Thinking of getting into Skeet Shooting - best entry lvel 12 ga o/u

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fljp2002

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Moncton
fellows

I have shot Skeet and sporting clays a few years back with my 12 ga pump.

Thinking of getting into skeet shooting. We have a range not too far from my home.

looking for recommendation on barrel length and what brand model I should get to start with.

Thanks
 
The on e that fits best, take a look at the used market for a Beretta or Browning. They are considerably better built then the new entry level stuff.
Dont turn your nose up at a fixed choke gun either, they can normally be had a a steel due to the majority of people wanting interchangeable chokes.
A gun choked Skeet 1 and Skeet 2 will be a good all around gun, Obviously for skeet but a Skeet 2 choke basically a Light Mod, so it can still be used on most Sporting clay courses as well. IC/Mod also good.
Barrel lenghth is a matter of preference, 28" and 30" will be the most versatile for cross games.
 
The Moncton Gun Club is open on Friday & Sunday from 1pm to 5pm as well as Monday evenings 5pm until dusk. I'm normally there on Fridays(this week will be an exception unfortunately). The members can help you out with fit. The problem is that their are few entry level O/U's that will hold up to long-term trap and skeet use. The average skeet/trap shooter will shoot at least 100 rounds a visit, at once a week that works out to 5200 rounds/year. I'm shooting a Winchester 101(Belgium) that is about as inexpensive as one can buy a new quality O/U for, Browning Cynergy, CXS and Beretta 686 SP1 are you entry level new O/U's they start in around $2000+ new. A new quality Semi-auto(Winchester SX3, Browning Silver, Remington 1100, Beretta A300, A400, etc) will be a cheaper place to start. Most cheap/entry level Turkish and Brazilian O/U don't hold up well long-term use, there are a few exceptions of course, a good used quality O/U can usually be had for the same price as new entry level O/U. The Gun Dealer in McAdam has a large selection as well to be considered. Also don't get caught up in the "I need an O/U to shoot skeet", you don't. An experienced pump gunner can run the field just as easy as they can with an O/U.
 
Dedicated skeet guns have fallen out of favour over the last few years, as people prefer longer barrels and removable chokes, You should be able to pick up a used Browning, Miroku, etc for 7 -800$. They pop up on the EE now and then.
 
Used Browning Citori or Beretta SP1 are top choices for skeet. Usually, if Browning fits well, Beretta doesn't -and vice versa.
Visiting your local club, and trying different guns before you buy is a good idea.
Most clubs that I have visited are helpful and willing to loan guns to a new potential member/ visitor.
 
The off the shelf Brownings and Berettas fit differently , so instead of picking a brand i would try the individual guns if I could before making a choice.
there are lots of good makes of skeet guns out there to choose from.
Cat
 
Reputation of Mossberg and Canuck is bad to worse, the Churchill may be more durable, but does not have any reputation as a high volume competition gun. Browning and Beretta do have a well deserved reputation for durability.
 
fljp2002 said:
What is the collective opinion on sub 1000 guns such as Mossberg Silver Reserve, Canuck, Akkar (Churchill)
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If you are going to shoot a handful of times a year, then perhaps.Try to pick one that has warranty support and repair service in Canada. The resale value will be substantially lower than the new price. Alternatively, if you buy a used B gun, it will retain its value, and reliability over time.
 
fljp2002 said:
What is the collective opinion on sub 1000 guns such as Mossberg Silver Reserve, Canuck, Akkar (Churchill)
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They are a couple of boxes of shells per hunting season guns at best . If a $1000 is your budget a gently used beretta or browning is more gun for the same money . Just my opinion .
 
A used Browning Citori is the way to go. With fixed chokes, it can be had for 7-900$, depending on condition. They are by far better than any brand new entry level Turkish gun, and they will keep their value and be fun to shoot.

For a little more coin, ellwood Epps has a Citori sporting clay edition with removable chokes and ajustable comb for 1300$. That’s a great deal, and I’d be all over it had I not just picked up a Citori 725 skeet.
 
A CZ Redhead is an excellent choice. I’ve been using one for three seasons now. New they’re around $1300. I got mine used for $600 from a fellow shooter.
 
My Churchill 206 28" has over 3400 target loads plus a handful of 3" duck loads through it over the last 2 yrs of occasional shooting. Have never had a problem with it. Crushes clays just like my SP1 and at a third of the cost. YMMV.
 
Salibas007 said:
A used Browning Citori is the way to go. With fixed chokes, it can be had for 7-900$, depending on condition. They are by far better than any brand new entry level Turkish gun, and they will keep their value and be fun to shoot.
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cosmic said:
Alternatively, if you buy a used B gun, it will retain its value, and reliability over time.
Click to expand...

X2 on the used "B" gun advice.

I bought an older Citori about 5 yrs ago. 30" bbls and factory tubes for $1K plus tx. It's perfect for informal 5 stand and is still worth what I paid.
 
If you are just getting into it, I'd run with the pump you have for the summer unless you really want to get a use specific tool.

Someone experienced with a pump can easily hold their own beside other firearms more tailored to the sport. You'll certainly feel the recoil of the 12ga after a few rounds but you'll survive.

Once you get some time under your belt you might come to appreciate the more costly options and their differences between cheaper counter parts. Plus you may be able to try out some other shooter's guns and see what you like best without paying up front.

Again, this may be useless if you are intent on buying another gun. Just throwing out another option different than the other great replies above.

Cheers!
 
Maverick over under (Mossberg) is the first gun I bought about 8 years ago. I just got into clay shooting about 3 years ago roughly 2200 rounds per year. before that I only used it for hunting about 300 rounds per year. so it has about 8000 rounds through it and has never had a single issue. I paid about $400 for it at the time and I am pretty sure I could still get roughly that out of it since the retail of them has gone up to about $600. It's a great starter gun. I just ordered a churchill 206 trap, I was considering a used Beretta but I couldn't pass up the price point of the churchill considering all the options it comes with.

I would like to note that every issue I have seen at our gun club is a Beretta, that being said there is about 10:1 beretta vs anything else.
 
The Moncton gun club has skeet and trap. I agree with most of the posters above, in that a used Beretta or Browning is the way to go. You can buy a good used one with choke tubes and shoot any game out there and they will last you a life time, with a little TLC and maintenance. The main thing is to find the one that fits you properly and shoots where you look. Make sure you get one that is in good condition, as some of them have been shot a lot and if they are in need of repair, it could cost a significant amount of money to bring them back up to good condition. Try other peoples guns as much as you can. Some will feel like a 2x4 and others will fell like they are an extension of your body.

Shoot your pump gun for the time being, until you can afford something else. With a bit of practice, you will master the pump gun. I enjoy watching a guy that can shoot a pump gun well. Don't be in a big panic to buy the perfect gun, because you won't find it until you have shot targets for a while.

Some of the inexpensive guns on the market are better than others, but frankly, IMHO, none of them will stand up to the rigors of shooting clay targets over more than a few years. The odd one will make a liar out of me, but they are few and far between. They break, you send them away, they break again ... they get hard to find parts, the resale value is almost zero. So, if you want to go that route, just be prepared to write it off after a short period of time.

Personally, I prefer a trap gun over skeet and sporting guns, mainly because they have a parallel stock. I would also recommend a 30" or 32" barrel.

Good luck and keep it fun.
 
While I agree that a used "B" gun is a great place to start, at a 1K budget, most will be very well used. Don't pass up a clean Remington 1100 with a 26" fixed skeet barrel or 28" Remchoke barrel if you see one. They're great guns that are easy to shoot and find parts for if they break (I have had/have several and I only ever had a 28 Gauge 1100 give me any type of grief).
 
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