Good semi-auto shotgun?
- Thread starter lance658
- Start date
The 1100 and 1187 are not the same, the gas system is very different. The 11-87 has the ability to vent excess gas pressure and the 1100 does not for one example. Several of the small parts in the guns were changed also to lower manufacturing costs. There isn't a lot that will interchange between the two but there are some parts.
Oh yeah I for got little details like that.
It's capable of venting the excess pressures due to the chamber lengths available. A 3" or 3 1/2" shell can produce very high pressures, much higher than necessary for cycling the action and could damage the gun. Basically it utilizes only the pressures it needs to cycle the rounds and anything beyond that needs to be vented.
I imagine this venting also helps further reduce the recoil of the bigger loads.
This is probably not necessary in the 1100 since it is only chambered for 2 3/4" shells that operate within a narrower range of gas pressures.
It's capable of venting the excess pressures due to the chamber lengths available. A 3" or 3 1/2" shell can produce very high pressures, much higher than necessary for cycling the action and could damage the gun. Basically it utilizes only the pressures it needs to cycle the rounds and anything beyond that needs to be vented.
I imagine this venting also helps further reduce the recoil of the bigger loads.
This is probably not necessary in the 1100 since it is only chambered for 2 3/4" shells that operate within a narrower range of gas pressures.
MTMilitiaman
New member
I am just curious what you find so punishing about either the Remington M870 or M1100? Every year my family has a Fourth of July shotgun shoot in which we go through a couple boxes of clays and an honest wheelbarrel of shells. Since my dad got his MEC he's been loading 1 1/8 oz of 7 1/2 to about 1300 fps(?) for this task and at any given time we probably have between 1000 to 1500 rounds of so of this sitting at my grandpa's.
I've owned a Remington M870 for about 4 years now and put an average of about 1500 rounds a year through it, mostly 2 3/4 inch small game loads, but also including 3 inch magnum goose, buckshot, and slug loads. I wouldn't ever suggest a steady diet of the latter as comfortable, but last year alone I put hundreds of rounds through my 870 during our family's shoot on my grandpa's place in the period of about an hour and a half. I was shooting so fast that the wood grip on my Wingmaster was getting warm and the barrel was so hot that I had to re-tighten my choke tube after every 3 to 5 rounds. My brother and I each had Wingmasters, my grandpa had his 1100, and my uncle brought his Benelli (which, for the record, gave a disappointing performance compared to the Remington, though that could be because it was the 18.5 inch barreled tactical model of the M1). My brother and I each put several tubes through the semis and they were noticebly more comfortable, but the majority of our shooting was done with our 870s. The four of us went through about 1500 rounds in under two hours, though my brother and I did most of the shooting as my dad, uncle, and grandpa all traded and cycled shotguns but my brother and I were pretty much always on the line. I never found the recoil to be a problem. Likewise, though I have much more limited experience with the 1100, what experience I do have tells me it has a problem with neither reliability nor recoil as both have been exceptional with my grandpa's.
Sorry to hear about your shoulder injury. I am not sure exactly how old my grandpa's 1100 is but he's had it for a while. It is a very easy shotgun to shoot. Also, my dad just picked up a 3 inch Model 1100 that he bought used but somehow hasn't managed to shoot in the four months or so sense he's bought it. It's the only one I've seen but apparently the 3 inch Model 1100 does exist. Good luck with your shoulder injury.
I've owned a Remington M870 for about 4 years now and put an average of about 1500 rounds a year through it, mostly 2 3/4 inch small game loads, but also including 3 inch magnum goose, buckshot, and slug loads. I wouldn't ever suggest a steady diet of the latter as comfortable, but last year alone I put hundreds of rounds through my 870 during our family's shoot on my grandpa's place in the period of about an hour and a half. I was shooting so fast that the wood grip on my Wingmaster was getting warm and the barrel was so hot that I had to re-tighten my choke tube after every 3 to 5 rounds. My brother and I each had Wingmasters, my grandpa had his 1100, and my uncle brought his Benelli (which, for the record, gave a disappointing performance compared to the Remington, though that could be because it was the 18.5 inch barreled tactical model of the M1). My brother and I each put several tubes through the semis and they were noticebly more comfortable, but the majority of our shooting was done with our 870s. The four of us went through about 1500 rounds in under two hours, though my brother and I did most of the shooting as my dad, uncle, and grandpa all traded and cycled shotguns but my brother and I were pretty much always on the line. I never found the recoil to be a problem. Likewise, though I have much more limited experience with the 1100, what experience I do have tells me it has a problem with neither reliability nor recoil as both have been exceptional with my grandpa's.
Sorry to hear about your shoulder injury. I am not sure exactly how old my grandpa's 1100 is but he's had it for a while. It is a very easy shotgun to shoot. Also, my dad just picked up a 3 inch Model 1100 that he bought used but somehow hasn't managed to shoot in the four months or so sense he's bought it. It's the only one I've seen but apparently the 3 inch Model 1100 does exist. Good luck with your shoulder injury.
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lance,
--You said you wanted to shoot clays--
If your going to be a weekend clays shooter and are out there to just go thru some shells with friends, then the 11-87 will be fine. If your planning on getting serious about it, then that's another story. To be honest, I have NEVER seen an 11-87 finish a single season. They do not hold up to the 700-1,000 rounds burned week after week just in practice, plus another 250 for Tournaments. They are not even seen in FITASC.
Before buying, I would suggest going to a range and renting what you are interested in.
--You said you wanted to shoot clays--
If your going to be a weekend clays shooter and are out there to just go thru some shells with friends, then the 11-87 will be fine. If your planning on getting serious about it, then that's another story. To be honest, I have NEVER seen an 11-87 finish a single season. They do not hold up to the 700-1,000 rounds burned week after week just in practice, plus another 250 for Tournaments. They are not even seen in FITASC.
Before buying, I would suggest going to a range and renting what you are interested in.
BLKLABMAN, I think I am settling on an 1100-they have a few at a local gun shop for a reasonable price. If it does get serious, I would probably consider a Beretta or a nice Browning....something like that. I have been shooting the 12 ga Daly to build up some sort of resistance and conditioning, so far, so good. I may have to travel to rent some higher end stuff, or contact a club. But I work weekends, so that just screws everything up.
If only it would stop raining up here, I could get in some good practice. If the weather's good, gotta work late. If I'm out early, it's raining.
Also investing in a thrower for the clays...my arm is tired, and you can't shoot alone without some creative juggling.
I'll keep you posted-
If only it would stop raining up here, I could get in some good practice. If the weather's good, gotta work late. If I'm out early, it's raining.
Also investing in a thrower for the clays...my arm is tired, and you can't shoot alone without some creative juggling.
I'll keep you posted-
Lance:
All of the above posts are good solid info. I have owned or still own most every auto shotgun listed other than the Chas Daley. They all recoil about the same and it is sometimes difficult to actually tell the difference, especially if the stock fits. One nice thing about the Berreta is that they have stock shims that will allow yu to somewhat modify the stock fit to suit your body. I happen to have an older 390 and like it some better than the 391 so I am sticking with that model.
The 2 guns that I use most often is the Rem 1100 and the Berreta which I just happen to shoot better. If you are going to mostly shoot clay targets, buy or reload some 1 oz or 7/8 oz light target loads. You might even think of a 20 guage as they can hold almost the same shot load as the 12 guage and seem to recoil less. You won't go wrong with any of the guns mentioned above, just find the one you feel best with and carry on,,,, good luck
All of the above posts are good solid info. I have owned or still own most every auto shotgun listed other than the Chas Daley. They all recoil about the same and it is sometimes difficult to actually tell the difference, especially if the stock fits. One nice thing about the Berreta is that they have stock shims that will allow yu to somewhat modify the stock fit to suit your body. I happen to have an older 390 and like it some better than the 391 so I am sticking with that model.
The 2 guns that I use most often is the Rem 1100 and the Berreta which I just happen to shoot better. If you are going to mostly shoot clay targets, buy or reload some 1 oz or 7/8 oz light target loads. You might even think of a 20 guage as they can hold almost the same shot load as the 12 guage and seem to recoil less. You won't go wrong with any of the guns mentioned above, just find the one you feel best with and carry on,,,, good luck
Huntergirl
New member
I am quite fond of my 11-87, and the recoil is very manageable. Its used for waterfowl, and even the loads I shoot for goose are very tolerable.