You don't have to pay twice as much for a Beretta. The Wal Mart 390 sells for around $500.00 new.
Three of my friends had a lot of problems with their 11-87's. All of them were 3" models.

 

The 11-87 is a very good shotgun one with which I would feel perfectly comfortable with as my only gun. Theres not a whole lot that a good 11-87 12gauge 3 inch chamber premier can't do. The price is right imo for the gun

edit: the previos last part didn't come out as I had intended, it's gone now. :twisted:

 

It's not worth arguing over which brand of semi-auto is "better". All the major brands have their fans and their haters. Get the gun YOU like.

A new 11-87 with walnut stock and blued finish is about $570 at Academy Sports. My local Wal-Mart sells the plastic stocked, matte finish 12 gauge "semi-humpback" Beretta 3901 for about $590. Of course, prices may vary in other areas of the country. It pays to shop around.

There are plenty of other manufacturers who offer semi-autos, and nearly all of them are available for under $1000.

To answer your question, $400 is a good price for a used 11-87 in good shape. When kept clean, they should cycle most loads. Depending upon how you interpret Remington's on-line guidance, they seem to suggest using 2 3/4" filed loads or 3" loads in field grade 11-87s. However, several people on this list have had good luck using lighter loads in field grade 11-87s.

Good luck!

 

That's a reasonable price if it's in excellent condition. You can get a new for maybe $175ish more though. I know Davidson's had that same gun for $582 a couple of weeks ago anyway. Don't worry too much about the Remiginton v/ Berretta v/ Benelli v/ Winchester v/ Browning arguments you'll get from other autoloader shooters here. They are all good guns with various feature, prices, etc. Get what you want...you are correct..the 1187 is a good range or field gun.

I've got several autos including an 1187 Premier...zero feed problem with target loads.

 

Thanks for the advice. I found a 20 gauge Beretta 390 at the gun show this weekend that I ended up purchasing for my son. I think it was one of the Wally World closeouts being re-sold for a small profit, but it was still brand new and in the box.

After I bought the 20 gauge 390 for him, I decided that I should look for the same thing in 12 gauge for myself, but I couldn't find one at the show (except for a 391 with an $850 price tag on it). I stopped at WalMart on my way home and they had a 12 gauge 390 in the case marked $529, but the guy at the counter said he'd "take 10% off" because he was in a good mood today. I agreed on the price, something like $476, but then he noticed that the trigger guard was a little scratched from the trigger lock, so he asked the manager if he could discount it some more. The manager says "how about $450", and I jokingly say "how about $400"...and he says "OK". WOW...I had to pinch myself to make sure that I wasn't dreaming! That made my decision a no brainer...used Rem 11-87 vs new Beretta 390 for the same price?

 

Am I missing something here? Is this a Field,Trap or Skeet Grade Premier? I ask this because a "F" Grade Premier will go for $4000 in exellent condition and the Gold Premier will run almost $5000.

If it is a nice Field Grade Premier and it fits you, $400 is a reasonable price. It may be good buy. JMHO

 

The Rem 11/87 is a great gun! (I own one). however, It is not made to cycle light loads. For instance; Rem literature will tell you to shoot (12 ga.) a min of 3 1/4 powder and 1 1/4 shot. I've seen people at gun stores trying to return new one's they just bought saying theres something wrong with it. It wont cycle!

 

The Rem 11/87 is a great gun! (I own one). however, It is not made to cycle light loads. For instance; Rem literature will tell you to shoot (12 ga.) a min of 3 1/4 powder and 1 1/4 shot. I've seen people at gun stores trying to return new one's they just bought saying theres something wrong with it. It wont cycle!

 

>>The Rem 11/87 is a great gun! (I own one). however, It is not made to cycle light loads.<<

I found this out the hard way, and am now using an O/U!

 

Am I missing something here? Is this a Field,Trap or Skeet Grade Premier? I ask this because a "F" Grade Premier will go for $4000 in exellent condition and the Gold Premier will run almost $5000.

If it is a nice Field Grade Premier and it fits you, $400 is a reasonable price. It may be good buy. JMHO

Remington may have changed nomenclature over the years. Today's standard field grade 11-87s are called "Model 11-87 Premier", and are stamped as such on the receiver. These guns sell new everyday at Wal-Mart and sporting goods stores for about $600.

According to their 2005 print catalog, the D & F grade shotguns coming out of the Remington Custom shop are simply named D or F. These guns run close to $10,000 new.

 

My walmart has the Premier for $525 and its a good looking gun. Some nice stamped engraving on the reciever and some nice wood with excellent checkering. In my opinion you have to find out how old the gun is. I bought a 1100 just last week and was having problems with it cycling (pretty much a single shot). It looked really clean and almost unused. (very little wear overall). I took it back to the shop where I bought it, Graf & sons in St. Charles MO, and they took it back and sold me a used Franchi 612 sporting with 30" ported barrel and a case with all the orignal paper work and other assorted doodads for $75 more than I paid for the 1100. I'm happy :lol: not only with the gun but also with service these guys gave me. Shop around.