Model 1100 20 Gauge Letter Codes

[lowgun]

What are the codes in the serial numbers for the various models of 20 gauge 1100s? What are the 12 gauge codes?

[Virginian]

M/870 LETTER PREFIX
1950 TO APPROX 1968:NO SERIAL NUMBER PREFIX
1968 TO PRESENT: LETTERS USED (IN SEQUENCE)
S-68, T-74, V-78, W-84, X-90, A-91, B-94, C-97, D-01, AB-05
LETTER SUFFIX (DESIGNATES GAUGE)
V 12 GA. (2 3/4”)
M 12 GA. MAGNUM (3”)
A 12 GA. “SUPER” MAGNUM (3 ½”)
W 16 GA. ( 2 ¾” )
X 20 GA. “HEAVY FRAME” (DISCONTINUED)
N 20 GA. “HEAVY FRAME MAGNUM” (DISCONTINUED)
K 20 GA. “LIGHT WEIGHT” (“LW”) (ALSO INCLUDES M/1100 “LT”)
U 20 GA. LW MAGNUM (ALSO INCLUDES M/1100 “LT”)
J 28 GA.
H .410 BORE (2 ½” OR 3”)

Model 1100 LETTER PREFIX
1964 TO APPROX. 1968: NO SERIAL NUMBER PREFIX
1968 TO PRESENT: LETTERS USED (IN SEQUENCE)
L-68, M-74, N-78, P-85, R-90
LETTER SUFFIX
SAME STRUCTURE AS THE M/870

Model 1187 LETTER PREFIX
1987 TO PRESENT: “PC” 12 GA., 1999 “TL“ 20 GA.,
2000 “SM” SUPER MAG.
LETTER SUFFIX
NO LETTER SUFFIX ON THIS MODEL

[lowgun]

Thanks for this great information. It should probably be part of the "1100 sticky".

[sgtsemo]

Thanks for the useful information ! I have a 1100 skeet 20 ga Barrel code for 1972 the L prefix on the serial number has helped verify the gun to the barrel for me. It also has an X suffix. #L464731X

[Synchronizor]

M/870 LETTER PREFIX
1950 TO APPROX 1968:NO SERIAL NUMBER PREFIX
1968 TO PRESENT: LETTERS USED (IN SEQUENCE)
S-68, T-74, V-78, W-84, X-90, A-91, B-94, C-97, D-01, AB-05
LETTER SUFFIX (DESIGNATES GAUGE)
V 12 GA. (2 3/4”)
M 12 GA. MAGNUM (3”)
A 12 GA. “SUPER” MAGNUM (3 ½”)
W 16 GA. ( 2 ¾” )
X 20 GA. “HEAVY FRAME” (DISCONTINUED)
N 20 GA. “HEAVY FRAME MAGNUM” (DISCONTINUED)
K 20 GA. “LIGHT WEIGHT” (“LW”) (ALSO INCLUDES M/1100 “LT”)
U 20 GA. LW MAGNUM (ALSO INCLUDES M/1100 “LT”)
J 28 GA.
H .410 BORE (2 ½” OR 3”)

At some point, Remington switched from this system to a new one where the serial numbers begin with "RS", and the letter at the end does not reflect the gun's gauge. Anyone know what year this happened? I believe I've narrowed it down to either 2009 or 2010, but I'd like to know exactly, as I'm trying to assemble a more up-to-date guide to 870 dating.

[Virginian]

It appears they have negated the decades old ability to ID a shotgun by the serial number. RS - Remington Shotgun - isn't much help with anything.

[Synchronizor]

It doesn't give much information, but it can at least be used as a date prefix, since it succeeded the "AB-" serial numbers.

[Virginian]

Yes but it is already approximately 7 years and running already, and runs across all lines and gauges.

[Synchronizor]

Well, some of the other serial number prefixes ran for up to 6 years. Yeah, it's not ideal, and it'll get less precise the longer Remington uses this new serial number format, but it's still an indicator - good enough for putting a barrel date stamp in context, for example.

But it's not just that. I keep seeing people get confused because nobody has "RS" in their dating guides; a lot of folks go on to decipher it as a barrel date code, since nothing else seems to fit, then I have try to explain that someone's brand-new Express Tactical isn't actually old stock left over from 1998.

I've got pretty much everything else I need to make an updated dating guide that folks can link to instead of just copy-pasting the incomplete text above. I just need to know the exact year the "RS-" serial numbers started coming off the line.

[rascott_teach]

I inherited a 1100 20 guage 2 3/4" chamber. Unfortunately it doesn't have the original barrel. It has an aftermarket slug barrel. It is not marked LT or LW but has a "K" suffix. Full serial number is R032689K. I would like to know what model I have so that I can begin looking for the correct barrel to fit. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I apologize in advance for any etiquette faux pas in advance

[jrboudreaux17]

@rascott_teach

I have an 1100 20 gauge 2 3/4" chamber. My Serial No. is R001282K and it is the original barrel. The "K" stands for K 20 GA. “LIGHT WEIGHT” (“LW”) (ALSO INCLUDES M/1100 “LT”) as @virginian wrote. Are you sure this is not the stock barrel?