remington 11-87 help

[aTm papi]

I bought a used Remington 11-87 from Cabela's used gun rack. The problem I seem to be having is with the action. I load two shells through the bottom, and I pull back on the operating handle. This is where the action remains in the open position, and it doesn't close. It'll close sometimes when you do this, but not all the time. When it doesn't close, I then have to depress the release button and it closes. I shot 75 shells last weekend, and I never had any problems with the shells ejecting. So this seems to be just a loading issue. Can anybody shed some light on this? Should I just return the shotgun to have it repaired? Thanks in advance!

 

[Goatwhiskers]

It's normal, don't worry about it. Actually if it closes by itself the carrier latch may be a little weak, but nothing to worry about. Goatwhiskers the Elder

 

[zippy13]

It's normal, don't worry about it. Actually if it closes by itself the carrier latch may be a little weak, but nothing to worry about.

I beg to differ, it's not normal -- that's not the way 11-87s are supposed to function! Although many auto-loaders are similar in appearances, they don't all load the same way. aTm papi's loading procedures aren't those recommended by Remington for the 11-87. If you don't have an Owner's Manual, download one from Remington by clicking here.

Like the 1100, the way the 11-87 is constructed, the condition where the bolt is locked back normally occurs only when the magazine tube is empty. Think about how the 11-87 normally operates: when it's fired the bolt opens and the freshly fired hull is ejected. The bolt then has two options: If the magazine tube is empty, then it locks in the rear position (ready to be loaded). Or, if there is a shell in the magazine, it doesn't lock, and returns forward loading the next round.

The recommended loading procedure is to load the first shell through the ejection port opening with the bolt locked back. With your fingers clear of the opening, push upward on the carrier release and the action will snap closed. The first round is now loaded, for additional rounds, load from the bottom and into the mag tube. (The official Remington version includes using the safety button.)

The way you load two from the bottom, then you have to manually retard and release the bolt to move the first shell from the mag to the chamber. Doing this by hand is dynamically different than when the gun does it automatically -- you are essentially "soft shucking" an auto-loader (and look like a total newby in the process). Watch any experienced Remington shooter load a 1100 or 11-87, it's always one in the port then hit the release.

 

[Goatwhiskers]

You're talking about loading procedure, or "combat loading" vs. loading thru the bottom. I'm talking about the mechanical function of the gun. Goat

 

[halfmile]

remmy auto

manually operating the bolt does not let the shell come out and hit the carrier latch assembly firmly, which is what closes the bolt during cycling.

You are holding onto the bolt when the shell comes out of the tube and hits the latch, hence no release.

just put the first shell in the port and hit the button. The other 3 million 1100/1187 owners do it that way. Then stuff the tube.

HM

 

[zippy13]

Earlier Remington autos are loaded in the same manner as the 1100/11-87s. A difference being the Model 11-48 (& Sportsman-'48) have the Carrier Release Button on the side of the receiver. The old "hump-back"(Browning patent) Remington Model-11 had a side button, too; but, it was known as the Carrier Latch (not Release) Button.

There was a difference with the earlier Remington auto-loaders: they had an additional un-loading feature. With all models, the guns can be unloaded by repeatedly cycling the bolt until the gun is empty. However, with the Model-11 and the Model 11-48, it was possible to unload the magazine without first unloading the one in the barrel (you could change your second shot's load if you wished). The procedure is described in the Owners' Manuals.

As I mentioned previously, not all auto-loading shotguns are the same. My neighbor has an old Savage based on the Browning design. With that shotgun, loading is, as Goatwhiskers prefers, with all rounds going in via the bottom (later versions permitted port loading). Perhaps it was with a similar shotgun that he developed his loading habits.

The bottom line: First, read your particular shotgun's owner's manual front to back.