Remington 870 and 1100

mnblade

mnblade

Joined
Feb 7, 2000
Messages
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I've never owned a gun but enjoy trap and skeet and wouldn't mind doing some wing shooting someday. I see both the Remington 870 and 1100 at great prices second-hand. Any thoughts on these two guns for a relative beginner?
I'd be happy as hell to spend <$300. But at the same time, I do want quality, which Remington seems to know a thing or two about (i.e. I'd rather buy a quality shotgun second hand than a brand new cheapo).
Thanks for your help.
 
I own one of each in 12ga., I would recommend the pump for a beginner, a new shooter has a tendency to burn up more shells and not hit as much with an semi-auto. You don't take the time to aim as closely when you know all you have to do is just squeeze the trigger and squeeze the trigger and squeeze the trigger. As for chokes, for duck and pheasant go full, unless your shooting ducks over decoys and then I like the improved cylinder. For quail and dove I like the improved cylinder, but thats just is my preference, I'm sure you'll get several suggestions.
I like my remingtons but I like my browning 12 better.

Good luck and happy shoot'in

Bill
 
The 870 is simple, reliable. Because it is so widely accepted, it is very easy to find parts and accessories. Keep an eye out and you can get it for a very reasonable price.
 
Even though you may be shooting only one ounce (or less) loads at the range, eventually, with enough rounds, recoil will make a difference. Notwithstanding the virtues of the 870, I would recommend an 1100 in you case. You can load it with a single round and still enjoy the recoil absorbing benefits of a gass operated semi-auto. For your stated used, I would go with the 1100.

With that said, I can now tell you that the 870 is much more reliable, versatile and inexpensive. For your stated uses, however, you may not bet all of the benefits the 870 has over the 1100.

If you were looking to do some nasty condition duck hunting or other wet, cold and dirty type applications, I would definately not steer you towards the 1100. But for the range, gentlemanly upland hunting and the like, they are a fine gun.
 
I've got both too . . . I would recommend the 870 for a first gun though. Very versatile, nearly bomb proof, and EASILY available for under $300. (You aren't going to get a very nice 1100 for under 3 bills.)
 
If you haven't already, you might check out www.remington.com and look under firearms and then buying a used gun, might help you when it comes down to the final purchase.
 
Mass marketers will sell the 870 "Express" models for well under $300 new. Expect to pay about $230 plus tax during deer season.

These won't have the 'pretty'ness' of the 870 Wingmasters but, are solid working guns that will serve you well for decades.

FWIW, I have a smaller frame then the average American male and find the 20gauge fits me better. A shotgun that doesn't fit you is like buying shoes 2 sizes too big. Find a shooting buddy or good quality gun store that can show you how the shotgun should fit you, not how you should fit the shotgun!

NRA instructor
Sid
 
I own both an 870 wingmaster and 1100. The 1100 was about $600 used and barely used at that, it was in excellent condition with 3 interchangable barrels(different chokes on each). This was because it sat in a park rangers trunk for the majority of his patrols. I would buy the 1100,(and I am right now considering buying a new one, an 1187) because nothing can beat it in trap and skeet(both of which I do enjoy a great deal). It is automatic, and most of all you can put like hundreds of rounds downrange and your shoulder will not hurt as much as the pump.
But if I read above correctly, you only want to spend $300, well than get the 870. You can use this 870 for hunting, skeet, trap and home defense. The things that the 870 has going for it is that it is EXTREMELY reliable unlike the automatics. This gun is extremely versatile and will last. My dad has had his for about 25 years, and has probably put many times the gun's value in ammo through the gun. He is also not the best at cleaning it, but has never seen any malfunctions ever!!!!(good thing, because he would never know what to do, probably bang it on the ground till the shell fell out :) )
I also own a browning gold hunter(automatic) which i use for trap. I have only owned the gun for about 2 years. I have probably put about 2,000 rounds through it and as a result have had four occasions where the gun did not fire, all were from the firing pin not striking the primer hard enough. Because of that I am considering getting a benelli, they have a good reputation for reliability and as a result are widely used by the military, so hopefull it will not have as many firing problems as the browning.

Get the 870!!! You cant go wrong
 
Thanks for all the help, guys. I just did some cursory shopping around (one gun/pawn place and one gun shop & range). Frankly, I didn't see much, but that's ok, I'm not in a huge hurry. I'm going to keep looking around and then hit the skeet club a few more times and pick the brains of the guys there. The reliability of the 870 seems great and you can't beat the price. I'll likely get that and, a few years down the line when more bills are paid off, upgrade to a semi or o/u. I mentioned the two (870 & 1100) but what are some other affordable, "entry-level" guns I should consider?
 
I just bought the 870 Express in 20 ga. at Wal Mart for $244 and there is a $25 mail-in rebate from Remington good on purchases made until Nov. 15, IIRC. You can get the coupon as a PDF file from www.remington.com and print it. I just had my first clay shooting opportunity and it worked out great.
 
Another vote for the 870. Great shotgun and very good price. Shotguns can get REALLY expensive, but these 870s will shoot and shoot and shoot some more. Also, a lot of the new shotguns have aluminum alloy receivers, which I am not sure I feel too safe about. These Remingtons still use the good old steel receivers. If in doubt, get a magnet out and do some checking and see which brands use the aluminum alloy.
 
SPECIALIST,

Your information on Benelli shotguns is correct; they are extremely reliable and robust.

They also kill at one end and wound at the other; at least the police/military models do. They operate off of a short-recoil action and will pound you pretty hard. Dunno about Benelli gas guns, but if they are half the quality of the M-3 series they are worth their high price. Just hope that you are recoil-tolerant.

If I needed a personal semi-auto shotgun for ANY purpose, I would buy a Benelli. The short-recoil action is utterly simple and utterly reliable.

Steve
 
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