First shotgun suggestions?

tsobering

tsobering

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So my girlfriend's father is interested in getting into trap shooting but isn't sure what would be his best bet to start out with.

He really likes the Beretta o/u's but isn't so keen on the price tag, does anybody have any other suggestions on a good first shotgun for him that won't break the bank?

Personally I suggested picking up an 870 to start out with and just make sure it's something he wants to get into before diving into a high end o/u.

Any input would be great, thanks guys!
 
Beretta semi-auto, there's so many diff. models but they shoot light and seem to last well...not what I use, but prolly good for a first timer.
 
Stoeger makes a fully adjustable O/U they call a Condor "competition" model.

I have handled one and it seems like a decent gun for the money.

Priced right at about $750 depending where you get it. I know Wanstalls carries Stoeger.

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X2 on the Beretta semi-autos. I have a couple of 391s and they are what I suggest for new shooters. I'd suggest either the sporting clays version or the parallel target. Both guns come with choke tubes and shims to adjust the stock to fit. With these guns you can shoot all the clay target games.

What I don't encourage is buying cheap over/unders. They might seem like a bargain at first but don't have the same durabilty or longevity as the Browning or Beretta guns or others in the same price range.
 
Used BT99 is my choice

Lots out there, easy to re-sell if it doesnt pan out.

Best is to ask around at the trap club and see if anyone will let him try out their guns so he has an idea what he likes, what fits, what the costs are etc

Most guys will let you shoot a round with their guns.
 
Used Citori U/O. You can find used ones for the price of a new "Condor". The Citori's are much better Guns.
 
Claybuster said:
X2 on the Beretta semi-autos. I have a couple of 391s and they are what I suggest for new shooters. I'd suggest either the sporting clays version or the parallel target. Both guns come with choke tubes and shims to adjust the stock to fit. With these guns you can shoot all the clay target games.

What I don't encourage is buying cheap over/unders. They might seem like a bargain at first but don't have the same durabilty or longevity as the Browning or Beretta guns or others in the same price range.
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I wouldn't think it matters. He is likely to upgrade it once he finds out if he is into the sport or not.

And I honestly don't believe price is an indicator of longevity here. Your paying for fancy wood, and engraving, as well as higher labour, and most of all the name when buying say a Beretta. Fit and finish may be better, but a cheap gun doesn't mean it won't last.

More snobbery from the trap fields if you ask me!
 
trap gun

I don't think snobbery has anything to do with it. You can't even begin to compare a Condor with a Browning or Beretta when it comes to quality. I have seen more new shooters than I can care to remember buy a "cheap" gun to start and then realizing they they got what they paid for. The worst part is then trying to get rid of it......the gun shops don't even want to take on something like a Condor in their inventories, or if they do they're going to give you $200 for it against a trade.

I would suggest looking at a good quality used autoloader like a Beretta or Remington. There are lots around and YOU CAN get your money out of them very quickly if need be.
 
Im not saying the condor is the same quality, but you guys make it seem like the gun is gonna fall apart after 100 rounds. The gun will work and unless he is shooting thousands of rounds every month he will likely have no issues with it.

I agree he is better off buying something nice but if he isnt sure heis going to get into it or how much shooting he will.do it makes no sense to spend a thouzand dollars + on a gun.

My first shotgun was a Maverick 88! Still have it. Still works great. When I used to shoot trap with it I did well and got all the snobs real upset.
 
first trap gun

I would also vote for a used BT 99.
Should be able to find a good used one for + or - $ 800.
Will not lose much if he sells later.
 
mlehtovaara said:
Im not saying the condor is the same quality, but you guys make it seem like the gun is gonna fall apart after 100 rounds. The gun will work and unless he is shooting thousands of rounds every month he will likely have no issues with it.

I agree he is better off buying something nice but if he isnt sure heis going to get into it or how much shooting he will.do it makes no sense to spend a thouzand dollars + on a gun.

My first shotgun was a Maverick 88! Still have it. Still works great. When I used to shoot trap with it I did well and got all the snobs real upset.
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What is it about suggesting someone buy a quality Gun makes that person a "Snob"?
A lot of people on here have gone the "cheap route" in the beginning and have learned their lesson because of it. If you by a good used "B" Gun to start out with and decide it's not what you want you can always sell it and probably get all or most of your money back. That can't be said about the new stoeger that you had suggested above. I have tried the stoeger you suggested and it swings like a brick in a wet towel. There is no substitute for quality.
 
smokinberetta said:
I don't think snobbery has anything to do with it. You can't even begin to compare a Condor with a Browning or Beretta when it comes to quality. I have seen more new shooters than I can care to remember buy a "cheap" gun to start and then realizing they they got what they paid for. The worst part is then trying to get rid of it......the gun shops don't even want to take on something like a Condor in their inventories, or if they do they're going to give you $200 for it against a trade.

I would suggest looking at a good quality used autoloader like a Beretta or Remington. There are lots around and YOU CAN get your money out of them very quickly if need be.
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+1! The Condor may well last as long as others for a casual shooter, but most cheap...er....inexpensive O/U's simply are not properly set up for trap. Too flat shooting, too low of a comb and not enough weight to absorb recoil. For these reasons a lot of new shooters quickly want to trade up to a gun that has these features. They get hit hard in the wallet because there is little to no resale value in the gun. A used autoloader in trap persuasion or a used BT99 will not break the bank and will hold its resale value.

FWIW my main trap gun in a Remington 1100 Tournament. It has a higher point of impact so I can "float" the target. It's relatively heavy and combined with the autoloader's action, recoil is almost non existent. The wood is very nice. I have shot 100 straight with the gun. If I had to replace it, I would expect to do it for around $750. If a beginner is willing to look a bit and find a gun like that, it would give them a great start in the sport.
 
mlehtovaara said:
Stoeger makes a fully adjustable O/U they call a Condor "competition" model.

I have handled one and it seems like a decent gun for the money.

Priced right at about $750 depending where you get it. I know Wanstalls carries Stoeger.

8e89085b07c737de79958e249c937a8a.jpg
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If it is like the rest of the Stoeger O/U line it should be a write off after 1 season. A brother of a friend bought one last fall for duck hunting. When he showed it to me last fall it was on it's inaugural run, never been fired. I found it seemed a bit loose on the action. Well this fall he shows up to hunt with us, it has less than a flat of shells through it and the barrels were so loose in the action you could move them. Felt like a 100 year old Cooey that had been used for everything from shooting grouse to jacking up boat trailers and vehicles!! It is a P.O.S if you ask me! Find a used Citori. You can't go wrong for the money.
 
There are lots of good used BT99 for $800 +/- all you have to do is ask around at your trap club.
DO NOT look on the EE - everyone there wants $1300 for a $800 gun.

There is one now for $1300 - has 2 sets of barrels. A touch over priced I think.
Gobles has one for $950
 
mlehtovaara said:
I wouldn't think it matters. He is likely to upgrade it once he finds out if he is into the sport or not.

And I honestly don't believe price is an indicator of longevity here. Your paying for fancy wood, and engraving, as well as higher labour, and most of all the name when buying say a Beretta. Fit and finish may be better, but a cheap gun doesn't mean it won't last.

More snobbery from the trap fields if you ask me!
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How long have you owned your Condor? How many rounds have you put through it? What weight are the trigger pulls? Do the choke tubes exchange easily? Do the barrels shoot to the same point of aim? Have you had to replace any parts and if so how easy were they to find?
 
can get you a older bt99 , which are far better than the new ones $850 plus shipping . the cheaper over/ unders will not take a lot of shooting . bad firing pins , start to shake loose . even fall apart . seen with my own two eyes . lots of great guns for sale under $1000 .
 
mlehtovaara said:
Stoeger makes a fully adjustable O/U they call a Condor "competition" model.

I have handled one and it seems like a decent gun for the money.

Priced right at about $750 depending where you get it. I know Wanstalls carries Stoeger.

8e89085b07c737de79958e249c937a8a.jpg
Click to expand...

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I have a 20 year old Remington 870 wingmaster, pump action, and a Condor O/U 1, it's not the competition one. I don't participate in any competition shooting with either, I just take them both out to the bush and shoot clay's casually. Both shotguns bust up clays very well. What I like about the condor is that it's easier to hold (for me that is). Both shotguns have a 28" barrel but since the condor is a break action the overall length of the gun is shorter by a few inches. For me with shorter arms, the O/U is much more comfortable to hold.

Trap shooting usually have longer barrels, 30" or 32", you might want to confirm this with the gun store. Since he doesn't know if he's going to stay in the sport then I agree that he should start with something cheap. Or if he just plans to be a casual clay buster he should stay with a cheaper shotgun.

It seems that condor is taking a bit of a beating on this thread. Just to give you an idea reliability and quality, I've owned mine for about 2 years and put through on average 500 shots a year through it. The only issue I've come across so far is that, it doesn't like federal shells, 2 duds in a case of 250. I took those 2 duds and put them through my remington 870 and they were fine. Reminton shells seem to work just fine with my condor.

I really liked the look and feel of the O/U and at the time I didn't want to break the bank so I went for a condor 1. So for my needs, I have no issues with it. It's super easy to take a part and clean, not much moving parts.

Hope this helps.
 
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