Badger Arms
Member
I posted earlier about the desire to cut down my 1100 barrel to 18.5" and if it would function. See this thread: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=430950. Well, as I stated in that thread, I did, in fact, cut it down. I just re-measured it and it's right at 18.75" as I was limited by the vent rib. I also said that I wanted to have a gunsmith put the bead on, but heck it was cheaper to buy the tools and bead from brownells... so I did that instead.
Well, the chop went okay. If I had it to do again, I'd have left the barrel about 1/4" beyond the vent rib as it does look funny like it is. Squared it up on a belt sander, crowned, and touch-up blued. I put the barrel lightly in a vice and drilled a #31 hole right behind the vent rib post. I then threaded it with a tap I bought from Brownells. Put locktite on the bead and installed. It's a BIG bead and gives me a really positive, quick post to put on target.
Stock is the SpeedFeed IV-S short stock meant for youth or body armor. On my Model 500 youth 20ga, the problem I have is my thumb hitting me in the cheek so I think the pistol grip will help in that respect. The bolt handle is a Choate but, as I've heard before, it seems to come out easy. I am just about to dress the notch to match the Remington Factory notch so the detent is positive and it stays put.
Magazine extension is a Choate as well. Matches the finish on the gun pretty good and I'm happy about that. I had a tough time getting the old barrel off and noted there was some rust on the piston. A few passes from the steel wool and it was back to functioning fine. I'm also going to throw a Vang big-head safety on it.
Last step will be to test-fire the 1100 with some low-brass loads. If it functions with that, a few boxes of 12-pellet buck for function and I'm good to go. The 1100 is not a magnum gun, but with the short barrel and high-brass 12-pellet OO buck, it should cycle like a champ, I hope. After 100 rounds of dove loads and no cleaning, I HOPE that the gun will run smooth with the buck. I'm prepared to step-up the gas ports if needed to ensure function. I'm a 1-load man. Perfectly happy with my 12-pellet load.
The picture of the 3 guns is a bit of an eclectic mix. Remington 1100 on top with a 6-round magazine and 18.75" barrel. The Remington 870 in the middle is the Express Turkey Remchoke I've talked about before. 7-round magazine... it's also getting a Vang big-head. On the bottom is my kids/wife gun. It's a 20ga Mossberg 500 Youth. Kids are bigger, so I've got the stock extension in it now. 22" barrel with an IC choke tube. Good on clays as well. 5-round magazine. You'll note that all the guns have a vent-rib on them. I don't know why, that's just the way it worked out. I like the vent rib. Makes the gun only slightly heavier but handling characteristics are greatly improved. Thanks for letting me share. I'll update you after the range session. Any comments?
Well, the chop went okay. If I had it to do again, I'd have left the barrel about 1/4" beyond the vent rib as it does look funny like it is. Squared it up on a belt sander, crowned, and touch-up blued. I put the barrel lightly in a vice and drilled a #31 hole right behind the vent rib post. I then threaded it with a tap I bought from Brownells. Put locktite on the bead and installed. It's a BIG bead and gives me a really positive, quick post to put on target.
Stock is the SpeedFeed IV-S short stock meant for youth or body armor. On my Model 500 youth 20ga, the problem I have is my thumb hitting me in the cheek so I think the pistol grip will help in that respect. The bolt handle is a Choate but, as I've heard before, it seems to come out easy. I am just about to dress the notch to match the Remington Factory notch so the detent is positive and it stays put.
Magazine extension is a Choate as well. Matches the finish on the gun pretty good and I'm happy about that. I had a tough time getting the old barrel off and noted there was some rust on the piston. A few passes from the steel wool and it was back to functioning fine. I'm also going to throw a Vang big-head safety on it.
Last step will be to test-fire the 1100 with some low-brass loads. If it functions with that, a few boxes of 12-pellet buck for function and I'm good to go. The 1100 is not a magnum gun, but with the short barrel and high-brass 12-pellet OO buck, it should cycle like a champ, I hope. After 100 rounds of dove loads and no cleaning, I HOPE that the gun will run smooth with the buck. I'm prepared to step-up the gas ports if needed to ensure function. I'm a 1-load man. Perfectly happy with my 12-pellet load.
The picture of the 3 guns is a bit of an eclectic mix. Remington 1100 on top with a 6-round magazine and 18.75" barrel. The Remington 870 in the middle is the Express Turkey Remchoke I've talked about before. 7-round magazine... it's also getting a Vang big-head. On the bottom is my kids/wife gun. It's a 20ga Mossberg 500 Youth. Kids are bigger, so I've got the stock extension in it now. 22" barrel with an IC choke tube. Good on clays as well. 5-round magazine. You'll note that all the guns have a vent-rib on them. I don't know why, that's just the way it worked out. I like the vent rib. Makes the gun only slightly heavier but handling characteristics are greatly improved. Thanks for letting me share. I'll update you after the range session. Any comments?