Pump shotguns…. Useless?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

emapples

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
Apr 14, 2010
Messages
4,661
Reaction score
3,939
Location
Arrow Repaired
My 11-87 will cycle field loads from Federal...but not Winchester. Don't know why. Haven't tried others.
Its junk that’s why, I sold my 11-87 super mag (like new) because of all the issues they have when compared to the modern gas shotguns…….Benelli, Beretta or Browning you should own one of these instead it was a hard realization that grandpas shotgun no longer measures up if you must by Remington make it a Versmax
 

emapples

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
Apr 14, 2010
Messages
4,661
Reaction score
3,939
Location
Arrow Repaired
My first shotgun bought back in about 75' was a new semi auto vent rib 2 3/4" 12 ga. Remington 1100 with a fixed modified choke.

I killed a boxcar load of pheasants with the 1100 up in Kansas while I was living in Wichita and working on McConnell AFB and lost it in Marion Resivoir when a boat over turned during my first failed attempt at duck hunting.

I replaced the 1100 a couple of weeks later with a brand new semi auto vent rib Browning Humpback A5 2 3/4" 12 ga. that I still have and use to this day......I was able to take a few ducks with it last season.

Not a thing wrong with either one but I guess there are pump guys and there are semi auto guys....I'm a semi auto guy.

Winter 2021 duck season pic with my made in 1978 Browning A5.

View attachment 304822

View attachment 304823
Oh there is a thing wrong with Remingtons, you chooses wisely shotgun manufactures that you’d hold own all start with a B for some off reason. Benelli, Browning, Beretta the rest is B team. The only one to make a decent one lately
 

Foxfire5

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
Jun 13, 2022
Messages
836
Reaction score
538
Location
Caldwell, IDAHO
Pump-action shotguns have been pumping and shucking for over 100 years. They will work if you do your part behind the trigger.

Semi-auto shotguns are great. If you should ever need to do a mag dump, they will do that quicker than a pump gun.

I don’t have the need for a semi-auto 12ga. for home defense (or hunting). While I understand that a Beretta 1301 or any of the Benelli family are great for such, I just don’t think Edmond will be invaded by any pesky commies anytime soon where one of those (expensive) auto-loaders will work better than my 20” Mossberg 590A1, my late father’s Winchester M12 with a REALLY open choke or even my Jim Finch tuned Stoeger Coach gun. Besides, I would likely grab an AR or my CMMG Banshee before I grabbed a shotgun.

That said, the shotgun I keep loaded 24/7 is the Coach gun. I don’t have to worry about mag springs getting fatigued. Don’t have to worry about operator error and short stroking. It’s compact and swings easy. It will do.

View attachment 305246
I have Stoeger coach gun by the front door. I Shot a ground hog at 25 yards Wednesday and not much to see! Love that little shotgun.
 

OK Corgi Rancher

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
May 14, 2020
Messages
7,282
Reaction score
22,870
Location
Greater Francis, OK metropolitan area
Its junk that’s why...

That's just a ridiculous thing to say for a gun that's been in continuous production for 35 years (so you must have a really young grandpa). It's universally regarded as a very reliable shotgun. Mine's been perfect with the exception of certain light field loads...a round for which this model was never intended. As a matter of fact it shouldn't cycle light loads at all but will with some Federal loads. I don't know why that is (it shouldn't but it does) because I bought it new and it hasn't been modified. The model may be showing it's age but to say it's junk is not even close to reality.

YOU may not like it and you may have even scored one with problems. That doesn't translate to the others. I've also never had to change O-rings that some claim are so problematic. Big deal. It's cheap and it's easy...like changing a recoil spring in most any handgun.

Furthermore, mine is a Police (also called the "Special Purpose") model. It has a different gas system than the standard 11-87 (or the port is different, at least) and with the standard barrel it's specifically designed only for heavy loads like buckshot and slugs. And with those it's an excellent performer and has never failed. I've heard some say the 11-87P won't cycle unless fired from a well-supported position. I've never tried to verify this.

The standard model is also 1/2 to 1/3 the price (or even less) than some of the models you mentioned and not everyone has that sort of budget.

Few things are more irritating than people who confuse their opinions with fact.

ETA: I forgot to mention that I believe the 11-87P was discontinued by Remington many years ago...maybe around 2008 or thereabouts. I'd have to look it up to be sure.
 
Last edited:

Foxfire5

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
Jun 13, 2022
Messages
836
Reaction score
538
Location
Caldwell, IDAHO
That's just a ridiculous thing to say for a gun that's been in continuous production for 35 years (so you must have a really young grandpa). It's universally regarded as a very reliable shotgun. Mine's been perfect with the exception of certain light field loads...a round for which this model was never intended. As a matter of fact it shouldn't cycle light loads at all but will with some Federal loads. I don't know why that is (it shouldn't but it does) because I bought it new and it hasn't been modified. The model may be showing it's age but to say it's junk is not even close to reality.

YOU may not like it and you may have even scored one with problems. That doesn't translate to the others. I've also never had to change O-rings that some claim are so problematic. Big deal. It's cheap and it's easy...like changing a recoil spring in most any handgun.

Furthermore, mine is a Police (also called the "Special Purpose") model. It has a different gas system than the standard 11-87 (or the port is different, at least) and with the standard barrel it's specifically designed only for heavy loads like buckshot and slugs. And with those it's an excellent performer and has never failed. I've heard some say the 11-87P won't cycle unless fired from a well-supported position. I've never tried to verify this.

The standard model is also 1/2 to 1/3 the price (or even less) than some of the models you mentioned and not everyone has that sort of budget.

Few things are more irritating than people who confuse their opinions with fact.

ETA: I forgot to mention that I believe the 11-87P was discontinued by Remington many years ago...maybe around 2008 or thereabouts. I'd have to look it up to be sure.
Having a pump shotgun is better than throwing rocks!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom