Help a rifle shooter out.

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nemesisincanada

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Hi,
I thought I would do some skeet,clay and trap this year. I will not be hunting.
I'm looking for O/Us recommendations at less $1000, $1000-$2000 and $2000+.

I saw the IGA condor competition for $750, looks interesting. Really though I have no clue.
 
Finding shotguns for sale is not hard. Knowing what features the shotguns should have for my specific purpose is the issue. So as much as I appreciated the link to 600 slightly used shotguns. I'm still clueless as per my first post.
 
I think the best you will find under 1000.00 will be the Baikal offerings. For the 1000.00 to 2000.00 CZ imports some nice guns from Huglu in Turkey. 2000.00 plus you start to get into the B guns Browning Beretta etc. I have shot most and I would still start with a 26" barrelled Baikal with screw in chokes.

Darryl
 
Browning Citori. New or used you won't regret the purchase. With shotguns, fit is very important for many reasons. Swing by the Stittsville Shooting Range, I'm sure one of the shotgunners there would be glad to help you out.
 
nemesisincanada said:
Thanks. Is there any special features for skeet/trap I should look for. The shotgun will never be used to hunt.
Click to expand...

Trap and skeet guns are very different from one another. Trap guns are more specialized for that one sport, becoming a good shot at skeet or sporting clays with a trap gun is do-able but requires lots of shooting to get there. If you want to shoot all forms of clays your best bet is to simply get a field/hunting model or one marketed for sporting clays. Just 2 cents of course...but I do shoot somewhere between 12 000 and 16 000 rds a year.
 
Trap guns have a high rib suited only for trap. You can shoot trap with a skeet and sporting clays gun,but not so much visa versa. You will want screw in chokes,skeet or cly for skeet,full or mod for trap,for clays I use imp/mod or even skeet /imp. Most will tell you the O/U is the way to go,but after buying several of them I found out I like,and shoot better,with a SxS,something quite rare today around here at least. Lots of O,U's,many semis,even a few pumps,but not mant SxS's. My old Browning BSS just seems to fit well and has the weight to absorb recoil. Its also built like a tank so you can shoot target loads in it forever.
 
I'll say it again, the best thing a cheap over/under does is convince you why you need to spend more on the next one.

If your budget is a grand, you can easily find a quality used O/U. Browning, SKB, Winchester, Miroku, Beretta, etc. not hard to find.
 
Do you have a shotgun of any type or can borrow? I'm a fan of "run what ya brung" for someone who is interested in getting started in clay target shooting and then looking around to see what others are shooting, perhaps trying a few and then deciding what works for you.

Are you fixed on an o/u? In a new gun an o/u under $1,000 doesn't get you that much compared to a semi-auto. Between $1,000-$2,000 you are getting into a modestly better range of o/u but are now in the much better category of semi-automatics.

But here are my choices. If forced to buy an o/u under $1,000 I'd buy a Baikal but I'd have to be forced. Under $2,000 a field grade Beretta or Citori and I expect I'd be just under the limit. I might also give a look at the Winchester 101. Over $2,000 one of the target grade Berettas (687 Sporting, 682E, 686E) or Citoris (525, 625.) Way over $2,000 a Blaser. WAY over $2,000 a Perazzi.

What you want is a gun that fits you, feels good in your hands, is durable, holds resale value, has interchangeable chokes and a barrel length of at least 30 inches. Clay target games favour longer barrels. Try as many types as you can and buy the one that feels best to you.
 
No I don't have shotgun or access to one. I have fired sxs and o/u before in the UK many years ago.

Thanks all for giving feedback. Its been very helpful. I'll go to Stittsville shooting range and talk to the counter staff.
 
nemesisincanada said:
Hi,
I thought I would do some skeet,clay and trap this year. I will not be hunting.
I'm looking for O/Us recommendations at less $1000, $1000-$2000 and $2000+.

I saw the IGA condor competition for $750, looks interesting. Really though I have no clue.
Click to expand...

Do yourself a favor and shoot as many different brands/models as you can get your hands on before you lay your money down to buy one. Gun fit is everything when it come to shotguns. Most guys at a skeet/trap club will let you try theirs out for a round or two. I found out that the Citori's fit me well but a Ruger Red Label -I cannot hit squat with! Nothing wrong at all with the Ruger, just doesn't fit me. Beretta's the same, can't shoot worth beans.
Try 'em all. You'll know when it fits. Your scores will be alot higher.;)
 
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