rem 1100 vs. 11-87

teejhot.40cal · August 4, 2010, 09:16 PM

Maybe some remington fans can help me out. I am trying to have a project semi-auto shotgun for home defense. I have pretty much settled on a remington as base. The only thing I am curious about is the difference between the 11-87 and the 1100. Any help on the subject matter would be greatly appreciated.

zippy13 · August 4, 2010, 11:51 PM

The 1100 and the 11-87 are almost identical guns. The 11-87 was introduced in '87 as an upgrade to the 1100. The revised gas system was more attuned to field shooters where a variety of loads can be anticipated. The 11-87 was accepted by hunters because of the more versatile gas system. Many target shooters, not requiring a variety of different loads, preferred the 1100's original and less complicated (and more reliable) gas system.

Presently the 1100s are marketed for target shooting and come with the standard 2 3/4" chamber preferred by target shooters. An exception is the non-sporting 1100 TAC 4 which is a tactical gun in 2-3/4" with a factory mag extension.

On the other hand, the 11-87s are marketed for non-sporting uses and are available with magnum 3" and super-mag 3-1/2" chambers. There are specialized 11-87s intended for upland game, turkeys, waterfowl or deer.

There are also the several versions of the 11-87P (P for police) for law enforcement and SD/HD applications. They have parkerized finishes, rifle-type sights and 18 or 14-inch (LE only) barrels.

LSnSC · August 5, 2010, 07:12 AM

Other than handling 3" shells there isnt much difference. The gas systems are very similar. I shoot an 11-87 trap gun, and a 20 gauge 11-87 for skeet and doves. My first "real" shotgun was a LT-20 1100, thats still going strong.

shooter1911 · August 6, 2010, 09:37 PM

I have been hunting with an 1100 since 1967. The gun had a FTF one time because I forgot to clean th gas ports. I cleaned the little port holes and it hasn't failed in 20 plus years. One failure in 43 years isn't too bad.

I can not comment on the 11-87

doofus47 · August 7, 2010, 10:50 AM

My dad had an 11-48 with Modified choke. It's been sitting in the back closet for years since he's passed on. After asking everyone in the family, it's apparently going to become mine.
Not to hijack a thread, but if anyone has comparative input for an 11-48 as well as the 1100 and 11-87, I'd be curious to hear.
thanks

shortwave · August 7, 2010, 11:27 AM

Want to muddy them more? Try the 1100 magnum. Chambered to 3"

Both the 1100 and 1187 are very reliable. As with shooter1911, I just have'nt had any reliability issue's with any of my 1100's or 1187. Keep the gas ports clean and change the o-ring every few years, you'll most likely never have any problem.

My old 1100's are wood stocked which make them a bit heavier(alittle more recoil friendly), chambered 2 3/4", and have fixed chokes where as my 1187 is synthetic,lighter, 3" chamber and has accu choke sys.

I keep my smooth bored, slug barrels on the 1100's for h/d and deer. Heavier and followup shots maybe a bit faster.

The 1187 and 1100 magnum are primarily used for turkey hunting.

clemsonbloz · August 7, 2010, 12:30 PM

back in the day, the 1100 was the upland workhorse for remington auto's.. They had a few chambered in 3", but supposidly would not reliably operate on 2 3/4 rounds.. The 2 3/4 1100's were and are great guns..

the 11-87 is the newer do all shotgun.. My supermag will eat 2 3/4 bird loads through 3 1/2 inch buckshot...

zippy13 · August 7, 2010, 12:51 PM

My supermag will eat 2 3/4 bird loads through 3 1/2 inch buckshot...

Clemsonbloz, the scuttlebutt is the 3-1/2" 11-87s won't cycle the lighter target loads -- those below 3 dram, 1-1/8-oz. Has this been your experience?

clemsonbloz · August 7, 2010, 02:47 PM

I have not tried anything lighter than the 1 1/8 outta my supermag... Unless I reload a 1 oz load, I hardly ever shoot them..

Mine will cycle the 1 1/8 loads without the adapter pressure ring,, so if you install that ring,, I would imagine it will eat anything..

That being said,, alot of autoloaders have problems with loads lighter than 1 1/8,, but the 1100 was not one of them..

1100 and the A-5 are the autoloading legends..

shortwave · August 7, 2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

They had a few chambered in 3", but supposedly they would not reliably operate on 2 3/4"...

I've also heard this but fortunately I've never had that problem with mine. It cycles as well with both the 3" and 2 3/4".

clemsonbloz · August 7, 2010, 05:43 PM

I am sure alot of the cycle issues with the 1100 are due to a lack of proper care..

I am a browning guy myself,, but I killed my first deer with a 1100,,, have killed maybe 50 after that,,, and they are a great gun..

Traded shotguns with my dad,, taking his a-5 and giving him the remington.. Have killed many many many deerz with the a-5..

I moved on to a browning gold,, but it's too nice of a gun to take out in the rain,, it only holds 4 three inch shells,, and 2 3/4 mag buckshot is getting too hard to find..

so I bought the supermag,, it holds 5 three inch shells,, it'll shoot the 3 1/2, it's snythetic,,, and frankly I don't care if it gets beat all to hell!

Dave McC · August 7, 2010, 10:42 PM

Doofus47, the 11-48 was not a gas gun like the 1100 and 11-87, but a updated version of J M Browning's long recoil action as used in the A-5 and Remington's Model 11.

They were made from about 1948(hence the name) until the 1100 phased it out around 1963.

Never owned one but shot a few. They were quite popular for skeet once upon a time.

Good guns, but not currently fashionable. Last one I can recall seeing advertised, they were asking $250, IIRC. Parts can be found, but mostly they work.

Enjoy your heritage.......

August 4, 2010, 09:16 PM	#1
teejhot.40cal Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Posts: 394	rem 1100 vs. 11-87 Maybe some remington fans can help me out. I am trying to have a project semi-auto shotgun for home defense. I have pretty much settled on a remington as base. The only thing I am curious about is the difference between the 11-87 and the 1100. Any help on the subject matter would be greatly appreciated. __________________ Stay safe!!

August 7, 2010, 10:50 AM	#5
doofus47 Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: live in a in a house when i'm not in a tent Posts: 2,483	Muddy the mix? 11-48 My dad had an 11-48 with Modified choke. It's been sitting in the back closet for years since he's passed on. After asking everyone in the family, it's apparently going to become mine. Not to hijack a thread, but if anyone has comparative input for an 11-48 as well as the 1100 and 11-87, I'd be curious to hear. thanks

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August 4, 2010, 11:51 PM	#2
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	The 1100 and the 11-87 are almost identical guns. The 11-87 was introduced in '87 as an upgrade to the 1100. The revised gas system was more attuned to field shooters where a variety of loads can be anticipated. The 11-87 was accepted by hunters because of the more versatile gas system. Many target shooters, not requiring a variety of different loads, preferred the 1100's original and less complicated (and more reliable) gas system. Presently the 1100s are marketed for target shooting and come with the standard 2 3/4" chamber preferred by target shooters. An exception is the non-sporting 1100 TAC 4 which is a tactical gun in 2-3/4" with a factory mag extension. On the other hand, the 11-87s are marketed for non-sporting uses and are available with magnum 3" and super-mag 3-1/2" chambers. There are specialized 11-87s intended for upland game, turkeys, waterfowl or deer. There are also the several versions of the 11-87P (P for police) for law enforcement and SD/HD applications. They have parkerized finishes, rifle-type sights and 18 or 14-inch (LE only) barrels.

August 5, 2010, 07:12 AM	#3
LSnSC Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2010 Posts: 514	Other than handling 3" shells there isnt much difference. The gas systems are very similar. I shoot an 11-87 trap gun, and a 20 gauge 11-87 for skeet and doves. My first "real" shotgun was a LT-20 1100, thats still going strong.

August 6, 2010, 09:37 PM	#4
shooter1911 Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: DFW Area Posts: 265	I have been hunting with an 1100 since 1967. The gun had a FTF one time because I forgot to clean th gas ports. I cleaned the little port holes and it hasn't failed in 20 plus years. One failure in 43 years isn't too bad. I can not comment on the 11-87

August 7, 2010, 11:27 AM	#6
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,970	Want to muddy them more? Try the 1100 magnum. Chambered to 3" Both the 1100 and 1187 are very reliable. As with shooter1911, I just have'nt had any reliability issue's with any of my 1100's or 1187. Keep the gas ports clean and change the o-ring every few years, you'll most likely never have any problem. My old 1100's are wood stocked which make them a bit heavier(alittle more recoil friendly), chambered 2 3/4", and have fixed chokes where as my 1187 is synthetic,lighter, 3" chamber and has accu choke sys. I keep my smooth bored, slug barrels on the 1100's for h/d and deer. Heavier and followup shots maybe a bit faster. The 1187 and 1100 magnum are primarily used for turkey hunting.

August 7, 2010, 12:30 PM	#7
clemsonbloz Member Join Date: June 3, 2010 Posts: 83	back in the day, the 1100 was the upland workhorse for remington auto's.. They had a few chambered in 3", but supposidly would not reliably operate on 2 3/4 rounds.. The 2 3/4 1100's were and are great guns.. the 11-87 is the newer do all shotgun.. My supermag will eat 2 3/4 bird loads through 3 1/2 inch buckshot...

August 7, 2010, 12:51 PM	#8
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	My supermag will eat 2 3/4 bird loads through 3 1/2 inch buckshot... Clemsonbloz, the scuttlebutt is the 3-1/2" 11-87s won't cycle the lighter target loads -- those below 3 dram, 1-1/8-oz. Has this been your experience?

August 7, 2010, 02:47 PM	#9
clemsonbloz Member Join Date: June 3, 2010 Posts: 83	I have not tried anything lighter than the 1 1/8 outta my supermag... Unless I reload a 1 oz load, I hardly ever shoot them.. Mine will cycle the 1 1/8 loads without the adapter pressure ring,, so if you install that ring,, I would imagine it will eat anything.. That being said,, alot of autoloaders have problems with loads lighter than 1 1/8,, but the 1100 was not one of them.. 1100 and the A-5 are the autoloading legends..

August 7, 2010, 05:43 PM	#11
clemsonbloz Member Join Date: June 3, 2010 Posts: 83	I am sure alot of the cycle issues with the 1100 are due to a lack of proper care.. I am a browning guy myself,, but I killed my first deer with a 1100,,, have killed maybe 50 after that,,, and they are a great gun.. Traded shotguns with my dad,, taking his a-5 and giving him the remington.. Have killed many many many deerz with the a-5.. I moved on to a browning gold,, but it's too nice of a gun to take out in the rain,, it only holds 4 three inch shells,, and 2 3/4 mag buckshot is getting too hard to find.. so I bought the supermag,, it holds 5 three inch shells,, it'll shoot the 3 1/2, it's snythetic,,, and frankly I don't care if it gets beat all to hell!

August 7, 2010, 10:42 PM	#12
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Doofus47, the 11-48 was not a gas gun like the 1100 and 11-87, but a updated version of J M Browning's long recoil action as used in the A-5 and Remington's Model 11. They were made from about 1948(hence the name) until the 1100 phased it out around 1963. Never owned one but shot a few. They were quite popular for skeet once upon a time. Good guns, but not currently fashionable. Last one I can recall seeing advertised, they were asking $250, IIRC. Parts can be found, but mostly they work. Enjoy your heritage.......