Shotgun Newbie here: Found a new love, shooting clays!

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Lowestform

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North of Edmonton
Please see title, new to shotguns.

I have a Mossberg 590, 20" smooth bore. Holds 8. Has ghost rings sights. Bought it for "3 gun" sort of fun. Used to today for shooting clays. It kinda worked. It was much more fun to use my friend 26" choked up benelli though.

My budget is $500 ish, 600 tops.

Suggestions? My goal is to not compete. The goal is to have some fun once in a while and possibly duck hunt. what should I be looking at? 12 gauge, screw in chokes, and likely pump action.

Thanks!
 
Weatherby SA-08. on sale at Cabelas $594.99. 12ga Semi-auto,synthetic, 3"good for sporting clays, good for waterfowl, too long for Ruffies, however in a pinch. My waterfowl n sometimes clays gun. Not bad recoil even with 3" goose loads.Easy to clean. Bought a few extended chokes, and Bob's your uncle. I know its a bit more with tax. In the long run,you will want semi-auto for waterfowl anyway. Or you can get a Rem 870. My first shotgun,which was my everything gun for a bit.
 
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Benelli supernova is everything you need in a pump gun. It's a little heavy for deer hunting but works well for everything else.
 
I've become a real fan of the Winchester SXP field models, with the Browning BPS up there as well.
 
Given the prices of semi's these days I would say the weatherby on sale at cabelas is a good deal. It will pretty much cover yypu for clays, trap, skeet and waterfowl hunts.
 
The Mossberg 500 would meet your needs and feel very similar to your 590.

If you enjoy pumps they aren't a handicap for informal clays, and certainly not hunting. It has only been the last few decades that the semi auto has knocked the pump gun from king of the waterfowl guns. I've owned a variety of shotguns, but find myself reaching for one of my 870 Wingmaster's whenever I get serious about making meat with a shotgun.
 
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Winchester sxp trap gun or field fits your budget. Opinions vary, but I think it is the best in your price range. For what it is worth I have about 3000 shells through mine, which is small fry for someone looking to shoot trap on a regular basis. I only use mine to shoot trap to practice for the season, not as a hobby in itself.
 
I'm going to head to Cabelas tomorrow to look at a few.

The Weatherby PA-08 looks good. I also would like to look at a mossberg 500 as well. Or possibly getting a new magazine and barrel for my 590. I'm unsure of the costs involved with that though.
 
Lowestform said:
I'm going to head to Cabelas tomorrow to look at a few.

The Weatherby PA-08 looks good. I also would like to look at a mossberg 500 as well. Or possibly getting a new magazine and barrel for my 590. I'm unsure of the costs involved with that though.
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You might as well just get another gun instead of spending a few hundred on a barrel. Or sell that gun amwd buyer a better one instead of having 2.
 
You def need more guns! But used is the way to go. Not one single person has told you the most important factor and that is shotgun fit... It doesn't matter what brand or what action as long as it fits you.

When you shoulder these guns you want to be looking straight at that bead in the end of the barrel and not see too much if any rib. If you have to move your head around or lower it more on your shoulder everytime then it does not fit!


Buy what fits. Not what is cheap and not what your buddy shoots.
 
I would try to see if you can pick up an 870, a mossberg 500 and a field SXP. They have slightly different feels and fits and are all similar in price. The real costs come from ammo and targets- so don't blow all your cash on a new gun, get a used one if possible. I bet if you stick with clays you will eventually outgrow what you buy, but by then you will know what you really like.

Welcome aboard- and don't listen to anyone who snubs a pump for clay games, some people just don't know how to have fun!
 
Stogger M3500 would be my choice AGAIN, yes i have one and have thousands of skeet loads and game loads through it without a hiccup. As some have said your gonna want a semi sooner or later for waterfowl so why not get it from the start.
 
I'm actually going back to a pump this season coming up. Winchester Sx3 to a Winchester 1300. Because it it fits me a lot better.
 
What some have said about fit, really cant be overstated. If i was in your place, i would go to the LGS, close your eyes with the jacket you would hunt with on, shoulder various shotguns>>>>>when you open your eyes......which gun has the best sight alignment.

Then leave if the deal is not there....and buy a used gun of the one that fits on the EE.
 
stubblejumper said:
Have you used the shims to adjust the SX-3 to make it fit you better?
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Yes I actually have two drop shims in and it still isn't enough the comb is made for fat people with no necks.... I have a long neck and high cheeks need a low comb and low drop at heel.
 
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