Author Topic: remington 1100 20 guage (Read 919 times)

koivu · « **on:** May 07, 2004, 01:06:02 PM »

I've been asked to sell a remington 1100 20 guage for a friend. She used it basically for skeet. It's in nice shape. She got it in 1978 and it's a 3inch magnum. It's full choke. I don't really need it as I have an old single shot that I use for grouse, but it feels really nice. Do any of you people have experience with this model? Would it be a versitile bird gun? I was thinking that if I wanted another shotgun I'd probably go for a wingmaster or Benelli Nova in 12 guage with different chokes. But I could get the gun for a good price. Thanks for your ideas.

dukkillr · « **Reply #1 on:** May 07, 2004, 03:09:54 PM »

The nova would be a much more versitile gun. Full choke is rarely used in the field these days, in part because people believe that steel will "blow the pattern" and in part because modern loads are faster and harder than before, so pattern density is less of an issue. If you have kids, a wife, or anyone who wants to shoot trap without much recoil this would be their gun, otherwise i'm not sure what it would get used for. I've had an 1100 in 12g and liked it but it doesn't measure up to today's modern autos (and I don't really like autos anyway).

dave375hh · « **Reply #2 on:** May 08, 2004, 03:29:29 AM »

So buy the gun and get another barrel for it with choke tubes.

She shot skeet with a 3" chambered full choke?

? Why?

Bob_K · « **Reply #3 on:** May 08, 2004, 06:00:07 AM »

I'm looking for an 1100 or 11-87 in 20 ga for my wife. Any one know if the 3" chambered 1100 barrel will reliably function with 2 3/4 sheet loads (7/8 oz, 1200 fps)? Many 12 ga magnum barrels won't reliably function with light Skeet loads, which is part of the reason the 11-87 has the gas valve business on its barrels.

koivu · « **Reply #4 on:** May 08, 2004, 06:06:04 PM »

I am not sure why her ex bought this specific gun for her. I guess it was because of the light recoil. I'm really not an expert in shotguns as I shoot mostly rifles. I hadn't thought about putting a new barrel on it with chokes. The problem is that if I buy the gun off of my friend $200.00 Cdn and put a new barrel on it. (Not sure of the price but barrels for wingmasters up here cost about $299.00). The gun would end up costing close to the price of a Benelli Nova or Mossberg 500, which I would probably purchase in 12 guage. Is it possible to get a shotgun that would be reasonable to use for both grouse and geese?

dukkillr · « **Reply #5 on:** May 08, 2004, 07:54:05 PM »

yup, any of the major gun makers offer guns that shoot 2 3/4" and 3" or even 3 1/2" shells. Browning makes the BPS, Bennelli the nova, Remmington the 870, winchester and mossberg also make versitile pumps with changable choke tubes, although both of their products are of lower quality. I recommend the Browning, especially if there is any chance of someone shooting it left handed. Bennelli's gun is also good, although not very traditional looking.

tony212 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 09, 2004, 11:10:13 AM »

I have a 12ga 1100 magnum I bought back in 1981. Back then there was either a standard or magnum 1100 they weren't interchangable like today. The "shoot anything" Remingtons didn't start until the 1187 came out in 1987. My 12 only works with 2 3/4" high velocity, 2 3/4" magnum, or 3" shells. It won't cycle with field or game loads. I don't have a magnum 20 but I would assume they were the same way.
Hope this helps
Tony212

dave375hh · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2004, 01:36:19 AM »

Tony,
You gotta get out more, $299 for a bbl is double what they cost if you shop around. I suggest you get a copy of "The Gun List"
or "Shotgun News" and look under barrels. Oh yeah a wingmaster bbl is for an 870 not a 1100. Another option would be to have the orig. bbl fitted with choke tubes for about $100 or possibly a little less. The thin-wall colonial or tru-chokes can be fitted to older bbls. Talk to Mike Orlen over on www.shotgunsports.com He put choke tubes in a mod.42 .410 for me and returned the bbl in a week!

An 1100 in rough condt. will bring $275 to $300, $200 is a no-brainer.

jp · « **Reply #8 on:** May 11, 2004, 05:27:32 AM »

Have the barrel sent in and cut a choke tube into it?
Check with Michael Orlen at
mrmoe@aol.com
You can get the barrel cut for $35 to length
and each choke will run $15.00

Beats a new barrel by a long shot!

tony212 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 16, 2004, 03:35:37 AM »

I never mentioned anything about price. I only stated that my 1100 magnum would not cylcle field or low velocity shells.
Tony212

dukkillr · « **Reply #10 on:** May 16, 2004, 07:13:23 AM »

have you tried cleaning it real well? at one point or another EVERY auto fails to cycle because it's got too much crap in the action...

tony212 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2004, 10:54:42 AM »

OK, let me try to explain this one more time. It doesn't have anything to do with the cost of a new barrel or if the gun is clean or not. If you have a Remington model 1100 magnum, it was not built to shoot field or game loads. It was made to shoot 2 3/4" high velocity, 2 3/4" magnums or 3" magnums. You can change the barrel, you can add changeable chokes, you can do anything short of replacing the gas piston, it is not going to cylce field or game loads.
Yes I agree, for $200 the gun is a steal. I would buy it in a second. It would make an excellent pheasant gun. It would even work well on snowshoe rabbits and close in turkeys and jump shooting ducks. But it will not make a good grouse, quail or skeet gun where 2 3/4" field or game loads are used. That is exactly why Reminton made the LT20. The LT 20 was made for all 2 3/4" field, game, and target shells. It will also cycle 2/34" magnums. But it won't even chamber 3" magnums. That was a choice you had to make if you bought a model 1100 in the 70s or 80s.
hope this clears things up
Tony212