Recommendations for sporting clays

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savage116

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Its been quite some time since I’ve posted on here. Life gets busy but I’m glad to be back researching guns again! This time I’m looking for information on shotguns and sporting clays. The only shotguns I currently have are pumps. We used to shoot a lot of clays in the backyard which we haven’t done for quite some time but we’re getting back into it. Going to start going and shooting sporting clays whenever we can too. Not getting into any competition shooting just with family and friends right now.

I’m looking for any information/opinions on what type of gun people prefer and reasons why. Semi? O/U? Brands of guns. What are the pros and cons of each and what would make the most sense for shooting clays off the thrower in the backyard and going to shoot sporting clays on a course?

Pretty open minded at this point and pretty flexible on what I can buy. I’m not looking for something I need a co-signer for but I don’t mind dishing out a little money to buy a nice firearm that I’ll own the rest of my life and will be enjoyable to shoot.
 
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Anything in the Beretta family of sporting guns is very popular among shooters. The same goes for Browning. I would recommend a dedicated clays gun, if clays are what you want to shoot the most of. A sporting clsys gun won't mind the occasional trip to the dove fields or duck blinds.
I pursue both trap and sporting clays with my Remington 1100 competition grade. They are hard to find, but if you stumble upon one....buy it. It will serve you well. 20170101_132903.jpg
 
Your pump will work just fine. There don’t seem to be many true doubles any more since the targets are machine thrown. Having said that, an over/under is very nice. You can have two different chokes but the most significant thing is that you won’t have to pick up your spent shells.

Any gauge will work, but I would suggest a 20ga.
 
I guess maybe I’m using this as a partial excuse to shop for a new gun. garandsrus I’d imagine you’re right that my pump would be adequate. It’s a 28” browning BPS and I do really like that shotgun. There’s just something about walnut and high gloss bluing! Is there a reason you suggest 20ga?

Armored farmer, at this time clays would be the main/only use. When you say a dedicated clays gun what do you mean by that. What fits that bill of a dedicated clays gun?
 
O/Us are by for the most popular, IMO because most people are too lazy to pick up shells and/or reload. You will be far better served with a quality GAS semi auto than a cheap O/U.
Everyone will pimp for their favorite brand, but I believe a Beretta, Remington, FabArm, or several others will suffice quite well. See which feels best To You.
 
I have a Beretta AL391 Sporting. As far as semis go, it's a great gun. With that said, I am partial to Browning O/U guns.

I have never owned a Rem 1100 Competition like Armored farmer has. However, I have shot at least one on the trap field. They are very nice shooting guns.
 
O/Us are by for the most popular, IMO because most people are too lazy to pick up shells and/or reload. You will be far better served with a quality GAS semi auto than a cheap O/U.
Everyone will pimp for their favorite brand, but I believe a Beretta, Remington, FabArm, or several others will suffice quite well. See which feels best To You.
So you aren’t saying semi auto has the upper hand unless you factor in cost? What are you considering a cheap over under?
 
>>There don’t seem to be many true doubles any more since the targets are machine thrown<<

I can't say as I agree with your logic, as in every SC station we shoot there's at least one pair that's a double, or "simo" if you will. They may not be coming out of the same machine but there are two birds in the air none the less.
 
Your pump will work just fine. There don’t seem to be many true doubles any more since the targets are machine thrown. Having said that, an over/under is very nice. You can have two different chokes but the most significant thing is that you won’t have to pick up your spent shells.

Any gauge will work, but I would suggest a 20ga.
HUH??? True pairs are thrown all the time in sporting clays
OP, you don't mention a budget; there are acceptable guns in the $1500 range as well as some nice ones in the $15,000 range with several in between. For gas guns, Beretta and Fabarm. For O/Us look at Beretta, Browning on the lower end, Blaser, Zoli, Caesar Guerini in the middle range and Perazzi, Kreighoff, Kolar and Beretta DT series on the upper range. Any of those will do the job; but FIT will be critical so buy the one that fits, not just the name or price tag. The gas semis like Beretta and Fabarm do come with stock shims that allow you to change the drop and cast to some degree for a better fit. The downside is chasing your empties (if you reload especially) and you have only one choke to use at a time. For grins and giggles, that might not matter too much.
 
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I guess maybe I’m using this as a partial excuse to shop for a new gun. garandsrus I’d imagine you’re right that my pump would be adequate. It’s a 28” browning BPS and I do really like that shotgun. There’s just something about walnut and high gloss bluing! Is there a reason you suggest 20ga?

Armored farmer, at this time clays would be the main/only use. When you say a dedicated clays gun what do you mean by that. What fits that bill of a dedicated clays gun?

First of all, are you a reloader, or planning to reload?
if yes then an o/u is for you. Also, I despise picking up emties, so an o/u is nice to just limit the clutter on the range, by simply dropping your emties into a hull bag.
Target guns specifically designed for sporting Clay's will have.
Straighter stocks or adjustable stocks
Single selective triggers
High visibility beads
Smooth butt pad
Lengthened forcing cones
Extended quick change tubes
Nicer finish
You're looking at Browning and Beretta primarily.
I've been out of the loop for a while, perhaps there are others ......BUT, there is no such thing as a cheap o/u.
If you have the means, then by all means....get a good one. You can almost always get your money back out of a good one, especially if you choose a nice used one to start with.
Gunbroker is a goid place to look for ideas and prices. But definitely shoulder it before you buy.
Go to your local club and see what guys are using, most are happy to let you try their guns....at least thats how it used to be.
 
I guess maybe I’m using this as a partial excuse to shop for a new gun. garandsrus I’d imagine you’re right that my pump would be adequate. It’s a 28” browning BPS and I do really like that shotgun. There’s just something about walnut and high gloss bluing! Is there a reason you suggest 20ga?

Armored farmer, at this time clays would be the main/only use. When you say a dedicated clays gun what do you mean by that. What fits that bill of a dedicated clays gun?
A dedicated clays gun is designed and built for target use, not field use. They tend to be heavier, have longer barrels and are designed to be shot a LOT. Many will come with adjustable combs; some, like Perazzi, can be ordered exactly to your specifics. I would stick with a 12 gauge as the ammo selections (when the current insanity settles down) are much greater from a wider choice of makers
 
Are you in it for fun, a serious endeavor, or both?
If your serious spend as much as you can to get best gun to suit your needs. If your into it strictly for fun spend as little as you need to get the gun that provides the best results and appeals to you. I prefer semi-autos as I don't find reloading all the time to be enjoyable. Some times it's fun to stand on the thrower pedal and shoot at a string of clays. What's a real hoot is out shooting young guys with expensive 12 gauge guns. :)
Seriously get something that fits and appeals to you. If you have to crane your neck or put the gun to your shoulder three times to get it right, put it back and keep looking.
Hi-vis sights can be a real advantage for some people. Others are distracted by them. For me with old fogy eye sight they are a real blessing. I'm looking at the clay but my subconscious is tracking both and the Hi-vis sight makes it a lot easier and the results are very rewarding. A lightweight 20 gauge and limb saver means I can shoot all afternoon with no ill affects.
Whatever you end up with I hope you have a lot of fun. Good luck.
 
A lightweight 20 will have equal or more recoil because of that light weight. I shoot a Beretta O/U that weighs almost 9# and my reloads for practice and fun stuff are 3/4oz which is the equal of a 28 gauge. That I can shoot all day (and have) easily handling 300-400 shots without shoulder fatigue or pain.
 
rudy etchen was hell on wheels shooting trap doubles with a remington 870 pump, breaking 100 straight twice with the same gun years later. but as quigley said you(me) ain,t rudy.
 
I shoot a Beretta O/U that weighs almost 9#
I glad you found something that works for you. I don't want to carry 9 lbs around. I have arthritis in my hip, back and hands. No feeling in my feet along with neck and shoulder pain. This combination has worked well for me. I can shoot all afternoon with no bad effects and I'm very grateful for that.
As I said, spend what it takes to come up with a combination that works for his needs.
 
I use a Remington 1100 for clays, pheasants and deer. I just swap barrels. I shot clays over xmas with a friend of mine. I had the opportunity to use his benelli nova for a while (with large orange front bead) and really enjoyed the quick pick up. I didn't shoot any better with one or the other, but I was definitely faster with the nova.
As with everything, it mostly boils down to personal preference. I will say I was at brownells this weekend and was playing with an a400. That's one beautiful set up, but I couldn't justify the cost for as little as I would use it.
 
I appreciate the feedback I’m getting. It’s a little mixed and sounds like there’s some personal preference involved and maybe not a for sure style of gun to get. (Auto or O/U) Would it make sense to buy one then maybe get another down the rd if I stick with it, or would there be an advantage to say,buying the O/U first then getting an auto later potentially or vice versa? I’ll touch on some of the questions there were to fill in for some of the variables you are basing your suggestions on...

-FUN OR COMPETITION ...For now it’ll be strictly for fun. Spending time with family, getting back to shooting more because I genuinely enjoyed any type of getting out and shooting whether it was busting clays, shooting pistols or sitting down with rifles. It was all fun and for the last 4 years haven’t really done much of any of it.

-RELOADING...as of now I don’t reload anything but I’ve always saved my brass and my hulls with intentions of one day, once the stock of empties gets to be eexcessive, to reload.

-BUDGET...like most people I like to save when I can but I don’t mind spending a little for something that will last and also retain its value. If an Over/under is the way to go I wouldn’t mind spending 2-2500 on one if thats what it takes to get one of reasonable quality and it would be worth the money. If an auto is the way to go and one can be had cheaper maybe that makes more sense? Or would I get one and end up wanting the other at some point anyways potentially? Whether it be an O/U or an auto there’s nothing I hate more than buying something and being dissatisfied or buying something subpar that ends up being a waste of money anyways. Buy junk gun it’ll either sit there and never get used or I’ll sell it and take a hit on it and spring for the better one anyway.
 
Went from a converted golf push cart to 4 wheels and a gas engine......(Of course I needed a trailer and a truck too!) My old group used to walk the courses, but as everyone started pushing 70s+ (I'm the youngin' @64) everyone started getting motorized carts and ATVs. Sure make carrying the gun, ammo, range bag, cooler with drinks (very nice during the Florida summer heat) etc.
Many places around here will rent carts as well
 
I appreciate the feedback I’m getting. It’s a little mixed and sounds like there’s some personal preference involved and maybe not a for sure style of gun to get. (Auto or O/U) Would it make sense to buy one then maybe get another down the rd if I stick with it, or would there be an advantage to say,buying the O/U first then getting an auto later potentially or vice versa? I’ll touch on some of the questions there were to fill in for some of the variables you are basing your suggestions on...

-FUN OR COMPETITION ...For now it’ll be strictly for fun. Spending time with family, getting back to shooting more because I genuinely enjoyed any type of getting out and shooting whether it was busting clays, shooting pistols or sitting down with rifles. It was all fun and for the last 4 years haven’t really done much of any of it.

-RELOADING...as of now I don’t reload anything but I’ve always saved my brass and my hulls with intentions of one day, once the stock of empties gets to be eexcessive, to reload.

-BUDGET...like most people I like to save when I can but I don’t mind spending a little for something that will last and also retain its value. If an Over/under is the way to go I wouldn’t mind spending 2-2500 on one if thats what it takes to get one of reasonable quality and it would be worth the money. If an auto is the way to go and one can be had cheaper maybe that makes more sense? Or would I get one and end up wanting the other at some point anyways potentially? Whether it be an O/U or an auto there’s nothing I hate more than buying something and being dissatisfied or buying something subpar that ends up being a waste of money anyways. Buy junk gun it’ll either sit there and never get used or I’ll sell it and take a hit on it and spring for the better one anyway.
At that budget, a Browning or Beretta O/U is in your price range as are Beretta gas guns. You'll want 30 or 32 inch barrels for good swing dynamics (and better resale if you change your mind) Whichever way you decide to go, get the target version and not a field version. They are generally heavier and built for large volumes of shooting. Heavy gun plus light payloads going slow equals the least recoil (actual). A gun that FITS will give you the least perceived recoil (aka "kick").
 
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