Icon Logo Gun Mart

Remington 11-87 Synthetic Sportsman

Remington 11-87 Synthetic Sportsman

Talk to anyone about Remingtons and chances are the conversation will be about their new Versamax, a gas driven semi that’s a genuinely outstanding modern semi-auto. But whilst Remington are taking their designs forward they haven’t forgotten about their old models, the fact these older variants can be modernised and the fact there are plenty of semi-auto customers who still prefer to buy Remington’s well established and to a degree legendary shotguns. So enter the 11-87 Sportsman Synthetic 20 bore a sub-gauge semi that fairly packs a punch.

The more work-a-day shotgun when compared to Remington’s illustrious 1100 model, the 11-87 was designed to be affordable and the only shotgun you’d ever need. In fact Remington actually described the 11-87 as the shotgun you’d use every day, shooting skeet on a Sunday, some quail on Monday and vermin on Tuesday, the down to earth 11-87 intended to do the lot encapsulated in a package the ‘Average Joe’ would find affordable and extremely useful, the new Synthetic Sportsman more or less still embodying these virtues.

Shadow Land

If on opening the familiar green and yellow Remington box you were expecting the classic looks of one of their semi-autos, you’ll be somewhat disappointed. Fair enough, the classic Remington lines are there to be seen apart from the fact everything about the 11-87 Sportsman Synthetic is black from top to bottom and from end to end. No matter how you scan it, this is a working gun, once again the type of all-rounder today’s ‘Average Joe’ would be looking for.

Both the stock and forend are black plastic with stylised panels of chequered stippling around the grip and along either side, the butt rounded off with a thick rubber recoil pad, the forend held in place by a full sized mag cap that tightens into place by use of a simple ratchet. The flush-fit multi-choke barrel, in this instance supplied with just ½ actually measures 25½” although the book says it 26” but the missing fraction would seem to make little if no particular difference to the gun’s overall performance.

Anodised and topped off with a 7mm grooved elevated rib and complete with a 3” chamber, the tube slips neatly into the recognisable profile of one of Remington’s steel receivers. Finished in a similar fashion to the barrel and with just the words ‘Remington 11-87 Sportsman’ acting as decoration along the left-hand side, the appearance confirms the workaday aspect this shotgun embodies. Likewise, the elongated plastic trigger-guard that houses the familiar cross-bolt safety toward the rear ideally suited to gloved fingers although the rather narrow blade that releases at 5lbs 8oz and more reminiscent of a rifle’s in style, would benefit from being slightly wider and more comfortable in activation.

One detail you immediately notice is the scalloping of the ejection port that facilitates the easier loading of magnum cartridges, a feature that carries on around the loading gate and bolt release. Turn the 11-87 upside down to add the second round and the actual action of pushing the cartridge into position automatically depresses the ¾” extension that sits within the rear of the shell lifter which in turn releases the bolt, sending it into battery.

But whilst the exterior of this synthetic version is all up to date, beneath the skin it’s still a Remington through and through. The reason this little gun can happily switch between varying loads is down to what’s referred to as the Patented Pressure Compensating Gas System. A valve that is driven by the twin ports situated within the barrel ring, the three piece valve is housed around the magazine tube just in front of the cyclic slider. Easy to strip, clean and maintain, like the rest of this gun, it’ll be familiar to existing Remington owners. 

Out and About

story continues below...

A few minutes with the new mark two Arrow Laser Shot (that now has the facility to be used in every gauge from 12 down to 410) highlighted that for me this little 11-87 was going to shoot rather high, the stock drop dimensions of 11 3/32” at the comb and 115/16” at the heel plus a short 13 7/8” length of pull not to my own physical liking. The other aspect that will surprise most users is that for a small single barrelled shotgun this 11-87 tips the scales at 6lbs 10oz or only just a tad lighter than many a 12 bore. The balance point directly beneath the ejection port also means that although relatively neutral the mass sits firmly in the leading hand which in turn means it requires driving or pulling and pushing from the front. In other words, if you’re looking for a short barrelled sub-gauge that handles like a magic wand, this isn’t it.

That said it’s certainly not all bad news and as they say, horses for courses. Whilst this diminutive Sportsman isn’t the most accomplished clay breaker, when loaded up serious ammo the gun’s dynamics and weight come into play. Now this is where you’ll have to pay attention if only to avoid cartridge confusion due in the main to a similarity in names but not in manufacturer. Shot first using 25g Lyalvale Express Special 20 Gauge 2½” 6’s game load at sporting clays, the 11-87’s high attitude immediately came to light to a degree it took longer than usual to come to terms with the gun although once physically acclimatised kill rates increased to an acceptable level. 

Moving onto an evening’s crows my relationship with this little shotgun certainly improved. This time loading up with Remington Express Long Range 2¾” shells once again filled with 6’s the potency of this 20 – bore soon came to light. A range of shotgun ammunition that tends to be overlooked by UK shooters mainly due to the price, the Express Long Range retailing at £922 per 1000, the upside of these and all Remington’s American manufactured shotgun cartridges is that they are superbly made and devastatingly good, crow after crow falling to just one long-distance shot. Ideally suited to the 11 – 87, whilst clay breaking isn’t this shotgun’s metier, as a gun to be used on live targets it takes on a far more affable persona.

Where the gun’s bulk tends to work against it as a sporter, on live quarry the weight dials out any tendency to snatch at unexpected targets almost forcing the shooter into a more measured, controlled swing. Similarly, the high shooting character adds that all important lift to the shot on climbing targets although you still have to work out how far below on crossers, about six inches eventually seemingly correct.

The other obvious benefit of this 11 – 87’s bulk is that not only does it soak up heavy load recoil is actually seems to smooth it out.

Solid Virtues

I commented earlier that this new 20 bore still represents the majority of Remington’s 11-87 qualities and aims. If there’s one aspect that seems to have been overlooked it’s the asking price of £1,230. Now whilst Remington enthusiasts will cough up the required amount without asking any questions, for those looking for a multi-function sub-gauge semi-auto, the price of this tough little gasser could be somewhat off putting.

This gun may not be the cheapest to buy, what you end up with is a 20 – bore semi that’ll in all likelihood last them a lifetime. The one thing you can’t deny is that this little 11-87 has been built to last although in Synthetic guise it’ll never win any beauty contests.

The steel receiver at the heart of this gun exhibits untold levels of durability. Add into this the synthetic furniture, the resilient finish that’s been applied to all the metalwork and the fact its chambered to accommodate the most potent 20 bore ammo you can get, and you end up with a small albeit heavy little shotgun that’ll do almost anything. In Remington’s words, ‘skeet on Sunday, ducks on Monday’, something this little 11-87 will do time and time again.   

PRICE: £1,230 srp

  • Remington 11-87 Synthetic Sportsman - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Remington 11-87 Synthetic Sportsman - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Remington 11-87 Synthetic Sportsman - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Remington 11-87 Synthetic Sportsman - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Remington 11-87 Synthetic Sportsman - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Remington 11-87 Synthetic Sportsman - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Remington 11-87 Synthetic Sportsman - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Remington 11-87 Synthetic Sportsman - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Remington 11-87 Synthetic Sportsman - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Remington 11-87 Synthetic Sportsman - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Remington 11-87 Synthetic Sportsman - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Remington 11-87 Synthetic Sportsman - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Remington 11-87 Synthetic Sportsman - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

gun
features

  • Name: Remington 11-87 Synthetic Sportsman
  • Type: Single – Barrel
  • Calibre: 20 – bore / 3” Chamber
  • Action: Gas powered semi – auto
  • Capacity: 3 x 20 – bore cartridges
  • Barrels: 26 – inch multi – choke
Arrow