I'm going to get into trap shooting and maybe some skeet. I used to do it a little with my grandpa but never had my own gun. I think I want to get an o/u but might consider a semi. Looking for some recommendations on a good gun I won't have to replace in a couple years. I'd like to keep around 1500$range. Your input is appreciated.
Advice on trap/skeet gun
- Thread starter mattf87
- Start date
Well in your price range for an o/u, you'd be looking at a used "B" gun, either an older Browning Citori with 28" or 30" barrels. You might see a Beretta 68x with Mobilchoke barrels in this range if you're lucky. Current Trap and Sporting Clays trends call for a longer barrel (32's and even longer) so you can occasionally scoop up a shorter barrel gun for a better price.
I also think that the Savage Milano is a nice well made gun as well (Made by a F.A.I.R. - one of the Rizzini brother's) but they aren't in production anymore. They'll occasionally come up on the used market. They'll generally have a 28" barrel however.
For a new Over/Under - and one that's worth buying in that price range, a Huglu or Franchi, would be my choice. CZ (made by Huglu) Has the Redhead Deluxe or even the Redhead Target would probably be in your price range. I know Wolverine Supply carries the Redhead Deluxe, and could probably get the Target. Lebaron carries (or at least used to) Franchi, and the Instinct S/SL would fall in your price range. That being said the Franchi is a lighter gun and would probably kick a bit more than the other options.
In a Semi Auto I'd take a look at finding a used Beretta A400 Xcel (if you like blue) or a AL391 of some variety.
I also think that the Savage Milano is a nice well made gun as well (Made by a F.A.I.R. - one of the Rizzini brother's) but they aren't in production anymore. They'll occasionally come up on the used market. They'll generally have a 28" barrel however.
For a new Over/Under - and one that's worth buying in that price range, a Huglu or Franchi, would be my choice. CZ (made by Huglu) Has the Redhead Deluxe or even the Redhead Target would probably be in your price range. I know Wolverine Supply carries the Redhead Deluxe, and could probably get the Target. Lebaron carries (or at least used to) Franchi, and the Instinct S/SL would fall in your price range. That being said the Franchi is a lighter gun and would probably kick a bit more than the other options.
In a Semi Auto I'd take a look at finding a used Beretta A400 Xcel (if you like blue) or a AL391 of some variety.
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I have been using a Browning Double Auto for trap for a very long time. My dad bought it for me in 1992 
I also use a winchester M12 skeet gun with a cutts (factory skeet gun with a factory cutts). These are probably my two main guns, but I will bring out anything just to try it. Dad also uses a Double Auto (his has a cutts on it) and a Browning Superposed as his main guns.
The gun fitting you is really the most important aspect. Try all the guns listed in this thread, and all the other ones you can find, and talk to the old timers on the range and then choose the one that feels the best.
I also use a winchester M12 skeet gun with a cutts (factory skeet gun with a factory cutts). These are probably my two main guns, but I will bring out anything just to try it. Dad also uses a Double Auto (his has a cutts on it) and a Browning Superposed as his main guns.The gun fitting you is really the most important aspect. Try all the guns listed in this thread, and all the other ones you can find, and talk to the old timers on the range and then choose the one that feels the best.
Deciding between O/U and semi, think about sighting plane. The O/U action is much shorter than the semi which brings the tip of the barrel much closer to you. That shorter sighting plane makes it just a little harder to point accurately. That does not matter much on a skeet field with wide open chokes but can cost you on the trap field.
On the other hand the O/U is fast. There is no action to cycle and you can get onto that second shot just a bit quicker.
I would focus on a 30 inch O/U if I went that way. 32" is too heavy and 28" is too short. I say that because I had a 32 O/U and sold it because of the weight and I currently have a 28" O/U and it's short for trap. I also have a 32" single barrel BT99 and it's not too heavy because it has only one barrel, and scores are better on the trap field because of the sighting plane.
On the other hand the O/U is fast. There is no action to cycle and you can get onto that second shot just a bit quicker.
I would focus on a 30 inch O/U if I went that way. 32" is too heavy and 28" is too short. I say that because I had a 32 O/U and sold it because of the weight and I currently have a 28" O/U and it's short for trap. I also have a 32" single barrel BT99 and it's not too heavy because it has only one barrel, and scores are better on the trap field because of the sighting plane.
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Urbansherpa
Regular
- Location
- Hamilton, Ont
I just sold an A400, but did a little bit of trap shooting with it. Well balanced and feels good in the hands. The A400 Xcel has been on sale at Flaherty's and Le Baron lately for around $1200-1300. That'll fit your budget nicely, and you'll have it for many years.
I'm a trap shooter so my advice will be biased towards trap over skeet. I would definetly recommend going for an over/under, most guys at my club who start with semi's end up switching to over/under if they keep with it. I've had great success with my old browning citori and I picked it up for less than a grand(needed a bit of work when I got it though). I would recommend 30 or 32" barrels, the extra length will help with both handicap and for second shot doubles in trap(and you can still swing them fast enough for skeet). You'll be able to save some money buying a gun that has fixed chokes but if you want to switch between trap and skeet your going to want choke tubes.
Here is one I saw here on gunnutz, a little over your budget but a good idea of what to look for. I would highly recommend it, very similar to what I shoot and it works very nice.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?905374-Browning-Citori-Trap-O-U-12-gauge
Here is one I saw here on gunnutz, a little over your budget but a good idea of what to look for. I would highly recommend it, very similar to what I shoot and it works very nice.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?905374-Browning-Citori-Trap-O-U-12-gauge
