Remington Model 31

Clevinger · July 7, 2013, 10:02 PM

Why doesn't the Remington Model 31 12 gauge get more attention and respect? My father-in-law has one and that is the smoothest cycling pump shotgun I've handled. It's over 65 years old and still functions like it is new. It has a nice stock, and it's the direct ancestor of the famed Remington 870.

I'm just impressed with it and have been surprised how cheaply they go used.

James K · July 7, 2013, 10:31 PM

The Model 31 was a good gun in its day, and a vast improvement over the older Model 10 and the short-lived Model 29. But it was not very popular (its competition was the superb Winchester Model 12), and it was expensive for the day. About 160,000 were made from 1931-1949.

It was made (or at least sold) after WWII, but it was obvious that Remington wanted to clean house on the old designs, and in 1950 the Model 31 was replaced by the Model 870.

Today, many parts are still available, but those will eventually be used up.

Jim

Clevinger · July 7, 2013, 10:49 PM

Yes, I've read and heard that they failed from a business standpoint due to their high production costs.

From the view of a consumer, however, they are really high quality.

Jim Watson · July 7, 2013, 11:01 PM

I once lived next door to the town repair gunsmith.
He worked on a lot of Model 12s and A5s.
He shot a Model 31, lower maintenance.

BombthePeasants · July 9, 2013, 03:39 PM

correlation does not equal causation. Just because he worked on a lot of Model 12's and Auto 5's, and not a lot of Model 31's, does not necessarily translate to superior design. It could be that no one in his area even WANTED or owned a Model 31. Jus' sayin'!

July 7, 2013, 10:02 PM	#1
Clevinger Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 407	Remington Model 31 Why doesn't the Remington Model 31 12 gauge get more attention and respect? My father-in-law has one and that is the smoothest cycling pump shotgun I've handled. It's over 65 years old and still functions like it is new. It has a nice stock, and it's the direct ancestor of the famed Remington 870. I'm just impressed with it and have been surprised how cheaply they go used.

July 7, 2013, 10:31 PM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The Model 31 was a good gun in its day, and a vast improvement over the older Model 10 and the short-lived Model 29. But it was not very popular (its competition was the superb Winchester Model 12), and it was expensive for the day. About 160,000 were made from 1931-1949. It was made (or at least sold) after WWII, but it was obvious that Remington wanted to clean house on the old designs, and in 1950 the Model 31 was replaced by the Model 870. Today, many parts are still available, but those will eventually be used up. Jim

July 7, 2013, 10:49 PM	#3
Clevinger Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 407	Yes, I've read and heard that they failed from a business standpoint due to their high production costs. From the view of a consumer, however, they are really high quality.

July 7, 2013, 11:01 PM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	I once lived next door to the town repair gunsmith. He worked on a lot of Model 12s and A5s. He shot a Model 31, lower maintenance.

July 9, 2013, 03:39 PM	#5
BombthePeasants Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 351	correlation does not equal causation. Just because he worked on a lot of Model 12's and Auto 5's, and not a lot of Model 31's, does not necessarily translate to superior design. It could be that no one in his area even WANTED or owned a Model 31. Jus' sayin'!