Remington 1100 receiver part missing! Is it dangerous?

[Wabash]

I just purchased a used 12 ga. "1100" from an individual at a gun show. I didn't notice until I took the gun apart to clean it that the "guide pin" on the left inside of the receiver that fits in the slot of the barrel to allign the barrel properly, was missing. Without the forearm attached the barrel wiggles quite a bit, but with forearm attached and tightened, the barrel is tight and snug. Is this a dangerous situation to use the gun in this condition, and where and how can this be fixed? Thank you in advance for your consideration.

[Virginian]

I think the worst that would happen is that the components would get out of alignment and the gun would not function. But, I would definitely get it fixed. It's been a long time, but I believe those alignment pins/studs are pressed into the receiver wall from the inside.

[Wabash]

I contacted the Remington FAQ help section, and was informed that the missing barrel guide stud was for helping align the barrel during installation. Once the barrel is inserted properly into the receiver, the stud serves no further purpose. Therefore, it is NOT dangerous to operate the firearm without the stud in place.

[Virginian]

Where does what you got from the FAQ differ from what I told you?

[Wabash]

When someone begins a response with "I think", I consider the response an opinion, whereas the Remington factory answer was considered by me as a fact.

[Virginian]

Fair enough. When the extractor gets broken, I think you should have gotten it fixed.

[Wabash]

I'm sorry, there seems to be some misunderstanding on your part. There was no broken extractor on my 1100. The barrel guide stud, which allows for easier insertion and alignment of the barrel into the receiver, was missing. I didn't know if this would result in a dangerous situation. I was assured by Remington that it would not, in any way, interfere with the normal operation of the firearm. I appoligize for not submitting a more comprehensible post. I absolutely do agree with your shell extractor statement.

[Virginian]

No problem. What I meant was that, although there is no safety issue because the gun will not fire unless the bolt is locked into the barrel extension, if there is a slight misalignment when the bolt comes flying back into battery, it will almost surely break the extractor, because there isn't that much extra room in the slot where the extractor is supposed to go. I do not know why those barrel studs seem to get broken so easily, because there shouldn't be significant load on them when the gun is fully assembled, but I have seen several broken, and several broken extractors to go with them. But, I have also seen broken extractors without any alignment stud issues; in fact that is the only part I have ever had outright fail in 45 years.