Remington Model 1100

About the Remington Model 1100

The Remington Model 1100 is a gas-operated semi-automatic shotgun designed by Wayne Leek and Robert P. Kelley, introduced by Remington Arms in 1963. The Model 1100 was a groundbreaking design that revolutionized the semi-automatic shotgun market with its soft-shooting gas-operated action, which bleeds propellant gases from the barrel through ports to drive a piston that cycles the action. This gas system significantly reduces felt recoil compared to both pump-action and recoil-operated semi-automatic shotguns, making it exceptionally comfortable to shoot for extended periods. The Model 1100 quickly became the best-selling semi-automatic shotgun in history, with millions of units produced over its 60+ year production run. Primarily recognized as a premier sporting and hunting shotgun, the 1100 is available in 12, 16, 20, and 28 gauge, as well as .410 bore. Standard hunting models feature a 4-round tubular magazine with a 28-inch barrel, while tactical and law enforcement variants feature shortened barrels and extended magazine tubes holding up to 10 rounds. The 1100's smooth, reliable cycling and soft recoil have made it a dominant force in competitive trap, skeet, and sporting clays for decades.

The Remington 1100 was the first gas-operated semi-automatic shotgun to achieve widespread commercial success, revolutionizing the market by proving that gas-operated autoloaders could be both reliable and soft-shooting. Its dominance in competitive trap and skeet shooting lasted decades and forced every other manufacturer to develop gas-operated alternatives.

Remington Model 1100 specifications

The Remington 1100 was the first gas-operated semi-automatic shotgun to achieve widespread commercial success. Its gas system design was later refined for the Remington 11-87, which can handle both 2.75-inch and 3-inch shells interchangeably. The 1100's internal parts are vibra-honed (tumble-polished) for smoother operation. Law enforcement models feature extended 10-round tubular magazines. The Tactical variant features an 18-inch barrel with Speedfeed IV pistol grip stock. After Remington's 2020 bankruptcy, production was resumed by RemArms LLC (now RemArms). The 1100 Sporting series, designed specifically for competition shooting, features overbored barrels and target-grade stocks. The Model 1100 shares many internal components with the later Model 11-87, making parts availability excellent. Nighthawk Custom offers specialized competition and law enforcement builds of the 1100 platform.