Blackscot,
I would contact Benny Hill at http://www.triangleshootingsports.com/ or John Paul at www.jprifles.com to see what each recommends. For shooting 3dram and under ‘light’ or low brass shotgun shells many times the gas ports need to be made larger on Remington autos.
Hmm…seems I could do that easily enough, if I knew the right hole size.
I’ll see if they’ll dispense some free advice – thanks.
Interesting on-topic read:
That is spot-on – thanks!
My barrel has only 2 gas ports. From the thread, it sounds sure enough like a heavy-load only barrel.
I asked specifically about the compensated/noncompensated thing before I bought the gun, and was told it was designed to handle a wide range of loads.
I’m really having some doubts on my decision now…need to follow-up on gotm4’s steer, along with the local smith who will put a choke in my 870.
Here’s what the gas ports look like, diameter 0.082". There’s just the two you see, and no spring with a second pair of ports underneath to bleed off the extra pressure of heavy loads.
Some googling yesterday produced more chat-board threads than I could read about problems with 11-87’s not cycling.
Threading the 870 is also now out: the guy says he would probably need to shorten the barrel to get adequate wall thickness, which in my case would end up loosing the front rifle sight.
I’ll hang tight until after putting several dozen turkey loads through the gun at the match in 1-1/2 weeks, then see whether it will take field loads and decide further action accordingly.
Well, this appears to confirm my situation (mine is a 21-inch “special purpose”) and may finally lay the matter to rest.
If true, then the gun is performing exactly as it was designed to and I likely cannot expect much change.
This gun is something other than I thought it was at the time I bought it. Likewise, the person I bought it from apparently didn’t know as much about it as I thought he did.
I’m rather bummed…
Sorry to hear about that…if I were still working behind a counter I would have told you to buy the Winchester version of the Gold.
Anyway to sell the thing and start over?
I appreciate that, my good friend. Your knowledge and sound judgement are truly missed.
And good question. The one thing I have definitely received from all this is an edjamucation. I now feel I have a reasonably firm knowledge of the Remington shotgun design and variations, which have their limitations.
To wit: I could have got a gun with the pressure-compensated barrel (and can still swap-out for) that will handle both the light and heavy loads, but these aren’t available in every conceivable configuration. Other than the compensation feature, they generally are set-up for light-load sports (skeet, small game, etc.), being longer and with vent ribs, and lacking the rifle sights I definitely need for accurate slug shots in 3-gun. I could get a smith to customize a barrel for me, but cost is already $200-$250 for just the barrel, and I don’t want this to become a drawn-out money pit.
That being the case, what I ended up with may by-luck be about the closest to the mark needed for 3-gun, within the range of options Remington provides. This gun will definitely do the job on the steel, albeit somewhat overkill with the heavy loads that it is limited to – and which are expensive ! ! ! The next match is now just a little over a week away, so I’ll be taking it then at least, along with a small mint of ammo.
Beyond that I’m not sure. I still wince at the Winchester price tags. I understand that FN and Browning make essentially equivalent models? I’ll definitely be checking into whatever options are out there.
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ETA:
Winchester SX2 Practical Mk II ~$1,100
FN SLP Mk I ~$900
Randy I’ve never opened up the ports on a Remington myself. A good friend of mine (who’s a member here and a Remington armorer) with a lot of experience with Remington shotguns had this list of gas port sizes for 1100s-11-87s. It’s a chart on port sizes of the Remington gas guns. Since you said yours measures .0820" (this is the same as the 21" Special Purpose deer) it seems that the ports are small because it’s made to work with full power slugs and buckshot. It appears that if you open them up to the next size up .1160" (same as the 26" Field, it would likely work), maybe even a tad bigger than .1160" since your barrel is shorter than the 26" Field. If you do open the ports up shooting heavy full power buckshot and slub loads will be harder on the gun.
I’d still check with Benny Hill or John Paul before modifying.
Thanks Robb. That’s an option, but clearly with some risks. I would definitely want to talk to someone experienced before drilling anything. Could end up turning it into a rifle-sighted skeet-only gun. :eek:
I’ll go ahead and try it as-is at the next match, and then see where my thoughts lay.
Might also start looking around for who carries that Winchester. Does VA Arms?
We can’t get anything Winchester right now, we do transfers if you find a Gold or SX2 online from like Gun Broker or something, I did a search and found a new SX2 Practical for $850 on GB (it expires in about 4hrs from now).
I see four there, all from well rated sellers and at a lot lower prices than MSRP – like WAY lower – which I wonder why…
Never done GB before, although I’ve heard good things, but also not sure I’m ready to move quick enough for any of these. Hopefully this is a popular enough model to be generally available.
Here’s some interesting threads on the Brian Enos forum for 1100 & 11-87 tuning:
http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=55841
http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=53216
That is correct info. FNH/Browning/Winchester Arms are all part of the same parent company now. The FNH SLP’s and Winchester Practical SX2’s are “tactical/practical” versions of the Browning Gold series shotgun. They come with interchangeable gas pistons- one for light loads and one for heavy/magnum loads.
GB is good to go. Use some common sense. Just like Ebay- read users ratings and buy from dealers whenever possible. We may be able to help one another- I have a brand new FNH SLP Mark I (Never fired) I need to unload. I’ll take the hit to the pocketbook to get rid of it. Send me a PM if interested.
I was in Degoff’s the other day and they had a couple SX2’s w/ 24" barrels at pretty good prices. They are sitting on the shelf at the door in boxes. Gander Mountain in Fredericksburg had 3 with the red stocks and 28" barrels at around $400.00.
Well I discovered yesterday that the 11-87 will eat Rem. Express with complete reliability, which is less costly both to the wallet and the shoulder than those Federal turkey loads. I already have 50 rounds of the latter on-hand for the match though, so will probably go ahead and use them up. At least I can then use something a little more manageable at later matches.
Also got the sights zero’d in with 1 oz. slugs to 100 yards, so should be GTG for a week from today.
So not entirely a does-it-all gun in the same sense as a pump?
I appreciate the steer, but am not sure how keen I am there at this point…
Not a “steer”, just a heads up. I met a fellow in the parking lot for a purchase. I was looking around and noticed them.
Done a few FTF’s there myself. 
Well after 50 rounds, the 11-87’s gas ports didn’t look dirty at all.
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The same couldn’t be said for the piston and mag tube. Just took a quick wipe to remove though.
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Some interesting stuff on the Winchester et. al. piston. From their web site:
The Active Valve system consists of a gas piston with an internal valve that self adjusts to fire a wide range of loads. The gas piston and valve operate independently, exerting less pressure on the piston for greater longevity and efficiency than other gas-operated autoloaders. With light loads, most of the gases from the fired shell are used to operate the action. With heavy loads, excess gases are vented from the piston. When firing the heaviest magnum loads in 3 1/2" models a portion of the gases are also vented forward out of the Quadra-Vent™ ports in the forearm for maximum efficiency. 3" models fire everything from light, 1 oz., 2 3/4" target loads to 3" magnums, while 3 1/2" guns handle loads from 1 1/8 oz., 2 3/4" field loads up to heavy 3 1/2" magnums.
The Browning and FN web sites have almost identical descriptions, but only FN says anything about two separate pistons:
Two interchangeable gas pistons are included, allowing the operator to fine-tune the FN SLP for a wider range of functional reliability
I’d optimally like a gas-op semi-auto that – like a pump – will eat anything without having to stop to switch-out components.
Well, the 11-87 spun like a top at Saturday’s 3-gun match – I was running entirely hi-brass (Rem. Express).
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I have a barrel clamp and sling, but left them off during the match to keep from marring the barrel until deciding whether to keep the gun.
Interestingly, two of the three SX2’s that I saw in use there were having major problems, although all three of these shooters were trying to run lo-brass. I was told of finickiness among different ammo brands, FTE’s with aluminum bases versus brass, etc. I also confirmed that the Winchester like the FN is a two-piston arrangement, to be switched out depending upon load.
To the original question behind this thread: I don’t know if this 11-87 will ever “break in” enough to be reliable with lo-brass, but it seems to be fitting the bill needed for these matches, so I think now I will try to stay with it at least through this season.
Thanks for everyone’s interest and input. 