Well, you won't find a factory made 3" Model 1100 post 1986, because they quit making them when they introduced the 11-87. And they started making RemChokes about the same time, so no go on that either.
There is nothing wrong with Remington quality. They started making the Express around 1986, and they make it to sell for a cheaper price, and it looks it. It is not a Wingmaster or an 1100 or an 11-87. A lot of people complain because it isn't a Wingmaster for hundreds less. But, they have made some cheap 1100s and 11-87s too, so just take care. The cheap ones have the same basic design, but tend to have some rough edges. A rough flat black finish is a good clue. I have yet to see one with an issue that couldn't be made to run fine, however.
If you get an older Model 1100 in 3" Magnum, it will likely not cycle light 2-3/4" loads. Some will go all the way down to 1-1/4 ounce loads, but most won't. You can buy an 1100 Steel Shot barrel that comes with RemChokes and a 3" chamber. For many years Remington sold that barrel for use with 3" Steel on 2-3/4" receivers, and mine says that right on it, but lately they have changed their tune, probably for liability reasons.
An 11-87 is 99% an 1100, it just has a gas compensation system that allows it to shoot everything from 3" mags down to 2-3/4" field loads with no problems, so that is probably the way to go. I think the earlier Premier models with polished blue and wood were the best looking.
So, you probably need to look for a good 2-3/4" 1100 and get a Steel Shot barrel, or get an 11-87 for your planned uses. There is nothing to look out for other than the usual when looking at used guns. I love 1100s, and have for 49 years.
Examining a used 1100
Re: Examining a used 1100
What could have happened... did.
Re: Examining a used 1100
Any RemChoke barrel will be okay for steel or anything else, just make sure it says for Steel on the choke tube itself. They make steel rated tubes in every constriction.
1100s came in standard and Magnum, and there was a limit to what each could cycle. All years from 1963 to the present are about the same except for cosmetics. The G3 was really an 11-87 under the skin. Keep in mind that before the 1100, almost no autoloaders would even cycle all 2-3/4" loads without some adjustments. I have never had any problems with my 2-3/4" 1100s cycling anything. The 11-87 was one of the first guns to cycle 3" and 2-3/4" without any adjustments. Gander Mountain used to drill a second port in 1100 Magnum barrels and tap it for an Allen screw so you could switch back and forth. I thought that was a pretty fair solution.
A 2-3/4" barrel will work on a 3" receiver, too.
The only real differences between an 1100 magnum and a standard are the barrel and the action sleeve. All the other parts are the same. The only real difference with the 11-87 is the barrel, which incorporates a gas bleed off system.
1100s came in standard and Magnum, and there was a limit to what each could cycle. All years from 1963 to the present are about the same except for cosmetics. The G3 was really an 11-87 under the skin. Keep in mind that before the 1100, almost no autoloaders would even cycle all 2-3/4" loads without some adjustments. I have never had any problems with my 2-3/4" 1100s cycling anything. The 11-87 was one of the first guns to cycle 3" and 2-3/4" without any adjustments. Gander Mountain used to drill a second port in 1100 Magnum barrels and tap it for an Allen screw so you could switch back and forth. I thought that was a pretty fair solution.
A 2-3/4" barrel will work on a 3" receiver, too.
The only real differences between an 1100 magnum and a standard are the barrel and the action sleeve. All the other parts are the same. The only real difference with the 11-87 is the barrel, which incorporates a gas bleed off system.
What could have happened... did.