Looking for bird/skeet gun

[BobTheTomato]

So as the title says about once or twice a year I find myself invited to a clay or bird shoot and all I have is a mossberg 500 with a 18 inch barrel. I normally borrow a gun so I am not the fool with a "riot gun" trying to break clays. Since my wife has no real objection to me buying a gun....I am looking for a shotgun either over-under, side by side or semiauto in 12 gauge. I can spend up to 600. I know I could just by a new barrel for the 500 but that would mean I wouldn't get a new gun. I don't want anything fancy....just want something decent that will get er done.

Thanks

 

[MEHavey]

If you don't have an objection to a pump (which can be faster
than an auto -- much to the chagrin of my skeet partners)...

Ithaca 37
Browning BPS
Remington 870
Used Win Model 12 w/ a Cutts compensator choke set,

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

A nice used 1100 can be had for $500 or so. My brother bought one from 1965 at that price that looked like it was never used. Gorgeous gun.

Here is one that might fit what you want. Plain barrel, 26" Modified. $400. Going by the serial number thegun in the link was made between 1965 and 1968. Virginian could narrow it further. Nuttin' fancy but still a good looking high quality gun.

If I were in the market for one of these it would be mine. But you could get this AND a new barrel for that 500!

http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/remington-1100-12-gauge-s7540/

 

[SARuger]

I use a mid 60's 20g 1100 for clays, picked it up for $175 a few years ago. It has the old Cutts Compensator choke system and came complete with the wooden storage box and wrench.

It makes me look like I can shoot! I suck with any other gun!

For all-around use, look at a 870 or a 11-87. I use a 870 in the woods and a 11-87 in the field. Never can seem to shoot clays good with the 11-87 but I can hit birds okay with it.


My old "X" model 1100

 

[sappyg]

Ditto on a used 1100. I have seen new 11-87s retail at 650 and once found one on sale for 550..., I shoulda bought it.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

Some good options so far, especially the mention of a used 1100. I'd vote semi auto for sure given your needs. Expand the budget another Benjamin or two and you have lots of good options.

 

[Candyman87]

Picked up my 11-87 a couple years ago for cheap a couple Black Friday's ago. That's my budget clays gun.

My girlfriend shoots a Stoeger Condor O/U in 20 gauge. I think that ran about $550 new. I like that one a lot too.

 

[PapaG]

My skeet gun for the last two years has been a M12 Winchester which was originally a WS1 but some dumba@@ cut it and installed a Cutts. Originally a WS1 it would have been worth quite a bit. If it had an original Cutts even more. As is, I got it for a song. With the skeet spreader tube, I'm averaging 23/25. Better than with my Citori.
Pumps are fine for skeet. I used my 870 trap gun before I got this one and just slipped on a 25" barrel with a skeet tube.
The pullers often ask, "what the heck is that?" My answer is, "it is what your grandpa used before Kolars and Perazzis and Berettas got popular". True.

 

[Virginian]

An 1100 is what ran EVERYTHING else off the skeet fields before O/Us got popular. There has never been a phenomenon like it, before or since.

 

[MAKster]

You can buy a brand new semiautomatic Beretta A300 Outlander for as low as $600.

 

[donparadowski]

I own a Wing Master and it is fantastic on birds. However, I don't think with its full choke that it would really be the right weapon for trap and skeet.

 

[kituwa]

What makes the best clay and bird gun is one that fits YOU right. What may be great for me may be awful for you. If you can try shooting some clays with other guys guns if they will let you. That should let you know pretty quick what gun will work for you or not. The 1100 does seem to work for a lot of guys though. This may not always be the case but one with a vent or solid rib will more than likely work best no matter what gun it is.

 

[eastbank]

papaG, does your md 12 look like this? mine was a regular md 12 that was done over and i,m sure the mod,s done cost more than the md 12. new stock,s, simmons rib, cutts comp and reblue and like yours it was cheap, but it does work like grease lighting. eastbank.

 

[PapaG]

East, that could almost be my gun. Wood is a little different. Mine was originally a skeet gun made "skeetier" with the Cutts. Can't do for squat on trap, even with the mod, full, ex full or mag full tubes.

 

[I6turbo]

IMO, it'd be a big gamble, probably a mistake, to buy a shotgun for wing shooting or target shooting without at least handling it and checking for good fit for your body. Actually firing it at some targets would be even better, but that's often not possible.

A great-fitting shotgun will improve a good shooter's results very significantly. Visit as many stores and/or gun shows as possible, check out all kinds of shotguns to see how they feel and see if they are pointing exactly where you are looking when you bring them to your shoulder in a firing stance.

 

[Bill4282]

I bought a Mos 935 field for ducks. Took it to my gunsmith and had it fitted. He modified the stock forlength and castoff. Now a good inexpensive trap gun

 

[hAkron]

I agree - For your budget, Remington 1100, or 11-87.

 

[red rick]

You can get a new synthetic stock 11-87 for a little less than $600 . Wood will cost you about $80 dollars more .

Weatherby SA-08 synthetic can be had for a little less than $500 . The Deluxe wood around $650 . The Weatherby has about a 1/2 longer LOP than the 11-87and is made in Turkey . It is also pretty light compared to the steel Remington .

If I was going to do more bird hunting than clays and if it fit me , I would pick the Weatherby .

The Remington has a lot more after market support if you want to change things .

I just bought a 20 ga. SA-08 this year for rabbit hunting .

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Could take the $600 and spend it on a firearms class with your shotgun that you own. Could be a skeet, trap type class or a self defense class. I find the classes more rewarding than a new firearm.

 

[RPRNY]

You can buy a brand new semiautomatic Beretta A300 Outlander for as low as $600.

This.

The Weatherby SA-08 is also viable.

If not, buy the best used S/A you can. There is no o/u at $600 that is worth owning and a pump for clays is ridiculous, unless that's all you have/can afford. Then it's not.

 

[MEHavey]

a pump for clays is ridiculous,

Skeet: 100 straight w/ a model-12

Please explain.

 

[RPRNY]

You know it's ridiculous, or you wouldn't be so proud of your unlikely achievement.

Explained.

 

[Virginian]

If a pump was the best way to go, everyone would be using them. They used to but not anymore. I can, but I have been using one for 50 years, and I prefer a semi auto, and that is what I would recommend to anyone who has not been doing it long enough to have a real preference.

 

[MEHavey]

You know it's ridiculous, or you wouldn't be
so proud of your unlikely achievement.

Geeee... great response. Full of facts and rationale.

That said...
My father ran his 100 straight(s) in Military League play in the 50's
I ran my 100 straight(s) in Military League play in the 70's.
Same Model-12

Must be the "military" in us -- we use what we have.
(Or if may have just been the Model-12 action which loads itself as fast as the 1100's)

 

[eastbank]

for me its hard to keep every thing lined up and work the pump at the same time at sporting clays, with doubles trap its not to hard for me to use a pump.eastbank.