Hi all. I am new to shooting clays. My inlaws got me a clay thrower for christmas and a couple boxes of clays. Myself and the brother-in-laws went out yesterday and shot off a couple boxes of shells with an old break action shotgun. Needless to say, the thing kicks like a mule, we all have nice little raspberries on the shoulder today. I am just wondering is anyone has any suggestions on a gun that wont kick the hell out of us next time?? I would like something under the $500 range that we could go out and shoot and have to worry about the old shoulder.
New to shooting clays
- Thread starter Go4snypr
- Start date
Beretta687EELL
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Probably your best bet in your price range is an 1100. If you look you might find one in your price range. Gun fit is the key to lowering recoil, but it sounds like you are looking for one gun for two or three people to shoot. The semi will do that for you. Also, make sure you are using light clay target loads .... perhaps even a 1 oz. load.
Doug The Canuck
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- central Ontario
Five hundred dollars is going to get you an ill-fitting gun that will probably continue to hurt you.
You'd be better to spend that money joining a club and learning from experienced shooters. They will guide you through the process and eliminate a lot of hit and miss of gun buying, as well as giving you some good instruction.
You'd be better to spend that money joining a club and learning from experienced shooters. They will guide you through the process and eliminate a lot of hit and miss of gun buying, as well as giving you some good instruction.
most semi-auto will have less kick but remington 1100 sure dont kick at all.
you can prob find a used one for that price. check out on firearmscanada.com they sometimes have 1100's for good price
but the question is will you be shooting many trap at the club or just sporting clays in the bush somewhere?
For trap style shotguns, the vent ribs on barrel tend to be higher with monte-carlo stock. if you are looking for all around plinking clays with your mini puller and field, i'd look into regular rem 1100 without high vent ribs on barrel.
you can prob find a used one for that price. check out on firearmscanada.com they sometimes have 1100's for good price
but the question is will you be shooting many trap at the club or just sporting clays in the bush somewhere?
For trap style shotguns, the vent ribs on barrel tend to be higher with monte-carlo stock. if you are looking for all around plinking clays with your mini puller and field, i'd look into regular rem 1100 without high vent ribs on barrel.
You are obviously interested in just plinkering around with clays, therefore i would recommend just a decent pump-action shotgun. there is no need to get a ammo-eatting semi-auto. To reduce recoil keep using the rounds you are using now, field and range by federal or whatever, you can get reduced recoil but they are more $$$. You are better off getting a recoil pad for 50$, it'll reduce felt recoil by 50%.
Doug The Canuck
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- central Ontario
I can't tell you the number of newbies that show up at our club with a brand new shotgun all ready to shoot skeet or 5 stand.
After a few weeks of instruction, and some practice, they are ready to sell the new gun and buy something that
a) Doesn't break
b) fits
c) suits the discipline they are shooting
If you are serious about clay sports, you are going to put literally tens of thousands of rounds through your gun. That requires a quality gun to take that kind of punishment.
Unfortunately, in Canada, good gunsmiths are few and far between, so you want something that is going to stay out of the gunsmith's shop.
The B guns (Browning Beretta) are the way to go, either semi or hinge. Lots of good semis out there.
Elwood Epps has one of the best selections. You can view the list on line.
After a few weeks of instruction, and some practice, they are ready to sell the new gun and buy something that
a) Doesn't break
b) fits
c) suits the discipline they are shooting
If you are serious about clay sports, you are going to put literally tens of thousands of rounds through your gun. That requires a quality gun to take that kind of punishment.
Unfortunately, in Canada, good gunsmiths are few and far between, so you want something that is going to stay out of the gunsmith's shop.
The B guns (Browning Beretta) are the way to go, either semi or hinge. Lots of good semis out there.
Elwood Epps has one of the best selections. You can view the list on line.
Trap guns as opposed to skeet/sporting/field guns usually have a higher rib and higher stock which causes them to shoot higher. A higher shooting gun is better for trap because the targets are rising.
Under $500 will get you a good used Remington 1100 or a new Remington 870 Express.
As far as quality goes, should I look for a used 1100, or a new 870?? To me new is always better but if the 1100 is a better gun off the shelf I would look at used. and is barrel length a major factor is what I should be looking for, and why type of choke is best??
You should go to a store, handle and look at both and pick the one your prefer. It's a personal judgement call. You can get a good used 1100 around your price range but an 870 for field clays is fine too. I'd suggest choke tubes so you can adjust for short or long targets and with clay target shooting longer barrels are usually better because they help maintain swing momentum.
Doug The Canuck
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- central Ontario
Whatever you do, if you're interested in clays, don't get a short barrel.
Get something with at least 28 inches.
Thanks for all the input guys, I will go handle a couple in the store before buying anything, I am sure I will end up spending more money in the future on a better gun either way. I would like to go shoot more clays as soon as possible, but not gonna do it with the old break action again that's for sure.
