Plan to purchase used Stevens 311

[Mac Attack]

I plan to purchase a used but not abused Steven's 311 12 ga. but have a few questions before I drop the money on it. The particular 311 I am interested in has worn bluing but no noticeable pits or rust. The wood stock fits the finish of a well used stock but the plastic butt pad is cracked and missing parts. The interior of the barrels looks excellent with dark bluing and as smooth as glass. Price is $250 + tax. Is this a decent price?

Being that I know absolutely nothing about shotguns and the 311 would be my first, I was reading that it is not advisable to shoot steel shot in a 311. I plan to shoot my shotgun periodically as a field gun and then as a wall hanger...the rifle I want to purchase has a nice worn look to it... I know there are more modern alternatives out there but there is just something special about a nice SXS that makes me smile.

Here are my questions:

1. What types of rounds can I shoot through a 311? Bird shots, Magnum, slugs...etc...

2. I had planned on purchasing bulk rounds from a place like Walmart. Are shotgun rounds at Walmart generally lead or steel.

3. I didn't get the model number of the 311 but know it is a 12 ga. Is there a particular model (i.e. 311A, 311B....etc) which I should keep an eye out for and likewise, is there a model I should shy away from?

Thanks for your help.

Mac

 

[machinisttx]

$250 is a pretty good price on a 311 in my opinion. Forget about the buttplate, the gun needs a good recoil pad anyway.

You can shoot regular old birdshot loads, buckshot, or if the chokes are modified/Improved cylinder, slugs. They weren't made for steel shot, or any of the newer steel shot substitutes such as hevi shot. Bismuth is safe, and there are a couple of other nontoxic loads that won't harm the barrels.

As far as I know, none of the 311's have a bad reputation.

 

[Virginian]

Check to see if it has 2-3/4" or 3" chambers. If they are 2-3/4" you cannot shoot 3" shells, but 3" can shoot both.
I grew up with a 311 many years ago. Very good gun.
Any lead shot shells will be okay, and most cheapie shells will be lead. Cheapie is a misnomer now days anyway. You will have no trouble spotting the non-toxic shot, it comes in a Brinks Armoured truck these days. Before shooting anything but lead, read the shell literature. Bismuth, Kent tungsten matrix, and the new Hevi-Shot Classic Doubles should all be okay. Steel, and tungsten iron, and regular Hevi-Shot are no-nos.
Not a bad price. You can get a replacement butt plate from Numrich Arms, or possibly a slip on recoil pad might not be a bad idea until you get some experience and decide what specifically you prefer.

 

[35Rem]

Check barrel length. It should be a standard 26" or 28". If shorter, it's probably been cut down, which most likely removed all the choke in the barrels. Look at the end of the barrels. Is it solid, or filled, in between them, or is there a hole between the barrels? It should be filled.

 

[Okiecruffler]

Look up Dave's post on ringing the barrels, that could save you a costly mistake. Also, take a couple of new snap caps with you and run them tin the chambers. Trigger pull shouldn't have any strange clicks and the firing pins should make nice distinct marks in the primers. Bad firing pins or springs is not a job you want to tackle at home, at least I won't try it again. If all that checks out $250 would be a fine price indeed. Value on these keeps inching up abit every year.