Which Rem 1100 for sporting clays?

[t_dickinson]

I want to get into sporting clays with some trap on the side. Not sure about skeet. From my research it sounds like a Remington Model 1100 with a 28 inch barrel and an IC is a good newbie starter gun.

So, I went on Gunbroker and found there are Trap, Skeet, Standard and a couple other varients of this SG.

I'm 6', 175, 34 years old if that matters.

How much should I pay? Does condition matter? Most importantly, which variant if the 1100 (focus on SC's but must be versatile) really is a good start.

Thanks!

 

[Balrog]

Many people will be along shortly to trash the 1100.

My first semi auto was an 1100, and I still shoot better with it than do with newer $1000+ guns. I would just get the basic 1100, with the ventilated rib, IC choke, and 28" barrel. I would look and try to find an old one from the 70's or early 80's. Remington did a better job with them back then. I think the new ones are over priced.

You can find a nearly new 70's-80's vintage Remington 1100 with vent rib, blue, and wood stock for $400 pretty easily where I live.

People are going to tell you that newer designed guns are better, and maybe that is true, but my 1100 has always worked, and almost always busts what I shoot at. It is a good gun for the money.

 

[PJR]

If you are determined on a Remington 1100 then get the 1100 Sporting in 12 gauge with a 28" light contour barrel and choke tubes. It will do the job for skeet and sporting clays and even trap.

I have owned a couple 1100s and am not a fan. I am fan of the Beretta 391 which, if your budget permits, is a gun you might want to consider.

 

[oneounceload]

The 1100 is a decent semi gun for the money - remembering that current ones list at over $1,000; used ones should be a few hundred less. I have one in 28 gauge I am now selling as 28 is no longer in my long-range plans - nothing wrong with the gun.......BUT if I had to start over, I would give the Beretta family of guns - 390, 391, A400 - the majority of my time - they are that much better

 

[MutinousDoug]

The 1100 handicaps you in having only one barrel to choke when you are shooting doubles at most every station (and never more than doubles).
Still, it is an honorable pursuit, and I commend your efforts.
If I were serious, though, I'd be trying on an over/under.

Doug

 

[Virginian]

Beretta/Benelli lovers do not like Remingtons much. Fair enuf, I don't like them either. Either gun works, but they have a different feel. I started with an 1100 in 1963, and 47 years and umpteen shotguns later that same 1100 is now my SCs and Skeet gun. I have shot some trap but am not wild about it. I can rip off a 23 or 24, but I don't have the mindset for serious Trap.
For SCs I do think adding extended choke tubes is a worthwhile endeavor, either adding them to the factory barrel or buying another barrel; I got a Light Contour Target for mine.
If you can find a 28" fixed choke IC vent rib barrel, you are doing good, because for many years Remington did not make IC barrels except in 26". 28" was Full & Mod., and almost all 30 inchers were Full. Any fixed choke can be opened up easily and relatively cheaply.

 

[throdgrain]

Some opinions here!

I shoot sporting clays every week, sometimes twice a week. I started with an original Winchester 101 over /under.

Then I used a Mossberg 500.

Then I used a Benelli M2 for about 3 years.

Then the Benelli started to do light strikes and I just lost confidence in it, and used my Remington 870 for a bit. After a while the simutaneous pairs began to cost my score dear, as anyone whose ever shot sporting clays will know.

So, not knowing what to do, and at that time being a little short of money, I bought a Remington 1100, first made in 1985, with a fixed skeet choke anda 26" barrel.

Now accepted wisdom will tell you that this isnt the ideal gun, barrel a bit short, choke a bit wide and gun design a bit old

Well, I've used it for a while now, I've not found the choke to be ANY kind of problem at all (it would be for longer range hunting shots, but for clays a couple of pellets breaks the clay, and thats all that's required), the barrel length is fine for me and I've found that the gun is MUCH less fussy about what shells I feed it, I've not had a problem with any 1 ounce load that I've tried.

All in all, I can't fault the gun.

 

[eastbank]

we have a young man here who shoots sporting clays and five stand with two rem 1100,s a 28ga and a 20ga, his scores are in the high 40,s at s.clays and high 20,s at 5 stand. he shoots very quickly and uses imp cly chokes. i,m amazed at his shooting and love to watch him work. i my self have used all the recomended shotguns at the game and am only at 38-39 at s clays and 15-17 at five stand, to slow i guess. i have a older rem 1100 that i lend out to shooters at the trap range and i only clean it every 600rds and its still running when i clean it. the shells are mostly cheap walmart specials. eastbank.

 

[cowpoke]

Love my new 1100.

 

[Bill B.]

If you are determined on a Remington 1100 then get the 1100 Sporting in 12 gauge with a 28" light contour barrel and choke tubes. It will do the job for skeet and sporting clays and even trap.

The Sporting 1100 version is already set up for this unique game. No reason to look at the others unless you plan on buying one of the older field guns and using it for clays. That also works by the way ...........................