Shotgun newb, please educate me!

flying pig

flying pig

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Broadening my horizons as of late and looking to learn new disciplines in shooting.

I want to shoot skeet and am looking for a decent beginner shotgun.

Thing I want:

Plentiful reasonably priced ammo

Something that handles well with reasonably comfortable recoil

Something that works well with skeet but may also be useable for bird hunting if I so desire.

I like semis.

What am I looking for?

Barrel length, type of choke. 2 3/4 12 gauge would be best?

Does anyone have any recommendations?

I’m not against a used shotgun either and I am budget conscious, I’d rather spend more money on clays and ammo and get more trigger time than to have something fancy and new and leave it in the safe.

Where should a guy start?

Thanks.
 
Learn about shotgun fit, drop at comb, and cast, then buy what fits you. The sad truth is that many people shoot shotguns that don't fit them, and it negatively effects their abilities. Running a skeet field, the SX-3/4 are good affordable semi autos if they fit you, moving up in price, the Maxus and A400 are excellent shotguns if they fit you. That being said, many people prefer an O/U, and the Citori is the most common by far at our club.
 
Semis generally shoot softer as far as recoil goes, for skeet anything like skeet 1 or 11,or IC will be fine in your semi .
Make sure whatever gun you choose , that it fits you properly or can be adjusted to fit.
Cat
 
Any semi over $1500 retail is likely to be very reliable and have a version that will crossover from skeet to bird hunting. Personally I prefer the beretta a400 explore 3" gun. I have the 12 20 and 28ga set as well as a 1301 comp.
On the used market the beretta 391 is great and for less money a good condition beretta a303 with a skeet or fixed mod choke will do everything you want a shotgun to do.
Handle as many as you can and go from there
 
flying pig said:
Broadening my horizons as of late and looking to learn new disciplines in shooting.

I want to shoot skeet and am looking for a decent beginner shotgun.

Thing I want:

Plentiful reasonably priced ammo

Something that handles well with reasonably comfortable recoil

Something that works well with skeet but may also be useable for bird hunting if I so desire.

I like semis.

What am I looking for?

Barrel length, type of choke. 2 3/4 12 gauge would be best?

Does anyone have any recommendations?

I’m not against a used shotgun either and I am budget conscious, I’d rather spend more money on clays and ammo and get more trigger time than to have something fancy and new and leave it in the safe.

Where should a guy start?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
You have already set yourself up for sticker shock and bitter disappointment. Plentiful reasonably priced ammo ended in 2004...
 
If affordable/available ammunition is a priority, stick with a 12 gauge. For reliable operation, with light target loads, and flexibility for hunting, a 3" chamber is ideal for a semi auto. A 28" barrel is about ideal for skeet and for bird hunting. Screw in chokes provide flexibility for all clays and hunting. Buy target loads by the flat when you find a good sale, and don't be shocked when you look back at what you have spent on ammunition and targets etc for the year, skeet is addictive, and the cost will add up, when you include shooting glasses, molded ear plugs etc.
 
stubblejumper said:
If affordable/available ammunition is a priority, stick with a 12 gauge. For reliable operation, with light target loads, and flexibility for hunting, a 3" chamber is ideal for a semi auto. A 28" barrel is about ideal for skeet and for bird hunting. Screw in chokes provide flexibility for all clays and hunting. Buy target loads by the flat when you find a good sale, and don't be shocked when you look back at what you have spent on ammunition and targets etc for the year, skeet is addictive, and the cost will add up, when you include shooting glasses, molded ear plugs etc.
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And sub gauge guns and ou and sxs guns. Its addictive and creates a madness within
 
The semi comment also compels a choice between inertia and gas.
Gas being softer shooting but often higher priced, dirtier and very annoying if you have a model that requires a piston change.
Stubble makes a very good point on feel and fit. Cast, comb, lop are very important. Most models offer some adjustment opportunities, some do not.
Try as many as you can before…he-hum…pulling the trigger.
 
maifire said:
The semi comment also compels a choice between inertia and gas.
Gas being softer shooting but often higher priced, dirtier and very annoying if you have a model that requires a piston change.
Stubble makes a very good point on feel and fit. Cast, comb, lop are very important. Most models offer some adjustment opportunities, some do not.
Try as many as you can before…he-hum…pulling the trigger.
Click to expand...
The better quality gas guns generally don't require multiple pistons, and they aren't more expensive than comparable quality inertia guns. The SX-3/4 are by far the most common semi autos at our range, and they are among the most affordable, good quality shotguns. They are extremely reliable, but they do require more cleaning than inertia guns, it takes me about 15 minutes to clean my gas guns, if I clean them every 300 to 500 rounds or so. I did spend an hour cleaning a used gas semi auto purchased by a friend, but it had likely never been cleaned in years.
 
brybenn said:
And sub gauge guns and ou and sxs guns. Its addictive and creates a madness within
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It is addictive, and it can get expensive, decent O/U are more expensive on average than decent semi autos, and quality SxS shotguns are more expensive yet. And it definitely costs more to shoot the sub gauges, especially 28 and 410 ,which cost almost twice as much as 12 gauge for factory target loads. In short order, you might find yourself with a half dozen shotguns, and loading 28 gauge and 410.
 
Don't get me wrong I like my semi's and pumps but have been let down only once by my 2 holers and that was a cartridge problem, and shooting trap with them I don't have to worry about annoying the guy beside me with hull strikes lol
 
As a waterfowler at heart I use Benellis autos but shoot skeet with an old browning o/u. As stubblejumper said get help in fitting, go to the range and try a few different guns. Your score and fun is negatively affecting by a non fitting gun.
 
flying pig said:
Broadening my horizons as of late and looking to learn new disciplines in shooting.

I want to shoot skeet and am looking for a decent beginner shotgun.

Thing I want:

Plentiful reasonably priced ammo

Something that handles well with reasonably comfortable recoil

Something that works well with skeet but may also be useable for bird hunting if I so desire.

I like semis.

What am I looking for?

Barrel length, type of choke. 2 3/4 12 gauge would be best?

Does anyone have any recommendations?

I’m not against a used shotgun either and I am budget conscious, I’d rather spend more money on clays and ammo and get more trigger time than to have something fancy and new and leave it in the safe.

Where should a guy start?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
you have to spend x amount of $'s on a quality gun or your range time will be very limited because of gun failures
 
everyone comments on fit in reality if you are going to shoot skeet on a skeet field a field gun is just fine also will be good in the field low stock is needed
if you are going to shoot actual 16 yd ata targets a field gun is fine until you get to the point when you are shooting 1000 rounds a month and want to raise your score from 21-22 out of 25 to 24-25 you need to do a lot of shooting like 2-3 years worth
 
struff55 said:
everyone comments on fit in reality if you are going to shoot skeet on a skeet field a field gun is just fine also will be good in the field low stock is needed
if you are going to shoot actual 16 yd ata targets a field gun is fine until you get to the point when you are shooting 1000 rounds a month and want to raise your score from 21-22 out of 25 to 24-25 you need to do a lot of shooting like 2-3 years worth
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A good shooter can shoot clean rounds of skeet or trap with a field gun, but a heavier gun is an advantage to reduce fatigue, for high volume shooting. A higher point of impact can be an advantage for rising trap targets, but it can also be a disadvantage for other target presentations. A sporting clays gun is likely the ideal compromise for shooting all of the clays games with one shotgun. No matter what shotgun you choose, some shooters will shoot a clean round within months, and some will take years, or may never shoot a clean round.
 
Have a look at the Beretta A300 Ultima. Have one in 20 gauge and just picked up a 12 gauge in a 10% of sale at ( $1225.00 ) Bass Pro. Mostly used for clays on bad weather days. Shim adjustable for fit as well as different spacers for LOP. With today’s prices get a lot in a bargain no frills package including the extended bolt handle and bolt
release.

Ammo for both 12 gauge and 20 gauge is the same price here. $110.00 for a flat / ten boxes
 

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For the least expensive ammunition 12 gauge is the way to go. As for guns you will get more bang for buck with a semi auto than an over/under. I'd look for a used B gun (Beretta, Browning ,Benelli) with 28 inch barrel and choke tubes. Some of the real old guns like the Beretta 300 series specifically the 302 and 303 would fit your requirements and can be had for $600-$800. There are other good semi autos but these are a few.
 
I summarise that you mean a third shot by "bang for your buck" .I have been liquidating most of my semi's as I grow weary of hang ups and misfires which I DO NOT blame entirely on the guns. The quality control on some of the new shells has let me down and after missing some great opportunities I have switched pretty much to SXS or O/U in goose & upland hunting. Still use my Browning gold semi 20g for ducks but had 2 jammers (thank you federal) with the feet down over the decoys last year .Perhaps if I went through every box prior to every hunt I might pick the odd one out but these were both brass issues .At least with the SXS and O/U if I can close them I will generally get a shot off, although had to pry a score deformed casing out of my O/U Browning.
 
reddog said:
I summarise that you mean a third shot by "bang for your buck" .I have been liquidating most of my semi's as I grow weary of hang ups and misfires which I DO NOT blame entirely on the guns. The quality control on some of the new shells has let me down and after missing some great opportunities I have switched pretty much to SXS or O/U in goose & upland hunting. Still use my Browning gold semi 20g for ducks but had 2 jammers (thank you federal) with the feet down over the decoys last year .Perhaps if I went through every box prior to every hunt I might pick the odd one out but these were both brass issues .At least with the SXS and O/U if I can close them I will generally get a shot off, although had to pry a score deformed casing out of my O/U Browning.
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I use Kent Fasteel 3" in my SX-3;and Maxus, and I haven't had any jams or fail to feeds with that combination.
 
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