Questions about two Remingtons

[CrazyIrishman]

Hi Guys,

I have a little experience with shotguns having hunted little critters and deer.Since I don't currently own a shotgun I am trying to find out info about two different Remingtons so as to make the right choice.

Both shotguns under consideration are used,one is a pump and the other is semi-auto.

The first one is a 870 police trade-in that is parkerized w/ rifle sights. The rest of the specs concerning barrel length,which choke, and wood or synthetic stocks should be available tomorrow.

Number two is the Model 11. I have seen several Model 11's in decent shape for hunting and defense. Prices start around $200.00 and go up from there.

My primary use would be for defense with hunting a close second. I do know the 870 has an excellent reputation for reliability. I'm unsure about the Model 11's record or its quirks.(or is it best used for decoration?)

Suppose for a minute that the price for either one is close. Which shotgun would you pick when basing your choice on:

1) Reliability?
2) Parts availability?
3) Best one suited for both roles-defense & hunting?
4) Which one converts easiest & cheapest?

I would appreciate hearing any ideas or suggestions y'all might have. I'm unable to afford a dedicated shotgun for each use so I'm hoping one of these can fill the bill and do both w/ a minimum of hassle and cost. If anyone would like to recommend an alternate model to use as a base shotgun to modify, thats cool too!


Thanks ,

CI

 

[Chawbaccer]

Both are good guns. The 11 is the best semi ever made,period. It is the same as the Browning A-5 which was in production for nearly a hundred years. It was so good that Remington kept the "11" designation on following semi guns,

 

[Dave McCracken]

I've had both. The 870s are as good as shotguns get for reliability, durability and cost effectiveness.

The 11s are good shotguns, but many are getting old and cranky.

I'd go with the 870. As is, it's great for defense and deer. An extra vent rib barrel with choke tubes will set you up to hunt mice or moose.

 

[Lawyerman]

I have both. There is no more reliable semi automatic shotgun than the Model 11, period. I bought one just last week that is 82 years old, made in 1924. Very little finish, foreend is cracked in several places ( a weakness of most semi- autos) but the dang thing works like a top. It had an OOGLY Weaver choke on it, at the end of a 28" Full choked barrel no less. That got whacked off at 18.5 rather quickly. I had a brass spacer made up for the magazine tube and fitted a two shot extension to it. I scrounged up an old Micro front sight and have a Williams peep ordered for it.

While not pretty to look at the internals were in excellent shape. I set the friction rings up for magnum loads, oiled the mag tube lightly and proceeded to the range. Using low base 1oz dove loads the gun cycled without issue through a box and a half. I will Acraglas the foreend cracks and call it good. May lengthen the forcing cone as it is the old short style and my gunsmith will let me borrow his reamer and supervise-what the heck.

The M11's are at least 60 years old at this point. Inspect carefully to make sure you don't get a worn out POS. If you get a good one though it will last your lifetime and then some. Can't go wrong with an 870 either, have several and none have ever failed me in any way.

 

[ball3006]

Go with the 870......

which is current production. Remington quit making the Model 11 in 1948. I am a big fan of the M-11 as my grandpa gave me his when I turned 13 many, many years ago. I now have one in each gauge, 12,16,20. I also have a Savage 720 GI riot that is a HD gun......almost identical to M-11......I don't have an A5, price concerns.....chris3

 

[Fred Fuller]

One more reco for the 870 here. Model 11s are great guns in the hands of someone who knows how to deal with the potential quirks and mechanical issues an old, well used long-recoil action shotgun might have. But 870s are current production guns, have an unparalleled reputation for durability, and are a lot easier to find spare barrels, accessories and parts for than Model 11s. As a rule, agency shotguns are carried a lot and not shot much- often they are great values when they turn up as trade-ins (which isn't often, any more).

Get the 870, make sure it fits you properly, and shoot it until it feels like you were born with it in your hands. Pick up a spare barrel suitable for wingshooting or clay games, and you'll be set in the shotgun department for life. You won't regret it- and you can always add a Model 11 later if you really want to play with one.

Stay safe,

lpl/nc

 

[ArmedBear]

The 11 is an irresistably cool toy! People do indeed hunt with them, shoot clays with them, etc. They don't self-adjust to different loads like a modern 11-87, but they will adapt readily to different uses. A well-made, affordable, all-American version of one of the true classic shotguns. It is possible to blow one apart if you screw up when handloading and overcharge a shell, though. Not a pretty sight. It does take a LOT of extra powder to do that...

But if you want an infinitely adaptable, no hassle, reliable working gun, the 870 is considered by some to be the best ever made, when all factors are taken into account. It's more reliable than any semiauto possibly can be, since it's so much simpler -- it won't chamber the next shell unassisted, of course, either. Barrels and other parts are readily available from multiple vendors, and prices are kept reasonable by competition. Since it's the most popular shotgun ever built, and it's been made continuously since 1950, many aftermarket manufacturers, as well as Remington themselves, offer any part you could ever want to add, fix or change, and even a good number of accessories you would never want.

 

[CrazyIrishman]

Hey guys,


Thanks a bunch for your thoughts & recommendations regarding both shotguns!

Even before I posted, I kind of figured that the 870 would be the one to choose. Your advice bears that out! It often helps to get advice in some areas because you can't always be objective or see the obvious! Thanks again!

BTW, this 870 is marked as a POLICE MAGNUM w/ synthetic stock(its not the speedfeed version),extended magazine,and the previously mentioned rifle sights . The seller is asking $379.00. AKAIK, he hasn't shot it. Is this a decent price or should I buy a cheaper Wingmaster and just buy a short barrel for defense?


THX

CI

 

[ArmedBear]

IMHO a defensive shotgun is more likely to rust out than to wear out. An 870, which is all-steel, is FAR more likely to rust than to break! (You can wear one out, but it takes a few hundred thousand very heavy rounds, so its seldom ever seen except in the world of oddball long distance clay games.)

If that police gun is Parkerized, I think it's well worth the little extra money just so you don't have to worry about rust.

 

[CrazyIrishman]

ArmedBear,

Yes,it is parked. The guy didn't tell me the barrel length but I guess its either 18" or 20". As for current condition, I have yet to see a picture of it so all I have to go on is his word of a little finish wear.

The owner also said that it was built differently from the Wingmasters and other models that aren't LE versions.

Right now I'm trying to get in contact with the guy so I can see some pics and get a good idea of cosmetic condition . I expect it to have some wear, I just want to be sure it doesn't look like a tank run over it! LOL! About five years ago I passed up a chance to get a police issue 1100 but I was unsure that it really had been a police weapon. IIRC, the FFL was asking between $300.00 to $350.00 for them. Most had scroll type engraving on the receiver sides while all of them had stocks with pistol grips and the bolts had an extended piece to make it easier to work the bolt(taking a guess here).



THX
CI

 

[Fred Fuller]

For a NIB 870 Police, mid to low $400s seems pretty much the going price nowadays (a nearby dealer is reported to have the parked finish, wood furniture, bead sight, factory 2-shot extension model 4903 for $439.95- see http://www.remingtonle.com/shotguns/870standard.htm for model details). The Police guns are indeed built with a few differences (stronger magazine spring, shell stops, trigger spring etc) than the run of the mill 870, to help insure their durability and reliability under fairly heavy abuse and neglect. If you don't plan to abuse and neglect your shotgun, those 'advantages' might not help you a lot. 870s are pretty much built like tanks anyway, and the design is so modular and so popular that you can pretty much assemble any style gun you want from available parts. At least a couple of folks here have started out with stripped receiver assemblies (receiver with magazine tube and ejector installed) and built 870s out of them, it can be done to almost any degree you care to experiment with.

Most folks consider 870Ps the cream of the crop and are willing to pay extra for them. If this gun has advantages (like the parkerized finish, sights etc) that make it worth more to you as is, go for it. Not everyone wants to geek around with a gun and spend money on other parts and accessories to get it just so, and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. Deals are what you find, where you find them, and used gun prices can vary a lot from region to region and even within the same area, and can vary a lot with the specific gun being sold. You can certainly find cheaper 870s, but I can't promise you will find that particular 870 or its equivalent any cheaper.

Stay Safe,

lpl/nc