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BJP

BJP

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I've decided that I want a "keeper" shotgun for shooting skeet and the occasional round of sporting clays (I already have a dedicated trap gun).

I'm not in a rush to pick a gun yet so I'm going to SHOT in January to help me decide what I want. I know that it will be a 28" or 30" O/U (I had a Guerini with 32" barrels and they were too long for me) along the lines of Kreighoff/Kolar/Guerini/Blaser/DT-11. What I haven't decided is 12 or 20 gauge, and should I get a multi barrel set or tubes. I currently shoot a 687 Silver Pigeon II 20/28 combo with the 28 being used about 75% of the time.

Before anyone mentions Perazzi, I've NEVER picked up a Perazzi that came anywhere close to fitting me or feeling comfortable in my hands. Maybe I'll find something at SHOT that works.

I have zero experience with tubes so I'm asking for advice from people who have experience with them. I know that Briley and Kolar both offer what are purported to be excellent quality sets but any comment of a fitted versus "drop in" would be appreciated.

I do not compete, I'm just a duffer who really enjoys shooting at clay targets with a quality shotgun.

I am aware that this will be an expensive purchase but I intend it to be my last shotgun (well, one of my last anyways) so I figure it's worth it. After SHOT I'm heading down to Joel Etchen's in PA as they seem to have a decent selection to also fondle (inspired by The Spank's recent purchase of the JEG Beretta trap combo) and I'd like top actually see the wood choices.

Thanks in advance.
 
Well, what a pleasant prospect to shop for !

I went through the same exercise a few years back ... thinking I wanted either a Perazzi or preferably a Beretta ASE 90. I had tried a few Kreighoffs (didn't like them ... but appreciate that many do & that they are a quality gun) and one Kolar Skeet ... was likewise not impressed. Couldn't find an ASE 90 for love nor money and settled for a first year
32" DT-10 Sporting, imported from the UK. It's been delightful. I have looked at a few Perazzi's since ... and although they feel O.K. (I quite like the MX-8's) and you can get whatever stock dimensions you want (within "normal" parameters) both cost and overall impressions have not swayed me so far. I've also shot a few DT-11's, a couple of them which were very close to a "fit" with a flat through each, but both were to me heavy, and not near as responsive as the DT-10. No sale. The Guerinis, Rizzinis and Blasers left me
dry, despite grade & either. Two buddies disposed of theirs after a year. One went to DT-11, the other to Perazzi.

As far as to having whatever you finally settle on, I would go with Kolar's tubes. The Briley's are O.K. (had a set of drop-ins) but the Kolars, IMHO, are of better quality.
Word to the wise ... stick with quality, brass-based target loads. More than one has experienced problems with "promo" loads, and even reasonable quality steel based
target loads ... everything from stuck cartridges and extraction problems to cracked chambers. I've owned a couple of 4-barrel sets ..., prefer the tubes, especially when shooting the 28 and even more so the 410. Unless you go the "carrier barrel route, the 20, 28 and 410 throws the balance off the un-tubed 12 gauge, but it's something not too hard to overcome.

Are you bound, bent & determined to buy "new" ? There's some great deals on DT-10s and DT-10EL and DT-10EELL's right now. I've been thinking of picking up
another. Additionally, Beretta has apparently worked some changes to the first runs of the DT-11, either taking some weight out of them or re-distributing it so I'm
also tempted to look at their T-11 Black Sporting. It might make a nice 30" gun to tube. ( I dislike "silver" receivers ... my European DT-10 has a "greystone" finish .. very different to those found here)

I shoot all the games with the DT-10 ... and have had no mechanical issues with it whatsoever. It's upwards of 75,000 rounds now. Although I no longer compete, I find it
terrific for Sporting & 5 stand, very good for American & ISSF Trap & Skeet and decent for ATA Trap, but I too have a dedicated ATA Trap gun.

The SHOT show is certainly a good place to see what's available, and there's lots of nice stuff at Etchen's. If you like fancy wood ... that's a great place to see some.

Good luck on your quest.
 
Not determined to buy new, just determined to find "the one ". The 692 black is another I want to see and hold. I've been lucky enough to visit H&H, Purdey and Piotti but my wife would kill me !!! Do the tubes add a lot of weight ? Affect balance much ?
 
Tagged for interest! I have been toying with the idea of picking up a used Citori XS Skeet and getting tubes for it just for an excuse to attend a 4 gun shoot now and then. I would prefer a 20 gauge and just get a set of 28/410 tubes and just shoot the 20 in the 12 events.
 
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My personal preference is the Kolar. I bought a trap combo and my Brother has a 2 barrel skeet combo (a 12 gauge barrel and a matching carrier barrel for the tubes). Dan Morris from Ontario is one of the top shooters in the skeet game in North America. He used to shoot an ASE 90 and bought the Kolar a few years ago. About 6 weeks after he bought the Kolar, I asked him how he liked it. One of his comments was that every barrel and every tube with all the chokes all shot in exactly the same place. You can have a custom stock made at Kolar, I did and it is very comfortable to shoot. You can also pick your wood. They also make a number of standard stocks that will fit 95% of the population. They are made in Racine, Wisconsin. That is my pitch for the Kolar guns. Oh, and now they are making 4 gauge barrel sets, if you want them.

As I am sure, that you are aware, the gun has to fit you and feel good in your hands. That is the gun you want to buy. Kolar will still put a great set of tubes in it.

Good luck and enjoy your adventure.
 
I attended a 4 gun shoot one weekend in 2004, second time I ever shot registered skeet. There was a gentleman from Wisconsin shooting a Kolar skeet. It was a thing of beauty. He offere to let me try it but I was afraid with my luck I'd trip or slip or do something stupid and possibly damage his gun. He insisted I at least pick it up and handle it. I still say wow every time I think of holding that gun and looking down those barrels. It had the carrier barrel installed with the tubes in it. I honestly feel if I was going to go all out as a skeet competitor Kolar would be my top pick of gun.
 
Back when I was shooting registered skeet I was toying with the idea of buying a premium gun and tubeset. It would have been a Kolar. But I didn't have a ton of experience to make that decision, I just thought they were the best quality in the price range.
 
If you are a duffer, I would suggest splitting your choices in two. Leaving the two K guns to the left, and the other three to the right. The other three will suffice and outlast you without breaking the bank. Briley offers you the option of less expensive companion tubes, or the more expensive custom fitted, weight matched.
Either way, only you can determine how important skeet shooting to you is to make the purchase.
That being said, I personally feel that rather than spending good money on a 692, you'd be better served buying a used DT10.
Yes, tubes add weight, but that is a good thing, especially for a premount game like skeet . Balance is more important than just adding weight.
Sorry if I replied with stuff you already know.
 
BJP said:
I am aware that this will be an expensive purchase but I intend it to be my last shotgun (well, one of my last anyways) so I figure it's worth it.
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It's definitely worth it. I did the math a few years ago even a moderate shooter of 5,000 rounds a year will in three years or so spend more on shells, targets, club fees, etc. than the price of a high-end target gun. If you are going to spend that money anyway why not do it through a quality gun that will after those three years or so still retain much of its value.

Never declare any gun to be your last. I've declared my "last" at least three times already only to find something new. ;)

If possible the best way to decide which gun is to shoot them. My most recent "last" gun was only purchased after I'd had the chance to shoot a couple versions of them and pattern the one that I eventually bought.
 
I appreciate all advice (especially since I'm pretty sure I don't know it all, or even most).

I'm probably in the 3500 - 4500 rounds a year club but I don't compete, I just shoot for enjoyment. Unfortunately, I don't see many of the "K" guns around our club so trying one is difficult. I also don't think that either is at SHOT so I may have to travel to at least mount on to see how it feels.

Right now I have a bunch of different guns that I shoot but I'm thinking that one gun, that I shoot on a regular basis, will let me be more consistent. I'm also thinking that my son will end up with it and I like the idea of leaving him something that will last his lifetime also. We get to shoot together about 2 or 3 times a month so I know he'll use it and enjoy it.
 
My understanding is that the Kolar factory is easy to get to by flying to Chicago airport and driving to the factory. Might be worth a quick trip Stateside to get your own tour of maybe the best shotgun factory in North America? Rather than going to SHOT to see a lot of conceal carry pistols and AR15s.
 
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