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| < 16ga. General Discussion ~ Remington Model 31 16 Ga |
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 Posted:
Sun Nov 02, 2025 11:05 am
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Joined: 12 Nov 2018
Posts: 47
Location: Maryville, TN
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Haven't been on in a while, but rediscovering my love for a 16 ga repeater.
I'm usually a Winchester guy like my grandfather was, but I decided to branch out to a old Remington pump.
I just won an auction on a Remington model 31 in 16 ga. I paid a little more than I wanted to, and I'm not exactly sure what all is factory on this gun, but I liked the fact it has a decent recoil pad already fitted and it has a barrel that's been fitted with choke tubes and a vent rib. Wood looks good as well. That made me willing to pay a little more. Also, I personally don't see a lot of the model 31's out there in the wild, especially in that setup.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1133215663
Anyone give me any details on this gun? I assume it's a later version that was post 1941, by the SN being later for a 16 ga.
I'm on a 16 ga pump kick lately, and this one looked like it belonged in my safe. I plan on either me or my oldest son using it on some upland hunting trips. I have this along with my grandfather's model 12. I'll have to add an Ithaca model 37 at some point. All in 16 ga. |
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 02, 2025 11:46 am
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Member
Joined: 19 May 2006
Posts: 712
Location: Too far south in New England
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| Beautiful gun! Good luck with your next father-son trip! |
_________________
"You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means" - Inigo Montoya |
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 02, 2025 12:37 pm
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Joined: 12 Nov 2018
Posts: 47
Location: Maryville, TN
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| Citori16 wrote: |
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Beautiful gun! Good luck with your next father-son trip!
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Thank you for the well wishes.
We are waterfowlers and wanting to make the jump the uplands.
Not a lot of options in East TN, but we are going on a preserve hunt in the next few weeks to get our feet wet. I'll hunt over the preserve owner's dogs to start.
I have a lab that I think I could convert over, but we are going to start with pen raised birds and go from there.
Would love to make a trip up to South Dakota or something similar with a group of guys. |
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 02, 2025 1:29 pm
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Joined: 09 Dec 2012
Posts: 935
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If you do not have to use non-toxic shot there, I have found Fiocchi Golden Pheasants in nbr 5 shot to work extremely well on birds using a 16ga.
https://fiocchiusa.com/shotshell/golden-series/golden-pheasant/
there are now other brands of plated shot. do a search on plated 16ga shot to find them |
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dr = David R, not Dr. but thanks for the compliment, most folks just call me Dave |
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 02, 2025 1:44 pm
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Joined: 12 Nov 2018
Posts: 47
Location: Maryville, TN
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I've got some game loads to try out in #5's in 16 ga.
We can use lead on everything but waterfowl and a few select WMA's. |
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 02, 2025 2:14 pm
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Joined: 09 Dec 2012
Posts: 935
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I just recently geared up to reload 16's. I have a bag of nickel plated 5's. I still have a box or two of Fiocchis so there is no rush yet. I have been loading a lot of 12's for trap shooting (both my wife and I shoot).
I have a stack of Ithaca 37's. I restore, rebuild, them etc. Feel free to ask any questions.
My favorite are early 50's guns due to the stocks (hand cut checkering, otherwise they are pretty much the same all the way to serial nbr 855,000).
I also have some of the post 855,000 guns (interchangeable barrels) that I restocked with early 50's wood, making the best of both worlds. |
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dr = David R, not Dr. but thanks for the compliment, most folks just call me Dave |
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 03, 2025 2:24 am
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Member
Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 2543
Location: West MI
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Wow, drooling, Very nice add to the safe, shoot it in good health.
Curious to what tubes were installed in it; Colonial? |
_________________
Sorry, I'm a Duck Hunter so shouldn't be held strictly responsible for my actions between Oct 1st and ice up. |
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 03, 2025 4:10 am
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Joined: 12 Nov 2018
Posts: 47
Location: Maryville, TN
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| putz463 wrote: |
Wow, drooling, Very nice add to the safe, shoot it in good health.
Curious to what tubes were installed in it; Colonial?
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The seller was about zero help when I questioned the choke tubes.
Guess I'll have to figure that out on my own. Figured it might be colonial or briley tubes. |
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 03, 2025 7:57 am
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Joined: 25 Jan 2014
Posts: 268
Location: MN
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That is a an awesome gun at a great price. With the modern pad and choke tubes, that 31 is twice the gun of any 16 ga single barrel gun available new today.
I do most of my bird hunting with 16ga, 31's but mine are straight grain and "well loved".
Your new gun is like a good wife: nice to look at, fun to play with, and dependable enough to put the food on the table year after year. |
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 03, 2025 8:11 am
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Joined: 12 Nov 2018
Posts: 47
Location: Maryville, TN
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| fourtown wrote: |
That is a an awesome gun at a great price. With the modern pad and choke tubes, that 31 is twice the gun of any 16 ga single barrel gun available new today.
I do most of my bird hunting with 16ga, 31's but mine are straight grain and "well loved".
Your new gun is like a good wife: nice to look at, fun to play with, and dependable enough to put the food on the table year after year.
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I agree with twice the gun of anything new offered today. That's why I kept bidding 😅
I'll pick it up by the end of the week. I think it will be a great addition to pump addiction. |
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Mon Nov 03, 2025 9:31 am
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Joined: 09 Dec 2012
Posts: 935
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They don't build guns like they used to. Well Ithaca Gun Co in Upper Sandusky Ohio tried. But not too many people wanted a $1200.00 (or more) pump gun.
Old ones in tip top shape are such a delight. |
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dr = David R, not Dr. but thanks for the compliment, most folks just call me Dave |
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 03, 2025 11:15 am
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 3216
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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Ford4wd,
Great old Rem 31 gun, in fantastic shape have fun hunting with her!
all the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith/Westley Richards Man |
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"L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Mon Nov 03, 2025 6:59 pm
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Joined: 21 Mar 2019
Posts: 67
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Probably can't add much to what's already been said but that is one beautiful 31. I hope you enjoy that magnificent gun.
John |
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| Posted:
Sat Nov 08, 2025 3:22 am
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Joined: 12 Nov 2018
Posts: 47
Location: Maryville, TN
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Finally picked it up last night.
As guessed it is a 31L, what a sweet carrying gun. Points very well too.
It has colonial chokes and came with a skeet 1 choke.
I'll end up ordering more at some point.
I think it will be an excellent upland gun. |
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 14, 2025 7:32 am
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Joined: 12 Nov 2018
Posts: 47
Location: Maryville, TN
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Ordered some more choke tubes from colonial this week.
I decided on Skeet 2 and IM, figured that should cover most things I want to do with this gun.
I weighed it on my scale last night, 6.2 lbs.
Should be great for carrying, but no so much high volume shooting. This thing will thump you with the 1 &1/8 oz loads load at 1280 fps I tried.
Figured I would stick with 1 oz loads on this gun. 1 oz should kill any upland species I choose to chase with it. |
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