Remington Model 11 Help/Questions (pics!)

Hey everyone,

So a couple days ago I picked up this Remington Model 11 "The Sportsman" for $175 + tax. This shotgun is awesome, but will be more of a fun-gun as I really don't plan to hunt with it (maybe, that depends on if I want to go after a deer with some buckshot when/where rifles are restricted).

First, I would like to remove the block in the magazine tube so I can fill it to capacity. Currently it only holds two shells in there, which I know is standard for the "sportsman" model. How do I go about doing this? I've searched online and even found a thread on it in this forum but it didn't truly answer my question. Will this permanently alter the gun? Or will I be able to change it back if I'd like to try and get a bird or something?

Second, I'd like to consider making this more of a "social" shotgun. I saw some pictures of this gun in a riot configuration and it looked SWEET. I saw an article/post where the author had used a remington 1100/870 extension and used a spacer to fill the gap where the threads were exposed. Is it possible to use one of these extensions on the sportman model? I think someone said something about the magazine tube being crimped and therefore it would be impossible to add the extension without replacing the whole tube or permanently modifying the current one.

Another thing I'd like to know is how reliable these guns are. The one I have has a serial number of 4135xx, which I believe dates it to 1937. I assume that if it's survived 76 years so far, there's no reason to believe it wont go another 76 years (after taking it apart that seems obvious as most of the parts are milled steel and VERY heavy..). Still, I'd like to know if there are any problems I can expect down the road, and what parts I should have on hand just in case something breaks.

I'd also like to know how tight to tighten the forearm screw. I know the forearms on these shotguns (and the A5) are prone to cracking, and I'd like to keep this one nice as the wood looks really cool. How tight is too tight? Are composite forearms available that are stronger?

Finally, I'd like you guys to look at the last picture and try and give me a rough estimate on the round count since it was previously cleaned. When I took it home and opened it up, it was the dirtiest gun I had ever seen. It's clean now, but if one of you could look at the picture and speculate the round count (since last being cleaned) my curiosity would really appreciate it Also, there is ZERO rust on the inside of this gun and the bore is mirror. There only very minor pitting on the outside of the receiver, but the edges are missing most (if not all in some places) of the bluing. I have no intention of refinishing this gun..it took 76 years to get it to look like this!

Here are some pictures, of course I'd like to know if I got a good deal or not I think I did alright











Thanks in advance,
- TNG

Rodinal, unfortunately I am not familiar with the plug's removal (this is my first magazine-fed shotgun lol). However, I do have access to google so I will see what I can find for the old metal style like you mentioned. Unless you'd like to explain it to me Also, thanks for the tips on the recoil buffer and forearm reinforcement. Is the purpose of the fiberglass to help cope with the reward force of the barrel as it recoils? Or is it more of an all-around rigidity thing since there is so much steel clunkin' and chunkin' around up there?

Let me clarify my round count question. How many rounds do you think it would take to make the bolt that dirty?

VA27, that sounds very interesting. What business did the gun have in the helicopter anyways?

I guess my main question when removing the magazine plug/cap comes when I see the tube bent into the plug like this:



I watched several youtube videos on how to remove these things, and even one person said the "push-down-and-turn" technique for the 870/1100 worked on his 1930 Model 11. I'm assuming that because mine is the Sportsman model, and is only supposed to hold 2+1, that I will have to dremel away the stakes/crimp as seen in the picture. I think I read of one person doing this somewhere with good results but I will have to find that article again to check before I might start grinding.

Would doing so hurt the value of the gun in any way? I mean, a semi 12ga in good operating condition should always be worth about $200 regardless of whether or not its been tinkered with..but I could be wrong.

- TNG

kp321, so what would happen if I were to cut those stakes? Would the whole thing fly out? When I push down on it, it doesn't go anywhere so I'm thinking its threaded in somehow. Is there a way to remove the follower from the action-side of the tube so I could look up in there a little better? Maybe the cap that is staked in is real long and that's what limits the capacity?

Headoftheholler, that is a beautiful Model 11! Even though it is 11 years younger than mine

Ahhh...now it makes sense. I'm surprised I didn't realize how short the tube was in the first place

Thanks for all the input everyone!

It had a good cleaning before I made this thread haha Notice there ain't no gunk in the pictures of the gun...

I took that photo while cleaning it because I was so amazed!

I have taken her to the range twice now and so far low-recoil 00 buck and Estate dove loads cycle just fine (except for one FTE on the first 00) with the friction setting set for "heavy" loads. I haven't tried a round of trap with it yet but I will as soon as I get the chance!

She sure does shoulder and point well and to make things better this is my first semi-auto 12ga. Let me say this: (going from a single shot H&R 12ga....)

SO. MUCH. POWER!!!

Thanks triangle, I will certainly keep that in mind. I think I'm just going to leave it the way it is for now though.

Lt Col Jack Rat, you may want to try some VERY light steel wool to remove any remaining rust. A toothpick can help to pick the rust out of the pits.

If it were me, I wouldn't re-blue. I prefer the "worn" look of an imperfect finish with a bit of a patina, but to each their own. There ain't nothin' wrong with making your shotgun "good as new"