2 3/4" to 3" chamber - Problems...

[9x23]

I have a couple of Remington 1100s with 2 3/4" chambers that I would like to have elongated to 3" chambers. I looked at a couple of reloading manuals and didn't find any difference in maximum load pressures.

Besides having the chamber reamed out is there anything else (ie. ejector) that needs smithing or problems I should be aware of?

Thanks.....9x23

PS - I tried a search but I was road-blocked by the volume of threads - most having nothing to do with this.

 

[Bearhands]

I could be all wet but..... I believe that chambers are formed in the barrels at time of manufacturing. I don't think you can just "ream" a chamber to make it accept a longer shell...... again, I could be wrong.

 

[Dave McCracken]

It can be done, but....

The gas port needs to to be redone. All in all, it will be cheaper and more reliable to get a new, 3" barrel.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Just get an 11-87...

lpl

 

[9x23]

Okay - How about...

Lee - I just bought an 11-87 with a slug barrel and I'm going to get a smoothbore barrel for it so I can shoot 3" shells - specifically those with 41 #4 buck pellets in them. Surprisingly, the 2 3/4" shell holds only 27 #4 buck pellets and that 's the only reason I was thinking about having the chambers elongated.

So, would elongating an 870 2 3/4" chamber to a 3" chamber be a cake walk?

Dave - I didn't give a thought to the gas metering, so do you think all I would need is a new 3" chambered 1100 barrel to get one of my other autos online with with 3" cartridges?.....9x23

 

[Virginian]

The only differences between 2-3/4" and 3" 1100s are the barrels and the action sleeves and the recoil pad. The receivers are the same except for the rollmarking. The 3" barrel has one gas port, the 2-3/4" barrel has two, and the ports are different sizes. The 3" version has a heavier action sleeve. Note: Remington no longer sells Magnum action sleeves. If you ream out an 1100 barrel to 3" I have no doubt it will function; my concern is it will function so hard it may crack the receiver.
Remington sells 3" chambered 1100 barrels as steel shot only barrels when used on 2-3/4" guns.
1100 and 11-87 barrels are not interchangable.
The differences between a 3" and a 2-3/4" 870 are the barrel chamber lengths, and the ejector springs. The receivers are the same except for the rollmarking. The ejector is riveted into the left wall of the receiver on the inside, and the receiver and rivets are finished as a unit during manufacture. A 3" barrel will fit on a standard receiver no problem, but it may have problems with ejection, because of the ejector spring lip location.
If you want a 3" 1100, my advice would be to buy a used 3" Model 1100, since you can no longer get the magnum action sleeves, which is what I got when I put the 3" barrel on my 2-3/4" gun. I have a friend who owned a machine shop, and he made a new action sleeve for his, but that is the only self-made reliable conversion I know of.
With an 870, I think the ejector is relatively easy to modify to the 3" configuration, but some people don't agree with me too strongly. But with an 870 you don't have to worry about a gas system.
If you have an 11-87, I guess I don't understand what you are trying to do, since an 11-87 wiill take 3" and 2-3/4" shells interchangably to start with.

 

[oneounceload]

IIRC, just slapping a 3" barrel on it will do nothing to help the recoil issue with the springs - you may run into issues with the recoil spring not giving enough resistance and having your action battered by the recoil

 

[Fred Fuller]

You want to shoot 3" magnum buckshot loads... why?? You hunting some kind of Legendary Swamp Monster down there or something?

lpl

 

[9x23]

Beating a dead horse...

Virginian - I really appreciate that you took the time for such a detailed answer. I now have a much better understanding of this aspect of the 1100. In this case I’m just going to leave well enough alone on my 2 3/4" 1100s and go with shotguns that were designed for what I want.

I have four Remington 1100s in 12 gauge - two are altered and dedicated as my international skeet guns. The other two are multi-purpose guns and I wanted them to be back-ups to my new-to-me 11-87, hence the desire for the 3" chambers.

Back to the 870 (Hope I’m not beating a dead horse), my receiver has “Magnum” stamped on the left side. I have a 2 3/4" smoothbore barrel with rifle sights that I would like to have elongated to 3". Am I okay on that one without any gun smithing other than the chamber reaming?

Lee - Yetis are protected in these parts (I kin see y’ain’t from ‘round here), but now the werewolves are another story!

I am usually a firm believer in over-kill. What a 2 3/4 “ shell can do a 3" can do better. Next thing you know, I’ll be looking to grind out some more metal in pursuit of a 3 ½" chamber - dunno where it will end - an 1100 punt gun???.....9x23

 

[Virginian]

If you have an 870 Magnum receiver you should be good to go with any 2-3/4" or 3" barrel. I don't know anyone who had the chamber lengthened, but I don't see what it would hurt. I have had several forcing cones lengthened and polished.
Almost forgot one point. The issue Remington had about the lawsuit and barrels supposedly splitting. If I remember right, they said part of the problem was that they had gone to the heavier rollmarking, and where they put it on the barrel was right at the front of the chamber - the worst place. They moved the rollmarking forward as a solution and did a barrel recall for an exchange. You can definitely tell the heavier rollmarking on the receivers and the barrels. The original receiver rollmarking was about the size of a Pen-Tel 0.5 mm lead on the receivers, and the latter rollmarking is about the thickness of a heavy #2 lead pencil lead, and it's a lot deeper. The barrel rollmarking is about the same degree heavier than the old. If I had a barrel with the heavy rollmarking right over the chamber/forcing cone, I would be careful.
Good luck.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Another "Too much is not enough" believer, I see. Well, far be it from me to try and convince you otherwise. I was just curious if you had any real reason for wanting to shoot maggie numbs.

Not from around there? I'm from LA (lower Alabama) originally...

Ref. the 870, as long as the serial number ends in an M, the receiver is set up for 3". You'll need a 3" chamber as well- whether you buy a different barrel, or have the existing chamber lengthened by someone who knows 870s should make no difference.

lpl

 

[Titan6]

Hopefully I misunderstood your post and you did not buy an 11/87 barrel for your 1100.

 

[9x23]

You are gentlemen and scholars and there are damn few of us left!

Virginian - The barrel in question has the “fine”markings well ahead of the chamber at the rear rifle sight. I was very happy with forcing cone elongation and porting done by Lazerports, so I’m going to contact them tomorrow about lengthening the chamber and maybe porting the barrel too. I’ll post when I get the barrel done. Again, thanks for the information, you probably kept me out of trouble.

Titan6 - No, I didn't. While it was made clear to me in this thread by Virginian, it was also posted in Remington's web site thet they would not interchange. I appreciate your input - it could have costly to make that mistake if I had been unaware of it.

Lee - Yup, the serial number ends with an “M”. And.....SHAZAM! You bein’ from LA - small world, I’m from UCLA!! The Upper Corner of Lower Alabama!!! Ever had the pleasure of going to the Central Alabama Gun Club in Macon County?

Thanks to Dave, Oneounceload and Bearhands too.....9x23

 

[Fred Fuller]

Nope- Tuscaloosa/Bibb/Perry/Dallas is more my stomping grounds when I get back down that way. More of the Back Yard Gun Club .

lpl

 

[chas08]

Remington sells 3" chambered 1100 barrels as steel shot only barrels when used on 2-3/4" guns.

The ejector lug on the barrel flange measures 3 inches on the steel shot barrel and 2 3/4 inches on the standard barrel. I don't know if this will matter but it might.

 

[Virginian]

The ejector lug on the barrel flange measures 3 inches on the steel shot barrel and 2 3/4 inches on the standard barrel. I don't know if this will matter but it might.

That is so it will eject 3" hulls, which is what it is for. It is part of the barrel and won't interfere with anything else.

 

[chas08]

That is so it will eject 3" hulls, which is what it is for. It is part of the barrel and won't interfere with anything else.

So..if you were to lenghten the chamber on a standard 2 3/4 inch barrel. Would a three inch hull eject? Or did I misinterpret the original post?

 

[9x23]

Back Yard Gun Club!!! - How nice is your backyard???

Lee - Well, it sorta started that-a-way. If memory serves the club began with 8 acres and expanded to 43 acres around the late 90s. Members have un-monitored, sunrise to setset access 365 days a year.

There are 7 pistol/assault rifle bays - 6 have a 180 degree firing plane; the 7th is set up for shooting falling plates only. The largest bay has barricades with windows and doors in them for house/building clearings. One corner of that bay also has two steel tables set up for shooting bowling pins.

There is a 100 yard range (this is all we had when it was only 8 acres) with 20 bench rest positions and 20+ standing/sitting/prone positions - all of which are covered.

There is also a 300 yard range with seven covered benchrest positions.

In addition, there is a full bowhunting course with 3-D targets and a bow shooting tower.

They host many sactioned matches: IDPA - USPSA - .22 Benchrest - SASS, etc. The last I heard the club was going to put in a skeet range.

I fly my airplane into Prattville Airport every so often and get-up-with some of those folks to go shooting. If you know that you'll be slumming around our-way, let me know and I'll wrangle an invite for the both of us. I'll take some pics the next time I'm out there and post them in a thread.

Oneounceload - I failed to thank you too in post #13, but I edited it today - thanks again, sorry for the oversight.....9x23

 

[Virginian]

So..if you were to lenghten the chamber on a standard 2 3/4 inch barrel. Would a three inch hull eject? Or did I misinterpret the original post?

No indeed. My mistake. I forgot he even asked about lengthening the chamber on an 1100, as well as an 870. Excellent point.