11-87 reliability

[dsunday]

Any big green fans out there have any opinions on the 11-87? I have found a nice 12 ga with a 3" chamber. I have a 20 ga 1187 and love it, but have heard some mixed reviews on these. I also have an 870 super mag and it kicks like the devil so I was hoping it might soften the blow with the gas action.

[Jody/NC]

I had a supermag 11-87. I had nothing but trouble out of it. I have heard the 3in version is good but never owned one.

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[cookie179]

I have a 1187 super mag and love it,in 16 years had one thing wrong with it broke the extractor.replace the o ring every five years that's it


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[Jamey]

Had several extractors broke or simply disappear and always at the worst possible time. Also weighs a ton. I retired mine several years ago and have no regrets about that decision.

[HunterGKS]

I have been using an 11-87 SPST since 1998 & have had no problems at all. I also have been using an 11-87 Sportsman with a rifled slug barrel for maybe 5 years & no problems. Both are 3".

[Fullfan]

I have 2 11-87's sps-t that I hunted for 20 years, both have been hunted hard. Never had a problem with either. About 5 years ago a picked up a 11-87 sure shot super mag, hunted it for several years with no hiccup's. Mine would all still be hunting, but I am running 20ga's now.

[pedro]

My 11-87 3" killed many an animals with minimal problems. Minimal care by me, mostly waterfowl hunting. Killed my first turkey with it. Dipped in mossy oak forest floor.

[Spuriosity]

Have a pair of 3" 11-87s. No issues out of either one of them, except that they are heavy, too heavy to turkey hunt with IMO (8.75# with FF III on 336 mount and lightweight sling). Sure do tame magnum loads though.

[turkeyinstrut]

I have hunted 11-87's for probably the last 20 years or more and never had a issue with one. I currently have a SPS Super Mag in Mossy Oak Obsession but I have owned several in both 3" and 3 1/2" and other than routine cleaning the only maintenance I have ever done is replace the gas O-ring every few years. Yes they are a little on the heavy side but they are dependable, I would still be using my Super Mag but I have went to a Benelli M2 20 ga. and TSS.

[maddog3355]

I currently hunt with a 11-87 3inch. I don't think you can make mine jam. I have had it 18 years, replaced the o ring several times just as a preventative. Weight don't bother me any but it is a couple pounds hevier than a pump gun.

[Reloader]

I've two 1187s, one is probably nearly 20years old. Never had an issue out of either of them.

Just as an FYI, the newer 1187s are a bit lighter than the old ones.

[Grunt-N-Gobble]

I've got an older one I use to turkey hunt. 3" model. I did sort of an overhaul 2 summers ago by replacing the recoil & magazine springs, a buffer piece in the back of the bolt, o-ring, Duracoated the action, bolt, barrel, scope mount and rings. It also sports the Surestock camo pistol grip stock. Turned out pretty good IMO.

I've had a couple hiccups with some roll crimped 3" shells hanging up in the action and a shell getting hung up in the magazine tube at times. For whatever reason, it stops an 1/8" short which doesn't allow it to cycle into the action. Haven't had any issues with star crimped shells

I love the gun though and have no intentions on giving it up.

[devastator]

Never had a problem with my 2,
a 3 inch and a supermag!!

[dsunday]

Thank you all!

[The Baron]

Don't know about the newer guns, but a good friend has been running a 3" 11-87 camo for years (I think it's a mid-90's gun) with never a hiccup. We learned about the spring in thre stock though when it rusted right up and seized - never even knew it was there. So if you get one, make sure to pop that out every now and then for a wipe 'n' spray.

[uvagobbler]

I have a older 12 gauge 11-87 special purpose turkey model that I bought in '93 or so. Great gun. No problem whatsoever. Built like a tank and heavy. Definitely tames the recoil. As The Baron said, be sure to check the action spring in the stock. I got lucky and caught mine before the action spring plug rusted and seized up.