Used Browning Auto 5 vs. Remington 1100

A

alpining

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Any input on this choice? I've been shooting pumps all my life, and I'd like to add an autoloader to the collection.

They both seem to come up on the EE fairly often. I'll be looking for 12ga, 2 3/4, modified choke, wood stocks. To be used mostly for waterfowl hunting, and a small bit of upland.

I like the 1100 (several already in our family), but I'm really interested in John Browning's designs and the A5 has quite a bit of nostalgia for me.

I don't live in an area where I'd be able to handle both side by side, unfortunately. Are the older A5 models significantly heavier than the 1100? Any other differences I'd notice?

Thanks!
 
Definitely a huge difference in pointing and swinging characteristics, balance and sight line looking down the barrel. As much as my personal preference leans toward Browning made products the 1100 is a much nicer handling gun. It points and swings much nicer. The Browning though for me is like you described, it's nostalgic and every waterfowler should own one at least once! If you are torn, buy both!
 
Being older guns, shooting steel shot may be sub-optimal. First is the choke, you may find that a mod choke sprays the pattern. Second is the 2 3/4 inch chamber limits the payload capacity for steel shot (less dense), most folks prefer 3 inch. Third, most older semi's were not designed to automatically compensate for shotgun shells of variable charge - you used barrels with different gas ports. The Auto-5 may have advantage on the last point, if memory serves they have an adjustable friction ring. (others can chime in on the last point.)
Dont get me wrong, I prefer the older shotguns - you just have to use them within their limitations.
 
Owning both i agree with spank. Completely different guns. I much prefer my 1100. I love my auto5 but when i shoulder it i only see the back of the receiver and i dont shoot it as well. Plus im not a fan of the long recoil pulse.

Truly best to buy one of each and sell the one that doesnt fit as well
 
Auto 5 nice guns but over engineered heavy point like two by fours owned several through the years sold them all . Still have a full complement of 1100 all gauges simple design well balanced .
 
My friend contacted Browning a number of years ago and was told not to use steel shot in any barrel of his early 60's Belgium Auto 5 ( including the skeet choke ).He began stocking up on Bismuth loads and still buys them up whenever he comes across them,dispite limited waterfowl hunting now.

The literature that came with an 1100 "steel shot" barrel ( 26 in. Rem choke ) states that Remington shotguns that have a full choke can be used with all "currently produced steel factory loads with up to No.1 pellet size without damage to either the barrel or the choke.They can be used with all steel shot sizes if they have a modified or more open choke.These include all 1100,870 and 1187 shotguns.It also includes the 3200 Magnum with 3 in. chamber only".This is the actual statement on the document.

Of course you couldn't use shells that exceed the chamber length.

The disclaimer I would add is that I purchased that steel shot barrel about 20 years ago and steel shot technology,including size,shape and velocity have changed dramatically and I have a Maxus if I ever hunt waterfowl again.
 
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I prefer the Auto-5 over the 1100. But many here have vastly more experience than me.

I'd buy another Auto 5 but would never buy an 1100.

I never liked the recoil of the 1100, with magnum loads it was like getting hit twice.
 
The Auto V is built like a Swiss tank. It fits me great and I have no issue with its balance. Yes it's a heavy gun, wouldn't want to lug it around for grouse. It's one of my favorite duck guns.

1100 very soft shooting, also very reliable as well. Similarly heavy with a steel receiver.

Both built without steel shot in mind. But if you keep to #2 or smaller and NOT Full choke, you should be okay with either.
 
Retriever said:
My friend contacted Browning a number of years ago and was told not to use steel shot in any barrel of his early 60's Belgium Auto 5 ( including the skeet choke ).He began stocking up on Bismuth loads and still buys them up whenever he comes across them,dispite limited waterfowl hunting now.

The literature that came with an 1100 "steel shot" barrel ( 26 in. Rem choke ) states that Remington shotguns that have a full choke can be used with all "currently produced steel factory loads with up to No.1 pellet size without damage to either the barrel or the choke.They can be used with all steel shot sizes if they have a modified or more open choke.These include all 1100,870 and 1187 shotguns.It also includes the 3200 Magnum with 3 in. chamber only".This is the actual statement on the document.

Of course you couldn't use shells that exceed the chamber length.

The disclaimer I would add is that I purchased that steel shot barrel about 20 years ago and steel shot technology,including size,shape and velocity have changed dramatically and I have a Maxus if I ever hunt waterfowl again.
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Browning's website has it posted to not fire steel shot through any Pre-Japanese made A-5 regardless of choke. They say the type of steel the barrels are made from on the Belgian made guns is not compatible with steel shot.
 
Grouse Man said:
The Auto V is built like a Swiss tank. It fits me great and I have no issue with its balance. Yes it's a heavy gun, wouldn't want to lug it around for grouse. It's one of my favorite duck guns.

1100 very soft shooting, also very reliable as well. Similarly heavy with a steel receiver.

Both built without steel shot in mind. But if you keep to #2 or smaller and NOT Full choke, you should be okay with either.
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Remington actually offered a steel shot Rem choke barrel that handles steel loads . I have one but it does make the gun muzzle heavy.
 
Retriever said:
My friend contacted Browning a number of years ago and was told not to use steel shot in any barrel of his early 60's Belgium Auto 5 ( including the skeet choke ).He began stocking up on Bismuth loads and still buys them up whenever he comes across them,dispite limited waterfowl hunting now.

The literature that came with an 1100 "steel shot" barrel ( 26 in. Rem choke ) states that Remington shotguns that have a full choke can be used with all "currently produced steel factory loads with up to No.1 pellet size without damage to either the barrel or the choke.They can be used with all steel shot sizes if they have a modified or more open choke.These include all 1100,870 and 1187 shotguns.It also includes the 3200 Magnum with 3 in. chamber only".This is the actual statement on the document.

Of course you couldn't use shells that exceed the chamber length.

The disclaimer I would add is that I purchased that steel shot barrel about 20 years ago and steel shot technology,including size,shape and velocity have changed dramatically and I have a Maxus if I ever hunt waterfowl again.
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I think one has to be careful with terminology here. I gather you can retrofit older 1100's with a steel rated rem choke equipped barrel. Some gun makers differentiate between a full lead choke and a full steel choke, with the latter being equivalent to lead IC in bore dia. I'd be curious if this was the case with Remington.
 
warzaw said:
Remington actually offered a steel shot Rem choke barrel that handles steel loads . I have one but it does make the gun muzzle heavy.
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Every barrel after 87 is fine for steel factory fitted with rem chokes I have some like yours also just have to watch what version the gas system is on your 1100 vintage or post 87 1187 style
Cheers
 
cosmic said:
I think one has to be careful with terminology here. I gather you can retrofit older 1100's with a steel rated rem choke equipped barrel. Some gun makers differentiate between a full lead choke and a full steel choke, with the latter being equivalent to lead IC in bore dia. I'd be curious if this was the case with Remington.
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The choke that was supplied with the 1100 steel shot barrel has "Full choke Lead and Steel" engraved on the side,which doesn't follow the dual designation for lead and steel that's found on other manufacturers chokes.It does have only one gas port,like the original 1100 magnum barrels,and a 3 inch chamber.When used on a non magnum receiver,3 inch steel loads can be used but not 3 inch lead loads.

Since I've never shot it,I can't comment on any pattern variations between lead or steel.
 
Retriever said:
The choke that was supplied with the 1100 steel shot barrel has "Full choke Lead and Steel" engraved on the side,which doesn't follow the dual designation for lead and steel that's found on other manufacturers chokes.It does have only one gas port,like the original 1100 magnum barrels,and a 3 inch chamber.When used on a non magnum receiver,3 inch steel loads can be used but not 3 inch lead loads.

Since I've never shot it,I can't comment on any pattern variations between lead or steel.
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Receivers are exactly the same other than stamped mag ( M in serial number ) has a heavier action tube and I think I only ever broke one of the lighter ones in all my years
They recommend when putting a 3" Magnum barrel on a standard receiver it is recommended you only shoot 3" STEEL shotshells, because the heavy lead loads may get the lighter action sleeve going too fast and start slamming the receiver.
Also the single gas port on the steel barrels is a bit bigger than the single vintage ones cannot remember the difference off the top of my head
Cheers
update
new steel barrel 0.076"
old mag barrel 0.073"
and yes rem would say it makes a difference
 
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Another fact 11-87 barrels interchange with 1100 barrels with little or no fitting the 11-87 ejector is 20 thousand wider the band on the gas system is the only difference between the two. A standard heavy 11-87 barrel will handle steel on a 1100. Don't ask Remington they say no.
 
3macs1 said:
Receivers are exactly the same other than stamped mag ( M in serial number ) has a heavier action tube and I think I only ever broke one of the lighter ones in all my years
They recommend when putting a 3" Magnum barrel on a standard receiver it is recommended you only shoot 3" STEEL shotshells, because the heavy lead loads may get the lighter action sleeve going too fast and start slamming the receiver.
Also the single gas port on the steel barrels is a bit bigger than the single vintage ones cannot remember the difference off the top of my head
Cheers
update
new steel barrel 0.076"
old mag barrel 0.073"
and yes rem would say it makes a difference
Click to expand...

Sorry,my terminology mean't that the magnum receiver had the heavier action tube.Remington's documents refer to both a magnum and a non magnum receiver,as that can be verified by simply looking at "Magnum" and seeing an M in the serial number.
 
Retriever said:
Sorry,my terminology mean't that the magnum receiver had the heavier action tube.Remington's documents refer to both a magnum and a non magnum receiver,as that can be verified by simply looking at "Magnum" and seeing an M in the serial number.
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Yes but some just have the m also pending year no magnum stamped some just special purpose stamped etc
Cheers
 
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