Frustrated (11-87)

[Nightcrawler]

Well, after years of wanting a good service semiauto shotgun, I'm beginning to wonder if the Remington 11-87 I've acquired was worth it. It's rapidly becoming more trouble than it's worth.

In addition to purchasing the shotgun, I've had to purchase an extended magazine tube. Now I have to find someone to properly dremel the mag dimples so that the extended tube will function. And for the life of me NO ONE has the 18.5" 11-87 barrels. I know Remington makes the things.

My last resort is to call Remington.

If I can't find it, I'm going to trade away the 11-87, without even having fired it. I honestly hate to do that; it's a nice gun. It was sort of an impulse buy, but as I've said I've been wanting a semiauto shotgun for a long time.

However...seems it's not working out. I could send the thing to Arizona Response Systems for a chop/dremel/recrowining, but in addition to the original cost, the mag tube, and the shipping...crimeny, we're getting into Benelli territory here, and I'm not nearly enough of a shotgunner to justify that.

Damn it. I should've just got a pump. Problem is I didn't know what I wanted. The one gun store in my county, good place though it may be, has a sparse selection, being forced to cater mostly to the duck hunting crowd.

I'm in Tennessee now, visting a friend from overseas. Went to an excellent, well-stocked gun store or two here.

Like the Mossberg 590. Had I had one of those available in the shop, I would've bought it on the spot and saved myself a couple of bucks. But my shop at home didn't have one and I don't like ordering then buying sight unseen.

Also was quite fond of the FN Police Model. It has a LOT of great features; rifle sights, park'd finish, full length tube (7+1 capacity), plus I like the slick action of the Winchester 1300s. I've heard that the Winchester types are fragile compared to the Remingtons and Mossies and are therefore unsuited to "serious" use, but I also recall one TFLer doing a 5,000 round endurance test with a box stock Winchester 1300 defender without problem. I also read a good review of the FN Police in SWAT Magazine once, and believe it's been "beefed up" in critical areas over the standard 1300 models.

Trading the gun would be a loss, but not more of a loss than dumping a couple hundred more bucks into the gun I've got to get it how I like it.

Anybody else ever been in a spot like this? Buy a gun you really like and for the life of you you just can't get it to work? Frustrating as heck. I worked very hard for this money and don't like blowing it like that.

Still...I'd be happy with a simple working pump shotgun, with a minimum of frills.

 

[Slater]

http://www.remingtonle.com/shotguns/1187.htm

Remington does make the LE version of the 11-87, but I have no idea how hard they are to acquire.

 

[Falcontech]

If you want a simple pump action shotgun you can't go wrong with the Remington 870. No Frills, but a really good gun.....

 

[SCarruth]

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/re11pr12riba.html

hopefully the link works. it's for an 11-87 barrel, 21in I think

you could check http://www.brianenos.com/forums/ and look in the 3gun shotgun section for a wealth of info on what works and what doesn't.

 

[DragonFire]

Though I prefer pumps, the 11-87 is a good gun. I got luckly when I tried to put an extended mag on my 870, in that it had a +1 Mag extension on it already, so I didn't have to drill out the dimple. But from what I read and was told, it shouldn't be a terribly hard thing to do. If you're not confident to do it alone, find a competent friend to help. One hint I was given, was that the drill size to use is always a little bigger than the one the directions specify.

I've had a couple of gun that just didn't seem to work out as nicely or as quickly as I'd have liked. There's never a guareentee that a gun will work, so while it's easy to second-guess yourself on what you purchased, realistically you could be in the same position regardless of what you bought.

I think Wilson combat has a package for refinishing a shotgun for a couple of hundred dollars, which makes it into a good self-defense weapon. Check their web site.

I'd suggest three things: 1)start using the shotgun as-is. Yeah, it woun't be exactly what you want, but getting any use of it will be more satisfying that just having it sit in the corner 2)start doing some research. Figure out exactly what you want/need in the shotgun, then figure out what you can do yourself, where you can buy the parts etc., and what things a gunsmith would have to do for you 3)start talking to your local gunsmiths, and your local shooters about gunsmiths. Even if you local store only has a few shotguns, it doesn't mean they can't help you, they can either advise you, do the work for you, or point you to someone who can.

Look at this gun as a "project", and it will be that much more satisfying when you get it working and looking exactly like you want it to.

 

[Big_R]

Would you consider getting a slightly longer barrel? I saw a ton of them at the Sioux Falls gun show (and bought one NIB for $85.00). It's a 20" deer barrel with no choke and rifle sights. I like it a lot. Strange you're having trouble finding a barrel. Maybe you could try posting a wanted to buy ad in the classifieds.

Ryan

 

[Nightcrawler]

I gotta say, this weapon represents a pretty sound package right out of the box.

*sigh* We'll see, I guess. Depends on if I can get an okay deal on a trade. Thanks for the input, guys.

 

[berettashotgun]

The beretta 1201fp is a best* purchase. Have an 11-87 with full length 10+1 mag for snow geese and it works pretty good, but the 1201 for HD is the only ticket for me.

 

[Correia]

NC, just keep poking around until you find an 18-21 barrel. You should be able to find one of these for under $100 or so if you keep looking.

Then go and shoot it and have fun. The 11-87 is a great gun, and is one of the guns to beat in 3gun for a reason. Don't second guess yourself, and don't beat yourself up.

Heck, you will end up with more shotguns eventually anyway.

 

[Nightcrawler]

The barrel I have is a 21", rifle sighted, smooth-bore, improved cylinder choke model.

Fine enough, I guess. Just too long. The weapon is almost as long as my FAL. Which would be okay, I suppose, if at least the magazine tube went to the end of the barrel, but it's only 6+1 with the Wilson extension on there.

I'm getting my FAL shortened this summer, I suppose I can get the shotgun worked on too. ARS will do the work on it.

Perhaps I'm just splitting hairs at this point, though...

 

[Correia]

NC, you know my shotgun background. Honestly there isn't a lick of handling difference between the 21 and the 18. And if you are worried about wasted space, sell the Wilson and get a longer extension.

 

[Kestrel]

NC,

I agree with Correia - the 21" barrel is fine. It works great with the rifle sighted barrel. You might be surprised at how well a 21" barrel handles.

Of course, if it really bothers you (and you don't want an 870 Police model), you could sell it and get the 11-87 Police model. (I didn't read every post, so I don't know if this is an option to you.)

Good luck.

 

[jiwilliams]

11-87

You might check out http://sageinternationalltd.com/si/index.html They will shorten your barrel for $20-$25

I used an 11/87 for IPSC competition many moons ago and really liked it. I think it makes a good defense gun too. I did add an oversize bolt handle in the event that I needed to clear a jam.

To get a stock barrel below the 21" size you will have to get a police barrel. I poked around on the internet but didn't see any sites selling barrels.

 

[campbellcj]

It is kind of hinted at above, but it sounds like you actually want(ed) an 11-87P? 18" barrel, extended mag tube, steel trigger guard, and parkerized finish all stock from the factory. Might be worth trading yours and looking for a P model unless you're set on switching to another make/model.

 

[Rob62]

Nightcrawler,

I've been in your shoes many times. Getting a gun and thinking it will be perfect for you and then finding out that it "just isn't quite right".

I suggest that you try to do a private sale of your 11-87 . Thereby re-couping as much of the $$ that you have into it as you can. Then use that $$ towards the purchase of the 11-87P model with 18" rifle sighted barrel.

I gotta agree with Correia and others that IMO to *most* people there is no noticable difference between the 18" and 21" barrels. However I also like the shorter barrels and right now am, and have been looking for an 18" smooth bore rifle sighted barrel to raplace the same barrel that is 21" on my 870.

I "know" there is no difference in actual field performance but I just can't convince myself of that - I GOTTA find an 18" barrel for my 870. And one day when I stop being the eternal cheapskate I will just spend the $150 or so and order one from Remington.

Regards,
Rob