Remington Model 31

Remington Model 31
Type	Shotgun
Place of origin	United States
Service history
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	C.C. Loomis John Pedersen
Designed	1931
Manufacturer	Remington Arms
Produced	1931 - 1949
Number built	196,000
Variants	Model 31L
Specifications
Cartridge	12ga, 16ga, 20ga
Barrels	plain, solid rib or vent rib
Action	Pump
Feed system	tubular magazine
Sights	Bead

The Remington Model 31 is a pump-action shotgun that competed with the Winchester Model 1912 for the American sporting arms market.^[1] Produced from 1931 to 1949, it superseded the John Pedersen designed, bottom loading and ejecting Models 10, 17(with John Browning), and 29. It was replaced by the less expensive Remington 870 in 1951.^[2]

History

While the Remington Model 17 enjoyed some success, a solid, 12-gauge featuring side-ejection was needed to compete with Winchester. C.C. Loomis sized up the Model 17 and adapted it for side ejection. The Model 31 was Remington's first side ejecting pump-action shotgun. Stocks were walnut with checkered walnut forend and later changed to a ribbed forend. The Model 31 was made in three gauges with 121,000 12-gauge models made and 75,000 16- and 20-gauge examples also produced. The Federal Bureau of Investigation acquired one Model 31 per office in 1935 in response to the Kansas City Massacre.^[3] The model 31L was a lightweight version featuring an aluminum receiver and trigger housing.

Despite being well received, sales still lagged far behind the Winchester. Remington went back to the drawing board and designed the Model 870; this shotgun matched the durability of the Model 12 at a significantly lower cost. Despite the overwhelming success of the 870, many shotgun connoisseurs consider the Model 31 to be the ne plus ultra of pump shotguns with its "ball-bearing" slide action.^[4]

The Model 31 was later used as a basis for the Mossberg model 500 and related shotguns. The Mossberg is simplified and cheaper to produce. Notable differences are the use of a two-piece bolt with separate locking piece as well as a significantly simplified barrel mounting system. Further, the bolt locks into a barrel extension rather than directly to the receiver.

External links

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