Need help, I don't know beans about shotguns.

[Country Boy]

 I just found a Remington 1100 20ga. with 24"bbl and screw in chokes, it shoots 2 3/4 inch shells. English style stock.
    How does this stock affect the way a gun shoots high,low ect. Do they make 2 3/4 inch shells sutiable for Turkey. I offered to trade him my Browning blr .308(excellent condition) and he said 150 difference. Is this a fair deal ? I have to get a lighter kicking gun due to a sever heart attack. My old 870 3" Just rocks me from head to toe, I don't shoot it any more except 2-3 a year at a Turkey.

[Phoneman]

It is hard to find 20 ga 2 3/4 shells for turkey. but they do make them. If that 1100 is in that nice of shape I would take the trade. A bLR in trade at a gun store is about 500 bucks. so you would have about 650 wrapped up in an 1100. That's a pretty good deal. That English stock might bring the value up a bit too. If you don't like the way the gun feels later on I don't think you will loose money on it. 
By the way: I own 2 11-87 20ga. A premier grade and a Special Purpose. By far the nicest shotguns I've ever had or shot. They kick less than a Benneli Since they are a little heavier and point Just as well.

[Graybeard]

I think those straight grip stocked 1100s were called Upland models or some such. I've really never been much of a fan of straight grip vs pistol grip stocks unless on a double gun with double triggers. But that's a personal thing and if you like it that's really all that matters.

Those guns did sell new at least for a bit more than pistol grip guns but not by a lot. Used I don't think they have anymore value. $650 is way too much for any used 1100 at least around here. Now I really don't know much about the value of your BLR and to me $500 sounds over priced for it at the prices folks around here charge at least.

I would not want to pay that much boot if I had your rifle but really it's a matter of what you want/need more than how much both are worth. I've been known to knowingly pay way more than I felt the actual value of a gun was because I wanted that particular gun and was having a hard time locating one so when it came along I paid what was necessary to get it price be darned.

One example is the two S&W M66s I have now. I'd been looking for a 6" for years with no success when I ran across one at a gun show. The fellow wanted almost $200 more for it than I really felt it was worth but dang it he actually had it  and I'd not seen another for sale anywhere in years. I'd let my last one go and regreted it so wanted another. I ended up paying about $450 for that gun with a nice leather holster. My 4" came from a dealer and I only paid $300 out the door for it and that was years later as well. That's more in line with what I think they should sell for but I don't regret over paying for the 6" as I've not seen another since so had I passed on it I'd still be wanting one rather than shooting one.

If you like the gun and are willing to part with your gun and $150 then do it but be aware that you are likely over paying for it.

Yes you can find some decent loads for turkeys in 2-3/4" shells and 20 gauge but not a lot of them. If you call the turkey inside of 25 yards rather than trying to take them out at 40-55 then the 20 and regular 1 or 1-1/8 oz loads offered in 2-3/4" shells is plenty. I'd use #6 shot or maybe enough #7-1/2 if I were going to limit shots to 25 yards and it will kill them as dead as any 3-1/2" 12 or 10 gauge load will out to about 25 yards or a tad further with proper shot placement.

[sidekick]

Personally, I wouldn't trade a Browning BLR even-steven for a Remington 1100, assuming equal condition of each firearm, but that's just me. I've never hunted turkey with a 20 ga., but a lot of people do. Nothing wrong with that.

[Country Boy]

Thanks guys, maybe I should ponder on this deal a little more. The shotgun was going to be for my wife but she only shoots 2-3 times a year, if she decides to go at all. I also need a lighter kicking gun since my heart surgery. My old 870 12 pump rattles you from head to toe. I need to find something a little lighter for myself, at lease this Spring.
  I rreally appreciate all the good advise you guys give. Probable the best Web site on the net.

[Graybeard]

You could just take up reloading to take care of your own needs. That way you could continue to use that old 870 but at lesser recoil levels. You might also want to take a look at the Remington Reduced Recoil choices as I think you might find something there that will get the recoil down to your level. They might call them "Managed Recoil" as opposed to reduced recoil.

What they do is lighten the shot load and lower the velocity. A lot of us old farts at the skeet range do that very same thing with our reloads to reduce the recoil. But the semiauto does lighten recoil more than a pump for sure. HOWEVER most of the time the semis will not feed the really light loads. I'd not bet on an 1100 feeding their managed recoil loads.

You can lower recoil by going to a gas operated semiauto in 20 or 28 gauge. An 1100 in 28 gauge seems to have almost no recoil at all. It has a payload of 3/4 oz of shot and target loads move out at about 1200 fps. You can reload to get even less velocity but with the semi there is a limit how low you can go and still expect it to feed properly. Only you two can determine how much you need to reduce recoil.

I shoot the 28 gauge and .410 almost exclusively these days due to my right shoulder not being able to take the recoil of even 20 gauge guns.

[pastorp]

Country Boy, Did you have by-pass surgery or is the need for reduced recoil from the heart damage itself? Not being nosy but you will recover from the cutting of your sternum after a couple of years and gradually be able to increase the recoil again.

The year I had by-pass surgery. My doctor said no center fire guns this hunting season. I got the old Browning bar in 22lr and sighted it in at 40 yds. When the acorns started dropping my friend set my ladder stand up 40 yds from a acorn tree and I gave the hogs fits. You know a 22lr at the base of the ear works every time. Deer were not legal game with a rim fire but hogs were so I took what hunting I could do.

After 2 or 3 years I was back to shooting all my guns again. Regards, Byron

[Country Boy]

By pass surgery. Split me like a chicken, but many other complications. I died on the table 5 times and they only gave me minutes to live. But God spared me, can't figure out why yet. Some people say they see heaven I was shown hell (honestly) but was told I wouldn't be left there.
    I appreciate your encouraging words and look forward to gettting in the field next year. God Bless

[Dixie Dude]

I bought a Remington 1100 20ga for my wife for $500 at a gun show, new in the box.  I think it is a little steep.  I would get a Beretta 391 12 gauge.  Find a good used one for around $600.  They are light kickers, semi-automatic, and they can handle 3" mags.  You can get it even ligher kicking with a Limbsaver recoil pad, and maybe add a little weight on the front end.  Would make a good light kicking turkey gun.  The action gets dirty, and you should clean it after every use.  They however can shoot several hundred rounds between cleanings.  My son uses one for sporting clays.  I wouldn't get rid of the BLR unless you can't handle the recoil of it.  Wal-mart sells the Beretta 390, which is a stripped down version of the 391. 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

I've owned some 20ga's that were absolute wicked kickers due to the light weight.


I would look for a pre "light contour" 11-87 12ga---and then use one of the lighter loadings out there.

[pastorp]

Bill, I know this is the shotgun forum but I'm curious about what caliber you hunt with in a rifle since you need such low recoil because of your shoulder.

Both my shoulders are pretty much wrecked. Can't shoot my bows anymore. When I do I'm in constant pain. I've been scaling down on the rifle calibers and shotguns also. Byron

[Graybeard]

I mostly use a 7-08 with 140 grain bullets or a .260 Remington with 100-129 grain bullets. When shooting from the bench I use a 1/2" thick PAST Magnum Recoil Pad to soften the kick to my shoulder and that seems adequate so long as I don't shoot too many per session. When hunting I seldom shoot more than one shot so it doesn't seem too bad on the shoulder. Plus during hunting season I'll usually have extra clothes on to help pad it as well.

The .260 with those 100 grain Nosler PTs are real light on recoil.

[SHOOTALL]

the 1100 with a straight stock and a 4 round capacity ( plug out ) is the Special Field . The idea of the straight stock was when the hand had to slide back to fire double bbl's with 2 triggers . Remington used it as a gimmick to increase sales IMHO .
used in great shape around here they sell in the $400.00 range . 26th. edition of Blue Book of Gun Values list one at $510.00 for 100% condition . and a BLR list at $575.00 Belgian and $480.00 Japan at 100% . Why the booty ? sounds at best an even trade .
for turkey try hea vi shot in 2 2/3

[pastorp]

Shootall, You are correct that the straight grip on a double shotgun aided in positing the hand for the second trigger. There was also a second reason, it forces the leading hand to point the gun. A pistol grip helps the following hand to overpower the lead hand in pointing the gun. Regards, Byron

[SHOOTALL]

. This seems to be more British in nature than American as we tend to use the heaviest shell we can stuff in our gun and need the full pistol grip to hang onto ! to be honest i have shot all three and on all single trigger guns find the lack of a good index point as the pistol grip provides more of a handicap than help ! Now that's just me , to each his own !
But if the straight grip was a success on either the 1100 or 870 ( had the 870 and trying to pump a gun with a grip on a wet stright stock was an adventure ) they would still be made today . IMHO !
the one thing that is odd is mention of a 24 in. bbl. as the speical field came with a 21 in. bbl. sounds like something is not quite right !

[pastorp]

Shootall, I thought your reference to the straight grip/ double triggers were made with reference to double shotguns? That's the reason I mentioned the leading hand issue.

Concerning heavy loads, I personally have no use for them. I still find recoil easier to deal with with a straight grip in a shotgun or rifle. When you get to a certain level of recoil you can't hold on to it anyway so you let the grip slide in your hand and roll with the recoil. However we are not discussing elephant guns but bird guns. Even for a 12 lb goose you don't need the heavy loads most use. In this area the British are definitely ahead of us Americans. Regards, Byron

[Country Boy]

When it rains it pours. safer the heart surgery, I had a truck wreck last Wed. while on the way to look for turkey Broke my back and various things. Looks like I will spend turkey season staring at the cealing. I'm still going to get a shotgun for next fall. Thanks for all your advice.

[pastorp]

That's terrible country boy. After My by-pass surgery I will always remember the first sneeze, but a truck wreak. That had to hurt. You will be in my prayers. Byron

[SHOOTALL]

get well soon !