Type Shotgun Used by See Users Produced 1987 | Place of origin United States Manufacturer Remington Arms | |
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Designer Wayne Leek (Model 1100) | ||
The Remington 11-87 is a semi-automatic shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms. It is based on the Remington 1100 and was first announced in 1987.
The 11-87 is a gas operated semi-automatic (autoloading) shotgun, meaning that some of the high-pressure gases from the burning gunpowder are diverted through two small holes in the underside of the barrel. The gases force a piston (and the bolt) toward the rear of the shotgun, which in turn ejects the spent shell. A spring then forces the bolt forward, sending a new shell from the magazine into the chamber. This gas operation has the effect of reducing the recoil felt by the shooter, since the total recoil energy is spread out over a longer period of time than would be the case with fixed breech shotguns.
The 11-87 incorporates a self-compensating gas system design, which allows the gun to operate with every type of load, from light 2 ¾" to 3" Magnum shells without any shooter adjustments. It is manufactured in two different gauges: 20 and 12, and both will cycle 2 ¾" and 3" shells.
Some 11-87 shotguns, especially those with barrels shorter than 26", or Magnum models, may have issues cycling light target and birdshot loads consistently. The 12 gauge 3-1/2" SuperMag and 20 gauge Magnum models come with an extra component on the magazine tube called a "barrel seal activator" that helps cycle lighter loads. Failure to remove the barrel seal activator before firing 2 3/4" magnum, 3", and 3 1/2" loads may bring pressure to dangerous levels which could damage the gun.
Recently, a Super Magnum version has been introduced to operate with the newer 3 ½" 12 gauge shells. Some 11-87s have interchangeable screw-in chokes, although barrels are available with fixed chokes. Most barrels are not interchangeable between 1100 and 11-87 models. Barrel lengths range from the police 14 in (360 mm) to 30 in (760 mm).
The weapon found widespread notoriety when a sound-suppressed version of it was used by the main antagonist in the Coen brothers' film No Country for Old Men, based on the Cormac McCarthy novel.