Who doesn’t love the SB Tactical line of pistol braces? As controversial as they’ve been and as many ups and downs as we’ve had with them they continue to change the pistol landscape. SB Tactical is looking to change not only the pistol realm, but the “firearms” realm as well. By firearms I of course mean the Mossberg Shockwave and Remington Tac 14 style guns I can’t seem to shut up about. SB Tactical has recently released a package for both the Mossberg Shockwave and Remington Tac 14 incorporating one of their braces. The braces are similar and since my Shockwave is rocking the awesome Knoxx grip I ordered one for my plain Jane Remington Tac 14. Known the Tac 14 SBL this brace kit is a thought out combination of parts.
Can I put a Brace on my Tac 14?
Yes, yes you can. It retains the OAL of 26 inches and is perfectly legal to do so. Black Aces Tactical received an ATF letter in 2014 approving the use of a brace on a ‘firearm’ style weapon. The caveat it is that 2014 letter states you cannot shoulder the brace or it becomes an SBS. Has this changed since 2014 with the 2017 ATF letter further refining the use of a brace? Who knows? I’m not pushing that envelope, but if someone else has an alternative letter from the ATF that says different please let us know. I will say Gabe Suarez doesn’t seem to mind as you can see from this photo and the TAC 14 PDW kit he markets.
Installation of the Tac 14 SBL
The kit comes in basically three pieces and if I wasn’t like a little kid at Christmas when I got it I’d show you how to put it together. Tac 14 SBL include:
- AR Pistol Buffer Tube with SBL Brace
- Ergo Remington 870 Adapter
- Ergo Flat Top Suregrip
It’s insanely easy to install. The Key to it all is the Ergo 870 Grip Adapter. It attaches where your Raptor grip is supposed to and acts as an AR buffer tube and pistol grip adapter. The rest of the kit installs just like a standard AR tube and grip.
You need to install the buffer tube first to keep the length over 26 inches before putting it in firing condition. Once the buffer tube is threaded onto the adapter a set screw below this area needs to be tightened as well as the castle nut.
From there you attach the pistol grip. You can use actually any AR grip you choose. The included ergo grip is nice and soft and hand filling. It’s great for dealing with the recoil from a lightweight 12 gauge.
Ergonomics
Traditionally I prefer the tang style safety of the Mossberg, but the Tac 14’s push button safety is superior when using the Tac 14 SBL kit. The Ergos are excellent and the brace is the perfect length for both my gorilla length arms and my wife’s more petite frame. The new and improved elastic strap on the Tac 14 SBL is a brilliant touch. It’s much more comfortable that the old strap.
The entire design is perfect for a 12 gauge firearm. The recoil issue is a bit different than dealing with a pistol. I tried attaching an old school SB 15 brace to my Shockwave and the recoil from the 12 gauge would push the receiver extension rearward. The SBL brace has a closed rear portion so the brace cannot slide.
The full cavity design of the SBL brace also keeps the brace portion from twisting or spinning due to recoil. The elastic strap doesn’t dig into the arm as the gun recoils or bends either. Its a nice setup. I feel bad for the guy who likely had to rub his forearm raw finding the right combo.
Braced
The Tac 14 SBL is a great addition to any Tac 14. If you want to change things up from the standard Stakeout configuration. It certainly keeps the gun over 26 inches and does give it a much more complete look. SB Tactical is one of my favorite companies, and I can’t wait to stop by and say hi at SHOT Show 2018.
