To buy or not to buy

[Megalomegalodon]

I want a semi and was looking at a used 1100. My buddy has a 11-87 that is well taken care of that he will sell to me for $450. Should I buy or spend the extra couple of hundred dollars and get the 1100. The is one in the marketplace now for $750 with extra stock set and 3 barrels.

[hogbody74]

11-87?

What do you plan to do with it. Hunting, trap, home defense? hogbody74

[Tom-ADC]

What model 11-87? screw in chokes? wood stock or synthetic? If its wood with choke tubes I'd go for it if it will be used for what you have in mind for it. As you can see not a big fan of synthetic stocks, just my home defense shotgun.

[bigbearbear]

They are designed for different purposes, the 1100 is a target shotgun while the 11-87 is geared more towards hunting. Both will shoot a home invader dead if you know what you're doing.

Since they're both used shotguns, I'll get the 11-87 if I were you because it'll be buying from someone you know. It'll be a safer route, plus, hunting shotguns are usually carried a lot of shot very little. The reverse is going to be true for target shotguns, they are seldom carried in the field but the owner would have most likely shot a lot with it.

[Megalomegalodon]

I want to use for trap. I can get a 30" for the 11-87 but that adds another $250 to the total. How i s the 11-77 for trap with a 28". It has wood furniture and is very clean and well cared for. I'll double check on the model number.

[ysr_racer]

Buy it, you can always sell it later, but you won't need to.

[BOBGBA]

They are designed for different purposes, the 1100 is a target shotgun ...

Not sure that's a true statement. I know lots of guys that bought an 1100 long before the 11-87 existed and they still hunt with the 1100. There may be specific models of the 1100 (high rib, monte carlo stock, etc.) designed for targets, but most of the 1100s are good all around shotguns.

[ysr_racer]

Agreed, I've hunted with my 1100 many times.

[swruger]

a 28" 11-87 will do fine at trap. A 30" vs 28" barrel on a semi-auto or pump won't change your scores until you start to shoot well beyond the 16 yard line. And even then a good trap shooter can shoot with either.

The 1100 was designed as hunting gun. The 1100 Trap is the same gun; different wood, different engraving, and on some of them, different stamping on the barrel.

The 1100 and 1100 Trap are considered "flat shooting" trap guns. IE They shoot a 50/50 pattern, 50% above and below your point of aim.

at $450 and in good condition, buy it. It will still be shooting decades from today.

[XVIga_Rob]

[Bull Elk]

All things being equal, id opt for the 11-87. Screw in chokes better than changing barrels which means the barrels are fixed choke.