Remington Model 11-87

About the Remington Model 11-87

The Remington Model 11-87 is a gas-operated semi-automatic shotgun introduced by Remington Arms in 1987 as the successor to the legendary Model 1100. Designed by Wayne Leek, the 11-87 featured an innovative pressure-compensating gas system that allowed the shotgun to reliably cycle both standard 2-3/4 inch and 3 inch magnum shells interchangeably without any manual adjustment, a significant improvement over the Model 1100 which required separate barrels for different shell lengths. The gas system utilizes an annular piston surrounding the magazine tube with a self-cleaning design that vents excess gas through exhaust ports, automatically regulating pressure for consistent cycling across a wide range of loads. The receiver is machined from a solid steel billet, providing exceptional durability and a precise fit for internal components. Over its 33-year production run from 1987 to 2020, the Model 11-87 was offered in an extensive array of configurations including the Premier series with high-grade walnut stocks, the Sportsman series as an affordable hunting option, the SPS (Special Purpose Synthetic) line with weather-resistant synthetic furniture and camouflage patterns, and the Police model with an 18-inch barrel and extended 7-round magazine for law enforcement use. A Super Magnum variant introduced in 1999 extended compatibility to 3.5-inch shells. The 11-87 was widely adopted by US law enforcement agencies as a patrol and tactical shotgun, and remained one of the most popular semi-automatic shotguns for hunting, sporting clays, trap, and skeet shooting until Remington's bankruptcy and cessation of production in 2020.

The Remington 11-87 solved one of the biggest complaints about its predecessor, the Model 1100: the need for separate barrels to cycle different shell lengths. Its pressure-compensating gas system was a breakthrough that allowed shooters to seamlessly switch between light target loads and heavy magnum shells without changing a single component, making it the first truly versatile gas-operated autoloader.

Remington Model 11-87 specifications

Barrels are not interchangeable between the Model 1100 and the Model 11-87 despite their shared lineage, due to differences in the gas system port location and barrel seal design. The pressure-compensating gas system was the key innovation: it uses a stainless steel seal ring on the barrel that meters gas flow based on chamber pressure, allowing reliable function with everything from light target loads to heavy magnum shells. The Police variant (11-87P) featured an 18-inch barrel with choice of bead or rifle sights, parkerized finish, synthetic stock, and an extended 7-round magazine tube. A 14-inch short-barreled variant was also available to law enforcement. The Premier Trap and Skeet models were competitive mainstays with overbored barrels and Monte Carlo stocks. After Remington's 2020 bankruptcy, the brand was acquired by RemArms LLC, and while Model 870 and Model 1100 production has been restarted, the 11-87 has not yet returned to production as of 2024. Internal parts are vibra-honed (tumble-polished) for smoother cycling, a trait shared with the Model 1100.