Beretta 391 Urika or Remington 1100 (20ga.)?

[Chris17404]

Hi all,

I currently have a Browning Citori XS Sporting (12ga.) I use for all of my clay shooting, which is 95% skeet and 5% sporting clays. I'm finding that after shooting 4 rounds, my shoulder is pretty tired and a bit sore the next day. I have attended some professional training, and my shooting form is pretty good, so I don't consider that a factor. For shells, I'm using Remington Gun Club 1-1/8oz. at 1180fps (2-3/4 DRAM).

I'm thinking I'd like to step down to a 20ga. semi-auto simply to make shooting more fun and less strain on my body. I would probably shoot 7/8ox loads at 1180fps (2-1/2 DRAM). I'm not old or out of shape. I'm 33 years old, 6'2" tall, 200lbs (with long arms).

I'm currently considering the Remington 1100 (G3 or Sporting) and Beretta 391 Urika.

To make this gun as light in the recoil department as possible. I plan on adding some stock weights such as the Graco system to both the magazine cap and inside the stock. That system looks very nice. This would basically return the 20ga gun back to the weight of a 12ga gun.

The one thing I'm concerned about is the LOP adjustment. My Citori has been setup with a 15.75" LOP, which I need for my long arms. It looks like the 391 (which has a 14.7" LOP from the factory) is much harder to increase the LOP than the 1100.

Of the two guns above, which would you recommend for me? Taking into account maintenance requirements, reliability with light target loads, ease of fitting adjustments?

What other factors should I consider? What has your experience been with these two models? Hopefully someone has shot a G3, which I haven't yet. Would you even recommend I get a 12ga semi-auto instead? Perhaps since it's more versatile?

Thanks for the help.

Chris

 

[bwhited]

The semi auto 12 gauge will kick a lot less then the OU especially the 1100 or 391. I have both, 1100 Competition and 391 gold sporting tenkys. Neither kick much at all.
By the way the 1100 Competition is for sale if you have any interest.

 

[Dave McCracken]

The 12 gauge is capable of being kickless using a semi auto, good pads and light loads.

Both the semis you mention are great shotguns.

With wood, stock extending is relatively easy.

 

[ArmedBear]

A few things...

You can shoot 7/8 oz. in a 12 Gauge, no problem. International Trap (what they shoot at the Olympics) uses a bit less, even: 24 grams in a 12 Gauge.

Split the difference and shoot 1 oz., and you will see a noticeable drop in recoil, vs. 1 1/8 oz.

Either way, your Citori will shoot them, and shoot them well. With a little experimenting, you should get GREAT patterns that way, better than a 20. I like my Over/Under 20, but it's a light gun for quail: a whole different purpose.

A Limbsaver works wonders. My standard trap setup has been a BT-99 (Citori minus a barrel, in essence) with a Limbsaver, and 1 oz. at 1235 or so (handloads). No problem with recoil.

The G3 is a multipurpose field gun. It's a nice one, but it's not what I'd pick for your purposes, when I could get the Competition. It's made for light target loads, and it has a simpler gas system and a 2 3/4" chamber. Or, just get the Sporting 12 and save some money. It also is made for 2 3/4" shells only.

You won't find a lot of people who have shot a lot of rounds through the G3, since it's only been on shelves since last Christmas. The 1100 in general, though, has been a good gun. Mine is 36 years old and works like new. I carry a spare O-ring in the field, but haven't needed it.

I would recommend against buying a 20 Gauge and hanging weight on it. Good luck getting it to balance like a 12 Gauge, even if it weighs the same. Like I posted elsewhere, a 12 Gauge gas gun has very little recoil. That can be said of the 1100, 39X, and Browning Gold. BTW the Gold isn't as common as the others, but those who have them, love them, in my experience. Some say they're the best gas guns out there.

By the time you get your shooting back up to par with a weighted-down 20 or whatever, you could, for far less money, reduce the recoil of your existing gun. Since you shoot it well, I'd suggest doing that first.

How do you do that?

Buy a MEC Sizemaster and a Limbsaver, and play with your loads, not your guns.

Lots of high-volume shooters mix and match, e.g. 7/8 oz #8.5 @1150 for closer shots, 1 oz. #8 @ 1200 for mid-range, 1 1/8 oz. #7.5 @ 1250 for long range. 7/8@1150 feels like nothing in a 12 Gauge, so you don't fatigue, but you have a few long-range shells in your pocket for SC shots where you need them.

My $.02

 

[ysr_racer]

Have you considered using 12ga, 1oz, 2-3/4 dram shells? I shoot Estate shells and they are soft.

 

[PJR]

It sounds like you are closing in on making the right decision to choose a Beretta 391. I own one and also have an 1100. IMHO, the 391 is the best gas-operated, semi-automatic shotgun on the market today.

The only reason I have the 1100 is because it's a 28 gauge. If and when Beretta offers the 391 in 28 my 1100 will be looking for a new home.

 

[45crittergitter]

As far as quality, Beretta by 2 or 3 miles...

 

[RNB65]

Beretta vs Remington? No contest -- Beretta by a mile!

 

[evbutler462]

Beretta!!!

Better quality, excellent function.

Pro: If you ever need parts, they are very expensive.

Remington parts are available everywhere, cheap.

 

[COK]

I have both and both are great guns and have been 100% reliable.
If I could only keep one it would be the Beretta. For me it just has a better fit and feel in my hands.

 

[bigcim]

Read below sorry

 

[bigcim]

I have a 391 sporting 12g that my 8 year old daughter has shot on occasion, recoil is pretty light

I recently took my wife shotgun shopping and she picked the 391 20g over the 1100 20g, she said it felt lighter to her. Thats probably a negative for you though because you mentioned you were going to add weights

I suggest trying to shoot a 391 in 12g to experience the recoil, everyone who has shot my gun is impressed by the ''lack'' of recoil. My father says shooting my shotgun is cheating

 

[swan hunter]

Beretta

I can't speak to the Remington but, my wife & I teach women trap on occasion and after the ladies shoot my wife's cut down 391 12ga, they run out and buy their own!
They are a wonderful guns and my wife could run 200 rounds with no problem.
Get light loads and they will make you and your shoulder most happy!

 

[10-Ring]

I've shot both and for me it has been the Beretta since the first round...smooth, accurate and comfortable to shoot...good stuff!

 

[The-Fly]

I have a Beretta Extrema2 (which I believe is a 391 variant). Recoil on that sucker is very low, nothing compared to my 870. I've had many totally new shooters fire it, and they all loved it

 

[atblis]

I've found the 391 to be a more durable gun. Both shoot nicely, but the Berettas seem to hold up better in the long run. I also prefer working on the Berettas. The triggers groups are cake to disassemble and more importantly reassemble.

However, I'd suggest as mentioned above you get some lighter loads for your Browning.

1oz at 1150-1200ish should be fine. For skeet, 7/8 is plenty.

 

[Vapor63]

I've got the predecessor to the Urika (a 390) in 20 gauge and I kick myself all the time for getting it as my first shotgun. Now I can't justify getting any others- the Beretta is better than all the other guns I try out. The 390 is a bit easier to take apart than the 391 from what I've been told, but the 391 has a bit less recoil. I've put a 28" barrel on mine and if I don't hit it, I know it's my fault.

 

[KINGMAX]

I am a fan of the Remington 1100 semi and 870 pump.

 

[atblis]

Some background on my opinions.

I actually own no Berettas, but I was an active member and officer on a collegiate shooting team. I spent a lot of time working on 391s as that was the most popular gun by far. I was a Remington autoloader shooter for many years before getting an OU.
At least 10 391s, probably more
Remingtons were well represented.

IMO the Berettas are just a tad bit better designed and most of the parts are a bit better manufactured. Beretta offers better target stocks. The operating mecanisms are very similar.

No orings on the Beretta.

Truthfully, in terms of target guns, the Remingtons don't compare. I am pretty unbiased, as I actually shoot an SKB so brand loyalty doesn't come into play here, and I must admit that I made fun of Beretta for the longest time before actually shooting and working on some.

I would recommend getting a 12 gauge. The 20 gauge 391 is a fabulous little gun, but a downloaded 12 gauge will recoil less than a 20 gauge. The 20 gauge 391 is considerably smaller than the 12 gauge (They are quite different). Petite would be a good word to describe it.

The Beretta is just a better gun. That's not to say that the Remingtons don't work well. I had an appreciable amount of small parts breakage with the Remingtons. The Berettas break stuff too, just no where near as often. BTW, we are talking about firing 10s of thousands of rounds here.

 

[starsandstriper]

1100 all the way

I am a firm beleiver in the 1100s ability to suit your needs.
BTW, whoever said that berettas hold up better in the long run must have limited experience with both guns(no offense). THe beretta has an aluminum receiver making it lighter, as opposed to the steel receiver on the 1100 which will outlast any 391 i have ever held. Also, because aluminium is slightly less dense, sound travels worse in it, leading to a quieter cycling, which goes along with less perceived recoil. Now, less perceived recoil is better if you are trying to get rid of a flinch, however, being 6'2", and 200#s i would hope you dont have a flinch. if a softer shooter is what your after, than all the 1100s i have shot have are heavier than their 391 counterparts, and seem to balance better to me. IN fact, my father was recently in the market for a trap gun, and got a brand new 1100 classic trap with really nice wood, a monty carlo stock, a 30 inch trap barrel with remchokes and an modestly (But tastfully done) engraving on the blued receiver for $879.00, which he hand picked over the selection of beretta trap guns with plain wood, some kind of flat finish on the receiver, inferior finish on the wood, and altogether less quality for $1050.00-1200.00. Dont get me wrong, i think berettas are great guns, but the remingtons are a much better bang for your buck in a design that hasnt needed changing in many years. the 1100 g3 is still interchangeable as far as parts go with any other 1100. JMHO

 

[PJR]

BTW, whoever said that berettas hold up better in the long run must have limited experience with both guns(no offense).

Have you owned both guns? Shot both extensively? I have.

It's not the frame on the 1100 that fails. The weak points are the link springs, o-rings and action bars. The 1100's inability to function reliably with a wide range of shotgun loads makes the Beretta a superior product.

Secondly, the downward spiral of Remington quality control in recent years means that most current production 1100s are not in the same league with the Beretta 391, Browning Gold and various Benellis.

 

[starsandstriper]

well,with one ounce reloads traveling at 1100 fps, it has yet to fail, and yes, i have extensively shot both. honestly, i have nothing against berettas, but i think that the reminton is more gun for less money. But, whatever floats your boat. i have not owned both, because i have not found a beretta semi worth buying as long as remingtonexists. at the right price..... sure, but i have yet to find the right price.

 

[toivo]

The only reason I have the 1100 is because it's a 28 gauge. If and when Beretta offers the 391 in 28 my 1100 will be looking for a new home.

Let me know when that day comes, and I may give it one. Nothing against Berettas--they are arguably "better." There's just something I like about 1100's.

 

[JNewell]

No 1100 here but an 11-87, a 391 and a 390, all in 20. To me, the 391 points best of the three and weighs a good bit less than the 11-87, especially after a day in the field.

 

[atblis]

The receiver does very little on the 391 and the Remington for that matter. The bolt locks up into an extension of the barrel.

And no, the Remington will not out last the 391. You might guess that based on receiver composition, but that would be an uninformed and rather grasping assertion. I've never seen either brand have a receiver or barrel failure.