1100 LT-20ga Magnum - Small Digs on Mag Tube

[zpeters]

Hi everyone, this is my first post here. I recently picked up this used 1100 lt 20 magnum from a local gun shop and noticed a group of similar digs on the magazine tube. Upon further inspection the piston seal is bent (as seen top-middle in the picture) and has a wear mark on the inside near the gap which leads me to believe that its the culprit.

I haven't sent any rounds through it yet and I have a new piston kit on the way, but I wanted to ask if I should do anything about the markings. I can feel slight dimples and very small burrs when I run my hand along them. The piston has little resistance in that area when I pass it up and down the tube.

Thanks in advance.

 

[kev74]

If the piston slides over that area freely, I'd lube it up and shoot it. if it cycles, you're good to go. If not, then you can start smoothing things up.

 

[zpeters]

If the piston slides over that area freely, I'd lube it up and shoot it. if it cycles, you're good to go. If not, then you can start smoothing things up.

Thanks for replying quickly kev. How should I go about smoothing things up?

 

[kev74]

Thanks for replying quickly kev. How should I go about smoothing things up?

If it works as is, leave it alone.

If I had to smooth those out, I think I'd wrap some fine sandpaper (300 or 400 grit) around a wood block or similar firm backing and polish them off. This would be a last resort though. That magazine tube is pretty thin, and you can't put metal back after you take it off.

 

[BDinPutnam]

I admit to being pretty new to semiauto shotties. What might cause that?

 

[tapper3]

I would replace that bent seal. And I would smooth out the burrs on the magazine tube as @kev74 suggested. Gently!!!!! Might even go to something like 1,000 grit wet sandpaper. Run a knife edge or credit card edge along those spots to feel when the burrs are gone and you can stop.

Might want to run the sandpaper around the inside of the piston ring too just to make sure that's all smoothed out.

And might as well replace that O-ring seal too for six bucks. (Part key: 12)


Piston Seal, 20 Ga. LT & 20 Ga. LW, New Factory Original
Product #: 103120A
Part Key: 74
$20.75

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/remington/shotguns-rem/1100/parts-list-rem1100

 

[tapper3]

I admit to being pretty new to semiauto shotties. What might cause that?

That's one of those "good questions".

 

[Calculon]

I have an 1100 12ga and that seal looks bent. Could be gouging tube when cycling. Like tapper says replace the gas seal parts and you should be gtg.

 

[Rondo223]

I would recommend ordering extra o-ring seals as they do get beat up over time. The piston seals need to glide down the tube without any issues or you may end up having feeding problems. Also use minimal light lube. Too much lube will cause feeding problems as well. I lost a deer one year because of that.
If the tube is not fixable I think you can get those and replace them.

 

[zpeters]

I would recommend ordering extra o-ring seals as they do get beat up over time. The piston seals need to glide down the tube without any issues or you may end up having feeding problems. Also use minimal light lube. Too much lube will cause feeding problems as well. I lost a deer one year because of that.
If the tube is not fixable I think you can get those and replace them.

You cannot replace 1100 tubes easily. The receiver has to be heated in order to get the tube out, and a new tube has to be brazed in. Remington does it for a couple hundred bucks along with new bluing because of the heat.

Haven't touched the tube yet cause my piston kit is coming in tomorrow so hopefully it cycles. If not, I'll try taking the burrs off the tube.

 

[tony]

First, I would not put new parts on a burred surface. Are you sure there are burrs, raised metal burrs? If they are raised I would use a fairly wide (at least 3/4") fine India stone. Use the stone perpendicular to the tube and follow the diameter to slowly take the burrs down. Use a light oil like 3 in 1 or even gun oil on both the stone and tube. The oil keeps the stone from loading (plugging) up so don''t be stingy with it. Do that until the tube shows good contact with the stone (clean metal all around dings). Then clean all oil and debris from tube. You can't do much about the digs but get the high spots down.

Clean all used parts good. I would use a silicon based lube or Rem-oil on tube, wipe it on and wipe it off.