Buckmaster74
Inactive
Looking at getting into trap, skeet, or sporting clays. Should I get an O/U or semi-auto? Which one would you suggest. I also need to keep the price under $500.
Thanks
Thanks
O/U or Semiauto?
- Thread starter Buckmaster74
- Start date
For that price range you might be able to find a better O/U than you would a good semi, but its kind of a toss up. Just try and find something that you throw up and it fits right in. No wiggling it around or fitting it better into your shoulder. Look into the off brands of Rem and Win. I believe Stoeger is one of them. Baikal might be another one. On Rem webpage go to the SPR section under firearms. The have some decent O/U's there, not sure on the price though. Good luck.
Shwerp is 100% on the money,
You don’t need to spend big to get a fantastic gun. I own a Beretta SP and I must admit it is a pretty good gun, although I also own a Miroku where it cost about 800 dollars less, has palm swell, adjustable trigger and ventilated barrels! None of these exist on my beretta. But most important of all when I place my Miroku on my shoulder it fits perfectly every time. The Beretta is close but not close enough! You need to find a gun that does this! I would opt for an O/U; you can’t beat the traditional look of them. Hunt around and don’t rush, go to your local target club and see what others are using, ask questions and ask whether you can have a shot of their gun. Good luck and have fun when you’re done buying!
Steve
Beretta SP
Miroku 9000
You don’t need to spend big to get a fantastic gun. I own a Beretta SP and I must admit it is a pretty good gun, although I also own a Miroku where it cost about 800 dollars less, has palm swell, adjustable trigger and ventilated barrels! None of these exist on my beretta. But most important of all when I place my Miroku on my shoulder it fits perfectly every time. The Beretta is close but not close enough! You need to find a gun that does this! I would opt for an O/U; you can’t beat the traditional look of them. Hunt around and don’t rush, go to your local target club and see what others are using, ask questions and ask whether you can have a shot of their gun. Good luck and have fun when you’re done buying!
Steve
Beretta SP
Miroku 9000
I shoot allot of sporting clays and have used both auto loaders and OU. I prefer OU to an auto loader for a couple of reasons. OU is easier to load/unload. All sporting clays stations require 2 shots sessions. Normally the first shot is close (or closer) than the second shot. You can use a more open choke tube for the first shot and a little tighter tube for the second shot. I normally use an Improved Cylinder for the first shot and a Modified choke for the second. You don’t have that versatility with an autoloader. Just my .02 cents.
You will have a hard time finding a "do all" gun for Trap, Skeet and SC. Most field type guns work well for Skeet and SC, but Trap guns are built to shoot above the point of aim, whereas Field and Skeet guns shoot flat or to the point of aim. It is not that you cannot shoot Trap with a field gun, I have many times and do ok. I just shoot Trap better with one of my "dedicated" Trap guns. There are many new guns out there for $500.00 or less, but most are pumps which are fine for Trap, but a little difficult for Skeet doubles. I would suggest you might look at some used guns made by Browning etc. as many times there are good prices on them and might fall within or close to your budget. I would try to get the best quality gun you can as a Clay shooter you will shoot more shells in a year than the average hunter will in many years, possibly in a lifetime of hunting. I have seen several Remmy 1100's for your budget and they are good guns and easy to fix if something does go wrong. I have a Berreta 390 that has never failed and I have seen some of these around the same price on occasion. Good luck with you search.
about 3 years ago I gave $450 less10% ( to apply for bass pro shops visa ) at the local bass pro for my skeet,trap,clays,rabbit,dove,quail,crow,squirrel,and anything else that needs shooting gun. It's a 20ga Remington 1100, with parkerized finish and syn stock/fore end, man I love that gun. Keep your eyes peeled deals pop up all the time.
Skeetin'870
New member
Look at used Beretta 390's or if you can find it the bare bones 3901. But if you do find one make sure it was made in Italy not in the US. I had one and it was great over the course of 6 months it failed me 2 times. Out of 250 shells a week every week for 6 months do the math thats 6000 shells give or take 750. Great guns i can not stress this enough. Also this was not optimal conditions this was 100 degrees with cleaning about every 1000 rounds the gas system every 250. If you can find a better gun buy it. But for the 450 i paid at wally world you cant beat it.
BTW I dont work for Beretta. Now i shoot a 3200 also a great gun but i think a little more than you want to spend and definently more than you want to lug around at sporting clays.
BTW I dont work for Beretta. Now i shoot a 3200 also a great gun but i think a little more than you want to spend and definently more than you want to lug around at sporting clays.
reloading....
This might be obvious but worth saying. If you are going to be shooting a lot than you will get into reloading very quickly. The O/U has the advantage of not throwing the shells all over the place.
You can get a nice stoger semiauto for under $400. Or a stoger o/u for around $600 I think i saw one with both a 12. and .20 barrel set at that cost. Its no frils basic gun and at the price you need not worry about it getting bumped, nicked, stratched or droped in the ocean while duck hunting.....
This might be obvious but worth saying. If you are going to be shooting a lot than you will get into reloading very quickly. The O/U has the advantage of not throwing the shells all over the place.
You can get a nice stoger semiauto for under $400. Or a stoger o/u for around $600 I think i saw one with both a 12. and .20 barrel set at that cost. Its no frils basic gun and at the price you need not worry about it getting bumped, nicked, stratched or droped in the ocean while duck hunting.....
Under $500 your best bet is a Remington 1100, preferably a used gun that will be a better quality and finish. I suggest a 28" barrel with choke tubes.
O/U's are great but cost $ to get a reliable gun.
The 1100 will allow you to enjoy shooting. It is also easily fitted to you and you can change stocks to suit various games. It will require some simple maintenance but unless you are a total dufus mechanically this is not a problem.
If you can find a used Beretta 390 so much the better. But be wary of very low prices on used guns, they may be shot out.
O/U's are great but cost $ to get a reliable gun.
The 1100 will allow you to enjoy shooting. It is also easily fitted to you and you can change stocks to suit various games. It will require some simple maintenance but unless you are a total dufus mechanically this is not a problem.
If you can find a used Beretta 390 so much the better. But be wary of very low prices on used guns, they may be shot out.
look at used guns
personally I favor the O/U just so I don't have to pick up the hulls. A good used field grade Browning or Beretta may work for you with a 28" barrel. There are a few older models out there for around $ 500 with the older style chokes ( Browning invector is the old one ). They sold new in the late 80's for about $ 750 - the newer versions are called the lightning now by Browning. But you'll need a gun with changeable chokes - skeet, IC, Mod for sporting - Mod to Imp Mod for trap. But a good field gun will work with all the games.
The older semi-autos like the 1100 are a real pain in the butt to keep clean and reliable when you're shooting that many rounds in skeet, etc. But the Beretta 391 series is a pretty good gun and you may find a used one around.
Remember you're going to go thru a lot of shells - and the cheaper guns like the Stoeger or the Bakail just won't hold up to it. Most clay target shooters will go thru 10 - 20,000 shells a year pretty easily.
personally I favor the O/U just so I don't have to pick up the hulls. A good used field grade Browning or Beretta may work for you with a 28" barrel. There are a few older models out there for around $ 500 with the older style chokes ( Browning invector is the old one ). They sold new in the late 80's for about $ 750 - the newer versions are called the lightning now by Browning. But you'll need a gun with changeable chokes - skeet, IC, Mod for sporting - Mod to Imp Mod for trap. But a good field gun will work with all the games.
The older semi-autos like the 1100 are a real pain in the butt to keep clean and reliable when you're shooting that many rounds in skeet, etc. But the Beretta 391 series is a pretty good gun and you may find a used one around.
Remember you're going to go thru a lot of shells - and the cheaper guns like the Stoeger or the Bakail just won't hold up to it. Most clay target shooters will go thru 10 - 20,000 shells a year pretty easily.
ghettoestl
Moderator
u go from a semi auto to something that is essentially a single shot??? i could see if u were asking about a semi auto and a pump, but how do u get from a semi auto to an o/u???
Waterengineer
New member
OK let's not get testy
mtnoyster:
Let's not testy. Let's just educate.
Ghettoestl, the question was about shotgun games and o/u vs. auto. In short, these are the preferred guns for clay games.
Also, Ghettoetsl, I'm detecting just a wee bit of attitude! How's that working for you?!?! I'd suggest remaining teachable.
Now, about the original quesiton. Tight budget! Can that be loosened up a little?
Ruger 4570 is right on with his ideas. If you get into it - different guns = different games.
I would suggest starting with a good used auto, find out what o/u guns you like and fit - because one worth owning is a lot of money no matter how you look at it. Then purchase a decent o/u. It is all about the fit!
Rem 1100
Others: Franchi, Beretta, or Winnie.
Get the longest barrel you can find - in an auto this will be 28 or 30. This will make a long gun because of the auto's reciever.
Try to scrape together a slightly larger budget.
Hey, good luck.
mtnoyster:
Let's not testy. Let's just educate.
Ghettoestl, the question was about shotgun games and o/u vs. auto. In short, these are the preferred guns for clay games.
Also, Ghettoetsl, I'm detecting just a wee bit of attitude! How's that working for you?!?! I'd suggest remaining teachable.
Now, about the original quesiton. Tight budget! Can that be loosened up a little?
Ruger 4570 is right on with his ideas. If you get into it - different guns = different games.
I would suggest starting with a good used auto, find out what o/u guns you like and fit - because one worth owning is a lot of money no matter how you look at it. Then purchase a decent o/u. It is all about the fit!
Rem 1100
Others: Franchi, Beretta, or Winnie.
Get the longest barrel you can find - in an auto this will be 28 or 30. This will make a long gun because of the auto's reciever.
Try to scrape together a slightly larger budget.
Hey, good luck.
firestorm9mm
New member
when I first started shooting trap I spent 439 dollars on a stoeger competition condor. 30 inch barrels ported and a full set of tubes. This is a great gun for the money and will provide you with years of service. I have since upgraded to a browning xt trap but still shoot the stoeger.
