Remington 1100 vs 11-87?

phydaux · November 3, 2010, 01:45 AM

What is the differance between these two guns, and why would I want one over the other?

pythagorean · November 3, 2010, 06:47 AM

The 1100 is stronger. It has a stronger barrel. There have been some problems with the lightweight 11/87 barreled shotguns in the past. Perhaps this has been worked out.

zippy13 · November 3, 2010, 12:27 PM

These days the 1100s, with their 2 3/4-inch chambers, are marketed as target guns while the 11-87s, w/ longer chambers, are more general purpose in nature. The 11-87 is really just a refined 1100; but, I use the term loosely. To 1100 owners, the big improvement was going to a stainless steel mag tube since the original ones were prone to corrosion that mucked up the gas works. Other changes weren't all meet with such enthusiasm. Some thought of the 11-87 as the 1100 Express -- Remington may have improved the gas system a little; but, on a whole the 11-87 seemed like a cheapened down 1100.

If you do a web search, you'll find some sites that will have a part by part comparison of the 1100 and the 11-87. The two guns share the same Owner's Manual, click here to download a .pdf document for your perusal.

BigJimP · November 3, 2010, 01:31 PM

I'm with Zippy on this one ...

I've always thought of the 11-87 as a less expensive version of the 1100 series ---but the 11-87 did have some models in 3" chambers / and probably 3 1/2" as well. I think in general, the 11-87 is a little lighter as well.

Shooters that have them - seem to like them both / so picking one over the other comes down to chamber length you need and the cosmetic variances in the different models. These days, I think the 1100's come in at least 4 different models / and the 11-87's probably a dozen or more...

Sportsman 12 · November 3, 2010, 01:44 PM

My take is that the 11-87 is just an (2nd generation) adapted 1100 for more shell versatility. Somehow it didn't takeoff.

The new 1100 G3 (Generation 3?) is I believe an 11-87 with more improvements rather than a straightforward 1100. It probably takes the 11-87 barrels.

By now, only die hards buy the 1100's when there are alternatives out there. I love my 1100s.

zippy13 · November 3, 2010, 02:29 PM

By now, only die hards buy the 1100's when there are alternatives out there.

Amen!
The Beretta auto-loaders have run most of the Remingtons off of the clay target fields. The only reason I have an 1100-T is I got it, and retired it, before the Beretta autos were introduced. A Beretta combo replaced the 1100-T as my go-to trap gun during my first season shooting ATA. Now it sits in the vault waiting for a rainy day or to be loaned out.

oneounceload · November 3, 2010, 02:57 PM

Quote:

By now, only die hards buy the 1100's when there are alternatives out there

Depends - IF you want a heavy, light-recoiling 28 gauge gas gun, only the 1100 fits the bill

BigJimP · November 3, 2010, 02:59 PM

Weren't the 11-87's made in 28ga too - at least for awhile ??

phydaux · November 3, 2010, 03:00 PM

Quote:

By now, only die hards buy the 1100's when there are alternatives out there.

Really?

I'm looking for a shotgun for Skeet & sporting clays. I had more or less settled on hunting down a nice, used, 28" 1100 with removable chokes (because the gun I really want, any O/U, will be about twice as expensive).

oneounceload · November 3, 2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Really?

I'm looking for a shotgun for Skeet & sporting clays. I had more or less settled on hunting down a nice, used, 28" 1100 with removable chokes (because the gun I really want, any O/U, will be about twice as expensive).

I have a 28 gauge you might want then!......

....(seriously, PM if interested)

BigJimP · November 3, 2010, 03:29 PM

I don't know what you're looking to spend on a used 1100 ....but a friend of my son's found some Browning Gold semi-autos / 12ga / still new in boxes --with 28" barrels - for under $ 750 a few weeks ago / someplace on the internet thru dealers. The Browning Gold series ( in 12ga ) hasn't been produced for a few years ...but I'm not surprised there are still some around.

I'm not sure when Remington went to screw in changeable chokes - but I think it was in the late 1980's. A lot of the used Rem 1100's I see for sale around are fixed chokes .../ but coming up with a decent used Rem 1100 shouldn't be that hard ( or a Beretta 390 or 391 / or a Browning Gold or Silver series / or a Win SX 3?? ) ....

zippy13 · November 3, 2010, 04:24 PM

Quote:

I'm looking for a shotgun for Skeet & sporting clays. I had more or less settled on hunting down a nice, used, 28" 1100 with removable chokes (because the gun I really want, any O/U, will be about twice as expensive).

phydaux,

If you're worried about cost, then a 28-ga auto-loader is the last thing you want. Why? you may ask… Because if you are going to shoot any significant of amount of 28-ga, then you'll have to re-load, else you'll break the bank (I'm assuming you've already priced 28-ga target loads, Yikes!)

You'll soon find out how finicky a 28-ga auto ca be when it comes to reloads. If you want to shoot a 28-ga on a regular basis, do yourself a favor, get that O/U you really want. Unlike an auto, it will happily shoot reloads. There's a reason 28-ga autos aren't popular, it's the cost of new ammo. For what you save with reloading, that O/U is the better deal than the 28-ga auto.

I shoot a lot of 28-ga; but, I don't own a 28-ga gun. I have several 12-ga O/Us that have been fitted with all-guage tube sets. A 12-ga O/U with 28-ga tubes swings smoothly and has the recoil of a BB-gun. And, 28-ga shells are cheaper to reload than 12 or 20-ga.

phydaux · November 3, 2010, 04:40 PM

Sorry guys. I guess I was unclear.

I'm looking for a 12 gauge Remington 1100 with a 28" barrel. And removable chokes.

I've seen them new for around $850, and used for around $500.

phydaux · November 3, 2010, 04:43 PM

I can get a used Ruger Red Label in 12 gauge with 28" tubes for around $1k. But someone told me they don't hold up to shooting Skeet week after week.

Plus the extra $500 left over after buying the used 1100 will buy a lot of shells & clays.

BigJimP · November 3, 2010, 04:51 PM

Like Zippy said - stay away from the 28ga ....that's not what you want...

$ 500 for a good Rem 1100 is a pretty good deal / if its in very good shape, screw in chokes, etc ... and yes, I think it will probably be a better long term gun for you than a Ruger O/U. A Rem 1100 will easily last 250,000 shells if you take care of it - probably longer.

However, I think the Ruger O/U's are decent guns as well / and will probably give you a 25,000 shell life before you have a bunch of issues with them ....but the fit and finish on the Ruger's hasn't been that good in the last 3 or 4 yrs / but they are made in the US according to their website - and I think you'll be able to get parts and get them rebuilt fairly easy. I think the Ruger is a better gun than many of the import O/U's like the Baikals, CZ's, TriStar's, etc ....

November 3, 2010, 01:45 AM	#1
phydaux Member Join Date: October 31, 2010 Posts: 65	Remington 1100 vs 11-87? What is the differance between these two guns, and why would I want one over the other?

November 3, 2010, 06:47 AM	#2
pythagorean Junior member Join Date: January 27, 2008 Posts: 970	The 1100 is stronger. It has a stronger barrel. There have been some problems with the lightweight 11/87 barreled shotguns in the past. Perhaps this has been worked out.

November 3, 2010, 12:27 PM	#3
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	These days the 1100s, with their 2 3/4-inch chambers, are marketed as target guns while the 11-87s, w/ longer chambers, are more general purpose in nature. The 11-87 is really just a refined 1100; but, I use the term loosely. To 1100 owners, the big improvement was going to a stainless steel mag tube since the original ones were prone to corrosion that mucked up the gas works. Other changes weren't all meet with such enthusiasm. Some thought of the 11-87 as the 1100 Express -- Remington may have improved the gas system a little; but, on a whole the 11-87 seemed like a cheapened down 1100. If you do a web search, you'll find some sites that will have a part by part comparison of the 1100 and the 11-87. The two guns share the same Owner's Manual, click here to download a .pdf document for your perusal.

November 3, 2010, 01:31 PM	#4
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I'm with Zippy on this one ... I've always thought of the 11-87 as a less expensive version of the 1100 series ---but the 11-87 did have some models in 3" chambers / and probably 3 1/2" as well. I think in general, the 11-87 is a little lighter as well. Shooters that have them - seem to like them both / so picking one over the other comes down to chamber length you need and the cosmetic variances in the different models. These days, I think the 1100's come in at least 4 different models / and the 11-87's probably a dozen or more...

November 3, 2010, 01:44 PM	#5
Sportsman 12 Member Join Date: September 18, 2010 Posts: 16	My take is that the 11-87 is just an (2nd generation) adapted 1100 for more shell versatility. Somehow it didn't takeoff. The new 1100 G3 (Generation 3?) is I believe an 11-87 with more improvements rather than a straightforward 1100. It probably takes the 11-87 barrels. By now, only die hards buy the 1100's when there are alternatives out there. I love my 1100s.

November 3, 2010, 02:29 PM	#6
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	By now, only die hards buy the 1100's when there are alternatives out there. Amen! The Beretta auto-loaders have run most of the Remingtons off of the clay target fields. The only reason I have an 1100-T is I got it, and retired it, before the Beretta autos were introduced. A Beretta combo replaced the 1100-T as my go-to trap gun during my first season shooting ATA. Now it sits in the vault waiting for a rainy day or to be loaned out.

November 3, 2010, 02:59 PM	#8
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Weren't the 11-87's made in 28ga too - at least for awhile ??

November 3, 2010, 03:29 PM	#11
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I don't know what you're looking to spend on a used 1100 ....but a friend of my son's found some Browning Gold semi-autos / 12ga / still new in boxes --with 28" barrels - for under $ 750 a few weeks ago / someplace on the internet thru dealers. The Browning Gold series ( in 12ga ) hasn't been produced for a few years ...but I'm not surprised there are still some around. I'm not sure when Remington went to screw in changeable chokes - but I think it was in the late 1980's. A lot of the used Rem 1100's I see for sale around are fixed chokes .../ but coming up with a decent used Rem 1100 shouldn't be that hard ( or a Beretta 390 or 391 / or a Browning Gold or Silver series / or a Win SX 3?? ) ....

November 3, 2010, 04:40 PM	#13
phydaux Member Join Date: October 31, 2010 Posts: 65	Sorry guys. I guess I was unclear. I'm looking for a 12 gauge Remington 1100 with a 28" barrel. And removable chokes. I've seen them new for around $850, and used for around $500.

November 3, 2010, 04:43 PM	#14
phydaux Member Join Date: October 31, 2010 Posts: 65	I can get a used Ruger Red Label in 12 gauge with 28" tubes for around $1k. But someone told me they don't hold up to shooting Skeet week after week. Plus the extra $500 left over after buying the used 1100 will buy a lot of shells & clays.

November 3, 2010, 04:51 PM	#15
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Like Zippy said - stay away from the 28ga ....that's not what you want... $ 500 for a good Rem 1100 is a pretty good deal / if its in very good shape, screw in chokes, etc ... and yes, I think it will probably be a better long term gun for you than a Ruger O/U. A Rem 1100 will easily last 250,000 shells if you take care of it - probably longer. However, I think the Ruger O/U's are decent guns as well / and will probably give you a 25,000 shell life before you have a bunch of issues with them ....but the fit and finish on the Ruger's hasn't been that good in the last 3 or 4 yrs / but they are made in the US according to their website - and I think you'll be able to get parts and get them rebuilt fairly easy. I think the Ruger is a better gun than many of the import O/U's like the Baikals, CZ's, TriStar's, etc ....