SB Tactical's TAC

SB Tactical premiered their new SBA3 and SBA4 pistol braces for the Remington TAC-13. I’ve been wanting a pistol brace for my TAC-13 since I picked it up when they first came out. SB Tactical is offering two braces for the TAC-13; the SBA3 and the SBA4.

SB Tactical sent us the SBA4 just after SHOT show so we could bring you a comprehensive review on their new brace.

Before we talk about the brace, we should bring you up to speed on the TAC-13. It is a semi-automatic shotgun that is neither a pistol nor a rifle. It is classified as a firearm since it doesn’t fit into either of the other categories. It’s classification as a firearm means there is no NFA issues, so there is no need for a tax stamp. That is, of course, if you don’t modify the firearm.

We wrote earlier that the best home defense weapon is an AR15, however, you can’t dismiss the TAC-13. It also makes a great “truck gun.” Its overall length of 26.5 inches makes it well suited for maneuverability and storage within your car or truck. I purchased the TAC-13 as a SHTF breaching shotgun. As a former SWAT breacher, I had used a Remington 870 with specialized rounds to breach doors. However, in a SHTF scenario, the TAC-13 can do the trick.

Some of the features of the TAC-13 include:

Then of course, there’s the birdshead pistol grip.

To make the TAC-13 available in its current configuration without running afoul of the NFA, the Birds Head grip was used. However, it doesn’t give you a great hold of the weapon when firing. Although the gun does a great job of reducing recoil, you will always have a weak wrist hold when using the gun. SB Tactical has a solution for that.

Although the TAC-13 does a great job of minimizing recoil, people with a weaker grip, injuries or younger shooters might have a problem with handling the weapon with the birdshead grip.

SB Tactical solves that problem with the TAC-13 pistol brace kit. SB Tactical offers two braces; the SBA3 and the SBA4. For this review, we used the SBA4. The difference between the two braces comes down to mass. The SBA3 is slimmer and more minimalist while the SBA4 has more mass and is beefy. Choosing between the two really comes down to preference. Do you want to be a minimalist or do you want to feel mass when you handle your weapon?

The SB Brace was originally designed to help a shooter who was a disabled veteran better handle an AR pistol. Putting this brace on a pistol, according to the ATF, does not make it a short barreled rifle (SBR).

ATF has answered your question about it’s legality. If you occasionally put the brace to your shoulder, then it is not an SBR. You can click here for the full letter, or you can read the highlights here:

With respect to stabilizing braces, ATF has concluded that attaching the brace to a handgun as a forearm brace does not “make” a short-barreled rifle because in the configuration as submitted to and approved by FATD, it is not intended to be and cannot comfortably be fired from the shoulder.

If, however, the shooter/possessor takes affirmative steps to configure the device for use as a shoulder-stock — for example, configuring the brace so as to permanently affix it to the end of a buffer tube, (thereby creating a length that has no other purpose than to facilitate its use as a stock), removing the arm-strap, or otherwise undermining its ability to be used as a brace — and then in fact shoots the firearm from the shoulder using the accessory as a shoulder stock, that person has objectively “redesigned” the firearm for the purposes of the NFA.

Therefore, an NFA firearm has not necessarily been made when the device is not re-configured for use as a shoulder stock — even if the attached firearm happens to be fired from the shoulder.

Let me sum up this review: If you have a TAC-13, you absolutely need an SB Brace. Period. In fact, Remington should probably include it as an option for people buying the TAC 13. Using the brace as intended, it will help injured shooters better control the firearm. Placing it up to your shoulder for occasional stability improves it even further.

I have seen other braces out there, but SB tactical is making the best product by far for the TAC 13. Their product and customer service are excellent. We shopped around for the lowest price and found it here.

To help you better understand how the brace works and how it performed, we put together a review video for you. Check it out below.

The SBA3 and and SBA4 have an adjustable brace, which greatly enhances the usability of the firearm by adding a third point of contact. The SBA4 is a complete kit, ready-to-assemble on your Remington TAC-13, greatly enhancing the usability of the firearm by adding a third point of contact for stabilization. The kit comes with an Ergo grip, an adapter for the TAC 13 and an adjustable brace.

There is an adjustable strap at the end, but don’t remove it. If you remove it, you just made your TAC 13 into a Short Barreled Shotgun (SBS). The strap is there to fit the weapon properly to your arm if you need it.

There is an ambidextrous QD sling socket on the brace and the receiver extension is Mil-Spec. Putting it all together was extremely easy as you can see in the video. All that is needed is a 3/16″ allen wrench and an armorer’s wrench to help you adjust the castle nut.

To sum it up: I love this brace. It made this shotgun more enjoyable to shoot and more comfortable. It’s functionality is spot on. Others have come out with a brace for the TAC 13, but nothing compares to what SB Tactical has put out.