Might trade for this Remington 1100, need some help

[aw091486]

I might be trading for this Remington 1100 from the 70's-80's. I know very little about shotguns, I was hoping someone here could take a look at the pics he sent me and let me know if you see anything that would steer you away from the gun. There are 2 barrels, 28" mod barrel and 25" skeet VR. Thanks for your help.

 

[ArmedBear]

what do you want it for?

 

[aw091486]

Occasional clay shooting, the unsuspecting home intruder. Mainly just occasional clay shooting, I don't hunt or anything, probably won't be shooting any sabot rounds.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

They are great shotguns. That setup would be great for upland hunting and skeet. Probably all you would ever need for ducks as well, although many folks like 3" shell ability (I assume that is 2.75" only) because of the requirement to shoot non-lead shot for wetland hunting. There are non-steel options for wetlands out there now.

And don't get me wrong, 2.75" is fine for most things. If you are getting it for trap, skeet and/or upland hunting - great choice! And a nice looking-gun as well.

What are you trading for it?

 

[ReadyontheRight]

You answered "what for" while I was typing.

For home defense, you may want to keep your eyes open for a shorter barrel someday, but I am sure your home will be well-defended with either barrel.

Clay shooting will get you more attuned to using the rifle than a lot of folks who buy 18.5" shotguns and rarely practice.

Nice find on a classic shotgun!

Get it and get out shooting! Join a trap or skeet league. Better, quicker, more useful and more rewarding than golf.

 

[aw091486]

I'm trading away my Springfield 1911 Parkerized Loaded for possibly this and a .22 pistol so I can actually afford to shoot my gun.

So the pictures look pretty good? Nothing obvious about the gun I should be worried about? I've only owned used guns, but nothing to this age. It appears to me to be in great condition though. Also, nothing wrong with the 1100 line back then compared to today? What type of problems should I look for if I see it in person that might be common in the 1100 series, or something such as how the barrel is worn in? The owner says only about 200 rounds have been shot through it probably.

Thanks for the quick responses!

 

[oneounceload]

Have the seller show you how to change out the spring in the butt and how to disassemble and clean the gun; also check the condition of the O-ring. Since it's used, try to see if he'll let you fire some shells through it

 

[ArmedBear]

That is a 2.75" only receiver, and that's not a steel shot barrel, so that gun would be essentiall useless for waterfowl.

You might be able to use a steel shot barrel on it ($250+ extra) but I wouldn't trust it to eject properly.

They used to make a 3" receiver that would work well with 2.75" and 3" shells, though you might have to do a barrel change.

What do you mean by "clay shooting"? Sporting Clays? Skeet? Trap?

The plain barrel shoots well, but it's not the best thing for trap/sporting clays, by any stretch. I've got one of those, too.

The Skeet barrel is good for nothing but Skeet, but the 1100 is a good skeet gun, if you want a semiauto anyway.

One problem with an old 1100 is that just about anything different you want to do with it requires a barrel change. You can buy a new barrel with screw-in chokes, but unless you pick up the gun real cheap, I don't think it's worth it. I haven't done it; I'll probably sell the gun instead -- and I have a 3" Magnum receiver, which is a good deal more versatile.

WRT new vs. old, I wouldn't buy a new semiauto from Remington, but I did buy an old one. The 1100 has its quirks, like a trigger that cuts my finger and the rubber O-ring on the gas system. It gets really dirty and needs to be cleaned frequently. It's made of stamped steel and piano wire inside. 1970s isn't old. I use a gun built in 1926 for hunting -- it's not a semiauto, though.

Like anything in life, it depends on the price you have to pay for it. That gun is in beautiful condition, which counts for something. OTOH it's an 1100, which is a gun that was once the "one to get." It hasn't been the gun to get for at least 15 years, though, and there are reasons for that.

Update:

Are you looking to trade your Springfield Loaded for THAT? And what .22 pistol, exactly?

Unless it's a really nice .22 pistol, the 1100 owner is getting the good end of this deal. I've seen 1100s lately for $250 -- in that condition, maybe $400. I bought the plain 28" Mod barrel for mine for 50 bucks. It's worth almost nothing, especially for shooting targets.

 

[aw091486]

I say "clay shooting" because, well, its usually just me and a friend with a manual clay thrower chucking them out there, and then we shoot them. Nothing too competitive, just for fun. I really prefer just a plain, newer Remington 870, but this is what the guy has to offer. Thanks for the info on the 3" shells, for some reason I thought I would be able to shoot 3" shells. I have no interest or time to hunt, so this may not even be a problem.

What do I look for on the O-ring, just if it looks old and worn? I'm beginning to think I may opt for just a plain Remington 870.

 

[ArmedBear]

I have an old 1100 and a newer 870.

For casual shooting like that, I'd get an 870 and skip the 1100, if only because I didn't want to clean it.

An 870 with a 26" or 28" screw-in-choke barrel and an 18.5" cylinder bore barrel would fill your spec's a lot better, with less cleaning, little or no maintenance and fewer potential repair issues. And it will even work for duck hunting if someone invites you sometime or something.

The 870 is a shotgun you can pretty much ignore unless and until you want to shoot it. It will then work fine. The 1100 needs care and maintenance to work. It's not a great gun for the man with limited leisure time.

I'd get that 1100 if I were a regulation skeet shooter in need of a backup gun. For your purposes, I'd skip it, as pretty as it is.

Just MHO.

 

[Milkmaster]

I certainly disagree with Armed bear on the 1100. ( we have disagreed before on the 1100) The oring thing is not a big deal. Takes about 30 seconds to change it out if you ever need to and cost a quarter at the hardware store. Send me an address and I will send you a half dozen I get for free. 6 orings should last your lifetime anyway. The 1100 is a soft shooting gas gun. They are not unbreakable, but my 1100's have never needed repairs over the years save a maintenance replacement of the gas seal I chose to replace on my own for about 20 bucks. A 28" modified barrel is a good choice if you plan to have a "do all" gun that shoots whatever you choose to use it for at the time. The skeet barrel is more open in the choke than the modified barrel making it throw a wider pattern.

The model you pictured will not shoot 3" shells. If you don't hunt waterfowl you won't need 3" shells. Your planning on shooting clay targets or plinking cans off the fence. That gun will do any of that for sure. I noticed the gun in your pictures did not have a recoil pad. Depending on your physical size and needs, you can put a nice pad on it to soften up the recoil and adjust the stock to your comfortable length needs. That one looks like it has been well taken care of. It would sell around here for about $400 or maybe a little more with the extra barrel.

You can spend much more on something like a Beretta 391 and have a nice gun for sure. I would like to have a 391 myself! I wouldn't spend that for an occasional use shotgun! The 1100 is not a new design, but it is a design that works well for many of us and makes a good used gun choice. That's the reason there have been millions of the 1100's sold since the early 60's. Any decent gunsmith will certainly know how to do any work should you ever need it. It is like owning a Ford F150 or a Chevy Silverado...Tons of them are out there and most do what they were designed to do.

Good Luck and let us know what you get in a shotgun! Whether or not trading your pistol is worth it is entirely up to you.

 

[lipadj46]

I don't think I would ever trade a 1911 for that and a .22 pistol. Get a used 870 instead for cheap especially for what you are going to use it for and find cheaper ammo that works in your 1911. To me the .45 is more useful to have around. Just my opinion though if you really want them and really cannot afford your .45 ammo then do it.

 

[aw091486]

I didn't think I would either, until the federal government decided that my grace period was over and that I should start paying back my student loans

It was either the 1911 goes, or my Sig P226 9mm, and I find myself liking the P226 more. Plus, it was a lot less expensive in overall price and in cost of ammo and I like shooting it more, both are just as accurate for me.

I really just enjoy shooting, that's why I want a .22... ~15 bucks for 550 rounds? Sounds like heaven to me. I don't keep guns to put in the safe and sit there, I buy them to shoot them. I guess the magic of the .45 has worn off on me. I would ideally get a 870, mossberg 500, or benelli nova, instead of a semi-auto, I'm trying to get just the .22 right now and some cash to pay off some bills, buy some ammo. The pump shotguns seem pretty maintenance free and a whole lot cheaper.

Thanks for all the advice, truly. I like the conflicting views so I hear both sides of the story and can ultimately decide for myself. Right now, I couldn't tell you if I'm leaning one way or another.

Milkmaster, thanks for the very kind offer on the O-rings. If I end up picking it up, I might just take you up on your offer.

 

[ArmedBear]

If you want to get a .22, sell the Springer for American Dollars, don't trade it for an old shotgun that doesn't fit what you want.

The Springer is worth a good bit more than that shotgun, and could easily be traded for the Beretta mentioned above -- if it made sense for you to get one, which frankly, it doesn't, when an 870 will serve you as well.

They are not unbreakable, but my 1100's have never needed repairs over the years save a maintenance replacement of the gas seal...

How many rounds have you put through it without cleaning and oiling it?

I'm not saying it will break a lot. I said they take cleaning, attention and maintenance on a level far above that of an 870. I don't think that anyone with any experience with both guns could honestly say anything different.

And around here, they don't have O-rings at the hardware store, either. Despite this being a place with very high per capita rate of gun owners and hunting license holders, hardware stores have stuff like hammers and paint thinner. Never seen them at a hardware store anywhere, or at Wal-Mart, or even at some gun shops, now that they're not as common as they once were. Never been to Tennessee, though.

 

[aw091486]

Well, the guy is also trading me a Ruger Mark II, along with some cash, so I'm getting a equal trade and the .22 that I really want. It's not just my 1911 for the shotgun, which is why it makes this more difficult. I'm seeing if he'll take out the shotgun and just trade me the .22 + cash for the 1911, otherwise I would agree mostly with what you said. He has valued the 1100 + extra barrel for 500, or with just 1 barrel for 400. I think that's pretty fair.

If you could only have 1 of the barrels, which one should I go for? I will most likely not purchase any additional barrels for at least a few years.

 

[ArmedBear]

Do not pay $100 for the 28" plain barrel. I bought mine for $50 and I should have kept my money and bought a VR barrel.

There is demand for the skeet barrel, and it's a useful item -- many people like fixed chokes better than screw-ins, especially for skeet where you don't change them anyway. I've seen those barrels alone go for $200.

For hand-thrown clays, the skeet barrel will be just what the doctor ordered!

(I love the Mark II. Just bought another one a few days ago. Just be SURE you get the manual and use it religiously for reassembly. The Mark II is one of the best fun guns every conceived, and possibly THE best one built!)

Good luck. That does sound like a better deal, that way.

 

[Milkmaster]

The Mark II is one of the best fun guns every conceived, and possibly THE best one built!

I agree on the Ruger MarkII. Like Bear said...get the manual or download one. They take some effort to get them reassembled if you have not done it in a while. There is a specific procedure that works, but it has some quirks about it. Very fun gun to shoot and very durable.

Back to the 1100 orings....Most local hardware stores around here also have plumbing supplies like faucet repair parts, & orings. A size 21 viton oring is easy to find and a lot cheaper than sending 5 bucks a piece to Remington for the same thing.

No semi-auto is as easy to clean as a pump like an 870. I regularly shoot my 1100 up to 500 rounds in a weekend. I just pull the barrel, run a bore snake through it, an oily rag wipes down the gas tube and away I go toward home. About once a month I pull out the bolt and clean it better. It is suprising similar to the take down on my 870 minus the gas tube wipe down. Neither is rocket science. You can buy a new 870 Express for what a used 1100 will cost you. However, the 870 has more recoil if that matters to you.

 

[J_L_A]

I have 2 1100's and love them! A 12 and 20 gauge. Usually the only thing that goes wrong with them is the O-ring which wear out after lots of use. An easy and cheap repair. Their value usualy holds up fairly well too.

 

[ArmedBear]

It is suprising similar to the take down on my 870 minus the gas tube wipe down.

The difference being that you hardly ever have to actually do the takedown on the 870. Certainly, not after 500 rounds, and it's a lot cleaner when you do.

No semi-auto is as easy to clean as a pump like an 870.

Not true. Benelli and its Franchi and Stoeger brethren are.

 

[oneounceload]

To ease your mind as to trade equity - go to some of the gun sale sites - gunbroker.com, gunsamerica.com, auctionarms.com, and gunsinternational.com and price both your gun and what he is willing to trade. IF, in YOUR opinion, YOU THINK you're getting a fair trade, then you are

 

[ArmedBear]

One might note, though, that reloading your own .45 ACP will cost about half as much per round as a 12 Gauge, and that's with expensive supplies and cheap shotgun shells.

 

[oneounceload]

AB - if you don't cast your own - I would venture it's a wash at best

besides, most folks shooting clays shoot maybe 100 at a session, give or take........most semi pistoleros shoot that, usually more....(us revolver folks have more patience!...)

 

[aw091486]

I think I'm getting good value and an equal trade, I just don't want to drive home and find out the shotgun needs XX dollars to fix or improve to work properly, so I'm trying to figure out the area's where I should look for the common problems (if there are any) or whatever else.

 

[J_L_A]

Any chance of shooting it first?

 

[1KPerDay]

It's impossible to say from your pics if it will have any problems. It looks very nice to me.

Only thing I don't like about my 1100 magnum is it's heavy to carry around in the field all day. But I have a Franchi 48AL for that.