Remington Model 11 Reciever Repair- Before & After

[Yankee John]

Hi folks! A few months ago I picked up a Remington Model 11 at a second-hand shop for cheap. Among other things, It had serious issues with the reciever. Some of the folks who replied to my thread on another forum suggested that I part the gun out, as it was a hopeless junker.

I just couldn't let this old girl made in 1912 (The same year the Titanic went down) get thrown on the scrap heap. The uncle of one of my co-workers is a welder in a prototype metal shop. He does all kinds of specialty machining and custom welding. I gave him the reciever and told him to take his time on it.

Well, I got it back today....

BEFORE:





AFTER:








He TIG-welded the repairs. The hole in the back of the reciever was repaired using a computer-controlled welder, while the repair to the slot for the bolt handle was done by hand. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that it would turn out this good!

The welder refused the money I offered him. He couldn't turn down a case of beer, however!

John

 

[ball3006]

Nice job......

I would have done the same thing. I wonder what the brass plug was for? I was given a 16 ga Rem 11 Sportsman by my Grandpa when I turned 13, 1957, and I still have it along with a 20 ga and a 12 ga.......chris3

 

[GeorgeR]

Rem 11 Receiver

Where he welded is where a fiber washer is (was) riveted to the back inside of the receiver. This is a "bumper" so the back of the bolt won't bust or crack the receiver. The washers often fall apart and jam up the mechanism and also often disappear when the gun is reblued. I'd be careful with the repair. The back of the receiver takes a real wallop when the bolt comes back.

 

[Chawbaccer]

Numrich has both the fiber buffer and the rivet, I suggest you have one installed.

 

[GeorgeR]

Rem 11

With all due respect, I can't imagine how that could be done now.

 

[Yankee John]

George is correct; The original method of attaching the fiber washer via a blind rivit won't work with this repair.

While I originally was going to bond the replacement fiber washer in using an industrial epoxy adhesive or JB Weld, It was suggested that I use a bonding agent that stayed somewhat flexible after cureing. A flexible bond would last longer than a hard/brittle bond in this application, I was told.

While I don't have experience with this material, a product that was suggested was Poly Choke Rib Adhesive. Evidently this adhesive has a very high resistance to shock, but will stay somewhat flexible.

Thanks for all of the replies!

John

 

[redneckrepairs]

Truly a labor of love , me and my two remmington humpers thank you lol .

 

[glimmerman]

Now only if the welding had'nt taken all the temper out of the hardened steel you might be able to shoot it without worrying about it blowing up in your face.

 

[GeorgeR]

Rem 11 Receiver

I bet you could install the fiber washer with automotive rubber to steel goop. I've reblued a lot of 11s that don't have the washer. If the rivet is out of there, and in your case we know it is, it should be OK. There is no breech pressure back there, just the bolt slamming back. Let your mother in law have the first shot, just in case.

 

[Yankee John]

Strength won't be an issue glimmerman. Even though these recievers were machined from a solid block of steel, they were never heat-treated at the factory. No need really, as the reciever only acts as a "slide" for the barrel & bolt assembly when the gun fires. The recoil spring under the handguard absorbs the majority of the recoil forces.

The bolts were the only parts heat-treated on these Model 11's, I believe.

John