Correct Cycling of Remington 1100 ...

[M100C]

All,
I recently picked up a Remington 1100, standard weight 20 ga. with a broken feed latch. Finding a replacement feed latch was like finding hen's teeth; but, I got one and it is installed.

I cannot find a "theory or sequence of operation" for the Remington 1100 anywhere, so I am cycling real shells (without primers) to better understand if this gun is ready to go. Starting with two shells loaded in the magazine (and none in the chamber), when I pull back the bolt handle:

1. Should the shell be released from the feed latch with enough vigor to hit the carrier latch, trip it, and lift the shell such that the bolt doesn't lock and releasing the both handle will complete the cycle normally; or,
2. What my gun currently does: The shell is released from the feed latch with vigor, but it bounces off the carrier latch w/o causing the carrier to lift the round. (I find with my finger I can trip it, and it could be relatching again, because I am holding the bolt handle - which I wouldn't be doing in an ordinary shot cycle).
3. Going back, when I pull the bolt handle back, it always locks open even though a shell is fed from the mag and rests on the carrier. Pushing the carrier button loads the round normally.

Thanks for helping me understand,

Chris

 

[Virginian]

Your gun is functioning correctly. If you are very quick you can pull the bolt back and let it go fast enough that the shell out of the magazine hits the carrier latch and releases the bolt loading the fresh round automatically as in when firing a live round. The bolt latches back every time, but gets released by a shell. I have been shooting them over 50 years and I can do it about 50% of the time. I have a friend who can do it 99% of the time. If the bolt does not latch back every time when hand cycling, 99%+ of the time the culprit is a bent carrier latch. The newest ones have a modified carrier so you can cycle shells thru the action without having to hit the carrier release.

 

[skeeterfogger]

1. According to some shotgun specific forums if the shell does not trip the carrier latch susspect the mag spring tension or binding. One issue a times was binding due to steel follower rusting. Replacements were made of aluminum.
2. Could be binding in carrier latch.
3. Load or dram equivalent low. Typically target loads are poor perfomers for 1100 non skeet and trap. Heavier hunting loads provide better force for them. You can get better by altering the gas port diameter for target loads. Also some say that light handling can cause cycle issues. Like just holding it up one handed and firing it vs putting the butt agains a solid surface can change the interaction of forces inflicted on moving parts. Basically hold firm to shoulder and lean into it.
It was agreed between some through info from a Remington Certified Gunsmith that AA other than target is the recommendation unless it's a skeet and trap specific gun. Most said they had success as long as they used hunting weight loads.
Honing/polishing the chamber was highly recommended.
Extreme cleaning and meticulous lubing per recommendations was highly recommended.
My take from reading is that the 1100 can experience cycle issues from even just one component with low amount of binding.
Almost like if they were built a bit looser they would not have these issues.
I know my dads 1100 is very particular in moving shells out of the mag tube with like 3 time reloads. Had to be very careful when sizing to make sure rim base diameter stayed at minimum or they would not pass through the mag bushing. And they were AA hulls. Had no problem with any other pump gun they worked flawlessly.

Ref: firearmstalk.com and calguns.net via google search "Remington 1100 cycle issues".

 

[M100C]

Thanks Virginian and SF.
I have wanted one for a long time. This one has had the original IC barrel fitted for Tru-Choke tubes (+), but wouldn't cycle due to the broken feed latch (-). It is gratifying to get one at a good price and get it up and running (I think ... we'll see).

I have been told that they can be picky about ammo, and some work is needed to "get them right", but when kept clean, they shoot like a dream.

SF,
You may have hit on another issue with this gun. I removed the magazine cap (it was under tension, and I was suspicious), and it has no magazine spring retainer. I'll be getting one of those. So far as I can tell, all else is original (except, of course, the feed latch). Any other issues to anticipate, specific to this gun?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Virginian]

I have owned and worked on 1100s for over 50 years and they are anything BUT finicky as long as the gun doesn't have any obvious issues. 1100s were originally designed to function with anything from 1-1/8 ounce target loads (1,200 FPS) on up. Many will work with less. Skeet and Sporting barrels have larger ports to accommodate the tendency towards mouse fart loads.
Drilling out the ports is a very bad idea on average. I have never had to polish or hone an 1100 chamber, but I suppose in over 4 million built they may have made one that was off.
I used to shoot reloads that were split and had candle wax holding in the shot. Have finished many a session with loose shot rattling around in the magazine tube.
An 1100 will function whether held firmly, lashed to a tree, or held loosely one handed and even suspended by two ropes. The gas action is largely unaffected as long as you are using loads within the design range. The biggest problem I have found when a gun was acting up was a rusty/dirty action spring tube, and probably a broken/bent part(s) second. I have only ever broken one extractor on all of my guns, but I have seen about every part broken by some erstwhile owner.
Running a shotshell thru a resizer like a Mec Grabber does nothing for the outside base diameter. In my opinion skeeterfogger, something else was wrong with your Dad's gun like either an out of spec feed latch or a crooked reload feeding off center.

 

[entropy]

I can verify and agree with everything Virginian has said, I've only been working on them for 40 years though.

 

[Virginian]

I should add that none of my comments were gleaned via an internet search. I have found a lot of internet wisdom highly suspect.

 

[M100C]

All,
Put a box through gun today. Cycled perfectly. Very smooth. Thanks for feedback all!

 

[skeeterfogger]

All,
Put a box through gun today. Cycled perfectly. Very smooth. Thanks for feedback all!

What if anything did you do or change?

 

[1KPerDay]

What if anything did you do or change?

He shot actual ammo through it.

 

[skeeterfogger]

Sounds like something daffy duck would say.

 

[Virginian]

He replaced the defective feed latch. He was merely asking how the action was supposed to function.

 

[1KPerDay]

Sounds like something daffy duck would say.

I'll take that as a compliment. But if you read the OP he hadn't ever shot the gun. He was asking if it locking open every time while cycling dummy ammo through it was normal. (It is)

So once he shot actual ammo through it, it worked fine.

 

[M100C]

Virginian and 1K,
Right! Bought the gun not cycling. Figured out feed latch was broken and sprung out. Replaced feed latch, but was not sure what to expect when opening bolt with shell in mag. I am a Browning guy, and B2000 will auto load.

During normal use, the shell is properly tripping the carrier latch. Thanks again all!