Remington Model 31 Skeet?

[Will Gurton]

Some of this discussion reminds me of an Older Well Respected and Very Successful Dog Trainer I knew when I was running an early Hunting Retriever Club here in TN.

He would always say, "Son every dog Breaks. Some just haven't yet!"

I believe that adage is also sage advice on shotguns.

Shoot well and often and pray you dog doesn't break!

Will

[Researcher]

Here are pictures of the gun in question --

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[Bill Murphy]

Frank is absolutely right. The 31 is prone to a failure to feed. As I posted earlier, it is because the gun is not pumped aggressively enough and doesn't release the next shell from the magazine. This fault goes away with experience, not neccesarily with wear on the gun. With the 31, you can't be hesitant in your pumping. It is a trait of the gun, and can't be solved by gunsmithing. Again, Frank is right, the Model 12 doesn't suffer from this problem.

[Bill Murphy]

I didn't realize that this was such an old thread.

[Alfred Houde]

There are a few shotguns in the collection of the National Museum of the Marine Corps with the Ordnance Bomb and Inspector initials. Some are actual "riot guns" while some were purchased for recreational use. If I recall, there were 2-3 different Remington Model 11's in 12 gauge so marked and the artifact records mentioned that they came to the museum from the base trap and skeet range. I also remember seeing both plain, and checkered stocks on them. There is also an L.C. Smith Single-Barrel Trap Gun with USMC recreational services markings stamped onto the barrel. There may be a Model 31, I don't remember.

Roy Marcot wrote in his book that the U.S. Military bought a number of Model 31's for Aerial Gunnery training during WWII. I have no supporting evidence to back it up, but my guess is as follows:

1. Because of the war, Remington provided the contract with the guns/stocks/forearms/barrels that they had on hand. This may explain why some are IC and some are Skeet choked, and some have plain or checkered wood.

2. After the war many of these guns were turned over to bases and ships for recreational shooting purposes.

3. Many firearms were re-built at military arsenals, which may explain the differences in barrels and wood, or barrels/frame or receiver not matching up.

4. Like many military firearms, they get cobbled/assembled up to meet a certain criteria, and some sellers take advantage of this due to people paying crazy prices for U.S. Military firearms.

It could be any of these. Just an opinion.

[William Davis]

I owned a 31 in 16 G. Constant fail to feed, finally figured it out, Cheddite hulls, weak rim bent on extraction. Quality hull never failed.

However repeaters that have close tolerances often have trouble with feeding. Rattling 1911 rarely fails, tight target 1911 is fussy. My 31 compared to 870’s & model 12s was much smoother and tighter. 870 loosest of the three never fails to feed.

William

[Alfred Houde]

Out of curiosity I checked with the museum regarding if they did have a Model 31. They have one. It is a 12 gauge; with a military type finish; Cylinder choke marked barrel. Plain walnut stock, ribbed type forearm. No Ordnance Bomb, Inspector initials, or any other military stampings. It does have a rack number stenciled onto the grip.

The artifact record only states "Found in the collection," so idea where it came from. Based on the description, it appears to be a Police Special or Riot gun. I doubt that this one was used for aerial gunner training.

[Researcher]

In my years in the military, 1968 to 1980, I shot a lot of Cutts Compensator Model 12 Skeet Guns at military skeet fields around the world. The skeet ranges between Subic Bay Naval Station and Cubi Point Naval Air Station, was equipped with Remington Sportsman-48 Skeet Guns. I never saw a Remington Model 31 at any of the ranges I shot at.

[Andy]

I have a 16g 31 that I prefer over all my Ithaca 37's and over any 12 I've every handled. Ball bearing repeater is apt, it's just slick as warm butter on a corn cob. I would take another if I could find one. Never a failure to feed, but then again I've only ever used factory shells.

[6pt-Sika]

We had a 31 trap come in the shop recently for I assume cleaning and a new pad .