Entry Level Auto Advice

[JaxNovice]

I am looking for an entry level auto that I can use for Sporting Clays, Skeet and trap. Anyone care to point me in the right direction?

Thanks!

 

[oletymer]

The only autos I would recommend for your stated use are Remington 1100 and Beretta 391. They are used by the vast majority of auto shooters in shooting those games. They are used for a reason, they do the job and hold up well. If you don't want to buy on of these new there are always available in good shape used at reasonable prices.

 

[evbutler462]

Oletymer, great advice. I wish everyone would be so concise. Perfect guns if the shooter knows how to shoot. If he doesn't, ain't nothing else going to help.

 

[VARifleman]

I use a remington 1100 that I picked up off of gunbroker for 336 shipped with a 28" fixed mod barrel and a 20" remchoke barrel. I cut a bit of the stock off and put on a small sized slip on limbsaver butt pad. I then drilled the pad and stock and screwed it on there to keep it from slipping. I don't have too much shotgun experience but hit 20-22 out of 25 in wobble and american trap, while occasionally using it for 5 stand and skeet.

 

[Milkmaster]

New or used Remington 1100 is what I use and would reccommend! Either 12 or 20.

 

[RNB65]

How much you looking to spend?

My recommendation for a general purpose clay shooting gun would be a new or used Beretta 391, 390, or 3901. The Beretta 3901 American is a US made gun that costs similar to a Rem 1100 and I think is a much better gun for the money.

 

[Smitty in CT]

Mossberg 930, very reliable, easy to clean..

My second choice would be a Beretta 3901 or 390, the 391 is a PITA to clean...

 

[JaxNovice]

Hi Rnb, I was hoping to keep it around $400.

 

[RNB65]

$400 for a semi? Not good. The only thing you're going to get for $400 is either a piece of junk Charles Daly (trust me, don't buy one) or a WELL used Remington 1100/1187. You need to double your budget if you want a reliable semi. For $400, you need to be looking at a pump. You should be able to find a used 870 Wingmaster in good condition for under $400 and it will last a lifetime.

 

[Smitty in CT]

...$400 for a semi? Not good. The only thing you're going to get for $400 is either a piece of junk Charles Daly (trust me, don't buy one) or a WELL used Remington 1100/1187...

Sorry, but I have to disagree with RNB's comment, the Mossberg 930 can be had right around the $400 price range, supposedly Gander Mountain is running a sale on them right now for around $350!!!.

I have over 7,500 rounds through my 930 and it has not failed to fire or eject a single shell, any shell, including some very light hand loads.

Do a thorough search, these are great guns for the money, and they perform as good, if not better, than guns costing much, much more.

 

[Scoupe]

$400 for a semi? Not good. The only thing you're going to get for $400 is either a piece of junk Charles Daly (trust me, don't buy one) or a WELL used Remington 1100/1187. You need to double your budget if you want a reliable semi. For $400, you need to be looking at a pump. You should be able to find a used 870 Wingmaster in good condition for under $400 and it will last a lifetime.

I'm going to have to disagree here also. I've yet to pay more than $400 for a good used 1100. Of the three I've bought in the last couple years, one was almost unfired, one had a few ding in the stock, but looked good with great blue and functioned flawlessly, the last was a 12ga Special Field that was a little shiney on the metal edges and I did restake the shell latch, but it's been a great gun ever since.

 

[bannockburn]

Try looking for an older Mossberg 9200. I have one and it has been the most reliable autoloading shotgun I've ever had. Now it's not made from the finest materials, and it probably wouldn't win any beauty contests with those other autoloaders, but for consistent and dependable performance, it can't be beat.