help

i am the proud owner of a 12 gauge sporting clays model 1187 with the nickel receiver
it has the FACTORY 30 inch ported TARGET barrel

i am wanting to get a shorter barrel for this shotgun so i can shoot some skeet with it etc

i need an expert to tell me if i can use ANY 1187 barrel on this sporting clays model??
THIS 1187 model has a 10 inch forearm---which is shorter that the normal forearm---


please advise
and THANKS IN ADVANCE
JDUB1949

Short answer is yes. The barrel gas ring is in the same place, there is just less wood in front of it on your Sporting model gun. That is also true of the 1100/11-87 Special Fields. Not so with the SF 870s.
You may need to use an O ring to retain your magazine cap - I don't remember if the Sporting has a detent in the gas ring or not.

this is going to sound stupid
but could you explain what you meant about "detente in the gas ring or not"---and expound on the "O" ring to retain your magazine cap
i would REALLY appreciate it
and thanks in advance
as far as availability---the BARREL EXCHANGE has new TARGET 11-87 26" BARRELS(with fixed chokes and REMCHOKES) AVAILABLE---PRICEY but much less than the price of a new gun!
would love to find a used one---
thanks again
jdub1949

On a normal 11-87 or 1100 the magazine retention system is either a detent (spring loaded ball ended projection) in the front of the fore end that engages teeth on the bottom of the cap, or a toothed plastic piece inside the mag tube that engages matching teeth in the cap. I don't remember if the Sporting still has a detent or if it uses the toothed plastic. If there is a detent in the barrel gas the new barrel wouldn't have that. An O ring under the cap will also keep one in place.
Target 11-87 barrels do not have the gas relief system and will not accept 3" shells if that matters to you. Barrel Exchange and Corsons barrels are good and their descriptions are usually accurate, but often ebay and Gunbroker are quite a bit cheaper.

okay
thanks for the explanation--
i will check this out tomorrow and let you know---so what we are talking about is POSSIBLY coming up with a way to keep the mag cap from coming loose while shooting etc
and the "O" ring is a solution for that--is that correct?
but you have never mentioned a possibility that there would be a cycling problem when going from a 30" barrel to a 26" barrel---and the cycling issue is WHAT I'm concerned about---because if the 26" barrel wouldn't cycle shells for some reason---that would cause the purchase from any vendor to be in vain---and also to be a waste of money---AND THAT THE KIND OF THING THAT I WANT TO AVOID!
and i would never have the occasion to be using 3" shells---so thats no big deal, actually!
thanks again
and feel free to continue to share your thoughts with me on this subject
you have been a big help
i did check out CORSONS---to no avail---but i did find a plethora of 26"(new) 11-87 12 gauge barrels at the BARREL EXCHANGE---TARGET VARIETY---a couple with fixed skeet choke and a couple with REMCHOKEs
but at a price of $250-$275--the same was true on eBay and guns international---which i don't mind paying for a new barrel---AS LONG AS IT WORKS(cycles) etc
thanks again
jdub1949

You should have no problems with a 26" barrel, especially with a target model. Remington has furnished field gun barrels down to 21".
You could probably pick up a used Remington 1100 barrel, and have choke tubes installed if you like, for less money than that. All you would need to do is put about a 3/16" spacer in front of the barrel gas ring so it snugs up to the receiver. A slice of CPVC pipe works well. I have an 11-87 fore end on my LT20.

hey virginian
you have been a LOT of help
AND BY THE WAY---the retention system is a toothed plastic piece inside the mag tube that engages matching teeth in the cap--THSTS A GOOD THING, RIGHT?
i am not mechanically inclined---in a lot of areas---and i am willing to pay extra for that lack of knowledge---so thats why i ask questions--
I also just noticed that my 39" barrel says TARGET--2 3/4--light contour--do not modify
that doesn't change anything in this discussion, right?
the barrel on EBAY is for a 11-87-- 26"--fixed skeet choke--TARGET--and i think I'm going to get it
and thanks to you---i feel good about it--so with this additional info–-are there any other issues that you can think of to discuss etc??
thanks in advance
jdub1949

No, you should be all set.

thats great---
i ordered the barrel--on eBay--and it is scheduled to be in my possession friday--
so if you don't see any posts from me after that---lol--then you know I'm off shooting some skeet somewhere!!
no seriously---this forum and especially you, have been PRICELESS--in your help!!
thank you remington owners and thank you VIRGINIAN!!!
JDUB1949