Browning Gold vs. Rem 11-87

I have a Gold 3 1/2" Stalker that I love. My brother has the Gold 3 1/2" with camo. Neither of us have had any problems. They both eat anything we put in them. I have had an 11-87 SP 3" that was a little picky about what brand shells I shot. I liked it ok, but sold it to buy an new Benelli SBE. I didn't like it, sold it, bought the Gold in 2001 I think. Of all of them, I like it the best. I like both the speed-load feature and the magazine cut-off on the Browning. If you don't care about these features, you may want to look at the Winchester Super X2.

I am picking up my son's new Gold 3" Stalker tomorrow. He is 13 and it is a Christmas/birthday present. It will cost me total of $630 after shipping/FFL/rebate. Man is he going to be stoked!!!!

Best of luck. My guess is you will get supporters and doubters on both sides. Personally, I like the Gold, but would not hesitate about buying an 11-87. You may want to read some of the other posts that have been written lately about camo. Some like it, others don't.

Welcome to SGW. I would get a 3" gun myself. The 11-87 3 1/2" weighs 8 1/4lbs and the Gold 3 1/2" is between 7 1/2-7 3/4lbs. 3 1/2 models are best suited for waterfowling and turkey hunting. Pheasant hunting means a lot of walking and a little shooting(turkey hunting sometimes also).

The Gold has better quality and more features than the 11-87. The Gold also costs more though. The Gold is just slightly easier to clean and will go longer between cleanings if needed. Besides the 11-87 weighing more it balances with much more weight at the end of the barrel for me.

Here are some models that I like and are in you price range. They are all 3" models and would work well for your intended uses.

$500.00-$750.00: Beretta 390 and 3901 are gas operated. They are basicaly the same gun with different shaped receivers. They are fairly light in weight, have stock shims, and automatic magazine cutoff's. They each hold four shells and can't accept extentions. They are not too bad to clean. The 390 only comes in B/S with a 28" barrel in 12 gauge.
Beretta Pintail/ES100 is inetia operated. It's fairly light and has a slim forearm. They are very easy to clean and has an automatic magazine cutoff . It holds five shells and can't be extended. Shims are available for this model. This model does not have a magazine release making the unloading take a tad longer than most.
Browning Silver Hunter is gas operated. It's very light in weight and has stock shims available for it. It only comes in a Silver/Blue/Wood finish. It holds five rounds total. It does not have the speed load and magazine cutoff features but, has the same gas system as the more expensive golds.
Franchi 612 and 712 are gas operated. They are the same except for the receiver shape.They are very easy to clean and light in weight. They have an automatic magazine cutoff's and shims for the stock. They hold five shells and more with an extention. They don't have the best triggers in terms of weight and creep.
Weatherby SAS is gas operated. It is fairly light in weight and very easy to clean. It has a magazine cutoff switch and shims for the stock. It has a good safety shape,size, and location. It holds five shells and more with an extension. This model was made by SKB first then Valtro for Weatherby. Parts do not interchange between the two.
Winchester SX2 is gas operated. It has decent weight and is pretty easy to clean. It has a high rib and stock shims are available. It hold five rounds and more if extended. This is the only model that does not have a magazine cutoff of any kind. The Light field model is the same but quite a bit lighter and balances with more weight towards the stock. The SX2 models have a $100.00 rebate to the end of Dec..

The magazine cutoff is a lever on left side of the receiver. It holds the shells in the magazine if you open the bolt. The bolt then locks back like if the gun were empty. It works well if you are duck hunting over decoys and a couple geese fly in, you don't have to empty the whole gun and then reload. You can flip the mag cutoff, slip the 2 3/4" or 3" load out and slip in a 3 1/2". Or if you are going out of the blind or taking a break while bird hunting and want to lay your gun down, you don't have to empty the whole gun. The bolt stays back, so everyone can see the gun is safe.

If you are doing a lot of upland hunting, consider a 3" instead of 3 1/2". I almost went with a 3 1/2" for my son, but 3" is big enough for most things. If you need the extra distance/power, you can always go with Hevi-shot or similar.

The 3" Gold does not come with magazine cutoff. The Classic model of the 3" does though. Features are explained pretty well and pictures can be seen on the Browning web site.

If you get the Gold before the first of the year you will get a $100 rebate. I assume they will still have a rebate after the first of the year, but it may only be $50 or $75.

Wow, you have all given me some great info. to consider. I did originally look at the Franchi guns, but I am used to the safety being behind the trigger. I noticed that the Franchi's have the safety in front of the trigger. When I shouldered the Franchi 712, it seemed like I was stretching to reach the safety, and I was only wearing a t-shirt. Oh, did I mention I was short (I mean vertically challenged) so some guns just don't fit me well.

I am really used to my 1100 and love the gun. It is the last gun I bought and I am shocked to see how much the prices on guns have increased since then. I have used 1100's that are not much less than what I paid for my gun new. Of course, that was many years ago.

I do plan on using the new gun I buy for turkey hunting. Would a 3" be sufficient or should I go with the 3 1/2".

I looked at the Winchester X2 and the prices I am seeing are around $800-$900. Same with the Browning Silkver Hunter. Where should I be looking to find these models in my price range? The gun dealer that has the Gold Hunter, 3 1/2" said the gun was not eligible for the $100 rebate because he bought it from another dealer, although it is still new. $650 seemed like a good price to me, but I could be wrong.

Thanks again for the feedback.

cbxchris,
You make a good point. If they made the 1100 with 3" or 3 1/2", I probably would have made up my mind to go with that. I would like a magnum for the turkey hunting.

I also want to keep my 1100 I have now as my deer gun, with a red dot on it. I pulled the scope and slug barrel off after last season so I could use it to bird hunt with this year. I ended up bird hunting right up to gun season and ended up sighting my deer gun in two days before deer season. That was cutting it a little closer than I like.

I have a Browning Sweet 16 that I also like alot, but don't want to take it out in the field. That was what got me looking at the Browning. And I looked at the Franchi's because my dad has an older Franchi and it has been a good gun for him, and nice and light. I just don't like the safety location on the newer Franchi's.

I will look at the Winchester, as suggested, as well as the Berettas.

I have heard they did make the 1100 in a 3". Is this still an option on the new 1100's? I have not seen anything to indicate that it still is an option.

Worc, thanks for the name and number. Do you know if they will ship a gun to an FFL dealer?

Thanks to all of you for the feedback.