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Old May 20, 2012, 07:42 PM   #1
Slugo
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I'm wanting a 20 gauge autoloader...

to do a little bird hunting in the fall and shoot a few clays too. I'm thinking about a nice, pre-owned Remington 1100 LT-20.

Your thoughts!
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Old May 20, 2012, 07:54 PM   #2
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Good choice, do it!
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Old May 20, 2012, 08:37 PM   #3
Virginian
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I bought one back in the early 80s when you could still shoot lead for ducks with a 20, but not a 12. One of the best moves I ever made. Love that gun.
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Old May 20, 2012, 08:45 PM   #4
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I had one and let it go, back about 8 years ago. Bought it from a friend, he even kicked in the scaled down youth stock. I is a jerk...
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Old May 21, 2012, 09:36 AM   #5
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That's not being a jerk Slogo. That's being less than brilliant 100% of the time. I've been there too, too often in fact. I've seen enuf jerks to recognize them pretty quick by now.
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Old May 21, 2012, 12:53 PM   #6
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I've had a 20ga Remington 1100 Special Field w/21" fixed choke bbl, and can say that is WAS "special".

Since I've never ran across another, I currently have a 20ga Franchi AL-48 Deluxe w/26" Mobilechoked bbl , and can say that it's just as handy as the Remington 1100, but much thinner & lighter (no gas system).

Call it Rock/Hard Place.

.
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Old May 21, 2012, 01:15 PM   #7
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Nothing wrong with the Rem 1100's or the 11-87's ....but in a 20ga I also like the Benelli SuperSport in a 20ga ...28" barrel ...really light at 6.2 lbs...

newer technology ...inertia guns shoot cleaner....
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Old May 21, 2012, 02:20 PM   #8
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Jim, Slugo said he's going to, "do a little bird hunting in the fall and shoot a few clays," hardly worth the extra cost of the Binelli.
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Old May 21, 2012, 02:22 PM   #9
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zippy, you got that right. The difference is about $1000 bucks!!
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Old May 21, 2012, 03:19 PM   #10
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All the money he's got ....come on man ....

( besides, he might like it twice as much....or even more ...) ....

Seriously, I'm not a big gas gun fan.../ the value is long term ...in my opinion.
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Old May 21, 2012, 03:37 PM   #11
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I'm an emphatic recoil and inertia operated NON-fan. I tend to shoot heavy loads at game and the "legal" limit at targets, and I find the sharp reaction from inertia guns on targets even worse than than on game, probably because it's not as exciting and it's much more frequent. Don't like the double shuffle on recoil guns.
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Old May 21, 2012, 04:21 PM   #12
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I just received two emails from sellers who possess LT-20's. Responses from my WTB ads. We'll see...
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Old May 21, 2012, 05:21 PM   #13
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Not all Inertia systems ...or the guns ...are created equal.

Benelli's system is very quick to cycle ...probably faster than most gas guns today ....and its soft shooting, if the gun you select, has Benelli's comfort tech system in it. The Super Sport model is a very soft shooting gun....despite its weight ....and with a 20ga max loads are 7/8 oz anyway .../ and in the 12ga version it'll handle 1 1/8 oz loads just fine ..with very little recoil ( although, for targets, all I shoot in a 12ga is 1 oz loads )...
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Old May 21, 2012, 05:30 PM   #14
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Quote:
...Benelli's comfort tech system...
Yep, and it makes the gun look like it came from a toy store on mars
IINM, Slugo's a retired design professional so he won't want something that looks like OJ's famous shoes.
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Old May 21, 2012, 06:32 PM   #15
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IMHO Benellis really do cycle fast. Recoil is moderate. Remington 1100s in 20gauge probably shoot soft as well. I generally experience more recoil with 20 gauge, because of the lighter guns it's chambered in, and my inclination to use the heaviest shot I can find. Neat choice to make.
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Old May 21, 2012, 06:38 PM   #16
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a 20 gauge Benelli with shake your teeth out. The 1100 is a powder puff in comparison...

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Old May 21, 2012, 09:32 PM   #17
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They are great guns. You see very few on the used market. Once folks get them they dont get rid of them. Ive got one that was my first "real" shotgun. I bought its twin so my boys would have matching guns to shoot.

I hope they pass them onto their kids.

I prefer the 20 gauge 11-87, because it will handle 3" shells. I love to shoot woodducks in the swamp with my 20. Its a heckuva dove quail, clays gun as well.
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Old May 22, 2012, 06:43 AM   #18
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When faced with a similar decision I chose a 20 gauge Beretta 391. It is a superior gun to the Remington 1100 and worth the extra money.
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Old May 22, 2012, 08:55 AM   #19
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no argument from me. The 391 is probably the best autoloader ever produced. The supreme soft shooter. But, I'm looking to spend $5 bills or less...
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Old May 22, 2012, 10:42 AM   #20
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remember ....the search is most of the fun ....( I heard that somewhere ??)

Sure under $500 ...is a challenge ....but in that price range you'll probably find an 1100 or 1187 ..../ maybe even one with a nice Jack West stock on it...???

Zippy's picking on my " guns from mars" and that's ok ....I get it .../ but a Benelli wiht the comfort tech won't shake your teeth out ...(and besides, you don't need all your teeth anyway ...).... Benelli Super Sports are a lot more refined than the old ...clunk, clunk, clunk Auto 5's....
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Old May 22, 2012, 12:33 PM   #21
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I have a 1100 20 ga. I say go for it! that's a gun I'll keep forever.
I also have the youth model, and with the short barrel it kicks like a 12 ga.though, and I would'nt recomend them for kids or wives.
On the recoil issue,I have a Benelli Montefeltro inertia operated 12ga and the felt recoil is more than my Remington 1100 12ga gas operated.
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Old May 24, 2012, 12:22 AM   #22
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I have an LT-20 that has been with me for many years and alot of the time if I am checking fence rows in the fall it will be the take along gun. Could not begin to tell you how many quail it has taken and hard pressed to name all the dogs I have hunted over with it, but thats another story.
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Old May 24, 2012, 04:17 PM   #23
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I picked up an Italian made Beretta 390 20 ga, sythetic stock with the one inch spacer (to make a shorter LOP for my kids), off of gunbroker a while back for around your price point. Oh, it still had the orange Itialian gov't tags on the barrel as it had never been shot. I fixed that problem very quickly.

Love that gun. Shoots like a dream and is easy to clean. I also have a 12 ga 390, a DU with nice wood. Love those softer shooting autoloaders.

They are are also very adjustable to get a good fit with shims from Cole's.

I've had it about a year, and am still pleased with it. Now I just need to get my wife fitted for it and take her out to shoot some skeet.
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Old May 24, 2012, 04:47 PM   #24
.300 Weatherby Mag
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The Beretta autos are sweet shooters.. I'm just a little cranky about the cheapest one currently available being $1500... The Benellis aren't that bad, the Montefeltro doesn't kick that much and the Supersport and Sport II are pretty soft...

Don't shoot a Benelli Performance Shot Supersport 20 ga or Beretta AL391 Teknys.. Its all downhill from there...
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Old May 24, 2012, 04:57 PM   #25
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Quote:
no argument from me. The 391 is probably the best autoloader ever produced. The supreme soft shooter. But, I'm looking to spend $5 bills or less.
Then look at the 303 - even softer shooting
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