Remington 1100?

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marcodo

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Kinda new to shotguns. Have a 870 at home but am interested in getting into Sporting Clays and perhaps Skeet/Trap.

I have a elderly friend who is looking to sell his Remington 1100. I don't know the specifics yet (my wife took the call). Apparently its 20-25ish years old and I know for sure it was shot very little (I'd be willing to bet its been 15+ years since he shot it last). I suspect it will be in very good shape.

He is asking $500. I suspect there may be wiggle room.

I realize I need to get the specifics but is anyone able to tell me if this is a reasonable used gun and is this price in the ballpark.

Also when I go look at it, is there anything this novice should look for?

THANKS!
 
500 is a little high unless it is a "graded" gun. I picked up a virtually new one a few years ago made in the early sixties. Bought a Jack West trap stock off ebay and fitted it with a shell catcher. Mod choke, VR barrel and I used it for two years after back surgery and maintained a 96% average shooting trap in two leagues. No problems, light recoil and solid as a rock.
I'd offer $300 and maybe go up to 350 if it is a plain barrel, no tubes gun. 400 if it is a VR with choke tubes. Check the blue book for values.
 
Price a new one and see how much less that price is - if it is in excellent condition, it fits you, you like it, then buy it. For sporting clays you will really want at least a barrel length of 28"; screw in chokes will be a nice feature as well (though not necessarily a major deal breaker as chokes can be added afterwards if need be).
 
Check GunBroker. Prices are up. If it is in really good condition that is very reasonable. Doesn't matter how old it is - they are all good. You can have choke tubes fitted for less than $100 - a quality install by Mike Orlen. A field gun is fine for Sporting Clays or Skeet, and can be used for Trap but will not be ideal. My '63 Model 1100 is my clay pigeon gun when I decide to shoot a 12 gauge. A LOT of others have come and gone in 51 years.
 
The 1100 is a great gun and soft shooting. Be sure to check the o-rings as they might have degraded over time. Easy to replace.
 
Wasn't it about 25 years ago when Remington model 1100 recalled their barrels for some reason. Between a certain serial number if I remember right, and I believe I do. I had a 28" fixed modified that I sent in, and they replaced the barrel with a like barrel for free. BTW I still have the gun and truly love that gun, wouldn't sell it for all the money in the world, well maybe if the price was right.
 
Rem 1100s are great guns butike all guns they do wear out. Luckily 1100s are pretty easily rebuilt and they seem to rebuild an unlimited number of times. An 1100 in 20 or 16 is high up on my short list but not as high up as a "B gun" over under or a long recoil action rifle in 35 rem.
 
In my opinion that barrel deal was dreamed up by the lawyers to make them money. It is often cheaper to settle, even if there is no wrongdoing, than to fight it. Me and a lot of other people said thanks but no thanks to the $50 payment they offered.
 
I wasn't offered any money, I sent in the barrel, and they sent me a new fixed modified barrel. The shipping was all on Remington. I believe it had something to do with the chamber (being too short), causing jams, now that I think about it.
 
I have been hooked on the 1100 ever since a friend handed me his on a dove hunt 20 odd years ago. It was so soft compared to my O/U that I thought something was wrong with the first round I fired.

That memory turned into a quest to find a mint, but older, 2 3/4" only version, since that was what he had. That's all I ever need for dove anyway, and dove is all I need a shotgun for. That, and an occasional round of clays.

I finally found one listed as "new old stock", in the original box, 1973 manufacture. I bought if off GB, and paid about what new retail would be for a current model. It was worth it. Flawless deal blue, high gloss, highly figured walnut, not a scratch. They don't make them like that anymore. I ordered a handful of "o"rings, and stripped and oiled the gun, replacing the old rings. It runs flawlessly.

I love it.
 
The lawsuit alleged that the barrels could burst due to the rollmarking placement on the barrels. Remington agreed to move the rollmarking (and they lightened it to, which I thought was an aesthetic improvement), and offered $50 to any of the affected "class". If you wanted a replacement barrel they would accommodate that. Who knows how much the lawyers pocketed; the rest of the settlement was sealed. They did not recall the barrels.
As to O ring life, IF you have a good VITON O ring, I do not know how long it will last. The one I installed in 1967 to replace the original metal 'V' ring (so I wouldn't lose it) is still going strong after about 111,000 rounds. Call it a test in progress. I did nick one on my 20 gauge running my mouth while putting it together, and I have rolled over two spares on the concrete floor with my desk chair and ruined those. If you get plumber's O rings at the hardware store, better get several. And if they deteriorate and pieces lodge in the gas ports don't blame Remington.
 
I just recently bought an 1100 competition, and couldn't be happier. My sporting clays scores have gone up and I broke 'em all at trap.
I say wiggle him down if you want but buy it.
 
I bought an 1100 in 20 gauge about a year ago for $325
For pheasant and clays, it's a hard gun to beat, soft shooting, handles nice and looks good.
 
I love mine, though I have replaced the nylon bolt buffers a few times, and replace the action washers once a year. If it fits you, you should terrorize any range you step onto, and mama gamebirds will tell their babies stories about you to make them behave. Bear in mind that a dedicated trap gun sucks at sporting clays, though a good sporting clays gun is great in the field. If the gun doesn't already have interchangeable chokes, invest in a barrel that has them. My 28" barrel is what's usually on place on mine, though right now it's wearing a rifle-sighted buck and slug barrel. I also have a 30" Full and a 30" interchangeable choke barrel. For $500, or maybe less, I'd jump on it.

Downsides- it's a heavy pig compared to your 870, but that actually aids in the swing. It will most likely choke on cheap bulk-pack shells. Loads lighter than 1 oz are usually too weak to run the action. They require more care than an 870, but that ain't no hill for a climber. READ THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL; the 1100 has hygiene issues unknown to your 870. Beyond that...... enjoy!
 
I have an 1100 Competition Master (not the same as the Competition model today, more like the 1100 Tac 4). I bought a bag full of Viton O-rings and replace the ring whenever I pull the barrel. Definitely overkill, but the generic rings are so cheap it is way less trouble to do that rather than risk a match. I think Brownells sells cheaper O-rings now so not as big a deal.

One thing must always be said about the 1100. If you disassemble it to clean, DO NOT rub your finger on the rails above the trigger group, even with a cloth or paper towel. That area is machined to function and VERY SHARP edges are left behind and WILL slice your finger, and you will make up new words expressing your discomfort.
 
Thanks Guys. As always very helpful.
It was 1100 with VR Mod choke. Looked in great shape. He took $400.
Not sure what model it is or the year born.
N189XXXV...any ideas?
Probably will shoot it awhile before any changes but if I want to shoot sporting clays...should I leave as is, go with new barrel, or have this fitted with the rem chokes?
 

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Most probably 1980 vintage; 'N' prefix ran from 1978 to 1985. Your best option would be to have Mike Orlen fit choke tubes to your barrel. Excellent workmanship and not that expensive. You cannot retrofit RemChokes; their OD is too big, but Colonials and several others will work. I had Colonials fitted to my 20 gauge 1100 barrel by Mr. Orlen and love it. I rarely shoot a 12 anymore. Modified is a bit too tight for most Sporting courses anymore.
 
You got a good buy. I actually prefer the fixed choke as they are lighter. Also the old ones have better fit and finish. My son bought an early 11-87 for trap and is very happy with it. Pretty much the same but the 1100 is usually lighter.
 
Thanks, what is an 11-48 20 ga in decent shape worth? I've a friend looking to sell one he's inherited. I'd only call it NRA "very good" condition as it has a fair amount of wear on the bottom in front of and on the trigger guard -- like it spent a lot if time in rack in the back window of a pickup truck driving around the ranch.

What would be a fair price? A quick gunbroker search didn't find any 20 gauge 11-48 for sale. I'm not much for shotguns so I'm not interested in buying it but we've some large gun shows coming up so I'd like for him to have reasonable expectations, but not get ripped off by a low ball offer by not knowing any better.
 
Some people like these and tend to overvalue them, in my opinion. For one in excellent shape, with vent rib, $500 isn't outrageous. ratchet the value down considerably for lesser condition and plain barrel. Deduct another $75 to $100 if it has a Poly-Choke or a Cutts mounted.
 
I have a 48, predecessor to the 11-48, with 28" barrel fitted with a Poly Choke, which I got for $250. I like it as a general purpose semi auto shotgun. Its currently fitted with a +3 mag extension and serves as a HD back up to my AR. But being the long recoil operated action, felt recoil is a little more stout than a gas operated gun, but still feels less than a pump.

As to the 1100, I stand to inherit my step dads 20 gauge when he passes, or no longer has any desire to shoot (hope the latter comes sooner than the former). His is a sweet shooting gun, with 2 fixed choke barrels, not sure which barrels he has, but I think full and IM.

A typical 1100 12 gauge goes for about $450 round these parts, so your acquisition for $400 isn't a bad deal at all.
 
If any of you fellows are looking for some nice shotguns, I have a bunch that will hit gunBroker over the weekend.

870's, 1100's, Beretta 390's, Ruger Red label, etc.

Look for seller ColumbiaArms, or PM me and forward a link.
 
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