Remington 11 or 11-48?

[bobbo]

Given the base models of each gun (the Remington Model 11/Browning Auto 5 or the Remington 11-48), which would you rather have?

Some background for you: I'd like a semi-auto shotgun for trap and small game hunting, but can't afford a new gun. I also am partial to older guns, and have my C&R, and I'd rather have something classic like these two guns.

Thanks,
--Bob

 

[Capstick1]

I think I'd pick the Remington mod 11. It's a licensed copy of the well proven Browning Auto Five designed by John Browning. I think Remington came out with the 11-48 as a replacement for it. They got tired of paying Browning royalties for manufacturing the mod 11. The 11-48 turned out to be a step backwards though. It was plagued with all kinds of reliability problems. The problems were bad enough that it was eventually replaced with the mod 1100. During all this time Browning continued to manufacture and sell the Auto Five with very few changes in JMB's original design. Browning sold this semi shotgun for almost 100 years before they discontinued it in 1999. The Auto Five became too expensive to manufacture for mass production.

 

[waidmann]

My 1947 16 ga. IC Model 11 is still ticking. Although I had to repair the wrist with Gorilla-Glue last year. There have been four 11-48/Sportsman48's in our family (Grandfather, uncle, Dad, me) Papa's is in honorable retirement, Dad's is reserved to quail only, uncle's is lying in pieces (retained for parts), I sold mine.

 

[Virginian]

I'd get an 11... hundred. You guys won't remember, but when the 1100 arrived it ran everything else into the ditch in a remarkably short time. Yes there were humpback lovers who hung on, or waited desperately for a non Remington gas model, so they wouldn't be capitulating to big green, but the 1100 was a phemenon. More reliable, softer shooting, no clattering innards, no hump.
A Browning long recoil design does work, but they departed the target ranges even faster than the fields for a reason.

 

[Gordon]

I have 4 a-5 brownings from 1915 to 1967 and a couple 11-48s , one in 12 gauge from 1959 and one in 28 ga. from 65. I think the 11-48 is an improvement on the old square back, sorry . I have never had a failure on the 11-48. BTW Remington replace the 11-48 with themodel 58 then I believe the 878 before landing on the winner 1100 .

 

[mgmorden]

I'd prefer the model 11. My uncle has an 11, and my dad has an 11-48. Both shoot well, but the 11-48 has a habit of the little guide rails at the rear of the bolt jumping out of their groove, causing the gun to jam until it's disassembled and the forks put back into place. His 11-48, and every one I've ever seen, also has developed a stress crack at the grip of the buttstock. I epoxied it back together years ago and it's still holding fine, but definitely noticeable.

The A-5 design is just better IMHO.

 

[Silverado6x6]

I have a 1933 year built Remington Model 11, it cycles very fast, its my at home defense gun. A lot of people don't like barrels doing the recoil like the Model 11 does.

 

[twaits]

I love the M11s. They are usually inexpensive, robust and you can do this to them:

 

[6x6pinz]

11-48 all the way for me. I have them in 410., 28, 16, and 12. Still in the hunt for the 20 that matches the others. All shoot exceptionally well.

 

[rugerman]

Years ago I had a 11-48, my first 12 gauge, it was a jam-o-matic, but it taught me how to take a gun apart in the field an fix it so I could get back into the action. The bolt handle also had a bad habit of falling out. Next I got a 1100 and it was great and now I use a 870 wingmaster and I won't be going back.

 

[NCsmitty]

It wasn't an option, but give me a good gas gun every time.



NCsmitty