Shotgun for a beginner

mrakimbo

mrakimbo

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
19   0   0
Location
Ottawa
Hi,

I'm interested in getting into skeet and/or trap shooting, and I was wondering what's a good over/under for a beginner? I was looking at a Stoeger Condor field since I'm trying not to break the bank. If I could keep it under $1000 that'd be great. Honestly the closer to $500 the better. But I realise I'm getting into a fairly expensive sport...

I also heard good things about the Remmington SPR 310 but that was discontinued years ago so pft good luck finding one.

What're some other options to consider? I only intend to take this up as a hobby for stress relief, not planning on competing or shooting on a daily basis, so I don't really plan on getting a $5,000 Browning competition trap shooter or anything super fancy.

Thanks very much!
 
I would definitely recommend avoiding any stoeger, baikal, husqvarna or Russian made Remingtons like the plague!

A rem 1100 or 870 wingmaster or beretta 391 semi are all good reliable ways to go. There are no quality o/u's available for less than than 12-1500 and those are old browning superposeds at that price.
 
I would second that on avoiding stoegers and such, especially if your getting into clays shooting. Once you get into clays, the number of rounds you put through will just demolish a cheaply built gun.

1100's and 870's hold up well, and are really easy to get parts for when they do wear out. If your looking at sporting clays or skeet or doubles trap, the 1100 is probably better. It can be done with a pump, and done well, but the 1100 will be easier to use.

If your looking for an over under, check out Prophet River, he is a sponsor here, and has the best prices on new browning O/U's I have seen, but will still be over the $1000 mark.
 
gwagen said:
I would definitely recommend avoiding any stoeger, baikal, husqvarna or Russian made Remingtons like the plague!

A rem 1100 or 870 wingmaster or beretta 391 semi are all good reliable ways to go. There are no quality o/u's available for less than than 12-1500 and those are old browning superposeds at that price.
Click to expand...
Nothing wrong with an old Superposed, for sure.
There are deals out there, I do not agree with the old adage that you need a high dollar O.U to get a decent gun that will be of good service.
However, I also do not agree about how nice and soft shooting the new semi autos are .
I've tested quite a few in the last few months and none are any softer than my father's old 1100, in fact some have more felt recoil, especially the inertia jobs like the Urika !
The maxis is no better.
An 1100 will go a long ways for a person, heck , if you believe the manufacturers, I dunno how shooters like D.Lee Braun and Barney Hartman ever hit anything with those old semis.....
Cat
 
catnthehatt said:
Nothing wrong with an old Superposed, for sure.
There are deals out there, I do not agree with the old adage that you need a high dollar O.U to get a decent gun that will be of good service.
However, I also do not agree about how nice and soft shooting the new semi autos are .
I've tested quite a few in the last few months and none are any softer than my father's old 1100, in fact some have more felt recoil, especially the inertia jobs like the Urika !
The maxis is no better.
An 1100 will go a long ways for a person, heck , if you believe the manufacturers, I dunno how shooters like D.Lee Braun and Barney Hartman ever hit anything with those old semis.....
Cat
Click to expand...

I think the Urika is a gas gun.
 
If you are just shooting trap, an older fixed full choke gun would be OK.

Skeet is usually shot with a skeet (really open) choke.

A semi-auto with choke tubes would be your best choice at your price point.

I started with a mossberg semi, ($300 gun) and did just fine with it. After I became addicted, then I bought the Beretta.

An O/U with changable chokes would be ideal for trap and skeet, but to find something of quality in your price range would be a rare find I'm afraid.

Here are some $500 guns for sale, that might get you familiarized with what is out there to choose from (and yes, one of them is mine ;)).

An 1100 with imp cyl fixed choke

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=616977

870 wingmaster trap with changable choke tubes:

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=604548

870 TB wingmaster trap with deluxe wood (fixed full)

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=612374

Good luck!! It is a great sport, hope you enjoy!!:)
 
mrakimbo said:
Hi,

I'm interested in getting into skeet and/or trap shooting, and I was wondering what's a good over/under for a beginner? I was looking at a Stoeger Condor field since I'm trying not to break the bank. If I could keep it under $1000 that'd be great. Honestly the closer to $500 the better. But I realise I'm getting into a fairly expensive sport...
Click to expand...

You'll soon find yourself $500 in the hole if you try and go the inexpensive route on a break barrel action mrakimbo. Many, many, many new shooters have learned this the hard way. Believe what you've read and will read in the future on what a $500 O/U will get you...Mostly grief, but of course there'll always be nay sayers... If you're intent on going the O/U route, figure on using that $1000 and perhaps even adding a few hundred more for a decent used Citori, a sweet Superposed or a BT99. Little bit more and you can find a good used Beretta, but it very well could be a Field model, which is fine, if it has some weight behind it. (Just my opinion...)
Have you tried shooting a couple of rounds with an O/U? Every range will have a good bunch of members that most would be more than happy to let you have a go with theirs. How are you with recoil? The O/U's are known to have recoil, some alot more.
Like many here have stated, have a go with a decent used semi like the 1100 and see what you think. Head to your local range and you're bound to find at least one person smashing clays with a 391. Go ahead and ask him/her if you can try a round. (Remember to take some target loads with you).
Most importantly....Find a shotgun that fits you! You'll never excell at any clay game if your shotgun doesn't fit you.
Good luck and good shooting to you!

Hey Cat, I fully concur with you about the 1100. BUT...the Urika is a gas system. Me thinks you're meaning a Benelli?
 
Remington 1100 or an 870 with screw in chokes and your away to the races , for trap and skeet . If anyone says you can't shoot straights in skeet with a pump , don't believe it for a second.
If you go the Remington 870 route I'd recommend a Wingmaster over a Express IMHO

Good luck
 
I would go with an 870 express in laminate, before paying for a walnut STAINED birch stock like on a new wingmaster. In fact I did. It serves me well for trap but does make skeet a challenge.
 
i found a decent winchester 2400 semi auto for 400 dollars shooting great and cant really go wrong with a winchester. but if you wanted to spend the money later on a winchester super x 3 is a real dandy semi auto just dont have any one standing within 10 or so feet away from you on the ejector side of the gun it throws them far ..lol
 
Ya don't waste your coin on a cheapo O/U a Remi 1100 will do you just fine, I shot one for the first year I got into sporting clays but the bug bite hard and off I went and bought a Citori.
 
This is my quote, the best thing a cheap O/U does is convince you to spend more next time.

If you really want an O/U, just keep an eye open in the Exchange. Look for Browning, Miroku, SKB, Ruger, Winchester, Beretta, etc. You can find excellent older guns for a decent price. They'll probably have fixed chokes, though, so you may need to choose between trap and skeet.

But as a recreational clays gun, an 1100 with choke tubes is your best bang for the buck.
 
indeed, the remington 1100 DOMINATED the t&s scene for many years- all you need do for maintaince is the usual lube, and replace the springs and o-rings once in a while; i would venture it's the best gun remmy ever made
 
I recently purchased a Remington 1100 Competition Synthetic. I am LOVING it. It's on their website at $1200 or so, but Elwood Epps had it for $1000. Absolutely a stellar deal. Comes with 5 chokes, and an adjustable comb/bump buster recoil reducer. I can shoot the heaviest of target loads all day long, and not wear out.
It won't be the prettiest girl at the ball, but its extremely comfortable, and adjustable to ensure that if will actually fit you.
 
catnthehatt said:
The maxis is no better.
Click to expand...

Cat, I bought a brand new Maxus back in Jan or Feb and it is the softest shooting semi I have ever owned. None of the dozen or so 1100's I have owned were as soft shooting as this Maxus except in the smaller gauges. With 3 dram target loads my Maxus "feels" like a 28 gauge.

I agree about the inertia guns wholeheartedly too, only makes sense that their isn't any recoil reduction as there is no gas being utilised to work the action therefore all the power is headed rearward to kick the begeezus out of you and using next to none to work the bolt. I shot my buddy's new Benelli SBE II last fall with some 3"- 1 1/4oz loads. It kicked like a mule! He can have it.....

Anyways back to the topic at hand...look in the EE, there is a really nice condition Rem 870 TB Trap in your price range. They last forever and are far superior in quality to anything Stoeger is putting out there. There is also a Rem 1100 G3 Sporting with rem choke barrel in what appears to be superb condition going by the pics for $750 I believe. Thats the way I would go....I had over 80,000 rounds through my 1100 competition trap. I walked into the Remington booth at the Grand in '87, dropped it off with the gunsmiths in back and asked if they would check it over before I started my shooting that week. They replaced a main spring and the fork that drives back the spring. Cost me $15. I shot it another two years before trading it in and it was still going fine. They are cheap to repair, easy to get parts for and very reliable.
 
I don't often shoot semi autos, but I was impressed with the Maxus. I also liked the SX2 that I recently purchased, but someone else wanted it more than me, so it was sold. If I was to purchase another semi auto ,it would be a Maxus, but I much prefer my Citoris to any semi auto.
 
hey mrakimbo,

i started of with win1200 pump -paid $300. it shot like a laser. then i finally moved upto beretta o/u with an assortment of chokes - now i just use the o/u for skeet ,trap and hunting .I am not sure where u r based but i shoot at the galt club in cambridge, so if ur around this side - i will let u shoot a few shotguns....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom