Product Review- Remington 1100 Classic Trap

Product Review

Remington 1100 Classic Trap

DESCRIPTION OF ITEM

The Remington 1100 Classic Trap is a semi-automatic, gas-operated shotgun built as a dedicated trap gun.

PURPOSE OF ITEM

This shotgun is a dedicated trap gun built on the legendary 1100 line of shotguns.  Price would indicate it to be a budget or "My First" trap gun, but its features speak to quality and purpose:  11mm stepped rib for rising targets, ivory/steel twin beads, trap-specific removable chokes (roughly MOD, ImpMOD, and FULL), gas system optimized for target loads, and a monte carlo stock with 2" of heel drop.

RETAIL COST

MSRP appears to be around $800, but due to the highly varied and regionally dependent nature of the firearms market, can range in price from as little as $400 used to $1000+ new.  This places the 1100 Classic Trap in the low- to mid- range for autoloaders and makes it one of the cheapest dedicated trap guns.

TEST/USES

The 1100 Classic Trap became my sole trap gun after I acquired it, and I've racked up over 50 rounds of trap shooting it.  I have shot it off both the 16 and 22 yard lines and everywhere in between.  I intend for this to be my sole trap gun for many years to come.  I also have over 20 years of experience shooting 1100's in general.

IMPRESSION

First, looks.  This gun is GORGEOUS for an autoloader, with classic highly polished deep bluing and very good machine engraving and inlay work, plus a high-gloss B-grade stock and forend.  While it won't stand up when compared to a hand-engraved gun done by any of the modern masters, it still turns heads.

Functionally, this gun is a shooter.  I've yet to encounter a misfire, jam, or breakage as is consistent with my experience with other 1100 models, and expect it to follow the traditional route of 1100's in both reliability (the 1100 still, after 50 years, holds the record for longest malfunction-free run between cleanings) and low maintenance (replace the gas system O-ring every 3 years or 50,000 shells).  It also patterns very well with the factory choke tubes with both factory Rio shells and my handloads.





Handling.  This gun handles like a hybrid between a field gun and a target gun, because that's what it is.  It lacks the palm swell of a true target gun but with its 30" barrel it isn't nearly as whippy as a field gun while still being fairly light.

One point of contention for me:  With everything I've fed it, this shotgun has an erratic ejection pattern and occasionally a hull will fail to exit the action fully.  While this has never caused a jam shooting doubles, the possibility is there.  This is anomalous when compared to the several other 1100 models I've fired and owned, so I don't know if all 1100 Classic Traps do this or if it's just my gun.

RECOMMENDATION

If you like autoloaders and are looking for a trap gun, the 1100 Classic Trap is hard to beat when comparing performance for cost.  While it may be a "My First Trap Gun" to some people, it could very well become a "My ONLY" for others.  It would also make a fine field gun or dual-purpose gun for those looking for a do-all firearm, but to me it's too pretty to be dragging through the brush.  If you don't like autoloaders, this gun isn't going to sway you though.

OVERALL RATING

The 1100 Classic Trap earns an 8/10 overall, with performance being an 8/10,  shootability being an 8/10 (I hate chasing hulls), and value being a 10/10.

Scores and thoughts

Went to the skeet and trap range today around noon for my weekly club League shoot.  Couldn't have asked for better weather!  62 and sunny with just a slight breeze.

I started off on the trap ranges since there were several other League shooters gathering, and shot a respectable 23 for my first round in a squad of 4.  I wish I could have kept that up though, with my second round dropping to a disappointing 18.  I'm not sure what went wrong but birds that 'felt right' weren't breaking and I continued to miss my old nemeses, hard rights.  Oh well.

After a short break I snagged one of the range officers to pull and score for me on the skeet fields and headed over.  First round broke a 23, with my first miss being low 4 (I got the option though) and my other miss being low 7.  Shot behind low 4 because I wasn't focused and shot under low 7 because "Gee, that looks close enough!" (IE, I got lazy).  Took a quick break to rummage through the trash can for Gun Clubs to reload between the rounds and headed back out.  Guess my head was still in the trash can, because I managed to shoot in front of every low bird on the field, missing lows 3 single, 4, 5, and 6.  I finished out with a 19, the lowest I've shot this year for skeet.

I guess on the upside I know what I was doing wrong and will hopefully not do it again, but I know better.  There's a reason I'm still chasing my 100 straight.  My scores today coincidentally dropped me to third place in the trap League and I remain the only shooter in the skeet League.  It feels weird to be in both first and last place in something.

In other news, I guess I shouldn't go so long between cleaning my shotguns.  Even with the assistance of a cordless drill and an aggressive tornado brush it took me half an hour to get all the plastic out of my chokes.  It kind of makes me wonder what my patterns were looking like, since I removed enough gunk I had to have been shooting effectively a full choke instead of my usual IC top/C bottom.

Product Review: Rio Target Load 12 gauge shotshells--1 1/8oz. loads

Product Review

Rio Target Load 12 gauge shotshells--1 1/8oz. loads

DESCRIPTION OF ITEM

Rio Target Load shotshells are a variety of lead-shot shells designed to perform on the skeet, trap, and sporting clays ranges.

PURPOSE OF ITEM

These Rios appear to be designed to be a cost-effective practice and club-level competition shell for the clay shooting sports.  Rio markets them as competition-grade shells on their website.

RETAIL COST

Available through select Gander Mountain stores for as little as $5.78/box or online via Natchez Shooting Supplies starting around $7.50/box.  Both stores offer case-quantity discounts.

TEST/USES

I shot 1 1/8 oz. loads in both #7.5 and #8 shot extensively for practice and in club-level competitions in both skeet and trap for close to a year, and it remains my local club's favorite load for trap with more people shooting Rios than any other manufacturer.

IMPRESSION

Performance-wise, Rio's are excellent.  They have fairly standard and consistent velocities, they pattern exceptionally well through 3 different shotguns for me, and I have never had a quality-control complaint.  They break clays with the same reliability as the competition-level industry favorites (Winchester AA and Remington STS) and I firmly believe they live up to the label on the box:  "Competition Cartridges"  

I have only 2 complaints with these shells:  

   1.  They KICK.  This is in part due to the structure of the hull (European straight-wall) requiring more powder for the same velocities, but they do kick noticeably harder than comparably constructed shells (Federal Top Target and Fiocchi Game & Target).  

   2.  They are a 6-point crimp, which I realize for factory ammo changes nothing in their performance but I prefer the look and feel of 8-point crimps.

RELOADABILITY

Rio shotshells are a European/Import style straight-walled, separate-basewad hull and load using generic Import or Fiocchi load data.  Like most metric-based shotshell companies the primer pockets are sized for European/Metric 209 primers (approximately 0.001" larger) and as such may have loose pockets should a reloader try to use Remington, Federal, or Winchester 209 primers.  The base is brass-plated steel that tends to tarnish instead of rust, but still takes more force in the resizing station than a brass-based hull.  Hundreds of reloaders like these hulls because they use easy-to-find components and can be found for free at most clays ranges, but I have not had great luck reloading these or any other European-style hull.

RECOMMENDATION

Rio's 1 1/8oz. target loads are a bargain for me locally, and if you can get them for comparable prices they make excellent loads for all disciplines of clay target shooting.  I wouldn't bother to reload them, but for shooters who don't reload they are one of the best deals around.  Just mind the kick.

OVERALL RATING

These shells earn a respectable 7/10 overall, with performance being a 10/10,  pleasure to shoot being a 8/10, and reloadability being a 4/10.

RELATED PRODUCTS

Rio makes bargain-priced, high-quality shotshells in multiple shot sizes and charge weights for the 12 and 20 gauge, as well as offering several options for the 28 and .410 shotguns in their Target line.  Rio is also starting to offer higher "grades" of shotshell for serious competition use according to their website, but I have not seen them for sale yet.

Outdoors and Happy

       Growing up a military brat and being a member of the military myself, I have had the privilege to travel the world. I have experienced a number of amazing sights, and at a very young age, I began to prefer anything that took place outdoors.

       Even today, when I have the time to hike through the local trails of the state parks, I count myself lucky to be able to take in so much beauty. I want to share this life with others. That is why I am posting this blog.

       There will be product reviews of outdoor equipment including camping gear and materials for shooting. I am always looking for something new to add to my old standbys, so if you have suggestions feel free to leave them in the comments, and I will give them a try.

       I will also be posting results of my adventures outdoors, including practice skeet and trap targets, competition scores, and whether or not I can find a place for fish to bite. Also from time to time, I will post pictures of hiking trails or bike paths from where I might travel to help the next adventurer on the way.

       Until next time, I'll be outdoors and happy.


Geoff