The general consensus is that they're great guns for the money. My personal opinion differs. I have a Savage Fox Model B, which is a higher-end version of the 311 (and TOTALLY different from a Fox Grade B). No other gun in my collection has broken in the field as often as the Model B. In fact, ALL my other guns combined haven't broken as often as the Model B.
As Snow Dog pointed out, they're on the heavy side, and they are a pretty utilitarian gun. If you knew that the "B" was one of my first SXS's, and you know how much trouble it has caused me, you'd be tempted to ask, "Why do you still have it?"
It's quite simple, between the regulation of the barrels and the way the gun fits me, it's as though I can't miss with that gun. Now that I think of it, I've never patterned that gun. There's never been a need - I hit everything I shoot at with it. I should make a point of patterning it next spring. Maybe I'll find out why the thing hits so well.
Also, once "the bugs were ironed out of it", it has lasted a couple of seasons without problems.
Regardless, you may want to be prepared to go in and do surgery, if you're going to buy a 311. It's my opinion that the manufacture of this model is no better or worse than most. What's lacking is design. For example, the top lever is held in place by a screw that comes up through the center of the rotation point on the lever. Because the screw comes UP, gravity is more than willing to pull it down, given the opportunity. This screw is not held in position by a set screw or any other technique. Keep in mind it secures the top lever. The top lever rotates back and forth every time the action is opened (potentially thousands of times per year, although mine never saw anywhere near that much use). Every time the lever rotates becomes a chance for the screw to loosen a little. To make matters worse, the 311 is a box lock. The lock works (hammers, sears, springs, etc.) are all housed inside the action, below the top lever. When the screw finally comes completely loose, it falls down into the action. Further, there's barely enough room to get it back where it belongs without completely dismantling the locks. I managed to accomplish it but, due to tight spaces, I had to tighten the screw by about 1/32 of a turn each time. You can imagine how long it took to thread all the way back in. This is just one example of the bone-headed design of this receiver.
Having said that, I also bought a 20 ga. 311 (which I've since sold). That one never gave me a lick of trouble, ever. So, it's clear that the design can work. It's also clear that there are much better designs out there, but few in the same price range. If you want economy AND reliability, you'd be better off with a Baikal like slicknick.
