It an 1100 would work well, and a 20 gauge is fine as well. You will not be at any disadvantage. However, a 12 gauge is easier to resell. If you can swing a bit more, a browning o/u would be nice.

 

Personally I have never felt handicapped with any gauge. If the course is set up to be "realistic" I'll go to a 28 or .410. The more un-realistic it gets then a larger gauge would be best. Your 1100 or the 870 (a little slower on the follow-up in doubles) will break the birds with the best of them.
If you're a reloader an OU would make recovery of the hulls easier, if not then don't sweat where the hulls wind up....Have fun..

 

I like a 12 myself. I use a 1100 trap. I want a 682 Beretta when I get the cash to buy one. The 1100 works good. I have a timney 2 lb trigger. It beats the 8lb factory one a lot. I use the .044 Mid handicap choke. It works good & never jambs. For the price its hard to beat a 1100.

 

I'd like a Beretta 682 to someday.

As for barrels, I have a 25" VR IMP CYL on my Remington 870. It will have to do for now I guess.

Oh, I also have a Mossberg 500 with a 28" VR MOD CYL.

 

Absolutely nothing wrong with an 1100. Still sold today and used all over to break clays. I ordered an 1100 50th Anniversary just last week. When you say sporting clays do you mean actually sporting clays (golf w/ a shotgun)? If so the majority of people use 12 gauge. Some of those shots are out there. If you mean skeet or just breaking clays in the back yard a 20 gauge is just fine. I've almost stopped shooting 12 gauge on the skeet field. Just no need. If 28 gauge were as cheap as 20 I'd shoot that.

 

I was referring the Sporting Clays in the sense of walking a predetermined course and hitting clay pigeons of various shapes, sizes and velocities. We have a few courses here in my area.

 

I'm finding that used 1100 are pretty reasonably priced, $400 to $500. Also, what does the 11-87 offer over the 1100? Except for 3" chamber, is it a redesigned 1100?

 

Sporting Clays ShotGunPreferences:
I use both 20 and 12 1100s, but my pick is my 20 O/U.
Depending on the Day
A 12 will get more Shot out there but a 20 Does Just Fine
As far as resale on a 20 . No Issue
00

 

If you are wanting a high score you need to shoot a 12 ga. I have shot a lot of tournaments and I have never saw anybody that was trying to win use a 20 ga. If you are just shooting for fun you should shoot whatever you want. When I am trying to break targets I have a 32 in. Beretta Gold E. Just to have fun I have used a .410 SXS but I didn't break as many targets as I would have with a 12 ga. Larry

 

I'm finding that used 1100 are pretty reasonably priced, $400 to $500. Also, what does the 11-87 offer over the 1100? Except for 3" chamber, is it a redesigned 1100?

The major difference between the two is that the 11-87 has a compensating gas system which means that no matter which load you shoot only a certain amount of gas is going to be used to cycle the action. This causes the bolt to cycle at the same speed each time. If you shot a heavy load in an 1100, it would slam the bolt back harder than with a light load.

Since I shoot only 2¾" shells, I'd choose the one on which I could get the best deal. The exception here is that I wouldn't buy an 1100 that didn't have RemChokes. The older 1100s have fixed choke barrels.

 

I like the idea of a compensating gas system. Are both the 11-87 and 1100 steel receivers?

 

Go with the 12ga for sporting clays.


I'm actually thinking of selling one of my beretta 390's if you are interested send me a PM.

 

I like the idea of a compensating gas system. Are both the 11-87 and 1100 steel receivers?

Yes, both are steel. The forend tube on the 11-87 is bright (stainless or chrome?) while the 1100 is gray steel, so this part of the 11-87 is a little easier to clean. Either is easy enough.

 

yes i used to shoot them alot also i would go with the 12ga also but the 20 is great if not shooting tournaments i also have a brand new 391 black gold i would sell and possibly and browning sporting clays ou in 12ga

 

Are 26" and 28" the more common barrel lengths? I'd like to be optimistic and be able to use the gun in the field, and with trap, skeet and clays, all with one barrel.

 

Go with 28" if you can.

 

Good advice posted already.

I find that a longer barrel swings smoother for shooting something that is flying imo, and I like a 28" in a pump or semi auto, and a 30" in a single or double barrel.

24" is good for point shooting, but it's to whippy for leading a flying target. 26 would be a field compromise on a semi auto. I personally do better with a 28" semi auto. You can get a Beretta 3901 series or the replacement a300 for an OK price. There are of course new and more friendly models to clean, such a the browning maxus, but they cost a bit more.

Your on the right track, I do prefer a gas semi auto, as they are soft shooters. I would go 12ga over 20, just for the fact of ammo availability and price if you don't reload shot shell.

Get out and shoulder some shotguns, and find one that personally fits you. Everyone is different.

 

I hope to get out soon and look at a Winchester SX3 and a CZ 912 and I'll look for a 28" model.

 

If you are taller than 5'7'' I would look for a 30 inch barrel.

 

I hope to get out soon and look at a Winchester SX3 and a CZ 912 and I'll look for a 28" model.

The SX3 is a nice model. I had a Browning Gold ( It's the same gun, just that the Winchester doesn't have the speed load.) They are Brownchesters It will cycle 1&1/8oz loads no problem, you may have an issue with some 1oz loads, you just have to try them out and see what works in it. Forget 7/8 oz loads. Remington Versamax, Beretta Extrema and A400 are the only Semi Auto's I have seen cycle 7/8 oz reliable. I also had an Extrema 2, it was a great gun, although a 3.5" magnum is not needed for your intended use.

 

I ended up with a Winchester Super X Model 1. Next weekend I hope to try it out shooting some clays. But first I need to stock up on some shells. Hope I can find them at Walmart.

-Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3.