1100 Feeding problem

[marklbucla]

I picked up a used 1100 today for $299. Took it out to the range and found out that it wouldn't cycle properly with shells in the magazine tube.

I was using 2 3/4" Walmart Federal 1 ounce and Remington 1 ounce loads. They worked perfectly when I was using it as a single shot, but keeping extra shells in the tube would make the gun jam after the first shot.

The remingtons "double fed" the gun and prevented the action from being opened. Each time, the chamber was loaded with a second shell above the carrier. It locked up the action and I was not able to open it up without field stripping it.

With the Federals, the gun would not eject the spend shell. It would stick halfway out the ejection port with the second shell waiting underneath it.

Does anyone know what the issue would be, give that it worked perfectly as a single shot?

Thanks in advance!

(And it only took me about 10 minutes at the range to become an 1100 "blood brother" as well!)

EDIT: I just discovered that there is some difference between Magnum receivers and standard ones. I was shooting 2 3/4" loads with my Magnum receiver/barrel, if that will make any difference in the diagnosis.

Thanks to all for the help so far!

 

[sm]

Suspect the chamber is dirty and gritty.

Wisps of Scotchbite [tm] dish pad in fine grit or 0000 steel wool around a brush to clean the chamber. If you have a battery operated drill, chuck it up.

Pipecleaners to get the ports clean in bbl.

Might as well clean the gas system with CRC Brakleen.

Left Side of Receiver is SHARP !! Opposite of loading port, it will cut your index finger deep!

 

[achey]

Check the gas ring. This is real common on the autos. Then take the barrel off and use a drill bit in a drill and make the ports just a little bigger. I used an 1/8 on my comp 1100 and solved alot of the feeding problems. But use caution on yours. This is what I did. Try using 1 1/8 loads. I have heard other guys use them and sometimes this will help.

achey

 

[sm]

CAUTION - with drilling ports with the wrong size and improper bit.

You can get the correct tool one uses by hand to clean ports from Brownell's.

Too many guns will No longer fire the variety of loadings they once did by altering the ports.

 

[ksnecktieman]

shut down the power tools,,,,, clean it FIRST,,,,,,,, replace the gas ring at the same time....... I do not think that will fix it,,, I think you have a problem with the feed from the magazine tube,,, the latch that is supposed to stop the second shell from dropping is not working,,,,,,, REPEAT,,,, SHUT DOWN THE POWER TOOLS

 

[LeonCarr]

Replace the magazine spring with a new one from Brownells. Common problem with 1100s is the old weak magazine springs. Should fix you right up. When you replace the spring, clean the inside of the magzine tube really good with rags wrapped around a 12 gauge brush or cotton mop.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[kudu]

DO NOT DRILL the gas ports out, completely clean the gun, take it down to component parts if your capable, and rinse out the shell latches and stops with a gun solvent, and then take gun scrubber or brakeclean to rinse any residue out of small recesses. Open the mag tube to see if rust has settled in the area around the spring, this will prevent free movement of the mag spring. Go through everything again with some gun oil or rust preventative like CLP ot CorrosionX, and see what a good cleaning will do. Make sure the gas rings and O-ring are in the right positions on the gas tube, and go test fire.

 

[Ed3]

You can remove the trigger assembly and check the latch at the front of it - essentially the 1100 is a single shot with a shell operated (triggering) mechanism - for lack of a proper description... The action will stay open unless/until the shell being forced from the magazine bumps the latch and causes the action to close. Occasionally the latch portion is bent or corrupted in some way. A weak magazine spring (mentioned earlier) can be the culprit but I'd also check the latch.

Ed

 

[lycanthrope]

Hold the presses.

Try some 3 DRAM 1 and 1/8oz loads or hotter. There are a lot of 1100's that won't run light 1oz loads.

The magnum barrels have only 1 gas port instead of 2. You NEED heavier loads.

 

[Clemson]

I see by your edit that you answered your own question. You can't shoot that load combo out of the magnum 1100. That is the reason that Remington came out with the 1187.

Clemson

 

[ThreadKiller]

Yeah, I think asking a mag 1100 to cycle 1 oz loads reliably maybe asking a bit too much of it.

But in general, the chambers on an 1100 must be nice and clean. Lots o' crud builds up in 'em and a good scrubbing is needed now and then. The trigger group needs to be clean as well. As mentioned earlier, the carrier latch must be free to move when the next round pops out of the mag tube and slams into it. The spring and plunger that power the carrier latch must be clean. Hose down the trigger group with any good solvent and then blast it out with compressed air. See all the little bits o' powder flying out of it?

Keep the mag tube clean too. It doesn't have to be lubed. Lots of people run 'em dry. Some keep a little CLP on them.

I've found that the newer "1 piece" gas ring set isn't quite as reliable as the older two piece design for doubles. It should be a more robust design though. Nu-Line guns has a stainless steel 2 piece set of gas rings on the market which I think you can still buy through Brownell's. I like them but I did have to polish the inner surface on my set some. They had some fierce machine marks on the inner surface. Otherwise, they're a great improvement over the standard stock sintered metal POS rings Remington sells with the 1100's.

The rubber O ring needs to be inspected/changed out routinely as well.

It's a good idea to change out the main spring on a routine basis as well. Like any other spring, they lose their zap over time.

And this would be a good time to change out the mainspring follower. Remington came out with a new style a few years back. The link does not "snap" into the new style follower. Supposedly this makes the link last longer on an 1100. (Links like to break on 1100's at the damndest of times and neatly put an 1100 OOC very quickly.)

I've shot trap with an 1100 for a long time now and this is what I've learned over those years.

And lastly, buy Kuhnhausen's book of the 1100. Well worth the investment.

Tim