doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Stevens 311A, not high class but strudy

Hey guys I was curious to see what you might know about this model. I know its probably not a model that gets a lot of discussion on here,but pretty sure most have seen or shot one at point. I'm looking at a 20ga for my son. I haven't had the chance to put my hands on one, so any impressions or details will be great!

A Stevens 311 was my first SxS, followed by a Model B and both were 12 Ga. shotguns with 30" barrels. They are heavy and in my case slow to respond to a fast moving target. Thirty years ago I bought my wife the 311's predecessor, a 1940 vintage 16 Ga. Model 511 Stevens. The 16's wood is much better than the previously mentioned 311's and the gun's 26" barrels make it more responsive than my experiences with 30" barrels. I'm not sure about new 311's, but the older 311's are built to last and it might be a good idea to buy a used gun. Your choice of 20 Ga. is in my opinion a good one for a first SxS.

I think you described it quite well. 311's are a good way to start off in the world of doubles and the 20 gauge looks and handles better than its larger siblings IMO. Personally, I'd avoid the latter ones with the plasticky tenite stocks. I do remember having to constantly tighten up the drawbolt, so a good long screwdriver would be handy.

The .410 version is about the ugliest gun ever made. Sorry, but I had to say that.

The 311 / 5100 / Fox B gun are reliable, not too complicated and inexpensive.

A great starting gun or poor weather gun. Or a way to get into 20g or .410 guns at a lower price point.

A 20 ga. was my second shotgun over 50 years ago. Began a lifelong fondness for SxSs. I began to get serious about waterfowl, and a friend's 12 ga. version put me on 12 gauges for a long time. They are not Purdeys or 21s, but they work.

I bought a Fox B for Cowboy Action Shooting, and took it dove hunting. Let my son use it and he wouldn't give it back.

It works and works, never a problem, and you can hunt dove, ducks, rabbits, squirrels, pheasant, or whatever is legal game.

I say go for it, and if you want to trade it some day, there will always be a market.

HHH

EXCELLENT! Thanks Guys. The 311A has that classic look to it. I'll check out the other ones as well.

My dad bought me a Stevens 311A for my 13th birthday. I had been using a 20 gauge single barrel Winchester 37 belonging to my uncle for the past 4 or 5 years. Mine has (yes, I still have it!!!) 26 inch barrels in 12 gauge, choked IC and Modified. I killed a lot of birds, squirrels, rabbits, snakes, and one pig-stealing bob cat with mine. A sturdy gun, no doubt.

Wyobirds, you mention an "earlier" model than the 311 with better wood, the Stevens 511?? I thought the 511's were actually the successors to the Stevens 311s and were marketed under the Savage name??? The only 511's I have ever seen were in fact marked as Savage and the wood on them was not nearly as good as the wood in my 311A.

Perry, I'll double check and get back to you.

Solid guns; a 20ga would be a great kid's gun. Older is better; the later ones can be pretty clubby. If you can find one of the non-tenites with the 5100 stamp on the action they seem to be the nicest of the bunch. I have three 5100's (16ga, 20ga, and one of those "ugly" .410's ) and all have walnut stocks with real cut checkering and twin ivory beads. They always get the "heavy" comment, but my 16 is 6lbs-15oz and the 20 is 6lbs-12oz; far from svelte but not all that bad compared to some; mine are 28" so 26" would save some weight no doubt. They were my first doubles and have served me well.