11-87 HD Build

[Canonshooter]

I purchased this 11-87 Premium new with a 26 inch, vent rib/pressure compensated (.116” dual gas ports) barrel nearly 20 years ago. Though it got some use early on busting clay pigeons, it has been mostly a safe queen. Recently, I decided to do something with it – build it into a home defense SG.

One of my goals was to maintain a traditional, “non-tactical” look. The finish on both the metal and wood remains a pleasure to look at, though I did take down the super-gloss finish that came on the wood with some fine steel wool. My other goals were to modify it for the intended purpose – shorten it and make it as reliable as possible with my 2-3/4” loads of choice.

The mods so far include the following;

- Shortened the barrel to 18-3/4 inches and re-installed the RemChokes
- HiViz CompSight PM1002 - Competition Shotgun Sight (same as used on the 1100 Tac4)
- Cut the stock down to 13” LOP and re-installed the original Remington butt pad
- Choate 2-shot magazine extension
- Dave’s Metal Works Easyloader
- Vang Comp dome button safety
- Remington Seal Activator Ring
- Brownells stainless steel magazine follower

Here is how it stands currently;



I will be installing a CDM Gear BMT Clamp to mount my Surefire X300 on one side and a QD swivel on the other, and the GG&G QD Rear Sling Attachment and use a 2-point Vickers sling, the same setup I have on my AR (I figure consistency is good).

Range Test

With a fresh o-ring and the seal activator installed, the Federal PD132 00 buck load cycles perfectly with strong ejection. Even the softer-shooting Remington 8-pellet, 00 buck “Managed Recoil” load cycles without a hitch, though the ejection is not quite as strong as the Federal load. Based on my testing thus far, the Federal load has been 100% functionally reliable and I have no reason to believe it won't remain that way.

As expected, the Federal load with its Flight Control wad produces tight patterns. At 50 feet, the load patterned at 4 inches or less with an improved cylinder choke installed – one shot put 8 pellets in a 2-inch group. The load cycles the action briskly with strong ejection, but yet is easier to shoot than the Federal P154 00 load I’ve used in the past (the P154, non FC wad load also has over double the spread at 50 feet).

I also have a 21 inch rifle-sight slug barrel (.083” dual ports, non-pressure compensated) for the 11-87, and it always shot Federal Premium P127RS Hydra-Shok HP slugs very well. To my delight, the “new” barrel shoots them extremely well too, producing a 3-inch, perfectly centered group at 50 yards. It’s great to have one barrel shoot both the reduced-power 00 buck and full power slug loads well. The vent rib with HiViz sight gets on target very fast yet offers good precision for slugs.

So far, so good. Once I finish this project I will post some more pics.

Update 9/2013

Here are the photos showing how the SG is currently set up. The rest of the thread provides the details;

[jared91]

Looks great.

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[Canonshooter]

Added a CDM Gear BMT clamp to mount my X300 and front sling attachemnt;

[beep]

Nice work. well done.

[Canonshooter]

Nice work. well done.

Thanks!

I just finished installing the QD sling hardware and will post pics of the final configuration soon.

[Canonshooter]

Range Test 2

Today's range session was without the barrel seal activator. As expected, the Federal LE/PD132 load (9 pellets of 00 buck, 1145fps) cycled perfectly. The ejected shells land about 7 feet away, hold a tight pattern and have very managable recoil in my 11-87. This load is good-to-go!

I also had some old Peters 3 dram, #8 "heavy target loads" and interestingly, they also cycled perfectly with the empty shells landing in the same pile as the Federal LE132 load.

The surprise came with the Remington 8-pellet, 00 buck managed recoil load. This load cycled with the barrel seal activator, but did not eject as far as the Federal load. Without the barrel seal activator, there were two failures to eject and the rounds that did cycle basically fell at my feet. I would expect the 8-pellet Federal LE133 1145fps load would be the same.

So it would appear that the barrel seal activator will allow light loads to cycle through my 11-87, but at the risk of excessive battering with heavier loads. It is at least good to know that if for some reason I want to use these light loads, installing the barrel seal activator will allow me to do so.

The barrel seal activator will remain out of my 11-87. My load of choice, the 9-pellet Federal LE/PD132 at 1145fps, cycles perfectly without it and is very comfortable to shoot. The full power Federal P127RS one ounce slugs are accurate and obviously cycle without issue, though with substantially higher recoil.

And now for few new photos - the sling and mounting points worked out well. It was nice keeping my hands free at the range today to reload, check targets, etc.

[maverick223]

Man that thing is looking good ! Great Job !

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[Guns-up.50]

Judging on its looks , it couldn't have seen that much use in the 20yrs I have new guns that look 20 years older that that. Shes a beaut, I had the gas ports opened on my old 1100 and it ran everything, not a must but a little tip if you wanted it.

[Canonshooter]

Judging on its looks , it couldn't have seen that much use in the 20yrs I have new guns that look 20 years older that that. Shes a beaut, I had the gas ports opened on my old 1100 and it ran everything, not a must but a little tip if you wanted it.

Thanks! As you can tell, it's lived most of its life as a safe queen.

The ports in this 26" pressure-compensated barrel came at .116" as compared to .120" and 125" in some of the longer trap (non-compensated) barrels. The "full power loads only" slug barrels are .086" and are not pressure compensated either. Some good info on port sizes for various Remington barrels here;

http://www.wisnersinc.com/additional...ton58_1100.htm

I like the LE/PD132 loads so much and they cyle so well I'm inclined to leave the ports as they are. Thanks in any case for your suggestion!

[3 AE]

Not much into the "fit and finish" dogma but DAMN, there's something about a richly blued gloss finish mated with good wood that speaks for itself. Very, very nice. Great job.