Rem. 1100 or 11-87???

[TABING]

I'm thinking of adding an autoloader to my arsenal. What's the difference and preference between an 1100 and an 11-87?

Currently have an 870 1950s wingmaster a Mossberg 500 and a Parker Bros. Side by Side, all in 12 gauge.

 

[ilmonster]

The first question I must ask is what will be the guns mission? If you are only into the clay games (skeet, sporting, trap), you would be well served by an 1100 as you would only be using light 2 3/4" loads. The 11-87 was designed to also use 3" loads, so if you are going to hunt with 3" shells, a 11-87 might be for you (although many people on this board find 2 3/4" Hevishot loads are all they need for everything except maybe turkeys and big geese). A friend of mine has an 1100 that she uses for clays, and loves it!

 

[ilmonster]

As an aside, weren't you a few months ago also looking for a 9mm AR conversion. What did you decide on (I am thinking of getting one too)?

 

[HSMITH]

The 11-87 is not a very good gun. Skip it and get the 1100, or a SuperX2/Beretta 391 if you need 3' or more.

 

[45crittergitter]

Not an expert here, but my understanding is that the 11-87 is a bit beefier and heavier than the 1100, and that it was designed to improve upon or fix some weaknesses in the 1100. I had an 11-87, but never an 1100. They are both very ergonomic. However, IMHO, they are both junk and you should expect to have to work on them from time to time, usually in the middle of a high-priced duck hunt 50 miles from the nearest 'smith or store. I would never buy another Remington 11-anything in 12 gauge. Plenty of fine competition out there... Beretta, Benelli, Browning, Winchester SX2...

 

[sm]

Agree with HSMITH -

2 3/4" chambers and loading will take of most , if not all one needs. The pattern board is your friend and mentor.

Special situations "may" require longer chamber and loadings - I say may because one may not participate in Goose and other Waterfowl hunting.

The 1100 runs, feed what it likes and tweak with the pattern board.

Folks get into trouble, reliability trouble most often because they ask the firearm to run ammo and perform tasks not compatible with firearm.

The other trouble folks get in trouble with on autoloaders, is cutting a bbl too short. Dwell time , there is an relationship to the bore, gas ports and the ammo. It only takes a second to go from "tweaking" to "wrecking" a gun that ran a variety of loads , to having a gun that only runs one, maybe two loads.

 

[TABING]

Thanks for the advice, did a search and have decided to look at the Berretta and Benelli guns as well.

BTW ilmonster, I decided to go with a built from the ground up pistol caliber carbine and am tending toward the Berreta Storm.

 

[ilmonster]

Since you are now considering a Beretta 391, I should let you know that a 391 was my first SG 2 years ago when I got into skeet, and I was very pleased at its performance. It is more time consuming to clean than my former girlfriends 1100, but doesn't need to be cleaned as often, and feeds anything you load it with. Good luck!