I have wanted to start clay shooting, But im on a budget. Plus I'm not even sure i'll find it fun. Wondering if anyone has any suggestions on a good shot gun for a reasonable priced one. . trying to stay in the 500 dollar range. will probably look for a good used one to start out. Or am I out to lunch on this dollar figure?
Clay Sport Shooting - Budget shot gun question
- Thread starter micromind
- Start date
if it goes bang, it can hit a clay. weatherby SA-08 for a less expensive semi . if shooting doubles, id want a semi (or over/under but more expensive). nothing wrong with a stoeger condor O/U though. a pump would make it more difficult but not impossible.
i would highly recommend at least one or two short lessons with a pro if you are new. a good instructor can almost double your success rate very quickly
i would highly recommend at least one or two short lessons with a pro if you are new. a good instructor can almost double your success rate very quickly
If you shop around you may find a used beretta a303 with a fixed mod choke for only slightly more than your budget. Not perfect for everything but i cant think of to much a fixed mod cant be used for. I shoot 16 yard trap with a mod choke just fine and use it on the skeet fields as well
The clay games are dominated by over unders and quality guns designed for the clay games arent cheap but the entry level berettas and brownings are a great place to start.
Fit is everything when it comes to shotgunning.
Nothing wrong with entry level semi autos from turkey for occasional outtings but dont expect them to be long lived as a high volume shooter
Id suggest you try as many as you can and then decide on the features you feel you want and shop within your means for a gun that fits those needs. For me my search landed me a charles daly semi auto imported from turkey. It cost almost the same as the tax on my beretta. Now its no beretta and i have no illusions that its even close but it has been flawless and it fits and i shoot it well.
For very basic entry level costs id choose a pump or semi over similar priced doubles. Good doubles cost money to make
The clay games are dominated by over unders and quality guns designed for the clay games arent cheap but the entry level berettas and brownings are a great place to start.
Fit is everything when it comes to shotgunning.
Nothing wrong with entry level semi autos from turkey for occasional outtings but dont expect them to be long lived as a high volume shooter
Id suggest you try as many as you can and then decide on the features you feel you want and shop within your means for a gun that fits those needs. For me my search landed me a charles daly semi auto imported from turkey. It cost almost the same as the tax on my beretta. Now its no beretta and i have no illusions that its even close but it has been flawless and it fits and i shoot it well.
For very basic entry level costs id choose a pump or semi over similar priced doubles. Good doubles cost money to make
You got a CD that ran out of the box? Wow lucky!
One thing to keep in mind once you have your new shotgun is that different guns like different ammo. My less expensive pump shotgun hated Challenger target and jams with Kent but runs like a charm with Remington or Federal target! Don’t buy to much of any brand before trying a few different manufacturers in small quantities before getting a case or two of your now identified preferred ammo.
OneBarfly
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
When I asked that same question many decades ago, a champion skeet shooter told me to get a 870 pump if I was on a budget. Versatile for other uses and makes shooting double a fun experiment in hand-eye coordination. I later graduated to a O/U single-triggered Winchester 101 and found that was perfect for me.
Decide which clay sports interest you most, and pick a shotgun accordingly. For trap, the action doesn't matter unless you shoot doubles, but you will want a mod/full choke. For skeet , you need a repeater, and it's easier to learn with an open choked semi auto or an O/U, but an experienced shooter can do very well with a pump action. An older 1100 or 870 with the appropriate choke are good choices. While the cheap Turkish made O/U shotguns may seem like a bargain, they typically don't stand up well to higher volume shooting. Actually, if you shoot a lot, it won't take long to spend more than $500 in shotshells and targets, and you will realize, that the gun is only a small part of the expenses you will face. And if you are on a small budget, sporting clays is not something you want to get started into.
What's not to like about clay target shooting? Break lots of things, make all the noise you want, when you were a kid you would get in trouble for doing those things. For a beginner to start from scratch and looking for a first gun follow the previously shared suggestions. Just to add - if you are average size most average shotguns will fit well enough to enable you to hit some targets and enjoy it. Most field guns meet these specs, autos and over/unders are easier to manipulate for this purpose but a good fitting pump with at least 26" of barrel (preferably longer) will work fine to learn the basics of 16 yard trap, much more difficult for learning skeet or sporting clays because many of these presentations require two very quick shots.
There are a number of new autoloaders within your budget, mostly made in Turkey, some good, some bad, many variable for reliability. If you decide to go this route concentrate on known brands with a positive track record such as Savage/Stevens, Weatherby, Stoeger, CZ, Huglu, etc. These companies have a reputation to protect , make a decent product and back it up. Do your research, easy to do on line.
A good alternative is a used over/under or auto by one of the well known major manufacturers. Look for Beretta, Browning, Ithaca/SKB, Remington, Winchester, etc. As a beginner you will be best served by a Modiified choke so at least one barrel should have this constriction, either factory or gunsmith modified, and removable choke tubes will also have this capability although not necessary. Many older over/unders are choked Modified and Full, great for casual trap and sometimes available near your budget because fixed chokes aren't " fashionable" now. Original fixed Modified choke barrels are scarce on autoloaders and fetch a premium but a Full choke barrel is easily opened to Modified by most competent gunsmiths for less than $100.
If you enjoy the sport and can see encouraging improvement you will almost certainly upgrade away from your starting gun after a couple of years or less but keep it simple and fun to start with. Have fun, break 'em all. J
There are a number of new autoloaders within your budget, mostly made in Turkey, some good, some bad, many variable for reliability. If you decide to go this route concentrate on known brands with a positive track record such as Savage/Stevens, Weatherby, Stoeger, CZ, Huglu, etc. These companies have a reputation to protect , make a decent product and back it up. Do your research, easy to do on line.
A good alternative is a used over/under or auto by one of the well known major manufacturers. Look for Beretta, Browning, Ithaca/SKB, Remington, Winchester, etc. As a beginner you will be best served by a Modiified choke so at least one barrel should have this constriction, either factory or gunsmith modified, and removable choke tubes will also have this capability although not necessary. Many older over/unders are choked Modified and Full, great for casual trap and sometimes available near your budget because fixed chokes aren't " fashionable" now. Original fixed Modified choke barrels are scarce on autoloaders and fetch a premium but a Full choke barrel is easily opened to Modified by most competent gunsmiths for less than $100.
If you enjoy the sport and can see encouraging improvement you will almost certainly upgrade away from your starting gun after a couple of years or less but keep it simple and fun to start with. Have fun, break 'em all. J
Maybe a little too elementary for some on here, but I know lots of people who have fun shooting clays with whatever they already own. If you are just planning on going out and shooting the odd afternoon, try it with a couple of other shooters. Some of my old buddies and I shot at clay pigeons with all kinds of shotguns. I used my Dad's old Tobin double back in the day. Kicked like a mule, but we had fun.
I used to shoot alone, using a single thrower with a string tied to my leg. I just bought a Champion electric thrower. Works great for our non-pro type of shooting. We are lucky to live in a good area, and can go out to a nice spot and shoot. We try to pick a place where the missed birds will land in grass and not break. There are plenty of those! Warning shots!
My grandson, a big Indigenous kid, hit nearly every clay with a short barrel Norinco mag fed pump, on his first time ever shooting a shotgun. I told him he had to bring his own shotgun next time!
I used to shoot alone, using a single thrower with a string tied to my leg. I just bought a Champion electric thrower. Works great for our non-pro type of shooting. We are lucky to live in a good area, and can go out to a nice spot and shoot. We try to pick a place where the missed birds will land in grass and not break. There are plenty of those! Warning shots!
My grandson, a big Indigenous kid, hit nearly every clay with a short barrel Norinco mag fed pump, on his first time ever shooting a shotgun. I told him he had to bring his own shotgun next time!
I agree with stubblejumper. Try it out first. Most clubs will rent you a gun your first time - or chat with someone who will loan you one. If you like it, then you can decide whether you want to spend $500 (or more). A good bet for a starting gun would be a used semi-auto with a rib. Either a Remington 1100 or a beretta 301. If you look hard enough you can find them for around that price with fixed chokes but in good condition. Semis are easier on the shoulder and at that price you can likely resell without losing much money. I’d stay away from the Turkish O/U until you’re sure you want one as the resale market is tougher for those in that price point. Pumps are fine but can limit you (and your enjoyment) of many clay sports. They are cheaper, but I’d say get an older 870 Wingmaster if you’re going to go with a pump. Leave the tactical mossberg 88s to the home defence folk.
bdft
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
No kidding. The price of the gun is the least amount of money you'll spend. Try to find a Remington or Winchester pump or semi to start. Used doesn't matter, you can resell them again and get your money back. Turkish guns don't seem to hold their value. Many reasons are posted in this forum. Lots of overpriced Turkish guns (IMO) in the EE.
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
If your not sure that you'll like shooting then rent or borrow a gun before buying!
I see a lot of new shooters showing up at our club with a Maverick 88, because they're fairly low cost and they seem to work (my experience is they're way more reliable than most of the Turkish guns on the low end of the price scale). Once they've decided they enjoy clay target shooting, they invariably start looking at switching to an O/U. Like others have noted, they also quickly find out that the cost of the gun is the least expensive part of clay target shooting.
Our range in Stittsville actually offers new shooter packages for rifle, pistol or shotgun that include gun, ammo and instruction.
Our range in Stittsville actually offers new shooter packages for rifle, pistol or shotgun that include gun, ammo and instruction.
I have shot Trap on & off casually since 1979. Almost always used an old time duck gun. That is ; a name brand
12 ga. 30" , Full Choke. Never had any issues with getting an average score of 21-23. Shot manny 25's.
Makes like ; Win. M-12 , Ithica M-37 , Rem. M-870, several SxS 's where used. Recently got an Ithaca Model 4E
Flues Single Barrel Trap made in1916 with a 34" Barrel. It shoots ( scores) no better than most of the rest.
Mostly good scores are from the shooter & using a gun that fits you. A high end Trap Gun will just add a couple of points
to your score. My 2 cents.
12 ga. 30" , Full Choke. Never had any issues with getting an average score of 21-23. Shot manny 25's.
Makes like ; Win. M-12 , Ithica M-37 , Rem. M-870, several SxS 's where used. Recently got an Ithaca Model 4E
Flues Single Barrel Trap made in1916 with a 34" Barrel. It shoots ( scores) no better than most of the rest.
Mostly good scores are from the shooter & using a gun that fits you. A high end Trap Gun will just add a couple of points
to your score. My 2 cents.
