What to do with this 1100?

[Adventurer_96]

I got an old 1100 from a friend a while back that had a skeet barrel on it, and now my trap gun has a skeet barrel, if I ever get a chance to get back into shotgunning...

This leaves me with an 1100 without a barrel and a lot of decisions. I'll eventually pick up an 870 Police most likely, but in the meantime I'd like to set up this shotgun as a defensive weapon without breaking the bank. I read this thread:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=55450&highlight=1100
Some good insight, I'm guessing about 22" would be OK for these applications. The other option would be to pick up a barrel and make this a birdhunting gun. Suggestions for a source for a barrel?

Ghost ring sights - How do I go about getting them on this weapon, if I choose to make it a defense gun? I'm not even sure it's possible on an 1100.

I'd be looking for new furniture (can't have wood on a "tactical 1100," wouldn't want it on a bird gun) and I'll probably do the finish in Alumahyde II on both the receiver and barrel, but that's just off the top of my head. I don't want to send the weapon out to be refinished but I'd like it to have a reasonably durable finish that I can apply at home.

What recommendations would you folks make for this project?

Thanks in advance, this should be fun.

 

[mnrivrat]

For both the barrel and the stock set I would cruise the stuff on ebay.

With a little patience you won't break the bank at all that way .

I'm a fan of plain front bead for home protection shotgun so have no idea regarding the ghost ring installation on the 1100 but suspect that they are readily available. Maybe requiring some drilling and taping so can get expensive.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Beads do work for HD and have some advantages.

Cost.

Speed.

Simplicity.

In your shoes, I'd get a short barrel and leave it at that.

 

[Adventurer_96]

Thanks for the responses, BTW. I'll keep you posted.

 

[Fred Fuller]

A used factory slug barrel (smoothbore!) with rifle sights is your best bet for HD:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Remington-1100-...ryZ73955QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

...and you have about 8 days.

OR:

http://www.barrelexchange.com/srch_1.cfm?manuf=Remington&ga=12+ga.&Submit=Search

BE-REM-63 REMINGTON 1100 12 ga. $165.00 21 in. SLUG, PL, 2 3/4 in., 98%
BE-REM-225 Remington 1100 12 ga. $155.00 21 in. DEER, RIFLE SIGHTS, 2 3/4 in., 99% SMOOTH BORE
BE-REM-77 Remington 1100 12 ga. $165.00 22 in. SLUG, RIFLE SIGHTS, 2 3/4 in., 98% N/A
BE-REM-57 Remington 1100 12 ga. $150.00 22 in. SLUG, RIFLE SIGHTS, 2 3/4 in., 96% IN STOCK
BE-REM-129 Remington 1100 12 ga. $175.00 22 in. SLUG, RIFLE SIGHTS, 2 3/4 in., 99% N/A
BE-REM-110 Remington 1100 12 ga. $150.00 22 in. SLUG, RIFLE SIGHTS, 2 3/4 in., 97% IN STOCK
BE-REM-115 Remington 1100 12 ga. $250.00 24 in. FULLY, RIFLE SIGHTS, 3 in., New HASTING, FULLY RIFLED
BE-REM-123 Remington 1100 12 ga. $175.00 26 in. IC, Vent Rib, 2 3/4 in., 95% IN STOCK
BE-REM-11 Remington 1100 12 ga. $195.00 26 in. SLUG, Vent Rib, 2 3/4 in., 95% N/A
===========================

You certainly can have wood on a """Tacktickal!!!""" shotgun. Nothing wrong with it at all, and in fact it is easier to cut a wooden stock to fit properly than it is most synthetics, and easier to fit a premium recoil pad to wood as well. Remember however that your stock amputations on most semiauto shotguns are limited by the presence of a bolt return spring and tube that protrude from the rear of the receiver a good way into the buttstock. 'Course, if you REALLY wanted to go for the kewl points, you'd send it over to Sage International and let them turn it into a Sidewinder for you, so you could have a PGO stock on it and make all your friends jealous ( http://www.sageinternationalltd.com/si/wepmod/wepmod.html ).

Just kidding...

An 1100 that runs reliably is a good bet for an HD gun, main part to worry about getting right is that pesky "runs reliably" thing. I suggest getting a factory original short barrel, 1100s can be finicky about gas port sizes shooting lighter loads when longer barrels get lopped off. And make double and triple sure it runs with the actual ammo you intend to use in it if you have to repel boarders at uh-oh dark hundred. That's why I always suggest buying for-serious ammo you can afford to order by the full case, and staying away from the SooperDooper Maggienumb Burglar Blaster/Prowler Puree'er stuff that costs $5.00 a round. Plain old ordinary buckshot and slugs will do fine, and you can afford to buy enough of that to make sure the gun runs reliably and you can hit with it.

Of course, YMMV- 'tis your money, your choice, your gun, your house etc. and you must do as you will.

Stay safe,

lpl/nc