REALLY confused now.

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blutch

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Yeah... i wish that one were still available. I wasn't sure if it was new enough to have the removable chokes, but if it did I would have gone for it if it were still available.

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ProBusiness

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Beretta makes a 390, 3901, and 391 urika plus newer models. I have them and they shoot great. I have 1100s and they shoot great.

A semiauto can have a problem with jamming if you are shooting very, very light target loads and the gun is not designed to handle them, then it won't cycle. The same is true for very heavy hunting loads. But if you are shooting middle of the road loads with a 1100 or 1187 then it will handle them.

My Berettas will handle my reloaded 7/8 ounce target loads and a 3" 1 7/8 heavy turkey load with no adjustments. But we are talking the extreme ends of your demands on a shotgun.

Beretta has a 3901, synthetic gun for around $400 - $600, i did not know what the current price is but i got one a few years ago new for $399. I do believe it could be your all around gun.

A quality name brand shotgun for $500 is a good deal. You will probably not have to spend another dime on fixing them. But, I know guys that have tried to save a little buying off brand name guns, but remember any fix that requires a gunsmith and you are looking at starting at $100, so add that possibility to the cost of a cheaper gun. Plus you do not know when it will break.

Like the guys said, remington 1100, 1187, beretta 390, 3901, 391 have been around for a LONG time and guys are still using them.

I shoot registered skeet - you will see remingtons 1100, 1187 and beretta in the semi-auto, not much else, and i am talking about shooting 500 rounds a weekend, several weeks a year, year after year plus thousands of practice rounds a year. There is a reason you see these guns being used - they keep working.

You can probably find a 1100 or 1187 with a fixed modified choke for around $300. you can hunt pretty much everything with it, a little strong for quail but where are there any quail, and even shoot skeet, trap, so worth. A skeet choke would be better for skeet but if you do not shoot that much, just shoot it with a modified and enjoy. when you get more money buy a barrel with screw in chokes. they run $80 - $180.
 

blutch

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Thank you for your detailed post. It is VERY helpful.

Frankly, I really liked the feel of that Beretta 3901 at Bass Pro. It was light and felt good in my hands when I aimed it. The price was right.. I just wanted to be sure it wasn't junk compared to the Remingtons. I will check it out further.

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criticalbass

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The 11-87 is basically an 1100 with a compensating gas system. It can expel excess gas that would otherwise batter the gun when shooting 3" loads or heavy magnum 2 3/4" loads. The 1100 standard is not capable of expelling the gas and will be battered if using heavy magnum loads, it is also chambered for 2 3/4" only.

Early 11-87s had some reliability issues, but I want to say that Remington has since resolved them. However, these issues and the fact that it was being compared to the 1100 (One of the classics) left it with a bad rep for reliability.

Remington's widespread QC probs haven't helped.

What he said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

If you plan to use heavy loads, do not get the 1100. Get the 1187. You can get an 1100 that will take heavy 3 inch ammo, and will shoot heavy 2 3/4 inch ammo, but it won't cycle light loads. If you shoot heavy loads in a regular 1100, it'll break. I have seen it happen. The 1187 meters the gas and works fine with both.

As to "experts" and "Bass Pro," you may not realize that these concepts are fundamentally contradictory, mutually exclusive, etc.

You might be able to find two shotguns, one for light ammo and one for mag loads, about as inexpensively as one "do-all" weapon.

Also, unless there is a physical reason you can't use a pump, that's where you need to be looking for an affordable all around shotgun. They are more reliable than autos, and some of them can be cycled faster than most autos will cycle. CB
 

blutch

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CB - thanks for the advise. I'm glad to hear this concern with the 1100. I'm going with a recommendation from a guy at my club who teaches Skeet. He recommends a semi-auto over a pump.

What are your thoughts on the entry-level Beretta semi-auto? It was much lighter than the 11-87.

I'd buy an 11-87 used if I could find one.

THanks!

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A couple of points regarding the guys at bass pro.

Remington has a couple of models before the 1100 where they worked out the bugs. I don't care if the gas system is 50 years old. it works. newer does not mean better.

i will second the stmt the SOME of the guys at Bass Pro are not seasoned shotgun shooters.

I think that some of the 'newer' guns do not have the quality of some of the older guns. it depends on the mfg and gun.

a 1100 can come with fixed chokes or removable chokes, remington started making 1100 with removable chokes in the mid to late 1980. NONE of them are dogs in regards to quality and dependabliity (given the original design, a gun might be broken but that is a diff story).

True a pump gun will be less enjoyable in shooting a game of skeet where you keep score and are competiting. How often do you plan do to this? But can you shoot skeet with a pump - sure - some guys do it just to prove how fast they are. For trap - pump - no problem, sporting clays when doubles are thrown - you are handicapped some over a auto. A pump will kick more than an auto which could lower your score.

Looks should never play a major part in choosing a shotgun. buy quality not looks.

Everyone understands that an accurate rifle is more desirable than an inaccurate rifle.

But a shotgun can also be inaccurate. How - bad pattern. all of your 500 or so pellets need to be evenly dispursed at the appropriate distance with the given choke. So for a modified choke, shooting #8 shot, around 30 yards or 35 yards, a good shotgun will put about 70% of that 500 pellets into a 30" circle and all the pellets will be equal distance from one another. The above is an example. A bad pattern will have more of the pellets in one area and less in another creating a 'hole' in the pattern big enough for a dove, or even a pheasant to get through and not have enough lead in it to kill it. Some guns shoot high or low or left or right. some of the Cheap guns look great but have bad patterns. so why spend the money for a gun, the money for a hunting trip and shells, etc. and have a poor patterning shotgun.

buy a quality gun, in my book that is the beretta, remington, i have not shot a benelie but guys like them. I did not care for the winchesters i have owned - but that is just me. some guys love their winchesters. beretta 3901 is a quality gun, it may not have the looks of some of the cheaper guns but years of quality and testing are in that gun. same with remingtons 1100 and 1187. i do not know about the new remingtons.

the difference between the beretta 391 urika and 3901 is the 3901 is minus the lock out switch/lever in the reciever. not a big thing. handy when hunting but you can live without it.

buy your gun and start shooting. you will enjoy it and learn as you go. don't try and get it 100% correct the first time. if you are not hitting - trade guns.
 

blutch

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thought I would let you all know I picked up a mint condition Remington 11-87 premiere this morning from an OSA member. It is 100% in every aspect and has hardly been fired. I can't wait to learn how to shoot it and take care of it. First thing is to find a cheap case for it. Probably just start with a soft side bag.

I hope to take it out to the gun club on Friday afternoon.

Thank you all for your help and recommendations. I feel confident about this purchase because of your assistance.

B
 

WhiteyMacD

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On the comment about remington SAs:

The 1100 doesnt have a great reliability record in competitive applications. That said, I have never had an ounce of trouble with any remington I have owned (1100, 11-87 or SP-10). So I am not sure what competitive sports these "records" are from. IMHO, if choosing between the 1100 and 11-87, I am going to go with the 11-87.

I cant give any insight into Benelli. I have only, ever, used 3 brands of shotguns, Remington, Browning or Beretta.
 

El Pablo

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On the comment about remington SAs:

The 1100 doesnt have a great reliability record in competitive applications. That said, I have never had an ounce of trouble with any remington I have owned (1100, 11-87 or SP-10). So I am not sure what competitive sports these "records" are from. IMHO, if choosing between the 1100 and 11-87, I am going to go with the 11-87.

I cant give any insight into Benelli. I have only, ever, used 3 brands of shotguns, Remington, Browning or Beretta.

3 gun and action shotgun (like high plains challenge) is where the Remingtons have a bad rep.

If you go with an 1100 buy a bunch of o rings and oil the crap out of it.

Out of the 3 listed, I'd just buy whatever fits you the best.
 

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