No New Shotgun, Refurbish Old One?

[PawDaddy]

Okay guys, this is what I have decided to do. Instead of getting a new pump, I am leaning toward refurbishing my old Rem. 1100. I really like autos better than pumps and I have sentimental reasons for getting my 1100 looking good again.

It is still in good mechanical shape, but does have alot of blueing missing from the receiver and the stocks are chipped and rough looking.

It is a 12 guage with 28" modified, plain barrel.

This gun would be used for dove hunting, HD, and just shooting.

I have seen those camo stocks and forearms in Cabela's and Red Head that look nice. Does anyone have any experience with after-market stocks?

What about a barrel? I would like something shorter. Could I have the barrel cut down and threaded for choke tubes? (I like the plain barrel really better than a ribbed barrel.) If I get it cut down, what length would be the best compromise for the uses that I mentioned?

I know that I have been asking alot of questions, and I hope that you all don't get tired of me.

Thanks for any replies and suggestions.

 

[DFBonnett]

Replacement stocks are cheap enough. Shop around. As far as cutting and rethreading the barrel goes, you could probably get a new/used barrel of your liking for less than the cost of modifications and then have two barrels.

 

[9mmMike]

Good choice. I always prefer the fix 'em up solution!
I have had good luck on ebay, gunbroker & auctionarms when it comes to buying stocks and barrels (no locks though - get it?)
Anyway.....
I like to get decent wood stocks to refinish but there are always synthetics for sale. Were I you, I would look for a Hogue over-molded stock. They seem to always get good reviews. I got a nice short barrel for my old 1100 for well under 100 clams on one of the auction sites but I do not recall which one.
Depending on the money you wish to spend, you could send the 1100 to someplace like ARS for refinishing. I will be sending an 870 there when I save enough clams to pay for the coating.
Good luck and again, good choice.
Mike

 

[Tommy Gunn]

Birchwood-Casey has everything you need for blueing and wood refinishing on your guns. You can find alot of their products for sale at your local Big-5 Sporting Goods store.


http://www.birchwoodcasey.com/sport/index.html


I would not cut down the barrel.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Rebluing is not a good job for an amateur. Fixing up the wood,though, requires a few tools, some ability to follow directions and patience. Even a dunce like me can turn out a decent oil or Urethane finish.

Bobbing the barrel and having it threaded for tubes means using one of the thin wall variants like the old .795" by 44 TPI, AKA Truchokes. These are good tubes, but are harder to find. Colonial and Hastings carry them, but they do not interchange with Remington, Browning, Beretta etc, so demand is less, thus supply is also.

Denny Hansen posted something not long ago here about baked finishes. That could be a home made camo finish that's durable and reflects your creativity and imagination...

As for barrel length, it's your choice. I've done a lot with short barrels over the decades, and now for GP flying stuff I want at least 26". For HD, tho, try about 21"

 

[Matthew Courtney]

Remington sells a 21" threaded barrel for the 1100. While I perfer a longer barrel for birds, I know people who use a 21'' sucessfully on them. I have also shot skeet with my 18.5 inch barrelled home defense 1100 as a way of practicing with it. I hit clay pigeons about 80% with it in contrast to about 90% with my 28 inch 11-87 bird gun.

 

[Mannlicher]

For my money, if you can live with synthetic furniture, buy replacements from Cabela's. If you really prefer wood, sprucing up the existing set is not a hard task.

For a barrel, I would again, call Cabela's. A replacement barrel with Choke Tubes is about $150 or so. I like a 26 inch with vent rib. The Hastings WadLock II barrels are really nice.

 

[PawDaddy]

About how much would it cost to have the receiver re-blued? If i go with a new barrel, I will have the original barrel cut down to 18 or 20 inches for HD.

I don't think that I could redo the stock because I really don't have the time or place to work on something like that. (I have been wanting to build a small work shed, but can't afford to right now.) I like the camo stocks from Cabela's. They have the Rem. brand and the Ram Line. Which one is the best?