390 by a long shot. Not really even a close call.

 

I agree with BAD 303. I've had both and have shot tens of thousands of rounds through each and found the 390 to be the more reliable of the two guns.
That being said, the 1187 was a fine gun and the problems were minor such as firing pin springs and forend supports, but the 390 was a rock solid when it came to dependability - I never had a problem with it.


Regards,
Brad

 

I've never had a problem with any of my 1187s. The trick to the 1187 is to keep it clean. It will need cleaning more often than the 390. (Though you should hear the complaining when a 390 owner goes too long between cleanings and crusts up his gas system.) Most of the parts that break are easily user replaceable.

Having said that, is the 390 more reliable? Yes. But I don't agree with BAD 303's assessment that the gulf between the two is that wide.

Frankly there are other factors that should be considered as well, but you did not ask about them.

 

beyond reliability--

balance and how it feels when swinging means a bunch to YOU!!!!

 

I've owned many of both and BAD 303 is spot on. There isn't even a remote comparison here. In fact, any of the 300 series are bullet proof and can go thousands of rounds without even cleaning.

 

The difference between the two is that wide Brian. Just own both and shoot several thousand rounds thru both and it will become obvious. Reliability alone makes the gap huge. Add to that the available aftermarket options and feel and balance and it gets even wider. Cleaning is always good fro any gun. I started out shooting the 1187 and they are not in the same league as the 300 series Berettas.

 

My 11-87 is flawless. I doubt if most current or prior owners of both have actually done enough side-by-side, scientific testing to make a determination and their answer is merely subjective depending on experience and which gun they like the best.

 

I would agree with Brian. They do require more frequent cleaning to operate reliably, but all of mine have always worked as expected. I did break the operating handle detent ball retainer during a 200 bird event at the Iowa state shoot once, but didn't know it until I took the gun apart for cleaning.
Plus, you can buy two or three older style 1100's for what one new Berretta costs.

 

I shoot both 1100 & 11-87 for the past 35+ years. I will tell you this on the Trap & Skeet field if one is better than the other 1100 or 11-87 or 390 you can't prove it to me, I have seen all kinds of guns fail regard less of price from P guns to B guns to Remington's. I do feel how one maintains what they have has a bigger affect than what they have. I have a friend that does not take care of anything & he shoots it till its done then he buys something else cost means nothing to him. Just a parting thought why does a 1100 hold the record for most shots fired with out being cleaned or a parts change, 24,000 rounds look it up your self on Wikipedia. Buy what you like & what fits you, that will have a bigger impact on your scores. Good Shooting.

 

I have owned both. I have shot several 300 series Berettas for doubles with my current 390 nearing 50K. Seldom have had any problems with failures to fire, ie jamming for second shot. I can only recall having lost a bird due to multiple failures to fire per ATA rules one time. NEVER had that dependability with 1100 or 11-87s.

 

Any thought of keeping a fellow American employed?

I have an 11-87 that I use for skeet. Don't shoot it day and night but I've never had a problem with it. Also, I've never had and issue getting Remington parts when needed not that I've had too many occassions and never with this gun other than a gas ring once a year. Can't say for Beretta. Had a Beretta double and never liked the feel of it whereas a Rizinni fit the bill. Personal thing.

Pick up both guns, see which one you like and buy it. Clean it when it needs it and you won't have problems. We all overthink these things. Truth be told, if you find a good used 870 and practice you'll shoot as well as a guy with a 40 thousand $ shotgun. As the best trap shooter that I know has said for the past 50 years, "It ain't the arrow its the Indian." And the best skeet shooter that I have ever known whose been long dead shot one gun and one gun only; a Model 12 pump. Dependability? Ocassionally they broke an extractor.

We're not talking Stoegers here!

 

Owned and shot both. Th 11-87 is a good gun. The 390 is much better all around. john

 

An 1100 went 24,000 rounds without being cleaned?

Must have been this old 1100 Trap that I bought...

View attachment 197089

I doubt its previous owner EVER cleaned it. Pic was taken AFTER I got all the carbon buildup out of it.

View attachment 197090

Not a bad shotgun. Got it dirt cheap. Came with a Timney pull trigger. Basically bought the trigger and the gun was free.

View attachment 197091

Longest I've ever been able to get an 1100 or 1187 to shoot with cheap, dirty ammo is a bit over 600 rounds. I clean mine between 200 and 400 rounds, but then, I find cleaning guns to be enjoyable. No doubt some folks do not.

 

I used to wipe down and re coat the mag tube on my 1100's after every event or two with break free. It was kind of dirty to do, but it always worked. Cleaned everything once or twice a year depending on how much I shot or how bored I was.

 

I have owned both, and in my opinion the Beretta is more reliable. I do feel that the Remington kicked me less, but who knows, that could be the way the gun fit?

I had a friend who use to go to Canada to hunt every year with some friends as they brought a total of 6 Remingtons with them. By the end of the trip the boat was filled with broken parts and only one gun still functioned properly.

Then they all purchased the Berettas one year, and did not have one broken part among them after they went on their yearly hunt.

Remington is a great gun, soft recoil, but for plain realiabilty, the Beretta hands down.
Steve Balistreri

 

I shot an 11-87 for over 20 years. It needed cleaned, but clays/clay dot helped it go longer with out being cleaned. To totally disassemble an 11-87 takes about 2 minutes. Clean it all out, put it back to gether, and you are done in 12-15min tops. No big deal. 11-87s shoot great. Biggest issue I had was 'o' rings breaking once in a while. I had two complete sets in my bag if needed.

 

I've owned and shot both for years. They each have their plus' and minus'. The 11-87 fits me better and is easier to clean but it needs to be cleaned more frequently. The 390 can go further w/o cleaning but if you go too long it's a bear to get squeeky clean. 11-87 parts are much easier to obtain than a 390's but 390's seldom break. I think the 11-87 shot softer too.

 

11-87 Regards, Ed

 

1100 older tech 390 newer design both work one is a steam train the other a bullet train. I do wish Jack West made a Beretta stock it is a stone winner of a stock.

 

I've shot both and owned several 1100's. I love the Remington, but the Beretta is more reliable in my opinion. I see a lot of Beretta's at the sporting clays course and they keep on going; I always carried spare parts for my 1100 and sometimes needed them. I agree that the Rem cleaning could be extended if you wiped down the rings, piston and mag tube regularly but 500 rounds was about as far as I'd stretch it.

Having said that, the 1100 is the softest shooting 12 gauge I ever shot and it seems almost anyone can pick it up and shoot it well. Not the case with the Beretta--they seem to be an acquired taste, and I never could shoot one well.

John

 

390.... aluminum receiver
1100... steel receiver (more weight=less recoil)

Remington parts are less expensive and more readily available.

 

I'm sorry. I've been around awhile. I was around when 870s and 1100s when the main stay at trap and skeet ranges and I somehow don't remember them breaking with any degree of regularity. With dirty powder they can get gummed up and need cleaning but I have never seen either a well maintained 1100 or 11-87 have any larger scale issues. Yes, parts do break occassionally but no where near some have stated here or other places. If we talking about not having to clean guns between shoots because yes they gum up after a few hundred rounds and the 11-87 is worse than the 1100 in this area. Bigger gas ports.

This is sort of like a Mini 14 vs AR15 debate. The Mini can be shot forever without cleaning and the AR fouls out after a couple of boxes of ammo. They carbon up real quick. Both guns have attributes and detractions but you can't convinced the folks on both side of the debate that its the case.

Berreta's 390? If you like them buy them. Try both first and buy the one that fits better and you shoot better. Next someone is going to start comparing Nova pumps to Wingmasters. Please don't.

 

The question was which is more reliable -

The Beretta 390 series and its not even close. I own and shoot both. The Remington 11/87 and 1100s are good shotguns but they just won't run with the Berettas.

 

If they 1100 or 11-87 won't run with the Beretta's why has the record of 24000+ rounds not been broken ? Just wondering.

 

1100RM has it rt. 24,000 rds fired without a malfunction, cleaning, or parts breakage in 1978. Many have tried to break it, all have failed. That's a pretty damn good argument. I shoot 1 in skeet doubles and 12ga singles. Wouldn't trade it for anything except my K80.