Remington Model 1100/87?

[Jed]

Hi there,

 

I've decided to get into the sport of clay shooting (perhaps double trap?). At first, I assumed I'd get an over and under shotgun. However, looking at prices, there don't seem to be many that fall into my price range (I'm looking to spend no more than £600 really). In my browsing, I noticed that self-loading shotguns tended to be much cheaper so I'm thinking of choosing one of them. I suppose I'd rather have an average self-loader than a below average over and under.

 

From my, very, limited knowledge I've come to the assumption that a Remington Model 1100 or 1187 would be the best choice.

 

So, three questions really:

 

Is a self-loader suitable for sporting clay disciplines like double trap?

 

Is a Remington Model 1100 or 1187 a good choice of self-loader for this?

 

And also, where can I source one and how much will it cost me?

 

I know that Edgar Brothers distribute them, but I' don't know which of their stockists stock them, or their prices. Thomas Turner, a stockist of theirs is nearby so I'll ask there, but I'd like to compare prices and so on.

 

Thanks

[dunganick]

the semi auto isnt particually a disadvantage, but i would never shoot one as my main gun becuase i like the simplicity and flat recoiling nature of the O/U

 

you will probably be able to find a beretta 391 for £600, this is a very good gun and would suit you fine.

 

however for £600 you could get a 2nd hand browning or miroku mk 70, these guns are fautlessly reliable very well built and handle quite nicely.

 

if i was in your shoes i woul buy an O/U, its a much easier gun to show is safe, and means you dont need to carry your gun slip around with you everywhere on the clay ground (or a breech flag)

 

concerning the rem. 1100, they have a reputation as a very good handeling semi auto, however my old man owned one (ive never shot one) and said he was constantly having to maintain all the washers and rubber seals in it, and it was a complete pain, he sold it for a berreta 302, which he has untill recently when he swaped it for a 391

Edited March 28, 2006 by dunganick

[Jed]

Thanks a lot

 

A couple of other questions:

 

Does it really matter what the gun is designed for? What I mean is, I see a lot of game guns and skeet guns, but very few trap guns. Will a game gun, for instance, be fine for trap shooting? I suppose it dosn't matter really, I never hit anything anyway

[dunganick]

alot of it comes down to the point of ballance and where the gun 'shoots'

 

in reality if you can find a gun which shoots where you want it and you are happy with it (basically the fit is good) then that is half the battle won, the other half is the games your mind plays with you.

[Cranfield]

The "design" statement on a gun usually refers to the chokes and weight.

Sporting guns tend to be lighter than clay/trap guns.

If you purchase an under and over, or semi, with multichokes, choke doesn't become an issue.

 

I agree with dunganick, get an over and under, there are some good ones around within your budget level.

 

I owned a Remington 1100 years ago, fitted with a Cutts compensator, big heavy beast.

[Lord Geordie]

I use both my AYA 28" O/U M/C AND my Rizzini 28" O/U M/C for Clays and they will handle all the Disciplines at our club

 

Grouse Butt DTL Skeet ABT and the Game days they put on too.

 

I ALSO use the Semi for the Grouse butt and DTL and today with the Escort got 23 out of 25 on the Grouse Butt and 21 out of 25 on DTL.

 

3 runs of 5/5 on the Grouse Butt Getting better.

 

It shows even a game gun can be used to good effect on clays and beleive me i am not the best shot in the world either

 

Most I payed for a Gun was £295 for the Escort and the Rizzini was £200 and AYA was £250

 

There is loads available used if you look about but as someone has already said try them before you buy for fitting as if it doesn't fit right your shots are inconsistant.

 

LG

[Jed]

Thanks a lot. Any reccomendation on where to look/buy? I can travel anywhere in the South East but somewhere with an online price list would be nice. Never having bought a shotgun, I don't know how it works, but if there's somewhere where I can actually shoot the gun before buying it, that would be great.

 

Oh, and one other thing: I'm left handed. Obviously I'd much prefer a left handed gun but will using a right hand gun seriously affect my aim?

Edited March 28, 2006 by Jed

[dunganick]

depends on your body.

 

when me and a few of the lads did a Monday madness at west kent, the instructor we had was a vetiran (spelling?) chamion shot, and was right handed, however he shot a left handed gun, notbecuase he couldnt get a right handed one, but becuase the left handed one fitted him better for cast.

 

Chris potters have a good range of guns, however expect to pay top £ for a new gun. Country Way in west mauling mainly stock beretta, browning and miroku and are very reasonably priced, however they almost only stock new guns and as such you would have a problem finding a gun in your budget. GreenFields in canterbury are reasonably cheap and stock a good range of shoguns and they also have a clay ground on site, so you may be able to test fire. The saddlry and Gunroom is a rip off and stocks mainly cheap nasty guns, they arnt worth a look in my opinion (this is my local shop)

 

i would go for a second hand left hand gun, as left handed guns can loose their value quickly you might be able to pick one up cheap.

 

failing this, get a gun smith to give you a quote to adjust the stock to a L/H cast.

Edited March 28, 2006 by dunganick

[Cranfield]

Its worth giving Chris Potter and Country Way a ring to see what secondhand guns they have and at what price.

Country Way use to always carry a fair selection of secondhand guns, although I haven't been in the shop for about a year.

Be prepared to haggle them down a bit, if you are in the shop with money.

[Dunkield]

I think it is Litts or one those shops with the double page ads in the shooting mags that do loads of left handed shotguns.

 

As for the question further up about specialised guns...

 

Generally speaking 'Sporters' are good all round for clays and game.

 

A 'Trap' gun will normally have longer barrels and if the chokes are fixed will have tight choking, they also can have very high ribs to make going away target aquision easier.

 

'Skeet' guns may have short barrels and if fixed choke will have more open chokes for shooting close fast crossing targets.

 

If they are multichokes, you canforget most of that, but for all round use a sporter is what you are looking for.

 

Whatever you look at or buy make sure it fits or will be wasting your time and will have to spend more money in the future to get it fitted to get the most out of it..

[the last engineer]

jedd save your coin for an o/u, a Browning citori type cover all bases trap field clays you call it, off the rack a browning stock in this range of guns is one of the straightest ive found, if your a lefty this will help,any mods will be small and easily made.

 

 

 

Martin

 

ps im a lefty too :thumbs: :blink: and have 4 of the above

[dunganick]

Its worth giving Chris Potter and Country Way a ring to see what secondhand guns they have and at what price.

Country Way use to always carry a fair selection of secondhand guns, although I haven't been in the shop for about a year.

Be prepared to haggle them down a bit, if you are in the shop with money.

they only accept miroku, browning and beretta in part exchange now due to some bad experiances concerning disatisfied customers who bought cheap 2nd hand guns from them. so they tend not to have such a great range anymore.

[throdgrain]

Im left handed , and shoot "straight " guns , they seem ok. I think you can shoot what you want too.

The last two times ive been to the clay pigeon club Ive taken my Mossberg pump action, and got good scores too :thumbs: