All around gun advice

Thanks! And thanks to all the others for their advice as well.
I may give you a shout next to we head east and in the mean time I am hoping a few guys will let me shoot a few rounds with their toys.
I think what will best suit my needs would be a 30 inch ,mid rise rib, with adjustable comb, and extended chokes. I see Joel Etchen has a couple models that might be of interest but I best test out a few local ones before I purchase of the Internet.
Any more ideas and input are welcome
Thanks again!

Before you purchase an over/under gun with 30 inch barrels, you should at least try to borrow/shoot one with 32 inch barrels.
The longer plane is helpful for most shooters, especially if your main game is going to be Trap. if you check around though, you will find that top shooters in Sporting Clays and even Skeet have trended to longer barrels.
 
After 30+ years of shooting trap I can offer this. Before you settle for a particular barrel length try different guns with varying length barrels. I have shot everything from 26" barrelled guns to 35" barrelled guns in every configuration. Singles, pumps, autos and double barrels. No two are alike. I currently have a pair of O/U's with 32" barrels. One is a dream to shoot and the other though a nice gun is not as easy to shoot. The one is slow and hard to get across to the second bird in doubles trap. The other is across and on the second target unlike any gun I have ever owned. My timing with it is bang on. There is about 3oz overall difference in weight between the two guns but how they balance and point are two different worlds. Sounds like a few on here have offered to let you try out their guns. If you can do so. Most shooters are willing to let somebody try their guns out to decide what they like. Good luck and welcome to clays shooting.
 
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I don't have an issue shooting skeet with my 12 gauge 725 sporting with 32" barrels, but that is because the 725 has less weight in the barrels than my XS Skeet. With 32" barrels , my 725 trap swings plenty fast for doubles on trap, but I would not enjoy that particular gun for shooting skeet or sporting clays. The different models balance differently, and swing differently, and they don't all shoot to exactly the same point of aim, so you need to decide just what your priority is, and choose the gun accordingly.
 
I shoot trap with a Rizzini Vertex - an excellent shotgun for the sport.It looks good and makes you stand out from the Berettas, Brownings Winchesters etc. Quality is superior and I am surprised more shooters don't use Rizzini's --------well the secret is out now!
 
I shoot trap with a Rizzini Vertex - an excellent shotgun for the sport.It looks good and makes you stand out from the Berettas, Brownings Winchesters etc. Quality is superior and I am surprised more shooters don't use Rizzini's --------well the secret is out now!

I shoot a Rizzini Fierce 1 and after two fellows at the club looked it over and shot it they both have switched to Rizzini. They are shooting 32" barrelled S-1000 sporting models. Gorgeous guns!! The side plates and engraving are spectacular.
My Fierce 1 is a trap model with adjustable comb and rib and case colour receiver. I absolutely love it. Couldn't be happier. Fit and finish is amazing for the price point.
 
I've accumulated several guns for different disciplines over the years, based somewhat on the fact that versatile guns weren't available 15-20 years ago when I started. If I was starting again I'd go with 32" barrels, raised adjustable comb and raised adjustable rib in O/U with choke tubes. Parallel comb or even drop at comb relative to heel as well as the proper cast can reduce felt recoil on your face. Standard field stock dimensions are designed to fit the average person okay. Getting a stock that really fits you can be a revelation in gun handling and recoil management. I'd stay at 8lb+ as well to reduce felt recoil and smooth your swing. A close second if your recoil sensitive (as is every honest person who shoots a lot and ages) is semi custom semi auto with the same features as above and maybe a 30" barrel.
 
I shoot a Rizzini Fierce 1 and after two fellows at the club looked it over and shot it they both have switched to Rizzini. They are shooting 32" barrelled S-1000 sporting models. Gorgeous guns!! The side plates and engraving are spectacular.
My Fierce 1 is a trap model with adjustable comb and rib and case colour receiver. I absolutely love it. Couldn't be happier. Fit and finish is amazing for the price point.

Who is dealing Rizzini ?
 
Good thread. I'm looking into getting my first clay specific gun as well.

I always wondered how to find a proper fitting gun when local stores carry so few. I guess I'll be that guy at the range asking everyone if I can shoulder theirs. ;)
 
Good thread. I'm looking into getting my first clay specific gun as well.

I always wondered how to find a proper fitting gun when local stores carry so few. I guess I'll be that guy at the range asking everyone if I can shoulder theirs. ;)

When I first started into skeet shooting, I shot rounds with several guns loaned to me by club members. I have since returned the favor to many other people that were interested in the sport.
 
When I first started into skeet shooting, I shot rounds with several guns loaned to me by club members. I have since returned the favor to many other people that were interested in the sport.

Same here. I am going to start charging Clay at Prophet River a finders fee for all the Rizzini sales he is getting from shooters trying my Fierce 1!! ;) And then he gives the Rizzini hat to someone else?!! :HR:
 
Same here. I am going to start charging Clay at Prophet River a finders fee for all the Rizzini sales he is getting from shooters trying my Fierce 1!! ;) And then he gives the Rizzini hat to someone else?!! :HR:

If I received a finders fee for every firearm that I had a part in being sold by Clay , I would be a happy camper.:)
 
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