Product Review
Roland Leong
Managing Editor
Remington 1100 Classic Trap
Remington 870 Wingmaster Fiftieth Anniversary Classic Trap
While fingering through the 2000 Remington catalog, I lingered
at the
page describing their skeet, trap and sporting clays guns. I was
instantly attracted to the re-introduction of the Model 1100 Classic
Trap and the Model 870 Wingmaster Fiftieth Anniversary Classic
Trap
in 12 gauge. Both guns featured stocks with Monte Carlo combs,
low
ribs on the 30" barrels with 3 Rem Chokes. Marked Singles (.027"),
Mid Handicap (.034"), and Long Handicap (.041") these chokes can
be
swapped with any standard Rem Choke. Most trap guns feature a
step
rib, and for the rising targets that are found on a trap field,
these
step ribs are fine. Some shooters find these step ribs are somewhat
less desirable when shooting at dropping targets as the step rib
can
sometimes obscure the target. So there it is. High comb, low rib.
Prescription for an all around clay target gun.
I called in the prescription and soon after I received the guns.
Remington describes the stock material as "semi-fancy American
walnut." To my eye, and to the eye of everyone that has seen and
handled the guns, the universal comment is that the wood is very,
very nice. The stocks you see and handle will of course vary.
Remington 1100 Classic Trap
| Model |
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| Gauge |
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| Mag. Capacity |
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| BBL Length |
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| Barrel Type |
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| Sights |
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| Metal Finish |
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| Overall Length |
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| Length of Pull |
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| Drop (comb) |
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| Drop (Heel) |
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| Stock Material |
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| Stock Finish |
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| Avg. Wt. (lbs) |
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Remington 870 Wingmaster Fiftieth Anniversary Classic Trap
The 1100 is heavier than the 870 by about 4-oz and the weight
feels
concentrated in the forend area. This seems logical, as all the
gas
operation parts are located in the forend. As a result, the 870
is
easier to get moving than the 1100. Length of pull was 14 1/2"
and
the drop at the comb was 1 7/16". Both had 30" barrels that feature
a
light target contour. These barrels have a reduced outside profile
to
make the barrel lighter than the standard barrel. These guns are
"classic" in that they are standard bore (.727") dimensions, not
the
overbore (.745") dimensions of the more recent guns. The sight
picture for the six shooters who ranged in size from 6’ 2" 200
lbs.
to 5’7" 185 lbs. who tried both guns was good to perfect for all.
These two guns elicited an experience similar to a homecoming.
These
guns just felt right. Holding them was like sleeping your own
bed
after two weeks on the road with different hotel beds. Familiar.
Comfortable. I can’t pin down whether it is the steel receiver
that
concentrates the gun’s weight to a position that is more "between
the
hands," or the slim pistol grip giving the feeling of greater
control, but handling the guns was familiar and comfortable.
The consensus of the six shooters was the 1100 fit them well,
handled
well and with soft felt recoil. To a man, the gun was a flat shooter;
there was no need to have any vertical gap between the front sight
and the target. With no need for vertical gap, all that was needed
to
break an outgoing straightaway was to shoot right at the target.
Approximately 500 rounds of both factory and reload ammunition
functioned well through the gun with only one failure to eject
with
factory ammunition. Stripping and cleaning entailed:
1. removing the forend and barrel,
2. sliding off the barrel seal and piston rings,
3. removing the operating handle,
4. removing the action bar assembly and bolt,
5. punching our the trigger plate pins,
6. removing the trigger group.
Unfortunately the link, or the part that connects the action bar
assembly to the action spring, is easily dislodged when removing
the
action bar assembly for cleaning. This then requires that the
trigger
group be removed to re-insert the link. When replacing the trigger
group, one must apply pressure to the link toward the buttstock
to
prevent it from being dislodged, and keep finger pressure on until
the action bar assembly is re-inserted. It is an awkward series
of
maneuvers. After speaking to Remington, it was recommended that
the
bolt and action bar be re-inserted before the trigger group,
preventing the link from being dislodged by the trigger group.
What
is new for this Model 1100 is the piston ring is now a single
unit.
Previous piston rings were two separate pieces.
The group felt that the 870 was a tad faster due to the lighter
weight. The difference wasn’t perceived as either bad or good,
when
compared to the 1100, just different. Recoil was sharper than
the
1100, as would be expected as the 870 does not have the recoil
reducing gas action of the 1100. The 870 was a flat shooter also.
Shooters swapped between the guns and had no problems using the
same
lead for both guns. Approximately 500 rounds were fired, and there
were no malfunctions or failures to feed with factory ammunition
or
reloads. Stripping and cleaning entailed:
1. removing the barrel,
2. slide off the action bar assembly,
3. punch out the trigger plate pins,
4. removing the trigger group.
For both guns, the majority of the trigger plate assembly (trigger
group) is now an aluminum alloy made by powder metal injection
that
allows the part to be fabricated less expensively, with higher
tolerances than by machining from a block of steel. I spoke with
Remington on the issue of durability and they claim that there
is no
reduction in quality with the new aluminum alloy trigger plate
assembly.
There is no discounting the effect of a pretty face. The Remington
1100 and 870 Classic Trap guns are good looking guns. They also
move
to the mount and swing well. They feel good in the hands with
a slim
pistol grip and a nice balanced feel with the 870 feeling quicker
in
swing than the 1100. They fit shooters of varying body types.
The
1100 is a soft shooter, but has had a reputation for breaking
parts
around the 30K rounds. The 870 a simpler, historically more reliable
gun, but one that can pound the shooter with recoil. The 1100
Classic
Trap has a list price of $885.00 and the 870 Classic Trap has
a list
price of $775.00. It is interesting to note that those shooters
who
liked the guns and asked about their availability, commented that
rather than choosing one or the other, would instead buy the pair.
Link in proper position
Link out of proper position
Old Rings
New Rings