The 1100 Sporting 20 would be an outstanding choice for your purposes. Felt recoil is greatly reduced with the 1100 as compared with an 870.

Clemson

 

Bronco,
I just purchased a CZ 720 myself. I compared it to the 1100 and sold my 870 to help pay for it. Fit and finish is very good.
Two reasons why I chose it over the 1100:
1) It balanced better to ME...it's more of a neutral-balance, whereas the 1100 is more barrel heavy - some folks prefer the forward-heavy guns - I do not.
2) It was lighter.

Oh, and 3) the CZ was about $300 cheaper.

TA

 

I also agree with the CZ720. Yes, it is made in Turkey, but a copy of the Berreta. And very well made don't you know.

Fit and finish on mine are excellent - although it is a matte finish versus glossy.

For the money I would again go with the CZ.

 

I wish there were more information available for the CZ 720, including over-sized images files so I can get a closer look (...on a computer monitor...).

The CZ website has a number of feedback forums, and overall the feedback on the 720 has been pretty good. But 1 in 10 postings are negative (fit and finish, jamming problems, carless checkering, etc.). On the jamming issue, it could be that this gun just needs to be broken in a bit.

I probably won't be buying anything for at least 6 months or so; maybe by then there will be more review information available for the CZ 720.

 

Is the auto loader on the CZ 720 recoil- or gas-operated?

Also, in my price range, are there any other gas-operated auto loaders out there?

 

The CZ is a gas op. Actually, 1 in 10 negative posts sounds pretty good, because you have to remember most satisfied customers won't comment on thier purchase, but if somebody gets one that has something wrong they generally will try and find some way to fix it.

You might also want to look at the Beretta 3901. I heard Beretta's cutting thier deal with Walmart and taking this gun to standard gunshops. Its available in 20 gauge and Synthetic and Wood stocks (and that butt ugly X-Tra wood). It lists for $750 as synthetic and $850 as wood, but thats MSRP and it should be much less in stores.

http://www.berettausa.com/product/product_field_guns_main.htm
(Its under Semi-Automatics)

 

Darn! I just realized that I'll have to take into account the height of my smallish 5-rack Grizzly gun safe when choosing between the Rem 1100, 870 and CZ 712.

My 26" Mossberg 20ga barely fits in the safe, and I'd like my next gun to have *at least* a 28" barrel, preferably a 30" one. That means I'll have to tear the gun down each time I store it (and obviously re-assemble it whenever I go shooting).

Between the 3 guns I've mentioned (12 gauge only with 3" or smaller chamber), which one breaks down the easiest and can hold up to years of such "abuse"?

I never figured the height of my gun safe would enter into the equation. Sadly, it has!

 

If you want the 1100, a great gun mind you...you had better not wait....Remington has ended the 1100...no more..none zilch nada. The end of an era in guns.

 

I have a 1100 LT in 20 ga. which I just adore. Quick, fun, and I'll embarrass hunters with their 12 gages if they slip up.
I use mine for doves primarily. You just can't go wrong in the purchase, and if you didn't like it. You would have it sold at the drop of a hat...
Art 8)

 

If you are going to strictly use the gun for casual trap shooting, why do you want a 20ga? Would you not be better off with a 12ga? A 12ga 1100 trap would be a very wise choice.

 

John Cody, where did you get that information? Haven't heard anything about the demise of the 1100. Remington has expanded their 1100 line and is building seven different 1100 models in 2005. Are you sure about your information? Are you perhaps talking about the 1187?

 

For some reason, I've always preferred 20 gauge shotguns. I must have had a bad experience with a 12-gauge mule kicker as a kid. Basically, I'm a whimp when it comes to felt recoil. Even with my current 20 gauge, I'm still sore for a couple of days after a weekend of shooting.

I suppose I ought to give 12 gauges another chance, especially auto loaders. If the felt recoil of a 12 gauge semi-automatic is next to nothing, I'd give it a try.

(On the other hand, isn't there a 20 gauge category in trap shooting? I thought that with a 20 gauge, you could compete in both 20 and 12 gauge classes.)

 

What kind of safe do you have?? I have a very small safe but a good safe and it is only 55 in. tall and my O/U with 30 in. barrels is only 47 1/2 in. tall. Yours must be realy short.
Dave

 

I bought a 5-gun safe from Grizzly (link). For its size, it was a good value: $159 + $58 shipping.

It's 57 1/4" high, but there's an internal ammo cabinet that eats up about 8 inches. (The picture shown from the link above is for the inside of the 10-gun case, which is 64 1/4" tall).

I wish now that I had bought something slightly larger, but at the time I bought it to fit the available space I had (only a couple of inches to spare) and I didn't think I'd need room for more than 4 or 5 guns. Famous last words. :wink:

 

Just a thought-it takes about 20 seconds to pop the barrel off a semi-auto and then it will be short enough to fit in any safe.

 

Resurrection of an 11 year old post.

 

Oops! I forget to look for the date on top. . . . .in my defense, I'm not the first to make this mistake.

 

We'll cut you some slack, this time.

 

^^^Eh, good one Virginian!^^^ I'm sure Remington is even surprised they no longer offer the 1100.

 

Resurrection of an 11 year old post.

He is trying to compete with Frankgoss! :lol:

 

No, I simply made a mistake. You guys are harsh. I'm sure you have never made a mistake.

 

I thought I did once, but then I found out I was mistaken.

 

Senior citizens don't make mistakes……..we have "senior moments".

 

No one can compete with Frank Goss.