1100 20ga LW failed to fire!

[32WINSPL]

Howdy;
          Just something to share with you all. Bought a used Remington 1100, 20 gauge Light Weight. I believe it was made in the late 70's or mide 80's. It is a bit beat up but I have fired about 2 boxes of shells throught since I brought it home. Just shooting at paper. It would not cycle light loads, 7/8 oz 1200 fps variety but works fine with the Remington Sureshot Heavy Dove loads. It would not cycle Federal 1 oz loads, they even jammed and would not extract! Sureshot worked fine though, until last week.
             Went Grouse hunting and flushed a bird. I took the safety off and got on the partridge, lead a bit and slapped the trigger. Darned thing didn't go bang. I thought it was a miss fire so waited 30 seconds before doing anything. You see, when I pulled the trigger I heard what sounded like the firering pin striking the primer, a loud metallic "ting". next opened the action and examined the hull. The primer showed no denting or strike marks. I tried shooting into the ground two more times with the same result: "Ting" instead of "Bang". Guess I'll have to take her to a gunsmith.

             I have friend who calls Remington Shotguns "Browning Factory Seconds". He owns a shoots an 11-87, never had a problem with it. Waterfowl, rabbits, deer, it just shoots.

                                                                           BC

[Val]

Perhaps you should take it to a competent gun smith and have him go over it. It may have had poor maintenance over the years since you state it's pretty beat up. I just bought a 20 gauge Remy 1100 LT and it's a great shotgun.

[jvs]

I picked up a 50+ yr old 12 guage pump shotgun for $20 because the guy said it wouldn't fire.  He was out on a cold day with rifled slugs and drew a bead on a deer and nothing happened when he pulled the trigger.

The thing was so caked with dirt and sludge inside that the firing pin could not hit the primer with enough force to set the round off.  It seems that whoever owned it before me never bothered to clean it, possibly for 50 years.

After a good soaking and digging out the dirt with a toothpick, that shotgun has never misfired.

I dont mind rescueing old guns, especially from people who don't know how to take care of them.

Your 20 gauge may just need a real good cleaning.  You never know, the firing pin could be worn out or broken but you wont know that until you take it apart of have a gunsmith do it.

[schutzen]

An inspection by a good gunsmith is an excellent idea.  As a 1100/11-87 shooter several things come to mind: 1) a good through cleaning {pay attention to the gas ports}  2) Have your gunsmith inspect the barrel, in my area it has been very popular to extend 1100 chambers to 3" and enlarge the gas port to make a "youth" waterfowl gun.  Not all conversions are performed by "compentent" gunsmiths and many fail to cycle with anything but 3" shells. {A new barrel is the cure.} 3)  Check the "O" rings or better yet just replace them.  Many shooters just spray them down with Gun Scrubber or other solvents, it does not take long to ruin the "O" rings.

Good luck, when you get the bugs worked out, you'll enjoy the 1100 20 ga. I love mine for dove, quail, skeet, and trap ( yes trap, 20 yard trap with a 20 ga is fun)

[bobelk99]

No one will disagree with the gunsmith inspection recommendation.
The bolt is likely 'full of' gunk. If the gun has not been torn down routinely, residue from overzealous oiling will build up if the gun is stored in a vertical storage position. Problem is worse as temperature is lower.