One shotgun for all?

StoneHorse

StoneHorse

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I currently have a BT-99 for trap but I want to get into double trap, skeet and perhaps sporting clay as well. I want to purchase one semi-auto that would cover all three shooting sports without being unduly handicapped in one discipline or the other. Keep in mind that I shoot for recreation/fun so I'm not concerned about being top dog on the field. Also I'm not a high volume shooter so not many rounds in a year.

Persons that have experience in double trap, skeet and sporting clay, which sporting semi-auto would you recommend and in what barrel length? I'm set on a semi-auto because I want/need a soft shooting gun. Suggestions in the $1500 to $2500 range, tops. Thanks.
:).
 
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Beretta A400 Xcel Multitarget, 30". It's 3K though.

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Please do not buy the high rib! A Beretta Gold Optima Sporting could do the trick for much less. Get the 30 inch barrel. My 2003 Optima Gold Sporting has not been cleaned ever. It shoots 2 1/2 dram training loads and 3 inch MAX steel loads the same distance. I have shot everything with it from American trap, bunker, skeet, sporting, FITASC, upland and waterfowl, with it.
 
I had a look at a Browning Silver Sporting today. Shouldered well and I preferred the 30" barrel but the forearm felt a little fat. Much more inline with my price range.

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For recreational shooting a field gun could work for all three sports. I grew up hunting and when I got into clay shooting I always preferred a field gun because that's what I know. Won't be as flashy but it can get the job done easily within your budget
 
My choice for your requirements would be a 30" base-model Beretta A400 Excel. No Kick-off, no Gun Pod. I would avoid the Multi-Target. I've shot a couple of them and the extra features are definitely not worth the higher price.
 
If you really like the features of the Multi-Target then maybe look at the Fabarm XL5 Velocity AR. It has similar features but is much less expensive (just around the top end of your budget).

That said, my personal choice for a semi would be as Claybuster said, a standard A400 Excel or possibly a Browning Maxus (one will probably fit you better than the other).

An O/U that fits you, when shot with targets loads will not produce more felt recoil than a semi (at least in my experience)! I recently tried a Browning Crossover Target and was suitably impressed. It would be in your budget and would also work for all the clay games.

Good luck in your search (to me, that's half the fun).
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I handled a Remington 1100 Competition this morning. Its a heaver gun compared to the Browning Silver. I need to have a look at the Beretta, Benelli and the Browning Maxus over the weekend. I like the look of the blue receiver on the Beretta A400 Excel.
:)
 
I have found that the newer Remington are nowhere near the quality level of the older ones. We have a couple of guys at our club with the blue receiver Beretta and I have to say that I like them !
 
StoneHorse said:
I had a look at a Browning Silver Sporting today. Shouldered well and I preferred the 30" barrel but the forearm felt a little fat. Much more inline with my price range.

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I have a Silver Hunter and it is a great gun. There are several shooters at our club that use them and are very happy with them.
 
StoneHorse said:
Thanks for the suggestions. I handled a Remington 1100 Competition this morning. Its a heaver gun compared to the Browning Silver. I need to have a look at the Beretta, Benelli and the Browning Maxus over the weekend. I like the look of the blue receiver on the Beretta A400 Excel.
:)
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If gun weight is an issue the Benelli Super Sport tends be a about half a pound lighter then comparable Berettas. The downside however even is with the Comfortech stock a lighter gun with an inertia action has more felt recoil than a heavier gas-operated gun. The Benelli guns are also factory ported depending on how you feel about porting.

The A400 is the pick of the litter IMO. I don't recall ever having or seeing one fail. The A400 has addressed some of the minor quirks of the older 391. I'd own an A400 except that I already have a couple of 391s that I'm happy with.
 
Almost twenty posts and no one has informed OP as of yet... there is absolutely nothing like a good over under for clay sports! :)
 
lanis said:
Almost twenty posts and no one has informed OP as of yet... there is absolutely nothing like a good over under for clay sports! :)
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One poster did mention the Browning Crossover but the rest of of the posts discussed semi-automatics presumably because the OP said he is "set on a semi-auto because I want/need a soft shooting gun."

As a regular o/u shooter I appreciate why some people shoot semis instead and own a couple myself.
 
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