Remington 1100 Home Defense Chop

[Badger Arms]

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?

 

[mnrivrat]

Let us know how it runs . The elements of good cycling in a gas operated gun not only includes the amount of gas provided (increased by enlarging the holes) , but in the timing & duration . That is where the distance from the gas ports to the end of the muzzle come into play.

Hope it all turns out well and I'm interested to see what you created performance wise.

 

[lead-inspector]

I bought a HiViz clamp on fiber optic front sight for my 1100 at Wal-Mart for less than $10. http://www.hivizsights.com/ I find it easier to use than a bead.

Steve

 

[rbernie]

Looks nice so far.

It seems to be commonly recommended to put a clamp on the mag extension.

 

[Badger Arms]

I hear that it's commonly recommended, but this is a home defense gun, not a truck-bed gun. Besides, I've found that the mag extensions are quite solid how they are. Further, they mar up the finish and slow diassembly.

 

[Smith]

It seems to be commonly recommended to put a clamp on the mag extension.

What position should the clamp be at?

 

[OniLink2k2]

Awesome topics. I'm planning on doing a similar project soon and am getting a lot of my questions answered here.

One thing I noticed not being mentioned is grouping/patterns of the shot.
How does the shortened, "unchoked" barrel pattern? Is it too extreme at 15+ yards?

P.S. - Badger, awesome looking project.

 

[Geneseo1911]

Looks like you did a fine job on the chop. I'm anxious to hear how it cycles now.

 

[earlthegoat2]

They look a lot tougher without the magazine clamp. If there is cycling problems I know of people that have enlarged the gas port holes. You only have to do it about 1 drill size up though so be careful if you go that route.

 

[Badger Arms]

How does the shortened, "unchoked" barrel pattern? Is it too extreme at 15+ yards?

Well, it's not "unchoked" it's "cylinder choke" and performs like any other cylinder choke at 15 yards. At that range, it's still "Minute-of-pie-plate". Frankly, I'd be happy to get one or two pellets at that range, but I doubt I'd ever be 'engaging' anything beyond 7-10 yards at which range you pretty much need to aim the shotugun. Here's a good discussion over at TFL: https://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121431

 

[PA4476]

I chopped an 1100 over 10 years ago. 20" and it never gave trouble. 1 1/8 oz bird shot to full on 00 short magnum buckshot. And I agree with you in that the bbl clamp leaves a mark in the finish and slows take down. I have never seen a mag tube break off or give any trouble without the clamp.

 

[Snarlingiron]

I hear that it's commonly recommended, but this is a home defense gun, not a truck-bed gun. Besides, I've found that the mag extensions are quite solid how they are. Further, they mar up the finish and slow diassembly.

Another thought on magazine clamps is that they never fit quite perfectly, and there is nothing to index where they go. So especially if you are shooting slugs and don't get the clamp in exactly the same position as where it was when you sighted in, it could change POI.

Not saying it will or won't...just a thought.

Nice job, BTW. I like it, but suspect you may have cycling problems. Let us know.

 

[Badger Arms]

Another thought on magazine clamps is that they never fit quite perfectly, and there is nothing to index where they go.

On the contrary, Remington Factory extensions, at least, have a groove in the tube that the screw goes through. But I doubt that's an issue even with slugs. Shotgun barrels are fairly stiff and slugs, unless it's a rifled barrel, aren't accurate enough to notice much. You'd almost have to have a threaded, rifled, heavy barrel before your mag clamp would make a difference. Ithaca sells guns like that... the Dearslayer II IIRC. Fully free-floated barrel fully rifled and threaded to the receiver.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

It seems to be commonly recommended to put a clamp on the mag extension.

I think there was a thread a while ago about someone's magazine flying off because he didn't use the clamp, or the clamp prevented such.