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11-87 v 1100

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.410
Posts: 37
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2013 9:57 pm
PostPosted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 7:15 pm
First, let me say that I am a left handed shooter. Secondly, I've shot 1100's since the beginning of time and having hulls ejected across my face as ever bothered me. In fact, I don't recall ever having even seen one. But, here lies the conundrum. I've stumbled across a used left hand 11-87 and never having shot one or owned one have never really looked at them much. I remember when Remington brought them out, it was touted as the "semi-automatic shotgun that can shoot any load". For me, that is really the only advantage over the 1100. So, let me ask you this - Are the 11-87's as much if not more reliable than the old 1100's and would it be worth my time and effort to really look hard at this one?

20g
Posts: 609
Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2013 4:00 pm
PostPosted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 7:26 pm
I know of two shooters at my club I shoot clay birds with that love the 11-87. They claim no malfunctions as far as feeding or ejecting so I have to take their word for it. Wish I could give more info but shoot an 1100 trap model and have never had an 11-87. Sorry cannot give more info.
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.270 WIN
Posts: 302
Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2014 6:31 am
Location: Williamsburg, Va.
PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 7:43 pm
The 1100 and 11-87 are 99% the same gun. Functionally the ONLY difference is the relief gas ports in the 11-87 barrel gas ring. The flexibility of loads is the only difference or 'advantage' if you need that flexibility.
When the 11-87 came out they were nicely finished and looked and worked well, but the RemChoke system was new, and the barrels were heavy. The 11-87s did not handle like an 1100. That forever stymied Remington's plans to have the 11-87 supercede the 1100. 1100 lovers like me weren't having any. Over time the RemChoke barrels got much better, and about the only way one could tell the difference would be by reading what's on the gun, BUT Remington started targeting the 11-87 at the hunting market and put a lower cost finish on it. An 11-87 Premier is the equal of any 1100. An 1100G3 is an 11-87 under the skin, and many target 11-87s do not have the gas compensating feature and are in fact functionally identical to an 1100.
While someone will tell you "theirs has never had a problem", in fact some field grade 11-87s have had issues functioning with very light loads. They were designed to function down to 1-1/8 ounce field loads. This can easily be solved by putting a bigger O ring in front of the gas piston to block gas flow to the relief ports just like the barrel seal activator does on the 3-1/2" 12 gauge and 20 gauge 11-87s. Just don't forget to remove it for heavy loads.
If you like 1100s, you should like an 11-87, provided it doesn't have an early heavy barrel. I sold my early one in the duck blind in 1987 and the guy I sold it to is an O/U fan and he likes the forward weight bias, and he still uses it for waterfowl, gloss bluing and all. I have seen no difference in reliability - which is to say they have been flawless for me for 52 years - between the two designs with properly maintained guns. The biggest enemy of any semi auto is the nut on the back of the stock.
I would take a close look at it. Good luck.
What could have happened... did.

20g
Posts: 609
Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2013 4:00 pm
PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 10:22 pm
Thanks for the excellent post concerning the 11-87 Virginian. Heard of the flexibility of loads in the newer model but never gave the lighter load issue a thought. Also I thought the 11-87 would bump the 1100 from production. Guess to many liked the better handling of the 1100. Believe I got a winner in my TB 1100 model. Now to find a 3 inch 20. Seem to be pretty scarce in my parts. I get the feeling folks are holding onto the good ole stuff these days. Thanks again for the info.

Copper BB
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Jul 25, 2015 3:53 pm
Location: Central Florida
PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:59 am
Virginian wrote:...The biggest enemy of any semi auto is the nut on the back of the stock...


Is this the same nut found behind the steering wheel of many cars? ;)

Very good info, thanks! :)
597 "Chameleon" .22LR Rifle (daughter's gun)

20g
Posts: 609
Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2013 4:00 pm
PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 1:07 pm
Ha! Believe ya hit the nail on the head Bobster.
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.270 WIN
Posts: 302
Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2014 6:31 am
Location: Williamsburg, Va.
PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 2:04 pm
That's the one ! Many were called retards but I don't think that is allowed anymore in the politically correct new world order.
What could have happened... did.

Copper BB
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2017 2:00 pm
PostPosted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 9:06 am
I'm a lefty too.

I shot right handed 1100's for several years - then bought a left handed 1100 - & love it.

I also have bought 5 1100's for my wife & kids ... all have been used for extensive Skeet & bird hunting.

We had to load our own shells because of the expense ... but what great family fun .. wife shoots as well as myself & our sons.

I just bought a new 11-87 "compact" for my grandson.

55 years of shooting the 1100 family of shotguns - they have all been very reliable (with a lot of shooting Skeet & Hunting).

8-)

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