1100 or 11-87

[geo5120]

was looking at the 11-87 for gen purpose but found some used fine condition 1100's about $200 cheaper. is that 200 reasons to get the 1100 instead?

[ysr_racer]

Go with the 1100, they're basically the same gun.

[CSACANNONEER]

I like my 11-48s! I paid dearly for my .410 but the 12g is a beater that I only paid $250 for!

[yellowfin]

I've loved my 1100 for 18 years, had one in 20 ga since I was 12, then got a second one in 12 gauge when 15 or so. They point and swing perfectly, which is 90% of what a shotgun is supposed to do.

[remington]

A friend of mine wrote this regarding the 1100/1187. As you tell by my sign on, I sorta have a thing anything remington. Bottom line, get a 1100. I have alot of them. If you want a 20ga, the older LT-20's that are 30 years will still keep pace with any Beretta or Benelli.

The 1100 and 11-87 feature the following major differences among parts:
- extractor
- bolt
- forend
- forend cap
- barrel
- gas cylinder collar (11-87 only)
- magazine retainer cap
- magazine follower
Other common action parts are interchangeable between the two including virtually all breakable parts except the extractor which is 30/1000ths thicker and requires a correspondingly widened notch in both the bolt and barrel to accomodate it. It offers no real improvement over the traditional 1100 extractor (which is an 870 extractor)The difference was made to prevent the easy switching of barrels thus negating the need to purchase a new gun.
Parts common to both models that do break and require carrying spares include: Link, piston/piston seal/barrel seal; forend support, firing pin spring.
Also, the action bars and action bar sleeves are identical as are the action springs in the stock.
The 11-87 was intended to be as noted above, a "do all" field gun. The field versions of the 11-87 will shoot 2-3/4" field and heavy loads plus 3" magnums.
Field 11-87s may malfunction with lighter target loads in doubles.
Target versions of the 11-87 were offered from roughly 1988 or 89 until about 1999 or 2000 when the 1100 "Classic Trap" was introduced (actually the Classic Trap is an 1100/11-87 hybrid featuring an 11-87 bolt and magazine parts system along with a specially tapered light contour barrel with target beads).
The 11-87 trap gun was called the 11-87 Premier Trap and was offered with a non-pressure compensated barrel with essentially, the older 1100's standard porting system for optimal functioning with 2-3/4" lighter target loads.
The 11-87 receiver is 1/4" longer than the 1100's (standard, not 3" magnum style)
The barrels on the 11-87 Premier Traps were .740" overbored from the factory using specially marked choke tubes labeled: "Trap Full, Trap extra full and Trap super full" corresponding roughly to "Mod, Imp Mod and Full" from THAT barrel.
The current generation "Target Contour" barrels for the 1100 Classic Trap have reverted to a nominal .727" bore diameter with choke tubes marked: .027-singles; .034 mid handicap and .041-long handicap.
Please note that old style 1100 barrels will not readily fit on an 1100 Classic Trap unless you first swap forends and bolts. This is due to the "Light Contour" configuration.
The "best" barrels were the old fashioned fixed choke 1960s-early 80s barrels prior to the advent of choke tubes. This does not mean a choke tube barrel is no good if you can hit targets with it. Frankly, some of these barrels (and chokes) shoot straighter than others.

[BroncoBob]

I'm partial, go with the 1100

[ysr_racer]

I have an 11-87 SC that I will never sell, it's just that nice.

[maxicon]

I have a couple of 1100s that I like a lot, but had to drill out the gas port hole on my LT-20 Magnum in order to shoot light loads, as I don't have any need for magnum loads.

The 11-87 is more flexible, and will shoot a wider range of loads, but it's hard to beat the 1100 for the price.