One shotgun 'fit' test I aways do is... hold the shotgun at the 'ready' position, close your eyes and shoulder the gun comfortably pointing like your aiming at a bird in flight. Do this three or four times with your eyes closed until it feels right, then open your eyes. You should be looking right down the rib, both beads lined up if it has double beads.

It's not a prefect measure of gun fit but it comes close and will give you an idea if the shotgun will mount naturally for you.

I also do this with my guns prior to hunting season, but only when my Charming Bride isn't home.

 

though i like the 1100's and the moss 500's i'll never give up my ithaca deerslayer. it shoots well everytime and it's prudy. 4 deer on that old killer.

 

I have to disagree with the statement that the 1187 is much improved over the 1100.

It has been my experience (and I have years of it) behind my 1100 Magnum (1983 model) and the ONLY difference between the 1100 and the 1187 is the gas system.
The 1187 is NOT that much improved.
A good friend had to have a Remington 1187. He's had nothing but problems with that scattergun.
He put it in the back of his gunsafe and still reaches for his old 870 pump gun.
(Or his verrrrrrrrry heavy Ruger Red Label. But hey, he's carrying it, not me.)

My 1100 has given me NO problems, at all.
It came from the factory with a 30" Full choked barrel, which (at the time) was great for Canada geese, but, was not worth a poop for doves or squirrels, or heck, even pheasants. And despite it's 'simple' gas system, this 1100 would cycle everything from really light 2-3/4" loads to the heavy hitting 3" #2 copperplate 1-3/4 oz loads for geese that we used to use. (And interchangeably, too! This barrel was marked "Full", but, was actually choked "Extra Full" according to a local gunsmith.)
This 1100 Magnum has sported a Hastings 24" choke tubed barrel for everything for many, many years now.

This scattergun is my GO TO shotgun. IT FITS!!!!
My pheasant hunting buddies have said more than once, "When he has that 1100 in his hands. . . if it flies. . . it dies."

I love my 1100 so much, I bought another one. (Granted, it's older and a 'standard' 1100, but, for $100.00, I couldn't pass it up.

And with my loads (1-1/8 oz load at 1200 fps) it feels like I'm shooting a light 20 ga, or a 28 ga.

Heck. . ain't nothing wrong with the 1100!!! Nothing.

 

To each their own. I have an old Stevens side-by-side 16 ga. passed down from a grandfather. It has taken a fair share of pheasants and ducks, doesn't kick too much and reaches out nicely for geese. Does pretty good at sporting clays too. I just like the traditional look/use. It's good for "Cowboy Shooting" too, when paired up w/ an old S&W .44. < try that on horse back ...

 

I had an old Savage/Stevens 311 SxS before I got my 1100.
My wife (at the time, thank goodness she fooled around on me and left) said that if I wanted to buy another gun. . . I had to sell one, first.
(Did I say that I was glad that she left me??)

Anyway, I sold this 311, so that I could afford to buy my 1100.

Yes, it was a good shotgun. . . heavy. . but a good scattergun.
It was a great shotgun for use on doves!!!

 

[QUOTE=ag30265]I have to say that the lack of recoil on that beretta is very impressive but, I disslike the fact that it only has a 3" chamber. I love a 3.5" turkey load.

You might want to add this into your mix of considerations http://www.benelliusa.com/firearms/sbe2.tpl[/QUOTE]

The Xtrema 2 carries 3.5" as well. I will also take a look at the Benelli.

Dono...As the season nears...the temptation grows.

This is all great advice...

 

i have got a stevens 5100 16 ga side by side from my great grand father..love that gun...shot my first 25 on trap with it...but it just sits in the safe now.

i have used a browning gold hunter 3 1/2 for the last number of years for everything from dove the geese and have been happy with it

 

ooblueovalranger,
The improvement I was talking about with the 1187 is the chrome lined barrel and the synthetic stock. To shoot steel shot (as we are SUPPOSED to do when hunting migratory birds) in my 1100 would have ruined the barrel. I am not putting down the 1100, I still use mine for land rabbit and dove, just would have had to buy another barrel to shoot as much steel as I so I just added to my gun colection with the 1187 a few years ago. Always a good thing to do in my opinion!! We know guns are like women, we will take what we have but do have our preferences.

 

I've got a Win Mod 12. Sucker kicks like a mule, but I love shooting it!

 

Sometimes, with age and frequent use, both could stand a little modification....

 

I've liked Benelli since the early 90's when H&K was producing their M1 tactical. The new comfort tech series looks nice or maybe a M4 or Nova if you prefer 3 1/2" or that new turkey gun. Either way I give them high points over most other shotguns.

 

I wish mine were not so bored out!!!!

 

Honestly, the best gun out there is the gun that you feel most comfortable shooting. Handle both of the guns, and get a feel for them. If possible, even shoot em. However, as kw5413 points out, the beretta not being able to take 3/12 mags is a bit of a dissapointment....
Garrett

 

Steel shot or 'Hevi shot' or whatever. . . Bismuth, etc. that is legal for waterfowl would tear the 'you know what' out of my old 1100 Magnum barrel.
That's why that barrel hasn't been used since Steel was mandated back in. . . what. . .the mid to late '80s???

Maryland doesn't require steel (shot) when hunting mourning dove (which are migratory - see your post, above). Just for waterfowl.

As for hunting waterfowl, I haven't been in many, many years.
If I were to start up, again. . . I'd probably take my 870 SuperMag w/synthetic stock (w/ Limbsaver® pad) and find some steel or hevi-shot to use in it.
(Just don't have enough 'free' time, anymore.)

Regards,



Keith

 

This is true in Texas as well. Most other states as well a I would imagine.