Chamber and shot length?

B

baddarryl

New member
If I throw a barrel with a 3 inch chamber on my 1100 that now shoots 2 3/4 does that mean I can shoot 3 inch shot with it? Will this also allow me to shoot magnum loads or not? Thank you.
 
You can shoot 3" mag loads with the new barrel, but not 3-and-a-half inch mag shells. Found some Winchester 3" mag buckshot loads (15 pellets instead of 9) at Wallmart that are a lot of fun to shoot.
 
You can shoot them, but the ejection port in your receiver might be too short. The empties might catch once the end of the shell has opened up. Maybe find a fired 3 inch shell and see if it will eject correctly before getting the new barrel.
 
My ejection port is 3" end to end. Thanks for that thought. I just held a spent 2 3/4 to it and there is no way it seems that anything longer would eject as the forward end of the port is rounded and has just enough clearance for that. Thanks everyone.
 
The ONLY differences between a standard 1100 and a 3" Magnum model are the barrel (which has only one gas port), the action sleeve, the Magnums came with a recoil pad, and the rollmarking. A Remington 3" chambered Steel Shot barrel was designed for shooting steel loads on a 2-3/4" receiver. They did not recommend shooting 3" lead. Of course now Remington has apparently changed their recommendations, but my Steel Shot barrel says that right on it. I have had one for over 20 years and it works fine. I would advise keeping an eye on the buffer, and don't expect it to cycle light loads.
 
There is another difference - that of the strength of the recoil spring - beating it to death with greater loads will beat the receiver to death without changing the springs
 
Both 2-3/4 and 3-inch shot shells have the same SAAMI maximum allowable pressure. So, a 3-inch barrel is safe in a receiver originally equipped with a 2-3/4-inch barrel. Flawless shell handling is another question. The newer 3-1/2-inch 12-ga shells have a significantly higher maximum allowable pressure -- don't try to fit a 3-1/2-inch barrel in an action originally fitted with shorter chambered barrel.
 
baddarryl,

There is NO dimensional differences in the ejection ports of the 1100 and 1100m. Both are 3 3/32" in L.

If you don't mind me asking, what are you hunting that requires the "3 shell over 2 3/4"? Or have you just got access to a 3" bbl. with a different fixed choke you want to use?
 
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There is absolutely no difference between the action springs on 1100s. Look at the parts list. One spring. The ejector is on the barrel tang, so if you shoot loads that will cycle the action, there are no shell handling issues.
 
The longer shell can carry a bigger payload but it is shot pattern that makes the biggest difference and you should always pattern your shotgun for different types of ammo. Early steel loads required a longer shell to make up for the lighter steel shot but If your a hand loader you can use some of the newer and much denser shot materials that duplicate lead in both density and shot size. You can probably hand load load 2 3/4 shells that work as good or better than most 3" factory loads. Some of the new denser commercial shot materials do pattern very well in most guns but it pays to see how they do in your gun. You may find that it works best with a 2 3/4 load. It is all about the pattern at your normal maximum shooting range when fired from YOUR gun.
 
Shortwave, you got it. I was looking at a 3 inch barrel with full choke for Turkey's. Still might do it, but got a Mossberg 535 combo for Mr. Tom just today. May leave the 1100 alone and just use it for skeet, dove, etc.

So the verdict is that my receiver will shoot 3 inch shells with the right barrel?
 
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