1100 magnum not cycling 2 3/4 # 9 shot

[Sonny]

I recently bought a used 1100 3" 12 gauge magnum. I want to use the gun for waterfowl and skeet so I called Remington and asked if I bought a 2 3/4 inch barrel, would the gun cycle the light 2 3/4 " #9 target loads. They said "sure" so I bought a replacement barrel from Cabelas for $230.00. I attached the new 2 3/4 inch barrel to the gun and tried a few rounds but the gun would not cycle the 2 3/4 " light #9 Remington target loads (our local skeet range mandates #9 shot). I tried replacing the rubber gas O ring but no luck. Is there anything I can do to get this gun to cycle the light #9 shot loads in the 3" receiver? A local gunsmith said he could drill out the gas port but I want to exhaust all other avenues before he starts drilling out a two month old barrel.

[Virginian]

There's more to it than just 2-3/4" #9 loads. What's the velocity/dram equivalent, pressure of the loads?
Have you given the gun a thorough cleaning? Note, a new action spring will not help.
But, I would tend to agree, the gun certainly should cycle about anything with a 2-3/4" barrel. I have had 4 Model 1100 12 gauge Magnums and one 20 Magnum that would/will with the 2-3/4" barrel. Check the port sizes. If you only plan to use the barrel for target work, you could drill the ports out to "target" size, which is slightly larger than a field barrel.
I have always been more worried about heavy 2-3/4" loads in the 2-3/4" barrel with the Magnum action sleeve.

[Sonny]

Virginian,

They are 2 3/4 DRAM equiv. / 1145 FPS velocity. I Cleaned the gun thoroughly right after I bought it. I did ntoice something odd and this may be the reason. Are the gas rings usually split? Both of them are split and I'm wondering if that's normal. It would make sense that the split in the ring would allow gas to bypass.

[Virginian]

They are supposed to be split, and the splits are to be installed 180 degrees apart. Those old gas rings that mate on a bevel are better than the new snap together kind, so don't fall in to that trap. Those are pretty weak loads. I would step up some and see if that does it. You could also get a standard action sleeve, that ought to help, too. I can't offer much help because I have never seen one that wouldn't eat about anything with the 2-3/4" barrel on it, down to 3/4 ounce handloads even.

[Sonny]

Thanks Virginian. The gun club that I belong to (Izaak Walton League in Leesburg VA) mandates the light 2 3/4 dram loads. I brought the gun to a local gunsmith and he said the factory gas port was under spec (about .001 too small). He is going to drill it to spec and see what happens.

[Virginian]

He must be really really good to be able to measure to one thousandth of an inch, and drill it just that much too !
Anyway, for reference, a skeet ports are supposed to be 0.086", and a standard 1100 field or trap ports are supposed to be 0.079". Magnum should be 0.073".

[Sonny]

That's good information to know. He said that if you drill greater than .081 it might create too much gas pressure for the receiver and possibly inflict damage to the gun. I may be out of luck to shoot the light #9 shot with this gun.

[Virginian]

Well, I have shot who knows how many 1-1/8 ounce standard skeet loads out of a Skeet barrel, but with the standard action sleeve, with no ill effects. Gun is still going strong after 47 years. If you get a standard sleeve I think you would be fine, but with oversized ports, don't go back to shooting 2-3/4" Magnums..