An 11-87P Resurrected

[167]

I know the hotness isn’t old Remington semiautos, but every now and then you stumble across a gem that can’t be passed up. A buddy had this old 11-87P with rifle sights and an 18.5” fixed IC choke barrel that he wanted to sell, but it didn’t run. He brought it to a class and said if I could fix it, he would sell it to me for cheap. I had it fixed the next day, and a new shotgun for $300.

101650

The person that cerekoted it apparently didn’t understand how 11-87’s worked and cerekoted the magazine tube underneath the forend, impeding function the gun. It also needed a new magazine spring to get enough juice behind the shells being launched out of the magazine to trip the carrier latch. Easy enough fixes than only took a $15 magazine spring and some elbow grease to fix.

I have added a couple bits here and there, but all together I am into this gun for less than $400. Probably the best $400 I have spent on a gun in a long time.

Even though 11-87s aren’t known for their ability to run low recoil ammunition, this one so far has only balked at one load, a low recoil 8 pellet Herters buckshot. It has even run 1100fps birdshot loads.

It has been a fun journey to learn what makes this gun run. I am usually a pump gun guy, this gun is stupid fast compared to what I am used to.


https://youtu.be/ESzyDuNAUU8


https://youtu.be/w4mOBIphI-U


https://youtu.be/AmmtLsR8BZI


https://youtu.be/E_hIr8XBqMU

[Brian T]

The 11-87 is, IMO, a great shotgun. While you're right, it isnt the latest, greatest, it is more than capable of holding it's own. The fact that it shares some parts commonality with the ubiquitous 870 is not lost on me. I am passively searching for an 11-87Premier to serve as my backup to my 1301 Comp.

[167]

The 11-87 is, IMO, a great shotgun. While you're right, it isnt the latest, greatest, it is more than capable of holding it's own. The fact that it shares some parts commonality with the ubiquitous 870 is not lost on me. I am passively searching for an 11-87Premier to serve as my backup to my 1301 Comp.

What separates the Premier from the other 11-87s?

[Lon]

What separates the Premier from the other 11-87s?

As far as I remember, just cosmetics. But it’s been a long time since I worked at the gun shop and had my own 11-87s.

[Suvorov]

My 11-87P has been my boom stick for over 25 years. I often wonder if I should jump on the 1301 bandwagon but I keep coming back to the realization that it has worked well for me in the field and I more than trust it at home.

If there is a weak link in the equation- it’s certainly not the gun.

[Bigghoss]

Back in 2020 I found an 11-87 Police for $650. Here's a before-and-after. I've also added an XS Big Dot. I'm not really fond of the Urbino stock but it's way better than the factory stock. Choate also makes a stock for the 11-87, not sure if I'll try it or just sell the gun and put the money towards an A300 UP or 1301.

https://pistol-forum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=60730&d=1600655584

[167]

Back in 2020 I found an 11-87 Police for $650. Here's a before-and-after. I've also added an XS Big Dot. I'm not really fond of the Urbino stock but it's way better than the factory stock. Choate also makes a stock for the 11-87, not sure if I'll try it or just sell the gun and put the money towards an A300 UP or 1301.

https://pistol-forum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=60730&d=1600655584

Is the LOP on the Urbino noticeably shorter?

[Brian T]

What separates the Premier from the other 11-87s?

It's a hunting shotgun, not a patrol/tactical shotgun. It'll be blued, have fancy wood, it'll have the shorter carrier release whereas the the Police will have the longer version. I would want a vent rib barrel on mine

[farscott]

It has been awhile, but the "Premier" designation, in addition to the wood and finish, impiied a "light contour" barrel.

In any event, really nice snag. One of my hobbies is restoring old guns so they can be preserved for future generations. Saving that 11-87P is a great thing.

[idahojess]

NH Shooter had a very memorable thread regarding the 11-87.

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?37084-1187P

[167]

NH Shooter had a very memorable thread regarding the 11-87.

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?37084-1187P

Those are some slick 11-87s. I need to figure out a light mount for mine.

[Bigghoss]

Is the LOP on the Urbino noticeably shorter?

It feels shorter and you can get it with a Limbsaver pad but the pistol grip is doesn't fit my hand well and I think it's got too much angle to it.

[Brian T]

It has been awhile, but the "Premier" designation, in addition to the wood and finish, impiied a "light contour" barrel.

Not necessarily. Remington made a version of the Premier called the 11-87 Skeet and I think a version called either Premier Skeet or Skeet Premier.

I have an 11-87 Skeet Left Handed model. I'm not sure why, other than as a lefty I kinda wanted a left handed shotgun. Now? Nnnnnerp. I like right side ejection guns because I can maintain my firing grip and let my support hand do all the feeding. I'll leave all that over-the-top or under-the-receiver stuff for al you righties. Y'all look like pretzel trying feed shotguns!

So one of you righties needs this left handed 11-87!

[gato naranja]

My 11-87P has been my boom stick for over 25 years. I often wonder if I should jump on the 1301 bandwagon but I keep coming back to the realization that it has worked well for me in the field and I more than trust it at home.

A buddy of mine has resisted the siren call to dump his 11-87P for the "next big thing" in semiauto shotguns so long that - like me - he has reached the point where he doesn't really care whether he upgrades or not. His example just runs and runs.

[41magfan]

I've been using the 1100 (and the 11-87) line of shotguns since the early 70's and they've served me very well. I'm right-handed but shoot long-guns from the left shoulder and since there weren't many LH guns when I grew up, I had to adapt to the manual of operation of RH guns. There's some very capable new SG's out there, but it might be perilous for me to try and switch now for some perceived/imagined benefit. Like most firearms, if you keep them clean, maintained, lubricated and well fed with quality ammo, these SG's work with predictable reliability.