Good choice or not? I've heard about the 'problems' with the O-rings, but are they REALLY a problem? TIA

Of course there are many differing opinions about HD guns but I really like shotguns. I have an 870 and an 1100 that both have pistol grips and mesa tac side-saddles. I will post pix when I get a chance. The only reason I might prefer the 870 is the "action sound" that tells intruders they should leave ASAP.

edited to add: I've never had a problem with my 1100 and I put more than 1000 rounds through over the few years I've owned it and I bought it used.

The O ring is a critical part when it comes to reliable function. Having a good O ring is about as important as having a good recoil spring, and about as easy to replace if you ever need to. They are cheap, plentiful, and easy to inspect and replace.
The only person I've ever known who had any problems with an 1100 that was directly related to the O ring was my brother, when he tried to rebuild 2 very old and neglected 1100's, and reassembled them incorrectly. Which is to say its an operator issue, not an O ring issue.
Don't believe the hype, its not an issue for an HD gun. In my experience, people that point out the O ring issue as a shortcoming of 1100's are people that probably prefer Benelli's and Beretta's to begin with, and are just looking for a reason to knock the Remington.

They are very popular in 3 gun circles. Those guys are fussy about shotguns and reliability. I am considering replacing my 3-gun pump with an 1100, so I would use one for home defense.

Thanks, guys. I'll admit to being partial to Benelli Super90s and Beretta 1201FPs, as well.

Let me put your concern about O-ring issues into perspective. My Dad bought a USED Remington 1100 (beauty w/ walnut stocks) with a low, but unknown number of rounds shot through her. In the next few years (while I was still in highschool), my Dad, my brother, and IO shot several hundred of the dirtiest, cheapest Winny white box birdshot at the trap stand of our local range. The gun would sit, uncleaned and unlubricated for years. Yes, YEARS. The first time I took it apart for a detail clean (read: detail clean = anything besides the bore), I had already graduated from college. Since then, several hundred more of the cheap, dirty, winny white box rounds have been fired through it with no issues. It has been several years since I graduated from college and I have not cleaned it since. Yes, my Dad is lazy. I would say that having a cheap Remington piston and ring kit on hand is a good idea. But, with good full-power ammo, and using good form, you shouldn't have any reliability issues.

quote:

Originally posted by slappy white:
The O ring is a critical part when it comes to reliable function. Having a good O ring is about as important as having a good recoil spring, and about as easy to replace if you ever need to. They are cheap, plentiful, and easy to inspect and replace.
The only person I've ever known who had any problems with an 1100 that was directly related to the O ring was my brother, when he tried to rebuild 2 very old and neglected 1100's, and reassembled them incorrectly. Which is to say its an operator issue, not an O ring issue.
Don't believe the hype, its not an issue for an HD gun. In my experience, people that point out the O ring issue as a shortcoming of 1100's are people that probably prefer Benelli's and Beretta's to begin with, and are just looking for a reason to knock the Remington.

Very well-said.

The only time I've ever seen a real O-ring issue with 1100s was when the owner was sloppy putting it back together and nicked it. I've got the same O-ring in my 11-87 (same gun really) that it came with 7, or so, years ago and it has seen a good deal of shooting.

+1 on the O rings not being an issue. I have an 1100 that I got for a very fair price, because of a failure to feed issue. Remove a burr on the follower, cleaned and lubed the tube (it was filthy) and performed a preventive service on the gun. I now have more than 200 rounds of light trap, full load 00 buck, slugs and #4 through it without one hiccup. It is a beater, but it is reliable enough that I have it as one of several strategically located HD weapons.



edited for grammar.

n5esr: I would love to know the particulars of the SG in your pic.

Well... not much to tell considering that it was built when I bought it. The seller was having probs with an intermittent failure to feed. It would fire 5-6 rounds and then fail to kick a cartridge to feed resulting in the bolt locking to the rear. Sounded like a simple problem with the tube to me. I got it for a song and found a burr on the plastic follower, as well as the mag tube full of crud. The rest of the gun had been well maintained, he simply forgot the tube.

It appears to have started life as a sporting shotty, as rcvr is engraved. It has a short stock (which I like since I shoot a tactical shotgun with the butt against my sternum, both eyes open), 20 inch barrel, extended tube (holds 7+1), ghost ring sights, and has been refinished in baked duracoat. I added a sidesaddle that I had left over from my 870.

I did a thorough tear down and cleaning. I did not replace O rings, as they were pristine. I do have a spare set in my bag.

I normally shoot 10 - 30 rounds when I take it out to the range and plan on using in 3 gun competition shortly. After each session, I pop the barrel off, clean, lube.. about a 10 minute operation. Even firing low recoil buck and skeet rounds, I have had no issues!

To date, I have had no problems at all out of the gun. I want to order a single point sling attachment that fits between the stock and reciever. I would also like to put a headlight on it. Have also considered back boring the barrel to tighten up the group a little... simular to what Vang does.

Short version... I love the 1100. Was trying to get a Mossy SPX when I came across the Rem and happy that I have it instead.

Although not a HD gun, I have a Remington 1100 in 20 guage that belonged to my dad. He died 30 years ago. I still shoot the gun at the skeet field on a regular basis and all I have ever done to it is clean it. If the Oring is not stock, then it was replaced more than 30 years ago. No problems so far... Although I have two 870s, I'm thinking about an 1100 in 12 ga for HD and 3-gun myself.

sure, why not.

I'd probably look at the 11-87. This I believe is an evolution of the 1100 where some of the gas system quirks have been massaged out.

I think an 11-87 Police like the ones at Top Gun Supply would be a sweet home defense gun.

With my head hung in shame, I freely admit that I’m more likely to short stroke my 870 than my 11-87 (or 1100) will malfunction.

Emory

I've owned an 1100 for 25+ years now. I LOVE the gun. It is a joy to shoot.

However, over those years I've had to disassemble the gun a few time, pull the trigger group to clear the "bolt closed, shell under the lifter" jam. It's a pain in the butt, but a simple fix at the range. I know what a nightmare it was when it happened the first time while I was hunting. It would be potentially fatal in a HD situation. So no, as much as I love it, I would never trust my 1100 for self defense.

I use an 1100 Tactical for 3 gun matches and have NEVER had a malfunction... Cant beat it for the money

I own an 1100 in 20 gauge, but it's my light bird gun. Haven't had any problems with it, but I've been thinking about trying to convert it to a TactiCool™ version. Not sure what that would involve though.

I had an 1100 Tactical, that I bought to shoot 3 gun matches with. After about 2 years I had only shot about 3 or 4 matches, so I sold the shotgun. However, it was a very good gun. I think it would made a very fine HD gun.

quote:

Originally posted by jjkroll32:
I'd probably look at the 11-87. This I believe is an evolution of the 1100 where some of the gas system quirks have been massaged out.

I think an 11-87 Police like the ones at Top Gun Supply would be a sweet home defense gun.

an 1100 is a better home defense gun then a 11-87. The 1100 will cycle with any round that will fit in it (low recoil, light loads etc.) Some of The 11-87s need shells that have a little more ooomph to cycle properly and won't always cycle with every 2 3/4" shell.

I'd much prefer a 1100 over an 870 for home defense and would have no qualms against it being reliable.

As for cycling the action with an 870 if an intruder is around, wouldn't you already have a round in the chamber and the safety on if it's for home defense????

One advantage of the 870 is you can use an 18" barrel, and on the 1100 or 11-87 the shortest barrel you can use is 20" so it cycles properly.

quote:

Originally posted by rsbolo:
The only reason I might prefer the 870 is the "action sound" that tells intruders they should leave ASAP.