Good day everyone, new member here. I'm researching the Remington 7188/7180 and trying to find ones that are still known to exist. The 7188 was the select fire, fully automatic capable, Remington 1100 based shotgun designed in the 1960's for MIL/LE purposes. Six of them were famously sent to Vietnam and used by the SEALs briefly. The 7180 was similar in appearance but semi-automatic only. Up to six variants, Mark 1 thru 6, were supposedly made of each.

I'm trying to find where some of these shotguns still may exist in public or private collections. Obviously a true 7188 would be considered a NFA weapon. Remington has one in there archives shown in a few articles and videos circulated on the internet. The Navy museum has one in their archives that used to be at the SEAL museum. But are there any other known examples that still exist? I have seen rumors on the internet of a few existing in private hands but an find no actual proof or old sales records.

I searched this forum and it's been a decade since the 7188/7180 was discussed. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Hello,
I saw your inquiry about the 7188, and think I can answer some of your questions.

I worked at remington from 1966 to 1973, and in fact, assembled , tested, and sent out what I think were the last 4 of the 7188 shotguns made. I worked in the small R&D section, run by Mike Walker, and we took care of many experimental gun and ammo tests, as well as making test barrels, and the 40x and C grade rifles.

First, the number: it was used because the number 1100 was already roll marked on the receiver, along with the scroll engraving, before any other work was done on the receiver. The roll marking was dome with a hardened steel roller, and used so much pressure that the receiver would have been crushed, if it had been hollowed out at all.

Carl Ennis, who worked for Wayne Leek, in the large R&D group, did small scale and test engraving on various prototype guns, and merely took a scriber and made the first 1 of 1100 into a seven, and crossed the two zeros, to make eights. That is where the number came from. The later 7180, took one less scretch!

The fire control of the 7188, was a completely remodeled 1100 unit, and was actuated by a cam welded on the mainspring link, which hit a special formed steel extension on the sear, just as the bolt carrier got about 1/4 inch or less of firing position. In semi-auto mode, the extended portion was lowered enough so that the cam would miss it, as the final locking occurred.

I didn't do any design work on the 7188, since I only got the project after Walt Dahl left the company, and we still had 4 to deliver, and all the parts were made.

The only othe change to the basic 1100 action, as I recall, was to the intercepter latch, mounted on a stud in the lower left side of the receiver. It normally is cammed into position to catch the second shell from the magazine, after the feed latch has released the first shell to the carrier. When a column of 6 shells , propelled by their inertia, plus a strong magazine spring, hit the intercepter latch, the force would indent the shell rim, locking the latch and shell together, preventing the next shell being fed. To counter this, a special action bar was used, that would cam the latch into position, and the cam it out of intercepting position.

Generally Remington ammo would not be a porblem, as the head was steel, but Winchester, and Federal shells had brass heads, and would indent noticably, particularly the Frderals, which seemed to be very soft brass.

That's all I have time for now, but will add more later.

REMNANT

 

REMNANT,

Thank you for the reply! Please email me at boltgun71@yahoo.com I would like to possibly set-up a phone call with you or at least email back and forth a bit. I think we both have information that would be valuable to each other. I also have likely spoke with some of your old coworkers.

-John