What gun for skeet?

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Norton

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Well, darling wife enjoyed the new SA Mil-Spec that I got her earlier this month. Now, after a successful day of trap shooting with the Mossberg 500 on Tuesday, she's decided that she would like her own shotgun to try some skeet and sporting clays.

I''ve shot a fair amount of trap in the last year or so, almost exclusively with my 870. I've been interested in branching out into skeet and sporting clays as well, but haven't a clue about which guns, gauges, chokes, etc to consider. I was thinking along the lines of an O/U.....is this preferable to a semi-auto?

Would like to stay under $1000 if at all possible.
 
Both O/U's and auto's work well at skeet and sporty's, as you have doubles in both. Plusses for an O/U is you can collect shells easier if you reload, you can use two diff. chokes if you are shooting sporty's with two different length shots, and they're pretty! Autos usually have less felt recoil, POI w/one barrel is always the same, and they're in general less expensive. The usual issue of fit is always important whichever she goes with. Why not let her try both types if your club rents them, or if your buddies would allow her to try theirs. Good luck!
 
Didn't address all your issues. Skeet chokes are all you need for skeet. For sporting clays you can use everything from cyl. to full depending on the course, but could get away with skeet, IC, Mod to get started. 12 or 20 guage would work as long as your not a nat'l caliber competitor. They all use 12 (in skeet you typically compete with all 4 guages, use one 12 ga. gun, and put diff. guage inserts into the 12 ga. barrels). Also, if you're looking to spend under $1K and decide on an O/U, you probably want to look at a used Browning Citori or Beretta 6XX. Both very durable, reliable guns-again it comes down to which fits her best.
 
I'd look for a used O/U.

If I were looking, I'd check out what's available from Beretta, Browning and Ruger. Check them over in a shop and see which one(s) fit the best and handle the way you prefer. Then, try to find one at a price which seems OK to you. If you can beg or borrow someones to shoot a few shells through, that would be ideal.

FWIW, at least in the shops around here, it looks like used base-level O/Us, from Beretta and Browning have dropped in price about $100 over the same time last year. I don't know if it's due to the Cynergy being released or what (could also be the larger number of new "budget" O/Us available), but guns that were in the $1050 - $1100 range are now going for $900-$1000. Autos actually seem to be going for more, and pumps are about the same, but the O/U used market seems to be flagging a bit.

Make sure that whatever you get has screw-in chokes, and a wood stock. Not only does the wood look better, but it is more easily modified for a custom fit.

BTW, it sounds like you are well on your way to converting your hard-earned money into guns and grins. Welcome to the club, my friend! :D
 
Thanks all......sounds like I wasn't as far off as I thought as far as brands. I may just have to keep my eyes open for a used Beretta, Browning or Ruger as the gun shows come along in the next few weeks.

So, a couple of folks have advocated the 28 gauge....what is the advantage to that as opposed to the 12 gauge? I suspect less perceived recoil.....

I'm partial to the O/U design myself aesthetically. Also seems as if there would be fewer issues as far as ammo compatibility.

Anyone have any experience with the HK/Fabarm guns? CDNN has them for around $899 in their latest catalog.
 
Take her to PGC and have her try the various guns in the rental rack. They have one reduced length stock 391 in 20 gauge that's great for new shooters.

And I believe someone might lend her a Ruger 28 O/U if she asked. There's a number of them around. One advantage of the 28 is they can be made lighter without angering the Gods Of Kick. That Rule of 96 again.
 
OH ...YOU have to let her try a 28 ga for Skeet ! :D
Click to expand...

As much as I love the 28ga, it still only packs 3/4oz of shot, and it is the gun I shoot 80% of the time on the skeet range, it does lack a bit on a sporting clays range.

I would suggest an auto in 12ga that will accept and shoot reliably superlight loads (1oz and 7/8oz). Generaly this is the Beretta 391s and maybe Win SX2's.

O/U's is the next bet with superlight loads. These guns tend to be heavier, so a small framed person may find them more awkward to handle.

Dave's advice to try out the rentals is right on spot. It will show her what she may like right from the start.
 
May just have to try out the rentals.....they only charge something like $4.00 to rent a gun, and you can use your own ammo.

She's been shooting the AA 26 gram loads in the Mossberg and doesn't seem to mind the recoil from that in 12 gauge.

I had my hands on a Savage 440 O/U the other day that was very light.....maybe lighter than my 870. Guy wanted $475 for it. Didn't have screw in chokes though......
 
Dave,

I didn't notice the number "14" on it. The fella helping me was not a shotgunner so he didn't know too much about it either.

Any significance to that number?
 
Pop's old Savage O/U had the 14 pin punched into it as an inventory number by the military. Pop's shotgun was stolen at a field trial in the late 60s or early 70s.
I'd like to find it. So, I look for Savage O/Us wherever I go. The 14 will ID it for me, don't have the serial number.
 
Dave,

Wow...if I get a chance, I'll stop by the shop again some time and give the gun a look over. Do you know specifically where it was stamped?

If you want to go check it out, it was at Potomac Trading in Kensington. Shop sits near the intersection of Connecticut Ave and University Blvd (Rt 193).

Nice shop....lots of old stuff on the racks.
 
Dave Sorry about Pop's gun. I can understand how you feel.

kudu , hey my friend didn't you know my job is to stir up trouble here on the forums? I don't have an offiical title, the pay ain't much....sure is fun tho". :D

Umm...gotta run seems as if Tuner is trying to undo something I did where he moderates...

The things I do around here - I swear! :p
 
Dave, can you put "resident old coot troublemaker" under sm's title so people will be warned. You know, where it says "Senior Member"

sm, you know I love the 28, but I had a heck of a good weekend with the .410. 172 out of 175. With a stiff gusty breeze making it interesting.
 
Oh the humanity!

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Mulliga,

I'm up for that eventually, but think I'd rather learn the game with either an O/U or semi-auto then work my way back to the pump.

I don't think wife would be too keen on using a pump gun for the double shots though.
 
Kudu, 172/175 is darn good shooting with anything. And with a 410, it's terrific.
sm's unofficial title here is "Curmudgeon in Residence".

Shooting doubles with a pump is a great way to learn to cycle quickly and well, Norton.
 
Save The Skeets Foundation ...Arrgghh, oh give me a break!! Here we go again, SKEETS are evil , they must be destroyed , part of the Natural Order of Things...damn- another Organization twisting stuff around , mis-information, skewing the data....they probably hug trees and bunnies too! :D

870's work for Skeet, all the gauges work ...Only good Skeet - Is a Dead Skeet. :uhoh: :)

kudu Great shooting! We all "know" the limits of the .410. Folks that only read articles, and don't try their skill with the .410 ...never learn the lessons of hold points, leads, follow through...and even doing all that Correctly - Humililty. It does sharpen's ones skills and toughens the skin.

Oh...too much darn fun. I dare anyone to question the reason for the Win. Mod 42...

FWIW I still think a semi auto in 20 ga is about the best First Gun to learn Skeet with. The ability to Focus on the Target and The Basic Fundamentals are so important.

Once Correct Basic Fundamentals are practiced and learned...and a BUNCH of trigger time has occurred, a shooter gets the point where " they could break 'em with a stick"...

...or a .410 , like kudu shared with us. ;)
 
For $1,000 and under I would go with a gas operated auto like the Remington 1100. Soft shooting, good shooting auto with an abundance of bbls and stocks to transform it into most any confiquration...almost.

Perhaps look at their sporting clays model, good for skeet also.

Everyone should own one anyway. :)

Later on, I'd save up a bit more and buy an O/U.
 
Quote: Perhaps look at their sporting clays model, good for skeet also.

I'll second that suggestion. The Rem Sporting 12 I saw at a Gander Mtn had beautiful wood. My local Wallyworld can order it for me for under $700 if I remember correctly. I've got a hand me down '60's 1100 that my son and I just love. You can also buy a Jack West stock with adjustable comb and add it to a garden variety 1100 to make it an all arounder.
see:
http://www.jwstocks.com/Injected_Molded_Adjustable_Sto/injected_molded_adjustable_sto.html

Ed
 
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