sporting clays shotgun question

[prvtpyle]

I would like to hear any comments or ideas to my thoughts. I have been wanting to get more involved in clay target sports for a while now. I have finally decided to take the plunge and buy a shotgun. Here is what is running thru my head. I could spend my money at CDNN and get any one of a few models -- Citori 525 sporting, $1689 ; Orion super sporting clay, $1399 ; Winchester 101 select sporting, $1399; Winchester select energy sporting, $1289. These have all the goodies -- ported barrels, screw in chokes etc. etc. OR I have located a real nice Ithaca(SKB) 600 for $474. I would send it out to have screw in chokes installed (it is choked full/full right now) and get the stock fit to me. I estimate the cost, whichever way I go, to be in the same range. I am more interested in sporting clays than trap. I have heard it would be ideal to have both a sporting and a trap gun. I would like to start off with one gun right now. OR I am currently shooting an H&K imported Fabarms sporting clays competition extra semi-auto. It has the adjustable comb and other goodies except no ported barrel. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Virginian]

What's wrong with the gun you have now? Or, are you just wanting to get another gun?
Not that there is anything wrong with that.

 

[prvtpyle]

Nothing is wrong with it. I was just looking into o/u shotguns. Just figured there has to be a reason all the top shooters use an o/u. Have been shooting S/C for about 2 weeks now and havent broke 30 yet. Last 3 rounds of trap I shot with my SxS Winchester 24 in 16 ga. 22 - 23 - 24. Have yet to hit 25. I tried the fabarms semi-auto at trap... hit 12 and put it up!

 

[oneounceload]

Some random thoughts here:

Don't worry about ported barrels - that is, IMO, a non-issue
I'm wondering from your comments about the Fabarm if maybe it doesn't fit you quite properly??

You've only been shooting two weeks- 30 is good
You might want to get a lesson or two - that will always help
An O/U is a good gun - I have several and I like them; not saying a semi isn't good - my only one is in 28 gauge and it is a lot of fun to shoot skeet and 5-stand

Before buying any of those, I would try to find them at your local club and see if you can try them out to see which one fits you pretty good and you like....

good luck and welcome to the addicting world of sporting!

 

[prvtpyle]

Come on guys! All the experience on this forum and only one real reply. I know the decision is ultimately up to me to make. I would like to see more of your thoughts.

When you first got in to it, how many shotguns did you go thru before you found 'the one'? What did you start out with and did you switch platforms? i.e. auto to o/u or o/u to auto?

Anybody use any other gage in a top meet than a 12(except for skeet)?

Thanks

 

[ArmedBear]

Porting makes the gun harder to clean and louder for anyone around, without providing any benefits.

I won't even look at a ported gun unless it was ridiculously cheap.

I like the Winchesters, as long as they don't have the colander barrels, SKB's, Berettas. Can't stand Citoris.

See, they all balance differently and feel different. I can't tell you what to like, other than that if I were you I'd grab that 600 and I would leave the barrels alone. But I know I like SKB's, they're great quality, and that that would make a great trap gun.

Also, a gun doesn't have to say "Sporting" on it to break targets. Geometry of SC, Skeet and Field guns is similar or identical.

I wouldn't go buy a new gun to see if I liked it. That's an expensive way to find out.

Platforms? Tried them all, own at least one of each. Bought most of them cheap; didn't pay more than $600 for any of them until I had enough experience to think I could tell what I might like. Still not sure; nobody ever really is. Well, actually I know a few people who are. One is on the US National Team and shoots a fitted Perazzi in competition, the other is her Dad who has been shooting and hunting for 50 years (and owns hundreds of guns).

 

[PJR]

Shoot the gun you have (which is good one) and put the money into instruction, targets and shells for at least a year. During that time learn the techniques, try different guns and then decide which one is right for you. You might find that you are so attached to your Fabarm that a new gun won't be necessary.

The main advantage of an o/u is the ability to put in two different chokes but chokes are far down on the list of things to be concerned about. Many of the top competitors are using semi-autos and winning with them.

I'd avoid two guns if you are going to be shooting sporting clays. A dedicated trap gun isn't a bad idea if your main focus is trap but I've found through personal experience that I shot both games better when I used the same gun.

I've had ported guns but now all of mine are non-ported. I think it's a waste of money.

 

[blitzen]

I think the key here is to shoot a lot more with what you have. I used to shoot trap, skeet, and sporting clays with field grade Citori's and win. I also used to shoot about 400 rounds per week at least for a couple years straight. Others have said you have a fine gun already, (I'm not familiar with it) so until you've shot a couple semi truck loads of ammo I wouldn't go shopping for a new gun. Just make sure the one you have shoots were you look.

 

[sm]

If I were going to get back into serious competition , such as Sporting Clays, Int'l Skeet, or Live Pigeon -

Here is what I would do, and you can ask Will Fennell if we did not discuss this.

1. I would not buy a shotgun - yet.

2. I'd go see Will, and forget whatever I thought I knew back when I did compete seriously.

3. Shoot a variety of guns.

Now Will knows I ran a Perazzi, and it was fitted, and one set of barrels did not have beads on purpose.
So I would have to clear my human computer and try the Beretta and other offerings.
He knows of other guns I ran as well.

I am older now, and I have changed physically, so the old gun fit, would not fit me now.

So I would shoot a variety of guns, with quality lessons, and get a gun fitter to assist Will and I , on what gun fits me.

Dead Serious, ask Will if we have not discussed this.

I was raised and mentored with not buying a gun - yet.
Applicable to not only shotguns, also handguns and rifles.

Shooting is 90% Mental and 10% Physical. - Misseldine

Guns, loads, shooting glasses, ear protection, pouch, footwear...etc, is Physical.

I want to find the 10% Physical that fits me.
I do not care what anyone else is using, has, or recommends...I am the one competing, and I KNOW one cannot buy skill and targets.

Now I would like duplicates of MY Physical Stuff, as I also know backups are a good idea.

When I competed my personal goal was to have Mental Game to be about 92 or 93%, and my Physical Game to only be 8 to 7%.

Yeah, I wanted to beat folks before we stepped onto the field.

Yes it takes a shotgun to shoot a shotgun shell...
The winners have Concentration, that is what separates the Big Boy/ Girls from the others, not the guns and ammo ,or shooting glasses,or ear protection or vest, or shell vest, or...

Like the man said: Mindset, Skillsets, then Toolsets.


Use Enough Software, not Hardware.

 

[RUT]

>>there has to be a reason all the top shooters use an o/u.<<

And there are many who favor autos, so don't make your decision based on that, but rather what works better for you.

 

[younganddumb]

work more on your shooting before spending money on a new gun i know a guy that can take a stock 870 and get an easy 35 and remember thats a pump gun.

Its really becasue he has 30+ years of exspirance but that is wwhy he can do it

 

[HB]

Take the $1300 you were going to spend on the shotgun and spend $900 on ammo and the rest is for the cost of shooting the course. You've only been shooting two weeks and want to buy a new gun?

HB

 

[RNB65]

I have a Browning 425 which I like very much and highly recommend Brownings to anyone seeking an O/U. However, about 90% of my clay shooting is done with a Beretta 391 so I'll recommend it also.

 

[Pete409]

Prvtpyle,

Good scores can be shot with a wide variety of guns. Likewise, bad scores can be shot with a wide variety of guns.

I certainly understand your desire to get another gun. Nothing at all wrong with that. After all, this game is about having fun and enjoying yourself. If getting an O/U would make you happier and you don't have to deprive your family of the necessities, then by all means get an O/U........ or another autoloader if that's what you want.

As for which one, well........ just buy the one YOU like. After all, it's your money.

If you are asking about the best "bargain" among popular sporting shotguns, I would recommend a USED Browning or Beretta O/U or else a USED Beretta autoloader. Those guns are highly respected and sought after by many shooters. The nice thing about buying used is that you are unlikely to lose any money if you later decide to sell it. If you buy a new gun and decide a few months later that it is not what you really want, then you'll likely lose about 25% of your purchase price to get rid of it.

Whatever you decide on, buy it and practice with it. Shooting clay targets is a fun sport and the cost of the gun is pretty small compared to the long term cost of ammo, targets, etc.

 

[mgregg85]

I went and shot sporting clays today, my usual autoloader broke somehow, the hammer started following and the trigger wouldn't reset. So, I took my old ithaca 37 featherweight 20 ga. I ussually beat my dad and I think he was counting on beating me today due to my supposed disadvantage what with using the smaller gauge pump.

Well anyways, surprise surprise, I got a personal best of 34/50(pretty crappy I know but I only do sporting clays once or twice a year). I learned that I still suck at sporting clays but that I do pretty well with that light little pump and was able to beat my dad and his friends with their high dollar autoloaders.

 

[NCsmitty]

I know an older man who had a brace of Browning O/U's that he had for a few years, and as you all know they are quality firearms. Last year, he traded all of them, 12,20,28 & 410 for the CZ-USA Redhead in all the same gauges, and I must say they are superbly crafted firearms. The man is very knowledgeable and said the CZ's were the best patterning shotguns he had ever used and had the targets to prove it. I was fortunate to shoot a few skeet with the 410 and it was sweet. They run around $900 and I encourage everyone to give them a serious look. Fit and finish are amazing for the price.

NCsmitty