Type Shotgun In service 1949-1968 Wars Vietnam War
Korean War | Place of origin United States Used by United States | |
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Designer L. Ray Critendon, Ellis Hailston, and C.R. Johnson | ||
The Remington 11-48 is a semi-automatic shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms as the first of the "New Generation" semi-autos produced after World War II. The Model 11-48 was released as the replacement for Remington's Model 11. It was manufactured from 1949 to 1968 and was produced in 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauge and .410 variations.
Contents
Design
The 11-48 is a long-recoil operated semi-automatic shotgun based on the Remington Model 11. Shells are stored in a tubular magazine under the barrel. When a chambered shell is fired, the barrel and bolt recoiling together (for a distance greater than the shell length) re-cock the hammer, eject the spent shell, and feed another shell from the magazine into the action.
The 11-48 was revolutionary in that it ushered in stamped steel components for a lower cost of assembly, and featured truly interchangeable parts not requiring fitting by a gunsmith, and it was reliable in the extreme. The impact of these changes can be seen on every Remington shotgun since, and is also prevalent on competitor's models. The 11-48 differs from the Model 11 in the shape of its machined steel receiver and the use of less expensive stamped steel internal parts. The new easily removable aluminum trigger housing was to be featured on its successors, the 1100 and the 11-87.
Like the Model 11, the gun operated by way of two return springs. The first, located in the buttstock, serves as the resistance to the bolt. The second spring, located over the magazine tube, serves as the barrel recoil spring, allowing the barrel to recoil several inches into the receiver. The 11-48 differs from the Model 11 in the friction ring placed at the forward end of the barrel recoil spring. The Model 11 had a brass friction ring with one blunt end and one beveled end. The ring fit into a corresponding cut in the barrel underlug. For heavy loads, the ring was turned with the beveled end facing the lug. For lighter loads, the blunt end was turned to face the lug. The 11-48 features a similar friction ring system but is modified to be self-adjusting so as to work with all loads.
Sportsman '48
The Sportsman '48 is a variation introduced to comply with various US hunting laws. It came with a crimped magazine tube that allowed it to be loaded with only two shells in the magazine. One additional round placed in the chamber brought its total capacity to three shells. It came in 12, 16, and 20 gauge variations. The dimples pressed into the magazine tube can be removed with a round file from the inside, allowing the magazine to accept 4 shells instead of just 2.
Combat Use
Small numbers were purchased by soldiers for use in Korea. Also small numbers were again purchased by soldiers and fielded in Vietnam by the USMC.