehicle. The drill proceeded as follows: assuming a good stance, (squarely facing the target with feet shoulder width apart) and the toe of buttstock in the pocket of the shooting shoulder.

The student would extend or bring the carbine into the cheek weld of face while beginning trigger touch, and then press the trigger immediately as the muzzle was on the threat/target. All the while the shooter’s focus is on high center mass of the target, looking into the desired strike zone.

This technique is quick and provided good combat accuracy at the five to ten yard line. The drill was repeated several times while increasing rounds fired from two up to six per sequence.

After several reps of extend-touch-press, Pincus incorporated lateral movement while moving into the shooting position—a realistic and desirable tactic.

2. Flow Drill

For this segment Pincus discussed and demonstrated a variety of shooting positions, including standing, kneeling and sitting. Once was what he calls the Flow Drill. At about 12 to 15 yards, students would flow through all three of these shooting positions (as physical abilities allowed) while engaging the target with multiple shots.

The realization that as distance increases, the shooter must start acquiring the iron or red dot sights became clear. This exercise forced students to maintain good muzzle awareness and finger discipline while moving between positions and attempting to make good combat accurate shots. Additionally, it became painfully obvious that it’s good to maintain good physical fitness within your own capabilities.

Other shooting positions introduced during this segment were the squat or “rice paddy prone” position and the supine (flat of back). Both are excellent positions if the shooter’s body and joints will allow.

Shooting around cover Pincus
Pincus preparing students to shoot around cover.

3. Front, Middle & Back

Good mobility, physical movement and exertion were required for this drill. Shooters would start around the 30 yard line. At the command “move,” shooters would run to a certain yard line, say the ten-yard mark, and fire multiple rounds into target center mass. A command would then be given to move forward or back to another called distance that was pre-marked, and turn to fire multiple shots again.

This drill certainly increased heart rates and created a degree of stress. In my estimation, this provides a real-world application because few confrontations remain static. Added safety protocols are required for this drill so that no shots are fired until all shooters are on the same yard line and facing downrange.

4. Target ID

The PDN-trademarked “Balance of Speed and Precision” target was used throughout the day. This target is a silhouette and features a center mass zone with slightly blurred edges, along with a head zone, plus eight-inch “A” and “B” squares at the bottom. In addition, there are numbered and colored three-inch circles on the outer margin of the target.

Pincus would call out different colors or numbers, or puzzles with numeric answers. Shooters were required to move laterally, find the correct colors and or numbers, and then fire at those specific targets. It’s a good exercise that incorporates movement, multiple threats and target ID. The five to seven yard lines were the most appropriate distances for this drill.

Other shooting skills addressed during this course included transition to and shooting from support side shoulder, use of cover and cornering, assessing surroundings after shots fired, shooting through small ports or openings, and shooting from supine both left and right positions around and under a vehicle. Total rounds fired for the day approached the 400 mark.

Barricade shooting
Strong Side Barricade Shooting.

Overall one could categorize this course as a home and close quarter’s defense with your “fighting carbine.” Consider incorporating the drills discussed above into your carbine training time. All gun training has an element of risk, so always practice safe and correct handling protocols with any firearm.

If you’re interested in upping your skill set with a carbine via the Personal Defense Network, check them out online for a list of training and course locations nationwide.

Remington Model 870 Tac 14 Review: Is It Just A “Short Shotgun?”

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The ‘other firearm’ category on a 4473 has likely never been checked to the degree it was in 2017 with the Mossberg Shockwave and Remington Tac 14 making massive waves in the industry. Anytime anything defies the NFA, you can bet it’s going to be popular. There is a reason so many Pistol Brace companies exist today. The Tac 14 is a 12 gauge, pump action weapon with a 14-inch barrel that is not subject to NFA regulations.

So How Is the Tac 14 Legal?

The Tac 14 is a Remington 870, but it’s not a shotgun. By US Law a shotgun must have or have had a stock at some point in its life. The Tac 14 has never had a stock so technically it isn’t a shotgun. It is a Firearm, and therefore it can have a barrel shorter than 18 inches. However, the overall length (OAL) cannot dip below 26 inches. If the OAL dips below 26 inches it becomes an Any Other Weapon (AOW). An AOW is another class of NFA firearm.

The Tac 14 sports the KAK Shockwave Raptor grip, this unique birds head grip is a bit longer than your normal pistol grip. The added inches is what results in the 26 inch OAL with the 14-inch barrel. As long as it stays over 26 inches, and doesn’t have a stock you aren’t violating the law.

There is one last NFA conversion to be aware of. That 26 inch OAL is required because if it was under 26 inches it would be considered “concealable” under the law. That being said if you conceal this weapon on your body it may become an AOW. So don’t tuck it under a trench coat.

Specs, Fit, and Finish

It’s no secret that in the last decade Remington has seen a decline in certain aspects of their weapon’s quality. This can most noticeably be seen in their fit and finish. One running joke at my local gun store is to see how long it takes a Remington to rust in Florida weather. I was certainly surprised to see the Tac 14 actually has a nice finish that’s evenly applied, smooth, and, nearly a year later, without rust.

The Remington Tac 14 is the Express model and sports a 4-round tube. Unfortunately, the tube is dimpled so you can’t add a plus 1 extension. Not a major deal, but the dimpling seems excessive. The gun rocks the fantastic Magpul pump so you have customization options through the M-Lok attachments. The gun is topped off with a simple bead sight that’s functional, but nothing fancy.

On the Range

The thing about these guns is that they are a blast to shoot … if you enjoy a wild, bucking gun. It takes some practice and control to really get a handle on, buts it’s fun the whole time. Part of the fun is the challenge of controlling the recoil and keeping the gun on target.

Birdshot isn’t bad at all, and should certainly be where you start. Get some practice in before you move into the much more fun, not to mention heavier recoiling, buckshot. The trick to controlling the gun is to grip the rearmost portion of the Magpul pump and push the forward. At the same time, you need to pull the Raptor grip rearward. It should feel like you are stretching the gun. I’m not sure what this technique is called, but I first heard about it from Gabe Suarez. It works well and really helps if you are shooting buckshot and shooting it fast.

Having said all that, the recoil isn’t as bad as most people assume. The Raptor grip really does its job and mitigates recoil well. There is more upward muzzle rise than rearward push. I put a few slugs through it at 25 yards and grouped them all into the head of a man-sized target. They all landed a little to the left.

Even with full powered slugs, I could control the Remington 870 Tac 14. I will say I have nearly a year worth of practice with these guns so I don’t recommend rushing into slugs.

The Remington pump is exceptionally smooth. It glides rearward with little force and throws shells outward with some real force. The pump is so smooth I can charge it with one hand and a bit of inertia. I wouldn’t recommend it at home, buts it is possible.

Safety Issues

There is an issue I found when I first started handling this gun. The gun likes to jump out of your hands and the Magpul pump is hard to hang onto. With proper technique, it isn’t an issue. When you first start shooting I don’t recommend going fast or your hand may find its way in front of the barrel. Mossberg uses a strap, but the Magpul pump is perfectly suited to mount a hand stop or foregrip on. Both will help in controlling the gun.

Reliability

It’s a pump action shotgun so very little can go wrong. I haven’t run into issues with any standard ammunition. Those little Mini Shells function about 75% of the time. The gun cycles great, ejects consistently, and runs buck, bird, and slugs without issue.

The Remington Tac 14 is a fun little “not a shotgun” firearm. It’s a challenging gun to control, and even more so to master. This is a limited use weapon, and it takes a lot of practice to run effectively enough to be used as a weapon. It fills very niche roles, and you may be better served with a standard stocked 870. If it becomes your home defense scattergun you best get out and get some practice with it. If you are looking to have some fun, and challenge yourself the Tac 14 is a fantastic way to do so.

The Importance Of Gun Training At Every Age Cannot Be Overstated

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improvised shooting position
Practice with different shooting positions, including improvised ones, for better defensive readiness. (Team HB photo)

We’ve discussed in great length the importance of carrying a self-defense weapon, or having access to one, at all times. The truth is, we never know where tragedy will strike when at home, in the car, on the road in a hotel, etc. Such is the case for an 82 year old man who needed his firearm to defend himself against an intruder who broke in through the window air conditioning unit.

Nothing is sacred; nothing is safe. Criminals intent on hurting you will stop at nothing to make sure that their goals come to fruition, no matter the cost to you. One of the most important things we need to remember, is that if a criminal is brazen enough to break into your home, they are likely willing to eliminate any traces that they were ever there, including your life.

That is one of the main reasons why it is imperative that you’re willing and able to defend yourself against all threats, and understand that you’ll never actually be ready for an attack. And, when I say that you’ll never actually be ready for it, I mean that you won’t know when an attack will come.

Our 82 year old man from a recent Defensive Gun Use was clearly willing to defend himself against an intruder, to which I commend him for. However, after looking at this story in more detail, he wasn’t as able as he could have been.

Of course, we have to take the age of this man into consideration. At the age of 82, fine motor skills aren’t what they once were, and even gross motor skills are likely not tuned up and running in tip-top shape. That, coupled with the fact that even younger, healthier people have a hard time hitting their target when presented with a tremendous amount of stress, we have a recipe for disaster.

Thankfully, he lived. But he didn’t land either of the two shots he fired on his attacker, so it could have turned out very differently.

Getting old is a part of life. Try as we may, we’ll never be able to avoid this basic truth: We are all born, and we will all eventually die. In that process, called life, we get older and witness our bodies deteriorate. Again, nothing we can do about that.

What we can do to ensure our survival against someone who is bigger, stronger, younger, faster, smarter, etc., than we are, is to have the upper hand with a great force equalizer known as a self-defense firearm. The mere owning of a gun is not enough, though.

We cannot just go to the local gun shop, put some cash down on the counter, walk out with our new 9mm pistol, and expect ourselves to be John Wick with it. Now, I’m not saying that this is what our senior citizen did, because I’m all about honesty and I have no clue how much training this man has under his belt.

What we can all learn from this example of a defensive gun use nearly gone wrong, is that no matter our age, no matter our gun training level, no matter our experience or shakiness with our hands, nor how unhealthy we are, we can–and should–all still go to the gun range and practice with our guns on a least a monthly basis.

Period.

Further than that, if we suspect that there is even the slightest chance that we’ll have a break-in occur while we are at our homes, we need to practice maneuvering through our house, unloaded gun in hand, so we know what it’s like should the time ever come when we need to defend our homes from an intruder.

The thing is, while we continue to grow old, we are never old enough to practice our skills to get better. In fact, I’d argue that as you get older, it becomes even more important because your skills may decrease with time, naturally.

I’m much younger than this senior citizen. So, I cannot offer up much in the way of advice for how to train as an elderly person. What I can offer, however, is this: never stop going to the range, and even taking classes from time to time to refresh your skills to make sure you don’t develop any bad habits.

No matter your age, your life is important to someone. Which somehow brings me to my next point …

I cannot highlight how important it is to check your home out for vulnerabilities. I can all but guarantee you that at some point, this man never thought he’d have someone break in through his A/C unit. And yet, it happened to him.

I strongly suggest you check your windows, A/C units, doors, basement, and anything else that someone could exploit to get into your house, because the chance is always there. You may one day end up the victim of a break in if you’re not making sure that everything is secured.

In conclusion, we must never stop our gun training or proficiency in self-defense skills. No amount of training or experience entitles us to grow complacent. Be aware of your surroundings and make sure your house is secure. If your home utilizes window A/C units, secure them in with something. Make sure your doors are locked, and always have a way of defending yourself handy (like a gun) so you may equalize whatever force your are presented with.

If you’d like to read about the old man in greater detail.

NRAAM 2017: New Mossberg 500 Flex Conversion Kits [video]

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Mosserg 500 Flex conversion
Mossberg 500 Flex Conversion Kit

Mossberg brought many of their guns to the NRA’s Annual Meetings in Georgia, and were thrilled to offer up a new product, just hitting the scene. You’ve likely heard of their Mossberg 500 Flex, which is essentially two guns in one. This new product is designed to help those of us with older Mossberg 500s, not in the Flex platform, be turned into a 500 Flex.

What is the Mossberg 500 Flex?

Say you wake up at the crack of dawn to go hunting. So, you grab your trusty Mossberg 500. Only, in its current setup it has a pistol grip and short 18.5 inch barrel configured as a home defense shotgun. The modularity of the 500 Flex, allows you to swap out the barrel, buttstock, pump, etc., so that you can feed your family by turning it into a hunting shotgun.

Then, when you get home from the hunt, you can just as easily swap the parts back out into a home defense shotgun, once more.

So your 18.5 inch barrel turns into one that’s 24 inches and you’ve added a buttstock to shoulder it and take better aim. The best part, is that no tools are required to make the change from one setup to the next on the 500 Flex.

For whatever reason, you decided a while ago that having more than one shotgun was not necessary, even though you feel that defending your family is just as important as putting food on the table. If you already own a Mossy 500 and don’t want to spend money on a factory Flex model, Mossberg has you covered.

Mossberg 500 Flex conversion Kits:

Thankfully, you heard that they made it possible for you to convert your current Mossy 500 or Maverick 88 into a Flex, with one of their conversion kits. Therefore, a few quick part changes later, and you’re set up for deer or whatever bird is on the menu for the day.

Mossberg representative, Linda, does a much better job of explaining it, so I’ll leave it to her for now. Here she is talking about the new Mossberg 500 Flex Conversion Kits:

Personally speaking, I think this is great, and the simple fact that there are many different configurations is awesome. I know many, many people who own Mossberg 500 shotguns and would love the opportunity to turn their guns more readily into something they can convert between a hunting gun and a home defense shotgun. They now have that chance.

I would also like to add here, that I believe the Mossberg 500 is the best home defense shotgun on the market, and personally trust my family to one. What do you think? Is this something you’d ever think about buying? Let me know in the comments below.

Make sure when you’re done with that, you check out my list of the top 12 AR-15 rifle manufacturers and let me know who’s on your list.