under $800 trap/skeet/sporting clay gun

[marcodo]

yeah I know probabaly asked many time but looking to get into the shooting shotgun sports. Probably a combo of all three but more common sporting clay then trap then skeet. Don't want to to spend a fortune but only want to do this once (if possible).

Would like to keep it in the $800 or less range. Could step up in price but then we would have to factor in the cost of a divorce

Looking to hear from the guru's as to which shotguns to look at. I have always been a handgun guy and am just not knowlegable about the shotguns. I am open to used guns as well. Can you guys give me a "top three" guns to look into.

Really appreciate the help!

 

[oneounceload]

Browning, Beretta, SKB are all the better grade guns that aren't in the custom level

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I just bought a pristine, still tight (as in, never fired), 20 ga Citori for $600. 1981 manufacture, so pre-Invector, which makes a difference in value. It came with a Pachmyer Decelerator and a nice canvas and leather case.

BUT, the fixed chokes are IC and MOD, so since we bought as the wife's Sporting Clays gun, it should be perfect. It's having the LOP shortened now, so we'll know shortly if our investment was a good one.

The used market is the only place to get a decent shotgun for that price.

 

[zoom6zoom]

A friend asked that very question a few weeks ago, and I pointed him to several very nice SKB's on Gunbroker for under $600, some considerably so. I love my Model 600 and have owned it a very long time.

 

[One_Jackal]

Weatherby SA08

 

[DaleCooper51]

Sporting and Trap are both 12ga games. I would look for a lightly used Beretta 391. They have the new A300 Outlander out, but I don't know much about that gun. You may be able to find a nice O/U used for that range, but you will likely run across a used Beretta semi first.

 

[Old Unc']

Beretta 3901, simple...

 

[Shmackey]

You could buy my Remington 1100 Trap.

 

[stroked383z]

I bought a new Stoeger M2000 12 gauge. My buddy has a Remington 1100 and shot mine and was hitting more with it. Said it was much better feeling due to the lightness, and that it was easier to aim with the red bar front sight.

http://www.gandermountain.com/modpe...o-Shotgun&i=GM421252&str=stoeger&merchID=4005

 

[oneounceload]

and that it was easier to aim with the red bar front sight.

Unless you are using the shotgun like a rifle (ala slugs on deer), one points, not aims, a shotgun because the targets are moving. Your eyes, hands and brain do all the work in this aspect to truly be successful

 

[stroked383z]

Let me rephrase.... its easier to see the red bar and point it where it needs to be lol. We were also shooting at night under lights at the club.

 

[One_Jackal]

I seldom use the bead to aim at a skeet. I use the top edge of the vent rib. I also use the vent rib to lead each skeet the same distance every time.

The only time i use the bead at all is when I am putting the Maverick 88 through it's paces. It doesn't hurt to shoot a few rounds of skeet with a tactical shotgun. Some ranges have a larger field. You will need a second shotgun to shoot the passing shots (stations 3-5). They are out of range for a cylinder choke.

 

[stroked383z]

Hummm that sounds like something I'll try. Honestly I've only shot skeet once at the club. I was expecting it to be like when I would shoot off the manual thrower. I was wrong. Those things really zip out of those skeet houses and caught me off-guard. The first one out of the house my jaw actually dropped lol. I decided I'll do trap for a while, and then move up to skeet.

 

[oneounceload]

cond shotgun to shoot the passing shots (stations 3-5). They are out of range for a cylinder choke.

No they aren't - a skeet choke is only .005 tighter than cylinder bore and no target on a skeet field is further away than 21 yards. Short barrel shotguns have a real bad tendency to let you stop your swing and miss from behind - it isn't the gun, or the choke