Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns 1100 Project Gun Question

I ran across a used 1100 today for $225.00. It had a really nice vent rib 28" mod. barrel and the forearm is perfect and nice looking. The receiver had some pitting and a goodly amount of finish missing like someone had removed the rust that caused the pitting. The buttstock looked nice but a little of the toe and buttplate were busted off. I'm sure a newer buttstock would be no problem to find. I've never owned an 1100 but I was wondering if it would be worth picking up as a project?

I used to have an 1100, I like it very much.

I think if you decided to sell it you could get your money back.

i love my rem. 1100s. they are all over 15 years and just a great all around gun..

Swampman-700, I own 4 of those 1100 Remingtons and I think they are indeed a very good semi-auto. The 1187 is heavier built and weighs more but the 1100 is my pick for a light weight upland gun or rabbit gun.

To anwer your question is the stock straight as in English or other wise?

The weak part of the 1100 is in shooting heavy loads, especially if they are handloads. The 1187 is better in that case.

i have an 1100 in an LT20....fine shotguns. 225 is a pretty decent price busted or not. i would snatch it up if it were me..

Just guessing, but by the time you buy a new walnut butt-stock and have the receiver polished and reblued, you will have as much in it as waiting to find the same gun in better original condition.

Odessa +1. A clean 1100 can be had for under $400. Also the checkering design on 1100's changed over the years so it may take some hustle to find the right butt stock for your forend. The stocks can be a bit pricy too.

Swampy, by the time you are done buying stocks and polishing and re-bluing you'll have more money into it than it's worth. Make damn sure you check the reciever for cracks as they were notorious for cracking. Sometimes the cracks are hard to see so inspect it very carefully if you seriously think you are going to buy it.

The 1100 goes a long time before the internals need attention. I have seen only one that required replacement internal parts, that was heavily used (not well taken care of) skeet 12g. Had to replace the action bars/slide unit, broke off/cracked at the base and a polymer recoil gasket. Functioned fine after a complete dissamble/soak/cleaning. Even with thousands of rounds through, the receiver, bolt, and magazine tube were in fine condition (and this one did not get much 'cleaning' over the years).

Project guns can be fun, sometimes they can be more expensive than just buying a gun that needs less work.

That said, my 1100 12g fixed choke barrel is 35 years old and functions like the day I brought it home.

Bingo...I went thru that drill a few years ago and had to pay pretty good money for a foreend and buttstock that matched. Swampy knows no better so will throw bad after bad money on a low grade semi