Need help IDing Rem 1100 differences

[slidemuzik]

I'm looking at two different 1100 magnums.

One has more complicated engraving on the receiver and bolt as well as more detailed checkering on the stocks. This one has a serial number beginning with "L" the other begins with "M". Are the differences in age or "grade" or what? As I said BOTH are 12 GA 1100 magnums.

The one beginning with M has a 30" ribbed barrel stamped for 12 Ga Magnum 3" shells. The other barrel is stamped for 2 3/4 or 3 inch shells. Can 2 3/4" shells be fired from the barrel marked 3inch 12 Ga magnum?

I'm considering a deal and need to be schooled ASAP. Not finding anything yet that specifically addresses this.

Thanks so much for helping.

 

[rcmodel]

I can't answer the serial number questions without doing the Google search myself this late at night.

But, there is no chance at all the barrel stamp says for 2.5 or 3 inch shells.

It might say for 2 3/4" or 3" shells?

But it does not say anything about 2.5" shells I betcha.

rc

 

[slidemuzik]

RC ... sorry missed that. You are correct of course. That's what I meant.

 

[Kp321]

1100's have gone through several cosmetic changes over the years. As far as I know, the magnum guns are all the same mechanically. They will function with 2 3/4 or 3" magnum ammo, not field loads. Some magnum guns will function reliably with heavy field loads, but not all. The magnum barrels have one gas port while the field barrels have two. Although there are other differences, most magnum guns will function reliably with field loads if the barrel is interchanged with a field barrel.

 

[JohnBT]

All I know about 1100s I learned from this article.

www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/journals/1100

They made a 3" magnum field grade and also a 3" magnum duck gun. In 1979 they introduced new checkering and engraving patterns.

If they have the original barrels on them they can be dated by looking up the date code on the barrel.

www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/questions/barrelcodes

 

[Virginian]

Good gun. It is not as flexible as the newer designs, but it does what it was built to do. The M prefix gun is a little newer than the L prefix is the only real difference. They changed the rollmarking pattern and the stock checkering pattern in 1979. Internally, they are all identical. Note - both guns will likely not function with light loads. Remington said they (all of them) were designed for 2-3/4" and 3" MAGNUM shells. While many will run lighter loads, don't bet on it before you try it. I have had one that would function with 1-1/8 ounce field loads, two that would run down to 1-1/4 ounce high velocity field loads, and one that would not run with less than warm 1-3/8 ounce loads. With a 2-3/4" barrel it will function with anything down to 1 ounce loads in my experience. The 20 gauge Magnums are much more finicky with shells than the 12 gauges.
I have a 1966 Model 1100 Magnum for my main waterfowling gun. It has been from Manitoba to Louisiana, and Texas to Maryland. I will not carry an unreliable gun. I do clean any and all my guns after shooting one round or 500. My 1963 1100 has been 'retired' from field use, and now only gets shot at clay pigeons when I do not use a 20 or 28. I have owned a lot of shotguns, some costing many times what my 1100s did, but I have yet to find a semi auto I like better, and I have shot most of them. If something does break, it is easy to fix 99.99% of the time. I have broken one (1) extractor on 12 different 1100/11-87s in fifty years on my own guns. I have repaired a lot of other peoples guns however, but I have also fixed a lot of Brownings, Ithacas, Winchesters, etc. No mechanical device is perfect, but I think the devices are running at a much higher level than the people who use them. A drive to the store usually displays plenty of what I am talking about. The dumbing down of America is working.
The L prefix ran from 1968 to 1974 and the M prefix from 1974 to 1978. All Magnums should have an 'M' suffix. Therefore I think you have mixed up the lettering because the M prefix should have been before the style change, but with Remington rollmarking, anything is possible. Good luck.