Shotgun Recommendation for Clay Pigeon Shooting

Get one that you can adjust the stock to fit you. I'm not just talking about length either. If it doesn't fit you properly, you won't shoot very well.

https://www.agirlandagun.org/how-to-fit-your-shotgun/

Get a Remington 1100 Competition Synthetic:

It comes with everything you need for any clay game, or even pheasant hunting. I'm hunted with mine, above, drops pheasants well. It is designed for 2 3/4" target loads only, I use Rem. Nitro Gold Sporting clays 7 1/2 shot. It won't handle most duck loads due to the action made for 2 3/4" target loads.
Adjustable comb, Rucker Auto Buster recoil reducer,30" back-bored barrel with every choke except Improved Modified, which is available.
I bought mine for the adjustable comb, very handy for Trap, but it can be set for any use.

The only was you'll find a quality O/U with any of these features would be a used Browning Citori with an adjustable comb cut in, or possibly a used Browning CX, CXS, or CXT. I won't have all these features however.

I prefer an auto over O/U, mostly for the reason that's what I started with, and you can get more for that $1500, as above. Another option in autos is a Beretta A400 Xcel, AKA Smurf Gun. (for the Blue anodized receiver) They are lighter, easier to maintain than the 1100, and can be found in your price range. Beretta A300, A303, and A391's are fine for clays as well as hunting also.

I do not recommend the cheaper O/U's such as Stoeger, Tri-Star, and Legacy Arms. They will not stand up over years of regular clays shooting. If this will be a take it out for a round of clays and a box through it per season, they are OK for that.

As ih772 says, fit is paramount. This is why I recommend the 1100 Competition Synthetic. You can set up the comb how you want: The LOP is 14.5" which fits most adults.

You won't find a better value in a new gun, (and yes, they can still be found) than the 1100 Competition, and very few used guns in the $1500 or less range will match it.

Getting into the game, go with a semi-auto.
I recommend Tristar Viper.
https://www.tristararms.com/series/viper-g2/

You will never get a more competent/better-fitting as-issued semi-auto shotgun for the money ($550-$599) at this point.
Comes with all the (Beretta/Benelli® Mobil) chokes (IC, M, F)you need to explore the game.

Decide later if you want to spend (many) thousands.



ps: Get a coupla cana of This Stuff and bolt/gas-system cleaning is a two-minute spray-and-put-way job.



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I would look for a used Browning Citori

how about a new-used barrel for your 870, a 30" vent rib with remchoke would be ideal, and extra used wood can be had. if you decide to enter the would of clay games you could update.

Pre owned field grade Citoris and Beretta 686s can be had for that price point. If you can try both of them out as either Browning or Beretta will fit you better but not both.

The other suggestions here are also good ones.

at a gun show several months ago i found a BT-99 with 32" barrel with invicta plus tubes in the box in like new condition for 1200.00 dollars. as i looked it over i talked to the owner saying i have a bt-100 and i liked it, and didn,t need the 99. he even went down to 1100.00, i should have bought it as i,m sure one of our new shooters would take it. one of our spur of the moments shoots on a nice winter day.

$1500 will get you a good semi-auto. It will get you an entry level O/U. Serious clays shooters use O/U shotguns with 5 figure price tags, but for most recreational shooters a decent semi-auto is a better option in my opinion.

If it is a clays only gun I'd buy something gas operated. The Remington series are decent guns, but the design is a bit dated. And they can be heavy. Beretta makes some good guns. I know some guys who are extremely happy with these.

Beretta A300 Ultima Semi-Auto Shotgun | Cabela's (cabelas.com)

That is half your budget, but I don't know anyone with this gun who doesn't like it.

I am primarily a hunter who will shoot a round of clays a few times a year just for fun and to stay in practice. As a dual purpose gun I like the inertia action used by Benelli. The guns are lighter than gas guns and the design is more reliable. Especially in harsh field conditions like you'd see waterfowl hunting. I get the reliability of a pump, with the faster repeat shots of a semi. They do recoil more, but no more so than the 870 you have. The gas operated guns help reduce recoil and are a better choice for high volume shooting.

Benelli M2 Field Semi-Auto Shotgun | Cabela's (cabelas.com)

Some very good suggestions.

I was in your situation a while back. I meet about once a month with a group of friends and we have a fun clay shoot. I bought a CZ712 and it’s been excellent..

it took a couple boxes of high brass 6 shot at first, but now it will run the weakest/cheapest low brass target loads flawlessly.

Shooting "clays" is such an indeterminate term that it makes a suggestion difficult. Trap, get a trap gun i.e. BT99, 1100 like Entropy's, Citori, 870 TA or higher. Skeet, a more "field" stocked with 28-32" barrels and skeet chokes( or tubes) and again, 1100 skeet, Citori, Beretta A400. Sporting Clays, some crossover allowed. Clays off the bumper hitch Trius trap, anything you want that you can hit with. It all boils down to gun fit, choke needs, poi/poa. I haven't really added much to what has been posted already but if you don't have a specific game in mind it is hard to choose. I shoot either an 870'TB, a BT99, or an 1100 Trap for trap. I shoot a Beretta 686 or my 1100 Trap (with a skeet barrel) for skeet and sometimes, just for fun, an old Model 12 skeet gun. I don't shoot sporting, yet. Good luck. For long term heavy use, stay away from the Turks in general.

All good suggestions and I can't really add much. If you only plan on shooting occasionally for fun, your cheapest option is a different barrel for your 870. And there is nothing wrong with wanting a different shotgun either. Others have given good suggestions.

PapaG said:

For long term heavy use, stay away from the Turks in general.

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I have to agree with this 100%. While I do have a Turkish made O/U 410 it is mostly used for the occasional quail and dove hunting and I only take it to the skeet range a few times per year. I would definitely want something better made if I was going to the skeet/trap/sporting range once a month or more often.

what ever you decide to buy, go and enjoy your self. we would love to have you at our clubs shoots, you could try all type of shotguns from our members.

Yeah maybe a spare barrel would be a good idea, but if you want a new gun go with some of the above recommendations. I shoot with a wingmaster too, I have a 30" FC bbl and I also have the 20" police rifle sight bbl. It's nice to be able to switch functions in a matter of about 10 seconds.

I’ve spent thousands of dollars looking for the right clays gun. At the end of the day, if you’re using it to have casual fun with an occasional tournament, any shotgun will do. For trap singles, any shotgun is fine with a preference towards a bead sight and a full or modified choke (interchangeable chokes would be ideal). If you are looking for skeet, sporting clays, or pairs; a double gun or auto loader is preferable and you will want different chokes with a leaning towards more open options. That being said, many people have used and continue to use pumps for those games.

I’m a casual shooter who used a fixed full choke Wingmaster for most of my shooting life. However, I now use a Citori CXT for trap and a 26” field Citori for everything else.

For long term heavy use, stay away from the Turks in general.

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FWIW: I've got about 3,000 rounds through my TriStar Viper 410 and it hasn't hicupped
(I've also got an early Citori & a coupla Berretta O/U's, several 870s, another coupla 1100s
(try to get parts now), an Ithaca 37 (maybe two ), and mucho Model-12s.

For finding out whether you like the game ...before deciding what & how much of (possibly many times)
your mortgage payment you want to invest in as your "forever" gun.... those "turks" are very hard to beat.


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Every style of gun has advantages and it's up to you which "style" you like best. For example, semi-autos are fast with low recoil, but don't always like reloads. O/U have two different chokes in same gun, great for sporting clays, but recoil is harder. Pumps are cheap, but effective and most can shoot while pumping and holding down the trigger. With your money you may want several for different sport uses.

i,m sure you will not have any problems finding parts for your 870-1100,s and time soon.

i,m sure you will not have any problems finding parts for your 870-1100,s and time soon.

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I just had to weld/repair the action bar for my 1100/410.
(Guess why... )

I can’t part with the money for a true trap gun when I am not sure I will get my worth. I guess I am trying to say, will I get long term enjoyment from trap or sporting clays? Enough to make it worth spending enough for a pro shotgun. Last time out the FN SLP got the nod. I also have a condor, and a Mossberg 9200. No better way to get used to a shotgun than by shooting.

not the norm, the smaller ga may be a problem.

I’m in the group with getting a nice used Citori. Choke tube model. It’ll work for any clay games you want to try. I found a great deal last spring on a super nice invector field citori for $900. I got lucky but their out there. At some point you might want to try sporting clays and the ability to have different chokes is nice.

Thomasss said:

Every style of gun has advantages and it's up to you which "style" you like best. For example, semi-autos are fast with low recoil, but don't always like reloads. O/U have two different chokes in same gun, great for sporting clays, but recoil is harder. Pumps are cheap, but effective and most can shoot while pumping and holding down the trigger. With your money you may want several for different sport uses.

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no longer true. Most newer shotguns have a disconnector to prevent slam firing. The old M12, 97, and 37s could, however.

For casual clays, you already have a good gun, just wants a more appropriate barrel: 28”-30” vent or raised rib barrel with a bead will do you right.

If you get more into it, a used Browning or Beretta (whichever fits you better) will serve your needs well up to high volume competition level.

I'll second the auto recommendations. I shot trap for years with a Beretta 682 O/U but that isn't an entry level shotgun. Honestly, a well fitting auto (adjustable stock) is all you need.

I'm not currently up on the new models but Beretta's have always impressed me, both O/U and autos. The only downside that I can see with an auto is picking up your hulls if you want to reload. My impression is people don't do that much anymore because shot is so expensive. Costs about the same to buy the ammo.