Remington 1100 20 Gauge Standard

[razorback2003]

I found out that I have an old Remington 1100 20 gauge on the 12 gauge frame because I can only get used barrels and they are hard to find! What makes this gun so desirable compared to the newer Remington 1100's that are on the lighter frame? I have a plain full choke barrel and a plain improved choke barrel....just looking for a plain modified barrel because I like modified.

I will say it is a pretty gun and a lot of fun to shoot at the range when hitting trap informally. I bought it about two years ago for three hundred fifty bucks and it came with the improved and full choke barrels. Real clean gun and I think it has a walnut stock. Not many guns today are built as nice as this old gun. I had thought about selling it to use towards a new Beretta 391...but the 20 gauge Beretta 391's are so expensive.

 

[ArmedBear]

What makes this gun so desirable compared to the newer Remington 1100's that are on the lighter frame?

Low recoil. The 12 Gauge 1100 is a heavy autoloader, particularly by modern standards. Its action attenuates felt recoil well, as well as any gas autoloader and possibly a bit more than some.

So, with 20 Gauge, you get a gun with essentially no felt recoil. That's why some people like them.

 

[oneounceload]

If you can't find a barrel, you could always have Briley or someone similar thread one of your barrels for choke tubes - it might be easier and cheaper in the long run.

As AB said, light gauge on large frame helps with recoil reduction

 

[ArmedBear]

I should have said, "With 20 Gauge on the heavy 12 Gauge frame, you get essentially no felt recoil."

Now I sold my 1100 to help finance a 391 a while back, and I haven't regretted it. However, that was a heavy 12 Gauge 1100 with plain barrels for a much-lighter and far better fitting 12 Gauge Urika with a rib and 5 steel-proofed chokes, and though I've certainly shot clays with them, both guns were bought for field use, primarily, not targets.

The 391 has better engineering and construction than the 1100, but you won't find another 20 on 12 1100 so easily. The 391 in 20 is a light field gun, and I like it, but it will kick a good deal harder than the 20 on 12 1100 does, if that's a concern.

If you like that 1100, it might be worth far more to you, to keep it, than to sell it, IMO. 12 Gauge 1100s are plentiful and cheap around here, but those are not.

 

[razorback2003]

I am not a good target shooter or anything....just started trying trap for fun at my gun club I joined within the past few months...I am now going to try skeet...and sporting clays. This Remington 1100 20 gauge does have little recoil and is pretty smooth shooting, even without a recoil pad and shooting with just a T shirt. I put a limbsaver slip on pad to lengthen the gun a bit and talk about no recoil! It is a dream to shoot. I've fired off heavy loads and still no recoil. It is easier on the shoulder than my Browning BPS 12 gauge. I use reduced recoil loads in that one when target shooting.

You are right that the shotgun is heavier than most new automatic 20 gauges...I looked at some at Bass Pro and they are pretty light. I kinda wondered if they would kick as hard as a 12 gauge automatic...since they are so light. The new Beretta 391 12 gauge is about the same weight as my 20 gauge Remington 1100...and has a good feel to it. I've seen an older Rem 1100 12 gauge with a vent rib barrel and it seemed a tad heavier than my 20....maybe the rib added weight...mine seemed to balance better.

 

[oneounceload]

Razor-recoil is a factor of several things, one of which is the weight of the gun - the heaviest gun you can shoot, coupled with the lightest and slowest payloads that work, will give you the lightest ACTUAL recoil.................if you add in a gas action, the PERCEIVED recoil will also be light. In any case, the fit of gun is paramount to help in pain reduction...................

 

[Virginian]

Be advised that if you ever want to part with that gun a lot of dedicated target shooters will pay a premium for it, because of the added heft and low recoil.

 

[mnrivrat]

I have owned a couple of these over the years and they are sweat shooters. With a mag extention and 22" barrel on the lst one I had, you could lay down a hell of a field of fire with #3 buckshot as fast as you could pull the trigger. Muzzle rise was nearly nothing.

 

[razorback2003]

Will the regular forend support from the Rem 1100 12 gauge fit this gun? Mine seems to be sliding back and forth on the rails and will not stay in one place.....so it looks like I need a new one.

Also, will the regular Remington 1100 12 gauge O rings work, since my 20 gauge is on a 12 gauge frame?

The gun does seem to balance well and point well for me.....I can close my eyes when shouldering....and open my eyes and my eyes are looking straight down the barrel at the bead....little recoil...especially with the slip on limbsaver...pretty good to me...I'm guessing these 20's hold up better than the 20's on the lighter frames.

Thanks,

 

[mnrivrat]

The parts you mention are common to both the 12 and the 20 .