The Great ONSC Gun Thread (2 Viewers)

[weejub]

I have enjoyed having removable chokes for sporting clays. On one hole they may roll a rabbit by you at 10 yards and then the next hole you are shooting at what is supposed to be geese out to 40+ yards. You can go all the way from skeet choke to full choke on a course.

May go modified for trap on my gun and then IC for skeet, for example.

Of course there are people like my cousin who could probably beat me with any choke on any clay games unless I made him shoot something dumb like open cylinder at long range.

1100 is what everyone I know who hunts basically shoots. I don't know much about them, but my Dad, Uncles, old crazy neighbor, friends who shot competitively, etc - - all seemed to shoot them Friends who shot competitively would buy one and then put like $15K into it

 

[izzyandsue]

Well, this may not be for me. It's an 1100 Magnum, started reading that you should only use 3" magnum shells and that 2 3/4 shells might not get ejected, due to the gun not having only one gas port. Other sites say it works fine. Not sure I want to risk buying it and getting stuck with only magnums. Any experience with this issue?

 

[roadstr6]

Izzy, I have an 11-87. My Dad has an 1100 so I am familiar with the platform. They are basically the same gun.

The magnum will shoot 2 3/4 shells but they need to be heavy loads, otherwise they won't eject. Trap and target loads do not have enough powder to gas the shells out. However, a 2 3/4 barrel will slide right into place on a 3" magnum gun and you can rock the small stuff all day long. The 2 3/4 barrel has two ports as opposed to one on the 3". Barrels can be had for very little money. If you don't mind chasing down a 2 3/4 barrel the 3" gun will actually give you more versatility as opposed to less. I'd say if it's a good deal, buy it.

If you find that the 1100 series begins to have trouble ejecting, whether it be 2 3/4 or 3" shells, chances are that your O-ring has failed. These guns use a high temp (Viton) o-ring to seal the barrel. The O-ring is cheap and easy to replace. I keep a couple in my bag just in case.

 

[izzyandsue]

Thank you Dave! That is along the lines of what i have been reading. Found a much newer and nicer 1100 with external chokes for a little more, will be looking at that one next week. They have 11-87s too, might as well handle them all.

 

[weejub]

Dave / Izzy - You can find people who never clean the o ring then sell their guns because they don't think they work anymore.

 

[NCFJ]

My first 1100 was like that, the guy said he just did not want to mess with it. I took it all apart and cleaned it up, replaced the O-ring and all was well. @Izzyandsue if you want to come over and shoot a couple 1100s and an 870 you are more than welcome, just let me know.

 

[roadstr6]

Dave / Izzy - You can find people who never clean the o ring then sell their guns because they don't think they work anymore.

Yes! These things are reliable as a hammer. If you are having a problem it's usually something simple. The o-rings are the major offenders.

The 11-87 came out in '87. It is an "improved" version of the 1100. It will accept 2 3/4 or 3" shells due to its gas compensation system. There are some who like the 1100 more and who could blame them? It's been the standard American semi-auto for 50 plus years. Kind of like the Ford F150 of shotguns. I have never had a real problem with my 11-87 though. I like it fine. I've shot boxes and boxes through it one after the other until it was hot enough to burn your fingers. Never a hiccup. I like fancy guns as much as the next guy and I understand the advantages of a lightweight gun. The 1100 and 11/87 are neither light nor fancy but they always work.

There was a time when I thought I was a trap shooter. I was going through cases of shells every Saturday and it was getting expensive. I was young and didn't have the cash to keep up my habit so I decided to start hand loading to save a few bucks. Problem was that I was hand loading cheap brass and I wasn't getting good crimps. I ran 10-12 boxes of those crappy hand loads through my 11-87. Tons of those shells were leaking #8 shot all into the action. It was rattling around inside like marbles. The gun never flinched. After every 5 shots i just shook the pellets out best I could and kept on going. The gun didn't seem to care at all. I finally gave up on hand loading. Life got in the way of my trap shooting dreams. The 11-87 doesn't see much action anymore.

 

[NCFJ]

@roadstr6 I'll have to bring my 1100 competition with me next time I know you will be around, it is pretty fancy. Fully adjustable but stock in length,angle and height, adjustable chin rest, walnut burl stock and fore grip.

I fully agree with Dave about the reliability of these shotguns, hammer is a good analogy. The club I shot at in Buncombe County (Asheville) had a great many wealthy members shooting some pretty fancy shotguns. Some would tease me about shooting a "gas" gun and that I should get a "real" shotgun. My response was always something like " I've shot 25-25-23-24 so far today, your best was what, 19? Care to shoot one round winner takes both guns"?

I've never had a failure with either of mine, generally shooting 5-6 rounds (25 shells) I've not shot mine since we moved here, that is why the interest in a thrower and this thread is pushing me harder as I want to shoot more.

 

[izzyandsue]

The F150 of shotguns? That explains the peeling paint then!

Well, maybe I need to buy both, 1100 and 11-87, I have 2 hands after all. I was trolling the web and this Italian girl started callling me out too. Her name is Benelli Montefeltro. Good looking girl too.

 

[weejub]

 

[NCFJ]

Henry Rifle- A big thumbs up!!!!

I have a 3 or so year old Henry 22 lever action rifle. The lever started to flake off finish and rust in those spots. I wrote Henry an E-mail, told them of the issue and included the serial number on the rifle. I told them I was wanting a larger loop handle but was concerned over the finish and asked if this was an isolated issue. This was last Fri evening. A brand new large loop lever WITH INSTRUCTIONS arrived today!!! Covered under warranty.

I call that great customer service.

That Big Boy silver in 44 is looking better and better

 

[angerhater]

FWIW when the firing pin broke in my AR9 new frontier said they will be sending one in the mail... yesterday...time will tell

 

[Rice]

Henry Rifle- A big thumbs up!!!!

I have a 3 or so year old Henry 22 lever action rifle. The lever started to flake off finish and rust in those spots. I wrote Henry an E-mail, told them of the issue and included the serial number on the rifle. I told them I was wanting a larger loop handle but was concerned over the finish and asked if this was an isolated issue. This was last Fri evening. A brand new large loop lever WITH INSTRUCTIONS arrived today!!! Covered under warranty.

I call that great customer service.

That Big Boy silver in 44 is looking better and better

Nice. Have a .22 golden boy that is big fun but am eager to get my hands on a .357. Have lots of .38 in the safe to use up.

Thanks for posting.

(PS ... anyone have a Henry Big Boy .357 lever they would sell?)

 

[NCFJ]

Have you seen the silver? Very nice. Available engraved too.

 

[Mtbcoach]

Well, add me to the Henry fanboy club. I'd been looking for an appropriate truck/guide/camping rifle, narrowed it down between an AR based pistol/SBR or lever rifle. Going old school and adding something I didn't own, lever rifle won out. Then, weighing the various options available and calibers, the Henry Big Boy Carbine in 45 colt came home today.

Planned on hitting the Dixie Gun show at the Raleigh Fairgrounds, found out on the way someone decided to give a loaded handgun to someone in the back seat and shot the passenger, F'n brilliant. Regardless, we get in through the NCSU fans and begin the hunt for lever guns, keeping my eyes open for a vintage/antique Winchester/Henry. Plenty in 30/30 and 45/70, few in pistol calibers. Found 2 in 357mag, $180 difference in price between the 2 vendors but none in the Carbine option. Quick internet check showed the Cabela's in Garner had the exact rifle with the specs I wanted and at a better price point.

Choose the carbine model due to the shorter barrel (16.5") and large loop lever, 45 colt so I don't need new dies, just need a new finishing die for the longer 45 colt. With the 45 colt, I can make better "shot-shell" loads, making it a fair .410 shotgun too. I went round and round about getting the .357mag/38sp model due to the lower ammo cost and cheaper plinking options. But, once I read the minimum specs for 38sp, not much cheaper than 357mag. And, I hate having to keep 357mag brass and 9mm away from each other, a complete set of dies, bullets and reloading costs are not that much cheaper than 45 colt.

Regardless, heading to the range tomorrow...

 

[erymer]

Love it Jerry. Those octagon barrels are dead sexy

 

[NCFJ]

Very cool Jerry, I love lever guns. Henry also now has a lever action 410

 

[elkaholic]

Posting here since it is a "bun" thread ...

I "allegedly" might have a few items that I am forced to declare excess inventory. Thought I would list them here for anyone that is interested. If you have any "suspected" interest, please PM me and we can connect offline ....

Items I might have

• Ed Brown Kobra Carry .45ACP
• Kimber Super Carry Custom .45ACP
• Sig Spartan 1911 .45ACP
• Sig Spartan Carry 1911 .45ACP
• Marlin Cowboy Limited Octagon bbl (x3) - 1 each in .44Mag, .45 Long Colt, 45-70

All have been safe queens since I "allegedly" owned them with the exception of the Ed Brown which has been carried, but not fired much.

Showings can be arranged at the Xmas get together ....

 

[Mtbcoach]

Follow up with Henry Big Boy Carbine .45 Colt...decided to test fire and handle the rifle at Homepage - Triangle Shooting Academy instead of my home range at Sir Walter Gun Club. I had done a walk-through of this new facility but but had not gone in and used the shooting lanes.

First off, initial sign-up was easy and well organized. You can fill out all the paperwork/waivers on-line, we hit the safety video viewing without waiting (8 in our group), head to range check-in, only 2 others in the 10 lane bay 1. Range officer inside each bay 100% of the time shooters are in the bay, digital target hangers, target light (able to turn off) and overhead light at lane bench (able to turn off), lane bench has shelves to put ammo boxes and gun rugs to keep bench clear of clutter.

These are the places Regina likes, super clean, organized, place to get food/drinks with comfortable environment to watch behind the glass. But, not cheap, $15 annual membership (they do have day pass), cost me $23 for lane + 2 targets. One a brisk day like today, super convenient and comfortable wife, not too tough to swallow.

The rifle shot awesome, only have 25yd lanes but was easily able to keep inside 3" freehand, very comfortable load with some off-the-shelf 200g rounds. I guessed at the sight adjustment, moving it up 3 notches and it seemed right by how well my accuracy was. I'll hit my range where I can do some bench shooting on the 100yd range to fully sight it in over thanksgiving but I also want to find a hotter round to run through it.

First impression leaving me with a huge grin, time to start looking at ballistics charts to see what kind of load I can work up and wondering which optics I'll have to add to help my eyes hold some accuracy at distance.

 

[izzyandsue]

I ended up with a Beretta a300 Outlander, and Patrick's Baikal MP320 over/under, both 12 gauge. Went out this morning to Fork Stables, shot a course and some trap with my mid son, great time and awesome guns.