Upgrading an older Rem 1100 12ga

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precision40

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Hey Folks I just bought an unfired, 1972 mfg Rem 1100 12ga with the intention of turning it into a Class 3 SBS.

What parts, if any, should I upgrade other than the o-ring and piston?

I've already changed out the cosmetics stuff like the wood stock to synthetic, Choate tactical charging handle. Other than swapping out the stock carrier with a Competition Master carrier assy, I've left the internals stock.

When I called Remington to get the age of this SG, they told me the manufacture process is nearly identical now as it was in 72'.

Any suggestions?
 
Many people prefer the older style two piece piston and seal set up because it seems to have better reliability than the newer gizmo, so I hope you didn't throw those away. I don't know what all the hoo-rah about 'O' rings is about; I have replaced one on a 20 and I have 5 1100s since 1963, and it wasn't really broken, but I do have spares, too. Get a new forend support, $6 - Remington has changed the design there for improved reliability. Other than that I can't think of anything. The older 1100s are at least as good, maybe better than the new ones.
P.S. Somewhere along the line they made the extractor thicker/stronger. I do not remember when, daggoneit, but it was after 1972. But, to get one to fit you either need to machine an older style bolt, or get a new bolt with the wider slot. And, the newer thicker ones are made both forged (Police Model) and MIM, so you know which one of those you want.
 
I have an 1100 Magnum built in 1971 and it works great.

I have had to replace the O-ring. The rubber hardens and maybe doesn't like certain solvents or lubes.

However, with a reasonably fresh O-ring, it's not a big deal.

I have a set of skeet pistons I've never used. They're bigger, I think.

That said, I'm not sure the 1100 works reliably with short barrels. The gas ports are under the ring, so a SBS would have the ports right next to the muzzle, meaning almost zero dwell time.

Have you researched whether an 1100 can be SBS'ed and still work reliably?

Remington does offer a 14" 11-87, but I don't know if and how it is different under the hood.
 
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Thanks for the info guys. But I found out today the hard way what everyones been talking about Remmy's.

Not a round down the tube yet and she already broke on me. Had it apart cleaning it when the interceptor latch spring just fell out. Took a few minutes to figure out what it was.

Looks like a trip to the gunsmith is in order. Man I could just scream :) On the flip-side I had planned on sending it to this guy who was going to do some work on it anyways.

My 1st 1100 was a Competition Master and it never once in over 5000 rounds fumbled, not once.
 
Unfired 1100, and you took the wood stocks off. And want to turn it to an SBS.

Blasphamy??
 
A 1972 1100 isn't a 1927 L.C. Smith Featherweight, so I'm not quite sure about blasphemy. But it's close. And I SURE wouldn't refer to it as an "upgrade."

At the very least, I wonder why not sell the gun and buy one of the various modern guns better suited to the purpose in question. I wouldn't choose an 1100 as a SBS, but I do like the things as field guns.

Say, what did you do with that wood? And the barrel?
 
This is just my opinion, but thinking about a SBS overall.... I just don't think a gas operated semiauto makes a good candidate for a SBS. I come upon this conclusion just thinking about how the gas system operates. Where are you going to get the gas pressure to make the gun cycle correctly. I can see it with other semiautos or a pump, but not with gas operated models no matter what the brand. Someone can correct me if I have missed something on this.
 
Yeah Milk, you might get a spike of pressure, but it'll be a very short spike (no dwell, as I wrote above).

An 1100 cycles somewhat slowly, a big "kerchunk" that I describe to people as "an 870 that pumps itself." That's essentially what the design is, when you dissassemble both guns and compare.

I don't know if the very short pulse will reliably cycle the action. The pressure will be applied to the piston for a much longer time interval (about 7 times as long, give or take) with a 28" barrel vs. a 14".
 
Point taken. Which modern gun is better suited for the purpose in question? If there is let me know.

I just picked this one up at a gun-shop for next to nothing. Are you talking about a modern 1100? Say made within the last 10 years?
 
No. Like Remington told you, it's the same gun. Same design, same issues. Its primary purpose is as a field and clays gun. I always thought that the 22" Competition barrel is that length because any shorter doesn't work reliably. The design is over 50 years old and intended for hunting; I don't think that they had "sawed-off shotguns" in mind when they engineered the thing, especially since the police and military used pumps.

A Benelli might be a good choice, as it doesn't use a gas piston. The action is all behind the chamber.
 
BTW I'm not messing with the factory barrel, got an aftermarket used Rem barrel and am keeping the stocks so if I do decide to convert it back I can do so. So it's only 1/2 blasphemy ;)
 
We can forgive for the blasphemy...what you want to do just isn't a good fit for a gas gun. IMHO I don't think it will ever be very reliable. If you want a semiauto SBS, find a "recoil" operated semi auto. It might work better. I don't know how much of the recoil you will lose because of lost pressure, but I don't think it will be much nor near as problematic as a SBS gas gun.

Like Bear said..Bennelli might fit your need although it will be mo $$$.

Side by Side guns make decent SBS's

BTW...let's see a picture of your 1100. I have a soft spot for 1100's and want to see what it looks like before you mess with it. I'll even say a prayer :)
 
BTW, this is not legally a SBS, due to some technicalities in the NFA. It is still a 12 Gauge shotgun with a very short barrel, but it only has a $5 transfer tax.

super_shorty_870.jpg


http://serbu.com/top/superShorty.php

A local shop has the 870 version here. I have to say, I like it. Don't know how it is to shoot, though.
 
There are major issues on 1100s when reducing below 21". At 18" the port needs to be drilled out alot , depending on the ammo used.At 14" there are recoil spring mods recommended along with even bigger drilling of the ports. There was a company, back in the 80s that modified the 1100 to pistol grip only for SBS and folding stocks, but they are long gone. An 1100 becomes a superb gun with the factory RS barrel BTW !
 
Romeo if you wanna "rescue" it I'll sell it to you, but as I mentioned in my earlier post, the interceptor latch spring needs to be replaced or re-installed. I don't have the tools to do it.

I'll put the factory stocks, charging handle and everything else back on so I can use the other stuff later. She is a beauty. PM me if your serious. I'll make you a good deal on it.
 
Hey Folks I just bought an unfired, 1972 mfg Rem 1100 12ga with the intention of turning it into a Class 3 SBS.
Click to expand...

Please do not.

Remington guns today do not compare to that gun, and they will never make anymore like they did back then.

Please do not do anything to that gun.

Gordon is correct, in regard to dwell time and all the things one has to do.
I have seen too many nice guns such as that one - ruined.

Sell that gun to someone that appreciates it, for what it is, to fund your project.
Please.

*tears*
 
Man I feel guilty :( Such purists here. After the spring came out I entertained a couple of offers to buy it, but I'm just gonna get it fixed and stick it in the safe. As far as the SBS goes, I have a great guy (Triangle Shooting Sports) who builds custom competition Benelli's, so I'm going to talk to him

Is that ok with everyone? :) Have a great weekend everybody.
 
You could get a used Remington 11-48 and do what you're wanting to do to an 1100, and it'll probably work--mechanically, the 11-48 is the same as an 11, which is a licensed copy of the Auto-5, which was used successfully in sawed-off form by a good number of people, including Clyde Barker. What I don't know is whether you'd have to get special friction rings for the thing to keep it from tearing itself up during cycling. I would imagine that hacking off more than a foot of barrel would severely decrease the mass that the recoil impulse is distributed across, red-lining the cycling process in a big way. I guess this isn't necessarily such a good idea. Even if it isn't, though, 11-48s are cheap enough that you woon't miss it too much if you screw one up.

An inertia-operated Benelli would probably work more soundly--given that there is no means of adjusting the way recoil is managed, like with the Auto-5 designs, I don't think running it harder by lightening it would make as much difference. The intertia system operates on the edge of being underpowered (adding weight in the form of accessories can upset cycling), so the lighter weight of an SBSed model might still have it within prime range of functioning, and could otherwise be compensated for with the attachment of some accessories. Sure would be pricey, though.

Have you thought about just doing this with a pump gun? Old Wingmasters can be had for less than $200, and the combination of a short barrel and powerful loads means that the thing would largely (maybe even entirely) pump itself on the backward stroke.
 
I vote for a Benelli. I don't love those anyway. :) And their action should be ideal for what you have in mind. I will be very interested in the firing line results. A Super Black Eagle was way more than I wanted in a shoulder fired weapon, so a hand-cannon one should be quite exciting. Again, keep all the original parts in case you decide it ain't your cup of tea later.
 
Gordon
Senior Member

There are major issues on 1100s when reducing below 21". At 18" the port needs to be drilled out alot , depending on the ammo used.At 14" there are recoil spring mods recommended along with even bigger drilling of the ports. There was a company, back in the 80s that modified the 1100 to pistol grip only for SBS and folding stocks, but they are long gone.......
Click to expand...

Gordon, any idea what the port sizes were for the 18" and 14" bbl versions? Thanks.

Nail
 
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