390 vs 11-87

[fast200]

Hey guys,

I'm looking for my first semi-auto, and I've narrowed it down to the Beretta 390 or the Remington 11-87 sportsman. The prices are similar. I do not hunt (yet) and I am just trying to break into clay's...maybe some skeet. Can you give me the pro's and con's of each gun? Anyone actually shoot the two before?

 

[ArmedBear]

Do you mean the 3901?

Or are you buying the gun used?

 

[fast200]

Walmart still sells the 390.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

Some people recommend it, but I see a lot of problems with them. I would go with the 11-87 just because I like Remington.

 

[zinj]

If you want clays get the 390/3901. The standard 11-87 is not really intended to cycle target loads. There Beretta 390 system also needs less cleaning. That said, if the 11-87 fits you better that should be your choice, as gun fit is critical to point shooting.

 

[bigcim]

I have the beretta like it so much I bought my wife one in 20g
I believe the berettas are lighter than the remingtons as well

 

[ArmedBear]

The Sportsman is particularly overpriced for what it is, IMO.

And I like Remingtons, in general. I have an old 1100 that I love, and an 870 Express that works great and I'd recommend.

The Sportsman, though, is rough (sweat-trapping rough finish), overweight, and cheapened too much. It's worth maybe $400 brand new. I wouldn't pay more for it.

I'd get the Beretta.

 

[johnmcl]

Hi all,

The Remington 11-87 Premier was discontinued last fall by the 1100 G3. So no more blue steel and wood 11-87s are coming forth. This means for shooting clays you'll have to rely on a camo version. They shoot just as well.

Zinj, do you think there may have been a design upgrade? I've been shooting my 12 and 20 11-87s in skeet with light loads without problems. They are boringly reliable.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

 

[ArmedBear]

The 11-87 Sportsman, specifically, john, is overpriced ($650 retail for the auto equivalent of the 870 Express, which is under $300), and overweight (8 1/4 lb. for a 3" shotgun with a plastic stock).

The 11-87 Sportsman should be 400 bucks. The Premier would be a recommendation, if they still made it. I'm not putting down the 11-87 in general. I think it's underrated, if anything.

Check out the Mossberg 930, an excellent semiauto for $450 in walnut.

(And I'm a Remington fan, usually.)

 

[zinj]

Zinj, do you think there may have been a design upgrade? I've been shooting my 12 and 20 11-87s in skeet with light loads without problems. They are boringly reliable.

IIRC Remington reccomends a minimum load to cycle the 12 gauge 11-87 (I want to say 1.125oz at 1200FPS, but I may be mistaken). When Remington discontinued the 1100 for that brief period in the 90s they brought out 2.75in versions of the 11-87 built to handle light loads. While many standard 11-87s will cycle lighter loads there is no guarantee.

 

[JNewell]

Have both, shoot both, like both. The 11-87 is somewhat heavier, in part because of the steel receiver. I also don't particularly care for the o-ring gas parts, but they have never actually caused any service problems for us. Skeet loads work fine in both. One possible advantage is that the Beretta stock is adjustable via washers for cast-off/cast-on and drop, though if you're looking at the Walmart 390 you'll have to buy the washers as parts.

I think the 390 gas system is very simple and effective. We have a 391 as well, and on a purely mechanical view I'd vote for the 390 over the 11-87 or the 391, but again, in real life, they all have been very, very dependable for us. (FWIW, all the are 20s.)

 

[fast200]

Price here is $523 for the Walmart Beretta 390 (which is synthetic), and $575 or so for the 11-87 Sportsman synthetic. I am taking classes next week, so hopefully that will give me a better idea of what I am looking for besides just the fit.

Given my needs, should I stick with 28" barrels or are 26" ones OK?

I will also check out the Mossy 930...its not the first time I've heard good things about that gun.

I'm a lefty...all of these stocks are neutral right?

 

[ArmedBear]

They should be.

You won't find a lot of guns with cast or one-sided palm swells until you start looking at O/U's.

Barrel length isn't a real issue. OVERALL length and balance are. In general, I'd say go with 28", but you might find the 26" to be better.

Note that a 28" semiauto is about the same length as a 32" O/U. Balance, of course, can be different again, with more and less metal here and there.

 

[jmr40]

I have owned both and feel the 11-87 sometimes gets a bad rap it does not deserve. In my experience it shot any shell I loaded in the gun. Remington does not reccomend barrels shorter than 26", such as turkey and deer barrels be used with light loads, but standard barrels should be fine. The "O" rings do wear out, but are cheap and easily replaced.

While I like the 11-87 and would not hesitate to use one, I like the Beretta a little better. I prefer the lighter weight and it is easier to load for me due to the location of the bolt release. I have never shot one of the Synthetic stocked versions sold at Walmart but if they are as good as the one I own I would call them "best buy".

 

[redactor]

Go for the Beretta. You won't regret it. The 390 is your basic no-frills auto-loader. Everything you want, and nothing you don't. It isn't tacti-cool or anything like that, but it will do everything you need it for.

 

[JNewell]

Barrel length isn't a real issue. OVERALL length and balance are. In general, I'd say go with 28", but you might find the 26" to be better.

Very true, and I haven't found a whole lot of difference between the 11-87 and the 390. The 87 is a little heavier, and the extra weight is mostly in the receiver, which is between your hands. Net/net, my recollection is they swing about the same. You should give both a try, if you can, though.

 

[ArmedBear]

the extra weight is mostly in the receiver

It's just as heavy, in the field, no matter where it is.

At the range, though, heavier guns can shoot really well.

 

[JNewell]

You are right AB, but I think the difference in balance point could affect how it swings.

In real life, though, my boys and I trade these guns around and I can't say I've really noticed any significant difference.

Probably because I'm such a mediocre shot...