good shotgun for clay shooting

R

raven11

New member
me and my friend are looking for good guns to clay shoot with. we are using it for recreation. we have no plans to compete yet. my budget is $400 and my buddies is $200.
i'm leaning towards a pump because that what we used our first, second, and third time out but being a handgun guy the brands are numerous

what is the best shotgun for clay shooting with our budget?
 
For trap, 5-stand, etc, a pump would serve you OK. However, for skeet it would put you at a disadvantage. It takes lots of practice to be able to work the pump accurately on crossing doubles.
 
Used semi's MIGHT be available from Remington in your price range - that can vary from area to area. I'm not too sure a decent used semi will be available in your friend's budget of $200

In the pumps, you should be able to buy a Remington or Mossberg. Then make sure it fits. If you're shooting at a local club, someone should be able to help with that. If it doesn't fit, you'll be missing targets and the recoil will start to get to you after a few rounds - that helps to develop flinches - something you don't want
 
when we choose a shotgun is there a way you can determine best fit ourselves or should we bring a person more familiar with the sport to help us determine the right length?

pistols and rifles don't give you much choice in length:D
 
When you shoulder the gun, if it has a rib, you should not see the rib. If it has a mid-bead and one on the end of the barrel, they should align like a figure 8 when you have the gun properly mounted. once you practice a few mounts, try it again with your eyes closed after you determined a predetermined spot. (In the store, maybe an overhead camera or something)..If you can, with your eyes closed, mount that gun and then open your eyes and see the perfect alignment of no rib, etc, it would be fairly close. The absolute BEST method is a custom fitting session, but that would not be economically feasible at this point in time. Some folks like to mention putting the gun into the crook of your elbow - that is very crude at best.

My personal advice would be to go to a local gun club, see if they will rent, or you can borrow, several different guns - members LOVE showing off THEIR guns.....find one that fits, or see if someone there can help. You can also check out their clubhouse bulletin board - as many have guns for sale by a member. You'll tend to get a fair price and an honest indication of what is the real condition of the gun - after all, he has to shoot there, and he screwed you royally, his rep would suffer.

Take your time and find what you really works - and in the meantime, save up some more pennies just in case THE gun comes along and it's a little out of your range..

Good luck
 
A pump is usable at skeet; it makes you a bit slower on the second shot in a double, but it's by no means a significant disadvantage. You just need to be a bit quicker on the first one. Interestingly, I found I shot better with heavier loads- bringing it out of heavier recoil helped me shuck it more completely; with 7/8 oz. loads I was short stroking it all the time (go figure).

As for shotguns in your budget, others have pretty well covered everything I might say. You might want to look harder at models with interchangeable chokes though; while a cylinder or improved cylinder is good for skeet, it may be a bit too open for longer shots if you shoot trap, 5 stand, or sporting clays.
 
thanks for the help everyone :)

oneounceload- i'll take your advice and ask some of the regulars who go to the range. the range does have rentals and i'll ask some of the counter guys while i'm there
 
would we be able to get Semi. with our budgets?
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Yes, you could. The CZ Model 712 often sells for $400 Budsgunshop.com has them at that price.

Weatherby's SA08 is a newer design shotgun ( introduced in 2008 ) that is also a better made gun from Italy. But you are looking at $500 for one of them.

I would highly recommend the Weatherby SA08. And recommend the CZ 712 over any pump shotgun.

--
 
edit : i accidentally deleted the original question sorry oneounceload

with all the models out there pump, semi how much money do people spend on shotguns for trap shooting on average

i'm only trapshooting on the weekend and the only competition will be bragging rights that weekend i wouldn't want to change shotguns over time just to keep up with the sport
-sorry if the questions are a little off i'm recalling from memory
 
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Long term trap shooters tend to shoot a specific-type of gun - a single shot trap gun, whether it is a BT-99 on the low end to a Ljutic on the high end. Can you use other guns? Of course you can - whether it is a pump, NEF or similar - depends on what your real intentions are - is this going to be a real passion or is it just going to be a few fun rounds before bird season. IF this is to a passion, try trapshooters.com

http://www.trapshooters.com/
LOTS of info, help and suggestions
 
to answer the above question its just for trap shooting the closes ranges to me are trap shooting ranges , i don't birdhunt and am not planning to use it for HD
it sum it us its really only recreational and i'm just looking for a cheap pump or semi to use
 
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I hate to say it but if your buddy has a 200 dollar budget he shouldn't waste his money trying to get into shooting. Even if you shoot cheap shells they run 5 or 6 dollars a box plus then there are range fees. He is soon going to have spent more in shells and fees that he has wraped up in his gun. If he has enough money to buy shells and fees he should buy a better gun. Something he will be happy with for longer than a couple of outings.

I love to see new shooters and welcome them with open arms, but I hate to see some of them waste time and money only to find out they cannot afford this sport. Also when you buy a cheep gun and go to resell it a $200 gun will resell with luck for $80 - $100.

Shooting sports are spendy. A average ATA 300 target day around here is approx.

300 targets $66
ATA Fees $ 4
12 boxes $72
Gas $ ??
Food $ ??

While certainly not a richest mans sport it does hurt if you have a wife and kids and lower middle class income. Basically you need a somewhat substantial of "play" money to feed the habit. It will soon blossom into one weekly traveling leage shoot, then to state level shoot, but only to see what goes on there, then since you drove all that way you might as well go ahead an shoot for a couple of days. Then you kid gets the bright idea him/her want to start shooting.

This shooting sports thing is cancerous as it will consume you, but in a good way, you will never meet friendlier, more helpful folks. I shoot a gun that the cost woulg buy a very nice used car. When I am at an ATA event I can leave my gun in the rack to get a drink and it will be there when I come back.
 
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