12 Ga for Sporting Clay's around $1000 CAD

Let the flames begin, but if you've ever shot sporting clay's behind a 3" magnum 1100 Remington you will know why they are nicknamed the 550. (because they work half the time)
Nothing wrong with an 1100 gun built for target loads but not my first choice even there.
For what you'll spend on an 1100 buy a used Citori with invector chokes and then build from there.

What do you expect when you put light loads through a gun designed as a dedicated 3” gun?
 
Let the flames begin, but if you've ever shot sporting clay's behind a 3" magnum 1100 Remington you will know why they are nicknamed the 550. (because they work half the time)
Nothing wrong with an 1100 gun built for target loads but not my first choice even there.
For what you'll spend on an 1100 buy a used Citori with invector chokes and then build from there.

I’ve never heard them called a 550. And what else would you expect with target loads in a magnum gun?

“My Browning A-5 won’t cycle target loads with the rings on the magnum setting.”

“My Corvette runs like a dog; stupid diesel.”

I’ve found the 1100/1187s to be about as soft-shooting as anything. You could spend 500-600 on the Remington and spend the rest on ammo. Even softer than my 930, but it fits me so well that’s my go-to gun.

But yes, if you’d love an O/U, a used Citori will do very well. They are built to take it and have a long history to rely on. Make sure it fits or make it fit.
 
Let the flames begin, but if you've ever shot sporting clay's behind a 3" magnum 1100 Remington you will know why they are nicknamed the 550. (because they work half the time)
Nothing wrong with an 1100 gun built for target loads but not my first choice even there.
For what you'll spend on an 1100 buy a used Citori with invector chokes and then build from there.
I shoot an 1100 2 3/4” rem 1100 and shoot it as well as anything. It’s been very reliable I terms of cycling. It’s not the best fit so I don’t shoot it a lot.
 
I’ve never heard them called a 550. And what else would you expect with target loads in a magnum gun?

“My Browning A-5 won’t cycle target loads with the rings on the magnum setting.”

“My Corvette runs like a dog; stupid diesel.”

I’ve found the 1100/1187s to be about as soft-shooting as anything. You could spend 500-600 on the Remington and spend the rest on ammo. Even softer than my 930, but it fits me so well that’s my go-to gun.

But yes, if you’d love an O/U, a used Citori will do very well. They are built to take it and have a long history to rely on. Make sure it fits or make it fit.

Makes two of us and I have been around them almost since they came out , just two years shy and owned many. Still have at least a dozen I would say
Cheers
 
Add me as another who's never heard the "550" name and I've been shooting for 40 years. I spend a lot of time on the clays field and can attest that ANY 3" or 3 1/2" gun may have problems with light target loads. I can also attest to the fact that the least reliable guns, on average, are the inexpensive brands that make you think you're saving money. They almost always cost a fortune to keep running and most people who stick with clay shooting soon have them up for sale so they can buy a "B" gun (sometimes the more affluent go for a K, P or CG).

I've had just about every brand of semi you can think of and if I had to pick only one it would probably be either the A400 or 1100. Both have been very reliable (for me anyways) and about the only thing I don't like about the Beretta is the price !
 
I am a fan of the 1100.
I have a 1100 competition synthetic and have shot over 3500 rounds with it without a hiccup.
With all the extra features of the competition synthetic, adjustable comb, recoil reducer and 5 chokes its worth the extra $400
 
Last edited:
I guess reading comprehension isn't a real strong point around here.

"What do you expect when you put light loads through a gun designed as a dedicated 3” gun?"
“My Corvette runs like a dog; stupid diesel.”
“My Browning A-5 won’t cycle target loads with the rings on the magnum setting.”

I said there was very little wrong with an 1100 set up for target loads.
I've owned and shot one and have run plus 2000 rounds through one.
Where the 1100 stumbles is where new clay shooters take one that is not built for target loads and try to make it something it is not.

There are a lot of new shooters each year that try sporting clays for the first time.
They take the shotgun they've used before with field loads and suddenly find it doesn't work with those "crap" Double A type loads supplied by the range.
Each time this has happened we have talked to the squad ahead of us and encouraged the shooter to switch to someone else's gun that will double consistently.

Shoot enough and it happens.

Sorry you filled your Vette with diesel but I can't cure all stupid.
 
Last edited:
First you take a swipe at Remington 1100s which are obviously dearly loved, and long serving, and then you take aim at "crap Double A" loads which are well known to be among the top performing Trap and Skeet loads in competition.
I am seeing a serious credibility gap here.
 
One of the best stories is about a guy that was on a squad with one gun these 550 guns. Asks the young man shooting it if he can buy it?

Young man says sure! 300$.

He then promptly walked over to a garbage can put in and said thats one less 1100 that will never bother anyone again.
 
First you take a swipe at Remington 1100s which are obviously dearly loved, and long serving, and then you take aim at "crap Double A" loads which are well known to be among the top performing Trap and Skeet loads in competition.
I am seeing a serious credibility gap here.

Like I said..."reading comprehension not a strong point here."
 
One of the best stories is about a guy that was on a squad with one gun these 550 guns. Asks the young man shooting it if he can buy it?

Young man says sure! 300$.

He then promptly walked over to a garbage can put in and said thats one less 1100 that will never bother anyone again.

Another clueless gun owner
I am starting to think many guys here are just too stupid to own a 1100 and keep it running smoothly
Cheers
 
I guess reading comprehension isn't a real strong point around here.

"What do you expect when you put light loads through a gun designed as a dedicated 3” gun?"
“My Corvette runs like a dog; stupid diesel.”
“My Browning A-5 won’t cycle target loads with the rings on the magnum setting.”

I said there was very little wrong with an 1100 set up for target loads.
I've owned and shot one and have run plus 2000 rounds through one.
Where the 1100 stumbles is where new clay shooters take one that is not built for target loads and try to make it something it is not.

There are a lot of new shooters each year that try sporting clays for the first time.
They take the shotgun they've used before with field loads and suddenly find it doesn't work with those "crap" Double A type loads supplied by the range.
Each time this has happened we have talked to the squad ahead of us and encouraged the shooter to switch to someone else's gun that will double consistently.

Shoot enough and it happens.

Sorry you filled your Vette with diesel but I can't cure all stupid.

Wow one 1100, 2000 rounds and even better crap AA loads LOL. How about 100,000 rounds plus through one or more and then maybe we can compare
Any bit of credibility you may have had is gone now after the AA comment.
I am sorry but I have never seen a crap AA load both the vintage design or the new HS and have been buying flats of them since the mid 60's
Cheers
 
Maybe only stupid people buy 1100s?

I get your point though.

Let's see the 1100 came out in 1963. Was it stupid to buy one in 1965 , in fact was I stupid to buy 8 then ( 4 of each gauge) all of which I still own and still shoot in 2018
Think about that for a minute. Still going in 2018 , 55 years later and I could not even tell you how many rounds but know many years 5000 in the 410 and 5000 in the 28ga alone
You honestly think any semi today will be able to match that not likely
So a young guy starting out today cannot afford $2000 bucks for a semi and picks up an old 1100 for $500 and has a ball shooting it who cares if it may break the odd part or not cycle 100% of the time it is a 55 year old design
Is that stupid
No stupid is those that beat on the 1100 and really have no clue about them. They compare what ever they shoot against a 55 year old design and think it is junk and gun that has won more events over the years and fired more rounds than their semi of choice ever will if they shot it 100 years
IMO they are all junk when compared to a winchester superx1 or browning gold 10ga
Cheers
 
I wonder what the OP is thinking right about now !!!!!

Hopefully getting a gun he likes and of most importance fits him with in his budget and the F'k with the rest of us and our opinions

They are all good guns when we own one of them LOL
Cheers
 
Last edited:
I admit that I bought my Beretta A300 at the WSS closeout. It was around $920. I have had it out a couple of times on Trap nights (I'm a novice) and it has worked very well for me. It points well for me and it is reliable even as I used up all of the cheap crappy shells in my ammo locker.

I put a Birchwood Casy shell catcher on it and that works well too.
 
Back
Top Bottom