Steel Shot in Older Remingtons

Hi-Standard

Hi-Standard

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I've got an 1100(1973 vintage) in 3" magnum with a 30" fixed full choke barrel. If I were to have the barrel opened up to a modified choke, do you guys think it would be safe to shoot steel shot with it? And how about cycling issues, Remington claims you need a steel shot barrel to cycle properly. If the 3" cycles, I wonder would 2 3/4" heavy field loads cycle?
 
The single gas port on the magnum barrel would have to be opened slightly. It would then cycle steel loads. Remember it is a one way street meaning that the use of 3" magnum LEAD loads would then beat the gun up. I put my 3" lead barrel away and bought a Remington steel shot barrel. (about 275.00) I now shoot steel all I want. I also bought a used 26" IMP CYL 2 3/4" barrel for grouse hunting. 1100 receivers are all the same its the barrels that dictate loads.

cheers Darryl
 
madtrapper143 said:
The single gas port on the magnum barrel would have to be opened slightly. It would then cycle steel loads. Remember it is a one way street meaning that the use of 3" magnum LEAD loads would then beat the gun up. I put my 3" lead barrel away and bought a Remington steel shot barrel. (about 275.00) I now shoot steel all I want. I also bought a used 26" IMP CYL 2 3/4" barrel for grouse hunting. 1100 receivers are all the same its the barrels that dictate loads.

cheers Darryl
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I figured as much madtrapper. I notice the 2 3/4" barrels have two gas ports. How much would the port have to be opened? And is steel alright for those old barrels? I had an extra action spring that I trimmed a little bit off of one time to get my 3" to cycle light target loads of 2 3/4 dram and it worked like a charm, I wonder if trimming a tiny bit off of another action spring would help in this instance? It takes no time to swap out springs, and you're not permanently altering the gun barrel, other than the modified choke thingy:redface:
 
i've got a 1975 vintage 1100 standard full choke and remington said it was ok to go as high as no 2 shot in steel, but no larger- did you check with them giving your serial number?-
 
t-star said:
i've got a 1975 vintage 1100 standard full choke and remington said it was ok to go as high as no 2 shot in steel, but no larger- did you check with them giving your serial number?-
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Yes I did check with Remington t-star, but I didn't give a serial #, just the age. All they recommended was to have the choke opened up, but the guy I talked to wasn't to sure himself, this is why I'm posting here. How do you find the steel shot for cycling?
 
I used steel shot in my 1100 3" with fixed full choke for a few years, but never went higher than 2's.

2 3/4" will only cycle if they are heavy or magnum loads. Light loads will not cycle well.

I bought a new 1100 barrel with RemChoke for 2 3/4 and 3", and will cycle all loads now.

As a start, I would ream the 3" full choke to modified.
 
I have an older 1100 magnum that I shoot steel shot in with no problems, the choke was opened up and I had to open up the gas port to get it to function reliably and it works great now. Of course you shouldn't shoot 3" lead shells in it any more but I just use it for migratory birds anyway. I bought the Kuhnhausen gunsmithing book on Remington shotguns and he was right about how big the gas port had to be opened up to, excellent reference material.
 
Hi-Standard said:
How much would the port have to be opened? :
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According to the Kuhnhausen book the original gas port size for a Model 1100 3" Magnum lead shot barrel is one orifice 0.073" which is too small for reliable function with steel shot loads. The orifice should be increased to 0.081", done in drill sized steps to minimize the possibility of breaking a drill bit off in the gas port. I made a small hex aluminum handle drilled to accept the orifice drill bits then drilled and tapped through the side to accept a set screw to hold the orifice drill bits that I had ground a small flat on the shank. I used number drills and went up consecutively turning the bits by hand only until I reached 0.081", it went really easy and didn't take too long and worked perfectly when I test fired it. In the book it also states that if your gun does not function properly with magnum steel shot loads at 0.081" you can open the port up further (also in steps) up to 0.086" maximum diameter.
 
Silverback said:
According to the Kuhnhausen book the original gas port size for a Model 1100 3" Magnum lead shot barrel is one orifice 0.073" which is too small for reliable function with steel shot loads. The orifice should be increased to 0.081", done in drill sized steps to minimize the possibility of breaking a drill bit off in the gas port. I made a small hex aluminum handle drilled to accept the orifice drill bits then drilled and tapped through the side to accept a set screw to hold the orifice drill bits that I had ground a small flat on the shank. I used number drills and went up consecutively turning the bits by hand only until I reached 0.081", it went really easy and didn't take too long and worked perfectly when I test fired it. In the book it also states that if your gun does not function properly with magnum steel shot loads at 0.081" you can open the port up further (also in steps) up to 0.086" maximum diameter.
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Jeese Silverback, you've researched your 1100's really well, I must say. My 1100 would just about cycle 2 3/4 trap loads, So I think what I may try first, is to just open up the choke to modified and see if she cycles heavy 2 3/4" and 3". Of course opening up the gas port is the correct way to make them cycle, but I've had great success with trimming the action spring, just a smidge in small increaments until she cycles(action springs are fairly cheap). I'll make note of your measurements though incase I still have trouble. I wouldn't mind buying a barrel, but there $300+tax at Wholesale Sports, for a $400 dollar gun!? The interchangable choke tubes would be nice, but for waterfowl hunting, I'd say I'll only ever use the modified.
 
As you said these shotguns are not worth a fortune so I too figured why buy a barrel for almost as much as the gun is worth and buying the book was cheaper than getting the gas port opened up by a gunsmith. The Kuhnhausen books come up on eBay once in a while and can usually be won for a good price, John Denner in Ontario also has the Remington Shotgun book for $45.00. I have other shotguns I use for upland game with lead shot so not being able to shoot lead out of the 1100 anymore isn't a big problem for me. Here is a link for the book if you want to see it, it would probably be cheaper from Denner in Canada after shipping.

http://www.gunbooks.com/rem.html
 
i found i went to what i would call a super tight full choke when i went steel- at 30, it looked more like a slug round than a dose of #4- and i haven't modified it at all- now it's not what that 1100 is worth , but what would it cost you to get a steel capable- in that light, that 300 buck barrel with screw in chokes doesn't appear so bad- considering mine is still in brand-new shape and the price of an new 1100 or 1187
 
You will get a better pattern with steel shot if you open the choke up more than modified. I would suggest Skeet II. That is between improved cylinder and modified. Improved cylinder also works very well.

Steel shot requires very little constriction to deliver a good pattern. Tighter chokes with steel shot create poorer less uniform patterns.
 
guntech said:
You will get a better pattern with steel shot if you open the choke up more than modified. I would suggest Skeet II. That is between improved cylinder and modified. Improved cylinder also works very well.

Steel shot requires very little constriction to deliver a good pattern. Tighter chokes with steel shot create poorer less uniform patterns.
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Good tip guntec, thanks. Probably what I'll do is have her opened up to Modified first and pattern her. I can always have another little bit removed later.
 
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