Ive been shooting clays,mostly sporting,for a number of years now,and have bought(and sold) quite a few different shotguns. I seemed to shoot semi's the best at first,and I had a pretty Rem 1100 with a skeet barrel that was great to shoot,but totally unreliable. I know this is not the case with many 1100's as I shoot with guys that have good luck with them,not me.
I started again with Brownings,first a Silver,then a maxus,and rang up some pretty decent scores with them,but found them,the Maxus in particular,to be fussy about ammo. It would shoot Rem gunclubs well,but not Federals or Winchesters. After awhile I got so I hated them both,because to often there was a click,but no bang.
I went the SxS route because I love the classic looks,and still own one,but for some reason I never got high scores with them,it seemed as much as I liked them I was never going to be able to shoot them well.
finally I went the o/u route that most of the serious clay shooters use,and after trying quit a few I finally found the right clays gun(for me),my browning 625. Ive shot several thousand rounds through it over the past year and no other shotgun ever felt as right,pointed as naturally,and got me the scores that this one does. as it weighs about 8lbs,it absorbs recoil so much that with target loads its a non issue. the weight really controls the smoothness of the swing,and though ive never had it 'fitted' it comes up to my shoulder effortlessly and consistently each time. Its also a very nice looking shotgun,which is nice too. I don't think a 15-20 thousand dollar shotgun would get me one extra bird,i like it that much,its a keeper.
So,try as many as you can,and you will eventually work out whats best for you. Like the others have said,you really can't go to wrong with a well bought used Browning or beretta.
I started again with Brownings,first a Silver,then a maxus,and rang up some pretty decent scores with them,but found them,the Maxus in particular,to be fussy about ammo. It would shoot Rem gunclubs well,but not Federals or Winchesters. After awhile I got so I hated them both,because to often there was a click,but no bang.
I went the SxS route because I love the classic looks,and still own one,but for some reason I never got high scores with them,it seemed as much as I liked them I was never going to be able to shoot them well.
finally I went the o/u route that most of the serious clay shooters use,and after trying quit a few I finally found the right clays gun(for me),my browning 625. Ive shot several thousand rounds through it over the past year and no other shotgun ever felt as right,pointed as naturally,and got me the scores that this one does. as it weighs about 8lbs,it absorbs recoil so much that with target loads its a non issue. the weight really controls the smoothness of the swing,and though ive never had it 'fitted' it comes up to my shoulder effortlessly and consistently each time. Its also a very nice looking shotgun,which is nice too. I don't think a 15-20 thousand dollar shotgun would get me one extra bird,i like it that much,its a keeper.
So,try as many as you can,and you will eventually work out whats best for you. Like the others have said,you really can't go to wrong with a well bought used Browning or beretta.
