Author Topic: Remington 1100 vs 11-87? (Read 40195 times)

Nightcrawler · « **on:** December 11, 2010, 12:04:18 am »

Remington's two autoloading shotguns are the models 1100 and 11-87. The primary difference, so far as I know, is that the 11-87 has a 3" chamber, whereas the older 1100 has only a 2.75" chamber.

That said, I've heard many old time shotgunners on the internet insist that the 1100 is more reliable, less troublesome, or less ammo-finicky than the 11-87. Remington makes a Police version of the 11-87, but this gun doesn't seem to be nearly as popular (amongst semiauto fighting shotguns) as the Benelli, and many insist that the FN SLP (which is nothing but a Winchester Super-X variant, or as George Hill described it, a goth Browning Gold Hunter; they're basically the same gun) is a better shotgun.

So what's the skinny? Is the 11-87 not as reliable as the Benelli or the FN? Is the Remington 1100 a better practical service shotgun than the 11-87? I will say I don't really like the control layout; the location of the bolt release button is much less intuitive than it is on other designs.

WeTheArmed.com

MacLean · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2010, 12:33:15 am »

Isn't one a gas gun and the other a recoil gun?

Edit: Never mind, answered my own question.

The 11-87 has a pressure relief, they are both gas guns.

Nightcrawler · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2010, 12:34:27 am »

That I don't know. I thought they were both gas.

MacLean · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2010, 12:35:50 am »

You're right, I corrected my self.

The 11-87 has a pressure compensating system that allows a wider selection of low pressure shells.

Tanner · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2010, 01:30:57 pm »

Years ago I picked up a 1187 for like $300 bucks. I turned it into my tactical shotgun...

Put a pistol grip stock on it, extended mag tube and bought a 3 point sling. It came with a short magna-ported barrel on it already.

I haven't shot it extensively (maybe 300 or 400 rounds total), but I haven't had any issues with mine as long as I use full powered loads. Reduced recoil slugs didn't cycle the action, but I really didn't expect them to. Nothing jammed it up though.

Six rounds of buckshot in the mag, with another 6 in the side carrier. Lotsa boom for the buck.

Only possible complaint (for me) would be the lack of ease in loading the mag tube. Deer Hunter put one of those fancy loading gate things on his, and he likes it. I'm not brave enough to mess with mine. Hopefully after the first 6 rounds, a blazing fast reload won't be necessary.

coyotesfan97 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2010, 04:23:10 pm »

I carried an issue 1187 for several years. It had rifle sights and wood furniture. I loved the darn thing! My only issue was doing admin unloads out of it was just about impossible unlike the 870. An aftermarket loading gate would solve those issues.

I loaded the tube with slugs and called it good. I was the rear seat "gunner" with it when I was with GITEM during the West side City operation. Phoenix PD officers were getting sniped at by gang members so Phoenix and DPS combined for a task force. 150 Detectives and Officers in a four square mile area that was throughly gang infested. We rode four to a car and it was kind of dicey the first couple days. Then it was boring...

Nightcrawler · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2010, 05:02:58 pm »

What's this improved loading gate I"m hearing about? Link? Description?

TXGunGeek · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2010, 05:24:03 pm »

It is an extended load gate that replaces the tiny button standard to the 1100/1187. Been running one on my 1187 3-gun rig for 10 years or so. Like it very much.

I've been looking for one that is sized for an 1100LT Youth model 20Ga for the Mrs.

onesmack4u · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2010, 07:22:17 pm »

The 11-87s are great as long as they match your ammo preferences. I had one that was an excellent slug gun. It would even do well with low recoil slug loads. It would not cycle low recoil buck or #4 buck reliably though. I have a Mossberg 930 now, and while it does not have the charm of the 11-87 it is lighter and works with a wider range of loads.

TXGunGeek · « **Reply #9 on:** December 11, 2010, 07:33:59 pm »

My 1187 originally was an SPS-T. Turkey gun that would only function with full up slugs or magnum buck shot. I got another barrel and opened up the gas ports so it will function with light loads. Use that one for shooting 3-gun with RR Slugs and bird shot and keep the original for when it is home for defense against the coyotes and feral hogs around here. It is stone cold reliable with light loads with the either barrel.

Tanner · « **Reply #10 on:** December 11, 2010, 09:57:38 pm »

TxGunGeek...

Yours looks somewhat beefier than the one Deer Hunter has on his. Any chance you remember the brand name of yours?

Precious Roy · « **Reply #11 on:** December 12, 2010, 12:19:55 am »

Quote from: TXGunGeek on December 11, 2010, 07:33:59 pm

My 1187 originally was an SPS-T. Turkey gun that would only function with full up slugs or magnum buck shot. I got another barrel and opened up the gas ports so it will function with light loads. Use that one for shooting 3-gun with RR Slugs and bird shot and keep the original for when it is home for defense against the coyotes and feral hogs around here. It is stone cold reliable with light loads with the either barrel.

When I got my 11-87 it just wouldn't reliably cycle those low brass rabbit, squirrel and dove promo loads you'd always see at wal-mart and the discount stores. I had a gunsmith ever so slightly open up the gas holes so that it would eat the light loads. He'd increase the size of the holes ever so slightly and then we'd try a couple boxes of shells. If it didn't cycle reliably he'd open them up a hair more. It didn't take much. It may have increased the internal stresses in some minor way when using full house magnum loads but after 17 or so years and countless thousands of rounds through it I've yet to have any sort of mechanical failure aside from having to replace the rubber O ring once or twice.

TXGunGeek · « **Reply #12 on:** December 12, 2010, 07:56:36 am »

Quote from: Tanner on December 11, 2010, 09:57:38 pm

TxGunGeek...

Yours looks somewhat beefier than the one Deer Hunter has on his. Any chance you remember the brand name of yours?

Give me a chance to look back in receipts. I may have the one from ordering this.

TXGunGeek · « **Reply #13 on:** December 12, 2010, 09:57:30 am »

http://www.davesmetalworks.com/rem.html

I didn't get back into my archives yet but this one looks pretty much like it.

Tanner · « **Reply #14 on:** December 12, 2010, 01:19:34 pm »

Quote from: TXGunGeek on December 12, 2010, 09:57:30 am

http://www.davesmetalworks.com/rem.html

I didn't get back into my archives yet but this one looks pretty much like it.

Awesome, thanks... I have wasted money on much stupider things, I'll probably give it a try.

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #15 on:** December 12, 2010, 09:20:42 pm »

I've seen a lot of really serious tactical autoloaders built off 11-87 actions.

Deer Hunter · « **Reply #16 on:** December 13, 2010, 01:33:24 am »

TXGungeek and I have the same easy-loader.

Tanner · « **Reply #17 on:** December 13, 2010, 06:02:27 am »

Quote from: Deer Hunter on December 13, 2010, 01:33:24 am

TXGungeek and I have the same easy-loader.

He must be a better photographer then? Just kidding... I ordered mine yesterday. Expect a thread begging for installation advice in a few days.

akodo · « **Reply #18 on:** December 14, 2010, 06:26:04 pm »

so is it possible that while the 11-87 will in theory take everything, because it is made with handling 3" shells in mind that it has problems with the lowest powered 2 3/4th...but that the 1100 is 2 3/4th only, then using low recoiling 2 3/4ths is less far out of it's 'golden zone'?

Deer Hunter · « **Reply #19 on:** December 16, 2010, 11:19:35 am »

I have two barrels for my 11-87. A 28" barrel and a 21" barrel. The 21" barrel was "for heavy loads only", since it had smaller gas ports and was meant for slugs and buckshot. But I don't like a gun that wont shoot different types of ammo reliably. I took my dremel and looked up the gas port diameters for Remington autoloaders. The 21" was a bit on the small side, so I picked a diameter that was just a little larger than what was on my 28" barrels (Which shot everything, and didn't need larger ports because the barrel was long enough to allow pressure to build up).

Oil, Drill bit, patience, and there you have it. Now my barrel shoots cheap 1 ounce birdshot and 3" mag slugs. I never shoot 3" mag slugs out of it that often, but it will cycle them.

And yes, I am aware of the extra strain on the gun. But seeing as how I shoot birdshot 90% of the time and Buckshot/slugs the other 10%, I'm not too worried.