Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Remington 1100 vs 11-87 shotgun ?

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Have had Remington 1100 shotguns for many years.

A fellow has a Remington 11-87 for sale.

Says it is a new improved version of the 1100.


What are the main attributes of improvement in the 11-87 over the 1100 ?


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Can shoot 2 3/4" 1 oz loads up to 3" mags interchangably.

Some of the newer versions are 3 1/2" but are limited to the 2 3/4" shells it will digest, 1 1/8 oz being about the lightest.

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His 11-87 is a Skeet model, so I am guessing it is tuned for 2�-inch skeet loads.

But this could be wrong on my part.

Maybe a 11-87 is not "tuned" for a given power load.

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I think the 1100 is a better shotgun. They run smoother, shoulder better and sight more naturally. The 11-87 was supposed to be a new, improved 1100. I'll keep my 1100s.

Ahh, the 11-87 Jamamatic! There is nothing new and improved about it. JMO

I dont know anything about the Skeet model, thinking it probably has to do with the stock configuration and maybe a different rib.

My Dad has an 1100 and an 11-87. I had an 11-87 for about a year and a half. Nothing "jammamatic" about it. Keep it clean and it will work. I shot alot of skeet with it and a pretty good pile of doves. I only got rid of it because I got tired of chasing empties at the skeet range and got an O/U. I dont recall that gun ever having any malfunctions.

We have five 1100's and three 11-87's for 4-H Shooting Sports plus a couple more among the kids. None of them jam. The main difference between them is that the 11-87 has a spring steel ring around the gas ring. Pressure gets too high, as with a magnum load, the steel ring expands to vent the excess pressure.

Ive shot over 10,000 rounds out of my 11-87 and have had two problems. 1. Shot it so much one afternoon the forearm split and was smoking when I realized what had happened. The forearm was black from the heat. 2. The gas ring wore out and caused bad malfunctions, replaced it and its as good as new. I wouldnt have another auto shotgun other than a 1100 or 11-87.

I don't mean to be a jerk about it, but I think you mean the piston and seal which are commonly available replacement parts. Now that's a lot of shooting to wear those out! The gas ring is the part brazed to the barrel.

haha i have my AR that im builing on my mind, I stand corrected. Yes it has been shot alot.

Hammer:

Can't compare the 11/87 to an 1100 because I've never had one of the latter.

However, I had an 11/87 "Sporting Clays" for years. 12ga. Never jammed once. That model is 2.75", limited pressure, only. Don't know what the "Skeet" model is, but look at the side of barrel to see if it takes 3".

I've got an 11/87 20ga. now for the wife. She hasn't shot it a lot, but it looks like a winner. Hasn't jammed yet.

11/87s are great, IMO.

- Tom

An 1100 LT-20 is one of the few guns I've ever regretted selling. Just about every gun I ever sold was offloaded for a reason, but I can't for the life of me remember what possessed me to sell that light 20. It was a great shotgun. Still kicking myself over that one...

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The shotgun action is engraved (marked) "Premier Skeet".

It is left-hand, as am I.

The barrel is 25-inches long not counting the choke tube which extends out another inch or so.

The barrel is marked 2� inch shells only and is marked in large lettering "Target".

The wood looks like it is definitely an upgrade from standard Remington wood.

The owner thinks it was made in 1999.


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I have an 1100 and an 11-87 Premier Skeet. I bought the 1100 in 1984 and the 11-87 in 1987. Both have served me well.

I got my 1100 with a 30" full choke barrel and shot trap and duck hunted with it. I shot thousands of trap loads and hundreds of lead duck loads, including my favorite 1 1/2 oz blue dot loads.

I bought my 11-87 when steel shot was required for waterfowl because it would shoot the 3" shells along with the 2 3/4" shells. The premier skeet had a nicer piece of walnut and I liked the matte finish and checkering. I also liked the deep bluing. I got that shotgun with a 26" Rem Choke barrel and a Rem factory slug barrel. I have fired thousands of rounds through that shotgun as well.


My 1100 cost me $350 at K mart. My 11-87 cost $500 at Kittery Trading post. Last I checked, they are a whole lot more. I've gotten 26 and 23 years of service respectively out of my guns. Neither has had a jamming problem nor have either needed repairs. I shoot them both interchangeably and don't notice a difference between them at all. The 11-87 skeet is much prettier and will take the 3" rounds. The new ones labeled "Sportsmen" will take the 3 1/2" monsters as well. I recommend people buy the older 11-87's as I have had good luck with mine.

I've got one of each and they cover all my scattergun needs. My 1100 is an older 21" Upland in 20 gauge. Makes for a great grouse gun and is very handy in the thick stuff. It has the straight stock and it carries and points like a dream.

My 11-87 is a camo 3" 12 gauge that I picked up used. It was a bit of a mess on the internals as I think it had been dumped in the lake and then just wiped down and put away. Once I got it cleaned up and swapped out the springs and seals it was good to go. It does double duty for me on waterfowl and my latest addiction of turkey hunting. It has never jammed on me, not even when it was crudded up before I gave it a makeover.

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The seller has found some more chokes to go with it.

Installed and the only choke that has been used is the extended Skeet choke.

There are also IC, M, 2nd M (doesn't mike the same dimensions as the first M), F, XF, Super Full Trap, and Turkey chokes.

This gun is marked "Premier Skeet" on the frame and the original barrel is marked 2� inch and "Target".


Would a standard left-hand 11-87 30-inch barrel chambered for the 3-inch shell work on this frame ?

If not, would a 11-87 Trap barrel work ?

Also, thinking of getting a Remington factory Monte Carlo trap stock for it.

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Hammer:

Wallyworld economy shells in Remington, Federal and WW will work in that barrel. Don't go any higher in in drams, though. No "high brass."

Sounds like the same kind of barrel I had on the "Sporting Clays."

Check to see if it's a "light contour" barrel. If it is, that might be an issue in terms of the fore end. I frankly don't know if it will fit over a "regular" 1187 barrel.

Definitely call Remington support, though. They'll tell you more about it.

- Tom

I bought my first 1100 in 1970 for $100 used after my 11-48 was stolen. It was a 20 ga and kind of heavy so I traded it in on a brand new 12 ga. 1100 with IC choke for $60 difference. I never realized what a great shot I was until I started shooting IC with 2.75 inch reloads - 1.5 oz. #5's and Win 571 ball powder. #9's on doves, quail and snipe.

That gun fired thousands of those loads and it stayed in my Bronco from start of hunting season until the end unless I dropped it in the water which happened many times. I still use it on hogs with buckshot. One of my all time favorite guns. I have used an early model 11-57 and it felt inferior. The guy sold it and bought a 3 inch 1100. Its easy to see why Remington still makes the 1100. My son loves them too. He has a new one.
Brimfish

I think Remington had intended to discontinue the 1100 after the intro of the 1187. However, the 1100 had earned respect & loyalty among the competitive shooting crowd that would not transfer to the new gun. Both have continued to survive & I hope are prospering. I am one of the old crowd that prefers the 1100, but believe the 1187 is a pretty good hunting gun. I trialed 1187's on skeet & sporting clays and simply did not get the reliability I have come to expect from the 1100.

I bought a new 1100 12ga in the late 60's for $115 with a 26" plain barrel. They were the nicest looking auto shotgun that I had ever seen at that point in time. I still have it. I wouldn't have a clue to how many shells I have run through it over the years. I have never shot a 11-87. I have an 5# Franchi 48AL 20ga for upland game now.

My son moved to Canada Goose country and I needed a goose/turkey gun, so I traded a Colt Anaconda for a new butt ugly black fiber stocked 26" Win Super X3 3 1/2" 12ga with choke tubes. All of these guns shoot great. The Win,(same as a Browning Gold), shucks everything that that I throw into it.