1100 vs 11-87

A

ammo.crafter

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I am looking to purchase a 12ga shotgun in auto configuration. Remington's fit my build very well, right off the rack.

I know that the 1100 and the 11-87 are both gas-operated recoil formats.

I presently shoot an 1100 20ga and find the gun a smooth shooter.

My problem: should I stick with an 1100 in 12ga or get the 11-87 in 12ga.

Firing exactly equal loads, which Remington format has less felt recoil?
 
Back when I owned both, using the same loads, I noticed no difference in how they felt while shooting.

The only difference was the 11-87 was chambered up to 3.5" shells. The 1100 was 2.75" and 3" Only.

I've since sold both of them, so there could be more differences with the release of new models.

I'm sure the guys here will chime in.
 
What do you plan to do with the gun? The 1100s are 2-3/4" or 3", whereas the 11-87 is 2-3/4" and 3". The SuperMag will also shoot 3-1/2" fodder. The 1100 and 11-87 are 99+% the same gun, only difference is the gas parts on the barrel and 11-87 has a wider extractor.
 
The 1100 is 2 3/4" only.

The 1100 Magnum is 2 3/4" or 3"

The 1187 is 2 3/4" or 3".

The 1187 Supermag will accept 3 1/2"

If you are shooting the same 2 3/4" load in all these, with all being equal(I.E. all wood stocks etc.) I doubt you could feel the difference in recoils with any of them.
 
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Guess I would go with the 1100 ???

My problem: should I stick with an 1100 in 12ga or get the 11-87 in 12ga.
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Most of us will stop looking when we find something that really works well for us. For me, that would be the 1100 and that is the main reason I have not bought an 11-87. I no longer have my 3" 12Ga, 1100 but kept my 20Ga. That is what I used on Pheasants before they moved out of state. I have done some minor work on 11-87's and noted some physical problems that the 1100's don't have. If it were my call, I'd go with the 1100 magnum. I don't hunt waterfowl so my 20Ga 1100 suits me just fine. ..... ;)

Good luck and;
Be Safe !!!
 
i have a 1100 sporting 28ga, a 1100 lt 20ga 2-3/4,a 16ga 1100, a 1100 mag 12ga 3" with a extra 1100 barrel in 2-3/4 and a 11-87 light weight in 2-3/4 or 3" and they all do the jobs i require of them. but a 1100 in 3" with a extra 2-3/4 " barrel would be all i would realy need. eastbank.
 
Unless you find an 1100 significantly cheaper I see no downside to the 11-87 even if you don't think you will ever shoot 3" shells. Early 11-87's got somewhat of a reputation as less reliable, but I never experienced any difference in the ones I owned.
 
I am unaware of 11-87s ever having a reputation of being unreliable. The early ones had a heavy RemChoke barrel and did not feel like an 1100, and thereby killed Remington's plan to have the 11-87 phase out the 1100 forever.
I am far from the world's premier pheasant hunter, but I didn't think you needed a 3" gun for them. I would go with an 1100 or an 11-87, depending on what you can find for how much money in what condition.
I sold and worked on guns for many years, and would like to hear about these physical issues that the 11-87 had that the 1100 did not. I do not call myself a gunsmith because I have not one artistic bone in my body. But I am a pretty fair gun mechanic. If you review the parts lists you will see that the 1100 and the 11-87 are closer than twins.
 
I sold and worked on guns for many years, and would like to hear about these physical issues that the 11-87 had that the 1100 did not.
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Split or cracked forends, under normal use. ....... :rolleyes:

Be Safe !!!
 
Well, the 11-87 has a reinforced and pinned fore end that the 1100 does not, and incorporates a gas shroud, but you are saying the 11-87s split more than the 1100s? I have owned 13 of them myself over the years, and worked on hundreds, and the only split fore end I have ever personally encountered was when the gun was dropped, so yeah maybe that is normal use.
 
I do not call myself a gunsmith because I have not one artistic bone in my body. But I am a pretty fair gun mechanic.
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LOL, I have a brother in Louisiana!

I only have about 400 rounds through my old 11-87 but I like it just fine. Its walnut forend is reinforced with what looks like fiberglass and it fits both my light contour barrels almost perfectly. Looks like a sturdy and attractive piece of furniture to me.
 
I'll try again !!!

but you are saying the 11-87s split more than the 1100s?
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Is that a statement or question? .... :confused:

Let's try it this way. I have never owned or shot an 11-87. I have worked on a few of two had cracked forends. One had the glass lining and one did not so I put some in there. I have owned shot and handled more 1100's than I recall. None have ever had a cracked forend and none were glass lined. ..... :confused:

Now, can you tell me why the 1100's don't need a glass lined forend. I don't know but perhaps you do. ...... ;)

Be Safe !!!
 
Between the 1100 and the 11-87, the heavier gun will "kick" less. My 1100 has a mercury filled canister in the mag tube to reduce kick and smooth the swing.

IMHO, the main advantage of the 11-87 is its stainless mag steel tube. Anyone who's worked with 1100s knows the problems associated with a mucked up mag tube.

Some target shooters say the 1100s are more reliable with light loads than the 11-87s. Also, they don't like the 11-87's long chamber and feel. If you want a gas gun that will shoot a wide variety of loads and kick less, the new generation of Berettas have it all over the R-1100/87s.
Now, can you tell me why the 1100's don't need a glass lined forend. I don't know but perhaps you do
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Curious, my 1100 has a glass lined forend. Is it because it's a target gun or does it have to do with the year of production?
 
Curious, my 1100 has a glass lined forend. Is it because it's a target gun or does it have to do with the year of production
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Don't know Zippy. That's a good question. :confused:
Will the 1187 forend fit the 1100? If so, is it possible your 1100 forend was replaced with an 1187 forend at some point and time ??

I've got two 1100 and one Magnum. Brother and son each have an 1100.

None have glassed forends.

Other brother and a hunting partner have 1187's...both glassed forends
 
The early 12 gauge 1100s into the 1970s range did not have the glass reinforcement in the fore end. Then they added that feature at receiver end of the fore end. The 11-87s began with the addition of a reinforcing pin in the muzzle end of the fore end. I have seen fore ends of both versions cracked on both ends. On the 13 I have owned, the only one that ever experienced a crack was my 1963 1100, when it got dropped on a hardwood floor. Most of the ones I fixed, the owners either said they dropped it, or they didn't know how or when it happened.
There are newer gas autos that will go longer between cleanings, but I have never had a failure, and I have gone probably 400 rounds tops. I clean them whether I shoot 1 round or hundreds. You can get a newer design, but you can't get one that shoots better, if you like 1100s/11-87s.
 
Owned several 1100s, still have an 11-87 I can't seem to unload, but I would look at a Versa-Max. For a few hundos more, you can have the state of the art with an increase in durability, longevity and reliability, plus less recoil.
 
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