Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns 1100 vs1187

Doing a little trap shooting and was looking at a used 1100 trap and a similar 1187 trap. aside from the obvious ( eg fixed choke vs tubes) are there rampant opinions over which is the better gun? These are both in the $600-$750 range. For the difference I could put tubes in the 1100 if I really wanted them. I know most of you would rather a O\U but I've had three and I'm not as good a shot with them.

Opinions?

Find out which one was built earliest and pick it.

As you know, the only real difference is the variable gas venting of the 11-87. And you probably won't change your choke in trap anyway, so a fixed choke isn't a real handicap.

The 1100 is ammo-specific.. The 11-87 is not.. Get the 11-87..

Local 4-H Shooting Sports has some of each in 20 ga. as club guns for for trap. We use whatever shells we can get the cheapest. Both work fine, no difference in function.

(Redneck, talk about bolt handles, we had a gas ring come unstuck on one. Scary when facing dangerous game like White Flyers. Dealer and Remington took care of it of course.)

If you're only going to use it for trap get the one you like the best. If you plan on trying it for hunting get the 1187; with the screw in chokes it's a lot more versatile.

Get the 11/87

I have a supermag....you know the one that is not supposed to cycle light loads......well it does.

I can fire 1 oz game loads without a hiccup and then move on into a 3 1/2" mag load in the same magazine.

I have not shot trap/skeet loads through it so I cant say about them though.

Both are great shotguns but if given the choice it would be the 11-87 because of the screw in chokes and 3 inch option, but for target shooting either will serve you well.

There are 1100's with screw-in chokes. I'd choose the 11-87 for versatility, unless perhaps if I knew I'd only want to shoot the loading for which an 1100 was tuned. Wouldn't matter which in that case though I have seen one 11-87 (20 ga.) which is finicky (from new) with light loads. It seems to be the exception and I think a little attention would cure it.

Yep that, I had one.

I've got both (a few of both). Go 11-87. The 1100 is probably older, plus the screw-in is an advantage. My ones all shoot light target loads fine. Never used 3" shells in the 11-87 but that's an advantage if you want to use it as a duck gun.

(Hint - they love Break-free CLP, shoot them with plenty slobbered on).

Don't know if folks report back-- but I wound up with the 1100. The 11-87 was also a target gun and marked for 2 3/4 " and specifically "target loads" It did of course have screw in chokes. Turns out, however, the 1100 fit great and the 11-87 was as natural as me trying to mount a 2x6. A hefty price difference helped too-- I was able to get the 1100 for $500 plenty of room in there for another barrel if needed. Perfectly happy now-- but tomorow-- off to the range and the moment of truth. No pressure.

Thanks to everyboy for their help

I have had several 1100's over the years along with a couple of 11-87's. I found all to be very nice shotguns. If you want to waterfowl hunt then the 1187 is the way to go as it will handle both 2 3/4 inch and 3 inch ammo. Of the ones I had I tended to like the fixed choke 1100's the best as they had/have a lighter barrel contour than the rem choked guns and I rarely shoot much over 1oz or 1 1/8 oz loads. My favorite had a nice 26 inch plain I.C. barrel on it. It was much lighter and I could easily break targets at the 16 yd trap line so it was plenty for most hunting situations. My current 1100 has a 28" vent rib modified barrel and I shoot clays with it and it is very versatile. I don't get too hung up on choke except I tend to avoid full.

+1 on a 12 gauge 1100 with a 26" fixed choke barrel. I've been shooting one for over 30 years and it does everything you said. With good loads it works for ducks over decoys too.

Are there any differences in handling and balance between a 1100 and a 11-87 Premier? I ask explicitly about the Premier, as I have tried a Plane Jane 11-87 with hardwood and cast iron finish. It was exacty as Oldshot wrote: "as natural as me trying to mount a 2x6". The 1100:s I've shot were well balanced and caught the target fastly. The 11-97 was too slow to mount even for trap shooting.

Pete

The 1187 Premier I shot had a Light Contour barrel and seemed to handle ok to me.

For me, a 28" 11-87 Light Contour handles just like a 26" 1100

Thanks - that sounds good. Yesterday I found a nice Premier, and today I told the seller to keep it for me. Now I just have to wait for the Police office to write the permit for it.

Pete

Pete, where do you live that you have to have the police ok your puchase. I guess I lead a sheltered life....

I'm guessing here, but, MI?

In Sweden - one permit for each gun, and not more than six long guns. Sport shooters can have some more guns, and also short guns.

Gun control is the bad side of being a hunter here. The good side is a long season, and fine hunting grounds.

BTW, I am going to use the 11-87 on ducks, geese and clay pidgeons.

Pete