Which 11-87 for me?

[Gearhead Jim]

I've had a 11-87 Police for many years and really like it.

Now I'd like to get a nice classic 11-87 field gun. Looking at the online Remington catalog, it seems like all the 11-87/1100 guns have some kind of camo/parkerized/plated/tactical finish, with a plastic/camo/laminated stock. What ever happend to the 11-87 Premier that I almost bought many years ago? Blued steel and walnut might not be as durable but they sure are purty.

If I'm reading it correctly, my only option is to find a used 11-87 Premier. My recollection is that the first few years had a plain-sided receiver, later they got some "engraved" scrollwork to fancy it up. Is there any mechanical difference between the two?

Also, I seem to remember standard weight and light contour barrels, and the foreend is specific to each. Not sure which is better.

Are there any other issues which should effect my decision? Suggestions are welcome...

 

[Milkmaster]

You are correct about the current line of 1187's offered by Remington. They all seem to have the camo look to them. To get the nice wood and bluing you are looking for, your choices are either a traditional 1100 or one of the newer 105CTI models. I personally prefer the 1100 over the 1187, but that is only MY preference. I still see both the 1100 and the 1187 plenty in gun shows etc. My Classic Trap 1100 has the light contoured barrel and nice wood you are describing. Good Luck and God speed!

 

[PMK]

not if you want it in 3.5

I had the 11-87 a bran new one, in 3.5 and it was a jamb o mattic. The worst shotgun I ever had. I have been told its mainly the 3.5 but I would not take the chance myself. It would jamb 4 different ways so fixing it was like chasing your tail. You should look at the SX3 its 10x the gun for a little more $

 

[ArmedBear]

The 11-87 Premier has been replaced by the 1100 G3.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model_1100/model_1100_G3.asp

They actually put some decent wood on the ones I've seen; that's uncharacteristic for Remington.

I'd look at them before trying to find an old Premier. The G3 looks good and balances well.

And I wouldn't get anything but the LC barrel, personally.

 

[Pete409]

Armed Bear,

That is not "real" wood on the G3 stock, even though Remington calls it "Realwood". It's actually a paper thin walnut laminate over a cheap grade of wood. Here is how Remington describes it.

Realwood™ carbon reinforced, high-grade American walnut laminate stock and matching fore-end

 

[ArmedBear]

That explains why it doesn't look like utility-grade walnut.

Silly me, I thought that maybe they'd put some half-decent wood on a gun with a $1239 MSRP.

Now, if the stock were some sort of high-tech lightweight material that incorporated walnut for beauty, I could hang with that, actually. But the 12/28 G3 weighs 8 1/4 lb. They actually managed to build a gun heavier than the 1100 AND the Citori! That must've taken some doing.

 

[Pete409]

But the 12/28 G3 weighs 8 1/4 lb. They actually managed to build a gun heavier than the 1100 AND the Citori! That must've taken some doing.

I think that the extra weight is due to all the glue they use to hold the wood chips together in their "Realwood".

 

[35Rem]

Yeah, they dumped the 11-87 Premier Light Contour (I've had mine for 11 years and love it) in BOTH 12 and 20 ga.
I'm kicking myself for not ponying up the cash for the 20 to match my 12. Mine has the engraving. A cousin has one of the plain ones. Both work great. Your only option now is used.
Dang, I shoulda got that 20!

 

[hockeybum]

This is the one I shoot when I go duck hunting. It cycles heavy 2 3/4 all the way to heavy 3.5 inch. Only time it jams is when i shoot 2 3/4 birdshot, but i haven't tried it lately with bird shot, maybe it was just because the gun was too new. I love this gun. If it cycled light those 2 3/4 birdshot i would make all my other guns my back up guns. I like it more than my dads Benelli Super Black Eagle 2. The guns in Tacti-COOL black

 

[johnmcl]

Hi Jim,

Well, the other posters have it right. The 11-87 Premiers were dropped from the Remington lineup 18 months ago. I got a 12 and a 20 Premier at a smokin' price and then went back after an extra barrel for the 12.

Mine will take 3 in shells and I use them for everything from trap/skeet to getting them duckies. Maybe because its a 3 and not a 3.5 allows it to handle the lighter loads. I'm very happy with them both.

I still see them on Guns America. Happy hunting.

John

 

[Gearhead Jim]

Thanks for the help, guys.

What is the difference between the 1100 and 11-87? There must be something good about the 1100 that the 11-87 doesn't have, otherwise they'd drop the 1100 completely.

 

[ArmedBear]

1100 is a 2 3/4"-only gun. Simpler and more reliable (though as you see, some people have no problems with the 11-87 anyway).

The 1100 Magnum can shoot 2 3/4" or 3" rounds, with a barrel swap. The 11-87 has an automatic gas valve system, so you can stick just about any round in it, 2 3/4" to 3", with one barrel.

Otherwise, they're really similar.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

Thanks for all the help, I just bought an 11-87 online. A min-condition Premier from mid 1990's, no "engraving" on the receiver, 26" light contour barrel plus 20" barrel with rifle sights, 6 choke tubes. It will be interesting to see how my trap scores compare to my Browning BSS.