I disagree about the sturdiness of 311's. I have owned 4 311's and 1 511. They only lock up on the top snap, there are no locking under lugs, a 12 gauge will only last about 3000 shells before it will be loose and start to vibrate. Top snaps are readily available. From numerich, which means to be its a common occurance, i have replaced at least 8 of them. The stocks also tend to crack out under use.
They may be fine in a subgauge, I never shot my subgauges enough to really test them out, but I am sure they will shoot loose too, may just take longer.
They also dont open fully unless you hold them open to load or replace the hammer springs with reduced power springs.
The only good thing is they are cheap. If you want a cheap SxS to say you have one, and not shoot it a whole lot, they will get you by.
I have sold off all of mine, and I have no regrets, which says a lot, I have trouble selling guns.
I have no reason to doubt you on the 3000 rounds killing the gun on a 12 gauge, but;
A lady shooter on our trap shooting league had a 16 gauge 311 that her Dad had purchased in the 1950s, used pretty hard, and gave to her in the mid 1960s. She hunted infrequently, but, at least once a year, for ducks and pheasants in North Dakota with her brothers, and, I can say without doubt, I witnessed more than 3000 rounds through her gun in the decade and a half we were sponsored by our employer on the trap league. I dated her, briefly, and just assumed cleaning and maintenance chores for the entire time we shot together.
It was a nice gun when we ended the league, after a decade and a half. I couldn't find anything wrong with it when I cleaned it up for her over the years. At least one sub gauge out there was well used and still going strong.
Another thing comes to mind. Once you get off this board, and are dealing with the typical Wal Mart shopper, 3000 rounds is MORE than a lifetime of shooting! Otherwise, we wouldn't see so many of them that look just like new and aren't worn out.
Never owned one myself, my cheapies have been Nitro Specials, and a Western Arms Long Range, and I haven't managed to break or wear them out.
Best,
Ted
