The Very Versatile Remington 1100

[Hi-Standard]

Went to the range today for a little experiment with my early/mid seventies Remington 1100. The receiver is a field grade 3" magnum. Thanks to a fellow gunnutter, I purchased a modern 30" vent rib steel 3" barrel, in used but almost mint condition, with the Remchoke system of interchangeable chokes. I had previously fired 3" steel BB's with this barrel and frame and of course no problems. Also previously on a hunting trip a couple of weeks ago I had a box of 2 3/4" steel #2's that functioned beautifully as well, and were they ever soft fired from a 3" gun! Anyhow, back to the range. I am also a very part time trap shooter, so I thought I'd bring along a box of 2 3/4 dram and a box 3 dram target loads just out of curiosity. Well, what do you know, the old 1100 began spiting out 3 dram 1 1/8oz Winchesters! Now one might say "well that's no biggie, you've already cycled 2 3/4" #2 steels". But those were heavy field loads, so I kind of suspected she would cycle them, but not target loads. Next up, and don't even ask where I got these from, a box of #8's IVI 2 3/4 dram 1 1/8oz targets! Old iron guts spit those farther then the 3 dram Wally World Chesters. Now I reload pistol and rifle but not shotshell, so don't ask me how a 1oz light target will perform, unless someone wants to donate a few for a test Here we have a 33 year old shotgun that is capable of shooting 2 3/4 dram #8 leads, all the way up to the heaviest field loads of 3". What more could anybody ask of this old design? I always hear people saying that the 1100's design flaw was that you could not shoot 2 3/4" loads out of a magnum gun. I believe this to be a myth. Even when I used to use my original barrel, which I had opened up from a Full to a Mod by a smith for shooting steel, I could still cycle 2 3/4" field loads. Trap loads on the other hand were a bit of a problem. So anyone out there that has an older 1100 in good condition, don't get rid of it. If your looking for a good shotgun, get a new steel 3" barrel and your good to go. If you've got a 2 3/4" receiver, you may want to invest in a heavy or magnum action sleeve. these old guns work great and you can save yourself hundreds over a new 11-87.

 

[12magnum]

well in the early 70's remington actually designed them to eject 3" or 2 3/4 " mag. shells. mine would never eject low brass clay loads and sometimes they wouldn't eject special long range high brass. the 3" at that time had one gas port in the barrel. the 2 3/4 " had 2 ports.in other words rem. designed 2 different guns. some tried enlarging the gas port on the mag.1100 to eject regular 2 3/4 " shells. the draw back ofcourse, was when you went back to mag. shells the bolt and the reciever parts took quite a beating,as there was more gas cycling through than the original design called for.

 

[Hi-Standard]

well in the early 70's remington actually designed them to eject 3" or 2 3/4 " mag. shells. mine would never eject low brass clay loads and sometimes they wouldn't eject special long range high brass. the 3" at that time had one gas port in the barrel. the 2 3/4 " had 2 ports.in other words rem. designed 2 different guns. some tried enlarging the gas port on the mag.1100 to eject regular 2 3/4 " shells. the draw back ofcourse, was when you went back to mag. shells the bolt and the reciever parts took quite a beating,as there was more gas cycling through than the original design called for.

The modern steel barrels have only one gas port as well like the old magnum lead barrels, but it appears to be a little larger, probably for the slower burning powders of fast steel. The forcing cone is also relieved out to a gentle taper. All in all, I think the 3" steel barrels breath new life into the old 1100's.