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General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: Jimspur on May 08, 2021, 06:27:53 PM

Title: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: Jimspur on May 08, 2021, 06:27:53 PM
Hey Guys - I have a 3 inch chamber Remington 11-87 Special Purpose
with a 26" barrel that I bought new in 1990. The gun has had about
150 slugs and 300 2oz. turkey loads put through it, along with duck and
trap loads etc.
For the last 4-5 years the gun has started eating the brass up. I have my
theory about why but I'm not sure. I showed some of the brass to a local
gunsmith a few years ago and he kind of blew it off.
It has started getting worse this year. I want to get it fixed if possible.
The gun is still functioning perfectly. Look closely at the brass and you'll
see the dents on the edge and the dents in the middle of the flat part of
the brass between the edge and the primer pocket. It also dents the side of the brass as well. This is happening due to the shells being loaded and
unloaded in the gun during turkey season. What say you?
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: TKE921 on May 08, 2021, 07:18:58 PM
It is because of the overpowered mag spring and the two flat edges just behind the lifter.  Whenever I unload my 11-87 I always take the shells out of the magazine by pushing the release and taking them out of the bottom, then eject the chambered shell last.
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: Jimspur on May 08, 2021, 08:23:42 PM
Quote from: TKE921 on May 08, 2021, 07:18:58 PM
It is because of the overpowered mag spring and the two flat edges just behind the lifter.  Whenever I unload my 11-87 I always take the shells out of the magazine by pushing the release and taking them out of the bottom, then eject the chambered shell last.

That was my theory, that the magazine tube spring was too stiff and
slamming the shells into the interceptor latch and the feed latch.
I'll start unloading it like you said.
Thanks
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: Neill_Prater on May 08, 2021, 09:24:05 PM
I have the same gun, bought in the same time frame. Only difference is I switched barrels to a 21 incher.

Like most turkey hunters, I unload my gun far more often than I shoot it. Some shells through the years have probably been cycled dozens, if not hundreds of times, and I have never experienced damage such as shown in your pictures. I can't believe whatever is doing that isn't repairable.

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Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: Jimspur on May 08, 2021, 10:02:35 PM
Quote from: Neill_Prater on May 08, 2021, 09:24:05 PM
I have the same gun, bought in the same time frame. Only difference is I switched barrels to a 21 incher.

Like most turkey hunters, I unload my gun far more often than I shoot it. Some shells through the years have probably been cycled dozens, if not hundreds of times, and I have never experienced damage such as shown in your pictures. I can't believe whatever is doing that isn't repairable.

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Thanks Neill, I'm gonna get it checked out.
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: ShootingABN! on May 09, 2021, 11:20:13 AM
Quote from: TKE921 on May 08, 2021, 07:18:58 PM
It is because of the overpowered mag spring and the two flat edges just behind the lifter.  Whenever I unload my 11-87 I always take the shells out of the magazine by pushing the release and taking them out of the bottom, then eject the chambered shell last.

Yes Sir,
I've always unloaded the mag tube without cycling the shell through the barrel.
So to the OP try that. Let her eat.
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: fallhnt on May 09, 2021, 11:34:21 AM
I have one I bought in '89 and it dosen't want to eject anything but turkey loads now.

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Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: Jimspur on May 09, 2021, 11:57:46 AM
I will start unloading the mag tube before I eject the one out of the chamber. Thanks Guys!
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: Jimspur on May 09, 2021, 12:37:21 PM
I just went and loaded my gun and tried to get the shells out of the
mag tube before I ejected the one out of the chamber.
I wasn't able to do it because the carrier doesn't rise up high enough
to clear the brass. After I depress the feed latch the brass hits the carrier
and prevents the shell from coming out of the mag tube.
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: maddog3355 on May 09, 2021, 12:43:04 PM
Quote from: fallhnt on May 09, 2021, 11:34:21 AM
I have one I bought in '89 and it dosen't want to eject anything but turkey loads now.

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Have you replaced the O ring?
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: maddog3355 on May 09, 2021, 12:45:58 PM
I have a 11/87 that also does this and dents the sides of the brass some. 20 years ago I showed it to a gun smith and he said he could fix it but didn't say what parts needs changed.  He said it won't hurt anything so I keep on hunting with it.
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: Jimspur on May 09, 2021, 12:57:27 PM
Hey Maddog - I have replaced the o-ring but this happens to the shells
ejected by hand. I don't understand how some people can unload the
shells out of the magazine tube. My carrier is in the way on my gun.
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: fallhnt on May 09, 2021, 02:49:55 PM
Quote from: maddog3355 on May 09, 2021, 12:43:04 PM
Quote from: fallhnt on May 09, 2021, 11:34:21 AM
I have one I bought in '89 and it dosen't want to eject anything but turkey loads now.

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Have you replaced the O ring?
No,you think that's all it needs?

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Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: THattaway on May 10, 2021, 08:16:00 AM
That's not uncommon with 1187s, 12s and 20s. I've heard that the ejector claw can be worked/polished and fix the issue. Haven't done it myself, just been putting up with it.
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: TalknTurkey on May 10, 2021, 10:19:26 AM
I had an 870 SPS Shurshot that damaged the brass like that ever since I got it. I also had issues with it ejecting shells at times and it actually cost me a bird or two. I ended up getting rid of it and moving on to a different gun.
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: maddog3355 on May 10, 2021, 09:58:13 PM
Quote from: fallhnt on May 09, 2021, 02:49:55 PM
Quote from: maddog3355 on May 09, 2021, 12:43:04 PM
Quote from: fallhnt on May 09, 2021, 11:34:21 AM
I have one I bought in '89 and it dosen't want to eject anything but turkey loads now.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Have you replaced the O ring?
No,you think that's all it needs?

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That would be the first thing and cheapest thing I would try. Back when Remington was in business you could call them up and they would send you a couple for free.
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: ShootingABN! on May 10, 2021, 10:05:04 PM
Quote from: Jimspur on May 09, 2021, 12:37:21 PM
I just went and loaded my gun and tried to get the shells out of the
mag tube before I ejected the one out of the chamber.
I wasn't able to do it because the carrier doesn't rise up high enough
to clear the brass. After I depress the feed latch the brass hits the carrier
and prevents the shell from coming out of the mag tube.

One last trick. So my Ex Wifes 1100 20 youth turkey model.... It's really tight tolerances. When you push the carrier to the bolt, then press the piece on the side. Push the brass slightly inside the mag tube when it is being pushed out guide it out and away from the feed catch.... I had to do that with hers.... Because it was tight.... However I could still remove them from the mag tube without cycling them in the barrel.

Good luck.
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: Jimspur on May 10, 2021, 10:41:19 PM
Quote from: ShootingABN! on May 10, 2021, 10:05:04 PM
Quote from: Jimspur on May 09, 2021, 12:37:21 PM
I just went and loaded my gun and tried to get the shells out of the
mag tube before I ejected the one out of the chamber.
I wasn't able to do it because the carrier doesn't rise up high enough
to clear the brass. After I depress the feed latch the brass hits the carrier
and prevents the shell from coming out of the mag tube.

One last trick. So my Ex Wifes 1100 20 youth turkey model.... It's really tight tolerances. When you push the carrier to the bolt, then press the piece on the side. Push the brass slightly inside the mag tube when it is being pushed out guide it out and away from the feed catch.... I had to do that with hers.... Because it was tight.... However I could still remove them from the mag tube without cycling them in the barrel.

Good luck.


Thanks ABN - I will try that in the morning and report back. I replaced the magazine tube spring a year or two ago and I kept the old one. The newer one is 3 inches longer than the old one. The newer one sticks out of the tube 8 1/2 inches, and the old one sticks out of the tube 5 1/2 inches.
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: THattaway on May 11, 2021, 08:37:45 AM
It's the extractor. Out of specs slightly. O ring has nothing to do with it nor how you load or unload the gun. I'd look at grinding the grove out a little so that it's even with the bolt face or take it to a gunsmith for same. Good luck.
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: Jimspur on May 11, 2021, 09:59:22 AM
I just loaded and unloaded the gun by hand numerous times. It's not the extractor causing the marks. I took a brand new shell and chambered it and pulled the bolt back to unload it 5 times. It has no marks on it. What is causing the marks on the edge is the interceptor latch. I loaded the gun with 3 shells, one in the chamber and two in the magazine tube. When you pull the bolt back the one in the chamber goes out, the first one out of the magazine tube goes onto the carrier, and the last one in the magazine tube gets stopped from coming out of the tube by the interceptor latch.
The magazine tube spring pressure is slamming that last shell into the interceptor latch causing the denting on the edge. I had replaced the magazine tube spring a year or two ago and yesterday I put the older weaker one in there and the denting of the brass has been reduced by 50%. I also tried again to unload the magazine tube by hand by holding the gun upside down, pushing the carrier towards the bolt, releasing the feed latch, and trying to finagle the shell out of the magazine tube but it won't clear the carrier.
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: ShootingABN! on May 11, 2021, 02:09:16 PM
Quote from: Jimspur on May 11, 2021, 09:59:22 AM
I just loaded and unloaded the gun by hand numerous times. It's not the extractor causing the marks. I took a brand new shell and chambered it and pulled the bolt back to unload it 5 times. It has no marks on it. What is causing the marks on the edge is the interceptor latch. I loaded the gun with 3 shells, one in the chamber and two in the magazine tube. When you pull the bolt back the one in the chamber goes out, the first one out of the magazine tube goes onto the carrier, and the last one in the magazine tube gets stopped from coming out of the tube by the interceptor latch.
The magazine tube spring pressure is slamming that last shell into the interceptor latch causing the denting on the edge. I had replaced the magazine tube spring a year or two ago and yesterday I put the older weaker one in there and the denting of the brass has been reduced by 50%. I also tried again to unload the magazine tube by hand by holding the gun upside down, pushing the carrier towards the bolt, releasing the feed latch, and trying to finagle the shell out of the magazine tube but it won't clear the carrier.

She's tight!
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: TKE921 on May 11, 2021, 03:00:30 PM
I unload mine right side up, push in the latch and push down on the shell.  Sometimes you have to push up on the lifter and down on the shell, but they always manage to be removed.
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: Jimspur on May 11, 2021, 03:21:40 PM
Quote from: TKE921 on May 11, 2021, 03:00:30 PM
I unload mine right side up, push in the latch and push down on the shell.  Sometimes you have to push up on the lifter and down on the shell, but they always manage to be removed.


You're doing this with the bolt closed and one in the chamber?
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: TKE921 on May 11, 2021, 03:30:13 PM
Yes sir.  Bolt closed, round chambered.  I push the latch, push up on the lifter and push the shell down towards the ground and let it slide out.
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: Jimspur on May 11, 2021, 03:47:22 PM
Quote from: TKE921 on May 11, 2021, 03:30:13 PM
Yes sir.  Bolt closed, round chambered.  I push the latch, push up on the lifter and push the shell down towards the ground and let it slide out.


I tried that with mine and it just barely hangs up on the carrier or lifter by about 1/32". No go.
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: ShootingABN! on May 11, 2021, 09:30:44 PM
Quote from: Jimspur on May 11, 2021, 03:47:22 PM
Quote from: TKE921 on May 11, 2021, 03:30:13 PM
Yes sir.  Bolt closed, round chambered.  I push the latch, push up on the lifter and push the shell down towards the ground and let it slide out.


I tried that with mine and it just barely hangs up on the carrier or lifter by about 1/32". No go.

1000 grit wet/dry paper LOL. Just kidding or????? Naw don't do it.....
Title: Re: 11-87 damaging shell brass
Post by: Jimspur on May 11, 2021, 09:34:05 PM
Quote from: ShootingABN! on May 11, 2021, 09:30:44 PM
Quote from: Jimspur on May 11, 2021, 03:47:22 PM
Quote from: TKE921 on May 11, 2021, 03:30:13 PM
Yes sir.  Bolt closed, round chambered.  I push the latch, push up on the lifter and push the shell down towards the ground and let it slide out.


I tried that with mine and it just barely hangs up on the carrier or lifter by about 1/32". No go.

1000 grit wet/dry paper LOL. Just kidding or????? Naw don't do it.....

Hahaha - no sanding. The old spring which is shorter doesn't do it as bad.
Gonna call it good as gun functions perfectly.