Need help on 1100 magnum vs. standard action sleeve ID

[Adventurer_96]

Can anyone help me ID whether or not the action sleeve on my Remington 1100 would work with 3" loads?

I have a spare 1100 I just refinished and I have two barrels for it - an 18" 2 3/4" chamber HD/tactical barrel and a 26 or 28" (can't remember off the top of my head) 3" chamber barrel with RemChokes which I will be using for bird hunting. The shotgun originally came with a skeet barrel which went to my trap gun, and these are both barrels which I've purchased after the fact.

I read some threads in the archives, namely this one: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=414250 where there's a discussion about the 3" barrel as well as the magnum action sleeve.

Bottom line - I can't seem to figure out how to identify whether or not my 1100 can shoot 3" magnums from it, and this place seems like the forum where I should start my research.

 

[Virginian]

The 1100 Magnum has a heavier action sleeve than a standard (ID the same, OD not machined down). The 3" barrels have a single gas port. Everything else but the labeling and the recoil pad are the same. The heavier action sleeve was originally balanced to work with the single gas port and the Magnum lead loads. Remington has a 3" Steel Shot barrel that is just like a regular 3" barrel (the early ones had a smaller port) that works fine on 2-3/4" receivers. I would advise keeping an eye on your buffer with heavy loads. I shot 3" everything but steel with my 1963 standard 1100 for 15 years and finally broke down and bought a 1966 Magnum gun to use with the Steel barrel. The 1963 gun has been "retired" to clays duty.

 

[Adventurer_96]

Thanks for the detailed reply. How can I identify the different sleeves and how can I tell if my 3" barrel is the kind you are describing?