Purchasing a shotgun for skeet shooting

Thank you for the responses. I am in fact a novice with shotguns. I have mainly focused on handguns and rifles. I think maybe I was wrong when I said skeet shooting. I am talking about shooting clays in a field and the once in a long while trip to a sporting clays range. I did enjoy the o/u more with sporting clays (I shot a Beretta), but they are very expensive. After holding them again, I think I will just get the Mossberg and one day branch out into a really nice o/u shotgun.

One more question though, are there any auto loaders that also shoot target shells well? Most autoloaders I have seen require stronger loads to cycle properly?
 
pump

Remember a lighter gun will have more perceived recoil.

For hunting, it's a plus as you are firing the the gun much less and with down time as well.
In skeet shooting, sporting clays, trap, you will be firing that gun many, many times.
 
A Beretta will do that to you. Problem with Beretta's or anything else is the price will continue to go up.

I had a chance to get a barely used Beretta Silver Pigeon 4 years ago for $650. The gunshop was really going to short change this guy and he offered it to me but I didn't have the cash. I told him to sell it privately at a sportsmans club and he probably did.

The next year I was in a better situation and looked at the prices of Brownings and Berettas which I think was $1200 and then it went up more the next year and the next. Base price I think now is $1600 on sale.

But I was lucky enough to stumble on a Browning Citori made in 2014 for $999 and jumped on it.

One of my better decisions and it shoots great of course.
 
If you're just shooting for fun the pump is a great affordable option.

Between the three you listed I would go with whichever one feels better when you shoulder it.
 
Diehard - the Remington 1100 was the king autoloader in skeet for a long time and they should cycle very well with cheap target loads. If it jams, clean it. If it still jams, change ammo brands. If it still jams, sell it and buy another one. They are very common and relatively cheap on the used market.

A fixed-choke gun with handling wear can be had for $400. A near-new one with choke tubes might run $600.
 
One more question though, are there any auto loaders that also shoot target shells well? Most autoloaders I have seen require stronger loads to cycle properly?
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Any decent autoloader will; whether Beretta, Remington, Benelli or similar quality
 
I shot a Remington 1100 for several years before getting a BT-99. Never had any issues with target loads with the gun. Kept if for backup and for guests to shoot.
 
I didn't know you can't shoot skeet with a Pump Gun.

Good thing they didn't have the internet when I was shooting skeet.

I had a 4 gun set of Rem 870 Skeet guns. 12, 20, 28, and 410. Had a Mec 600 Jr. for each but will confess I didn't load much for the 410, they are a pain in the butt to load for (if you need to load in volume).

That was in the Mid 70s, I use to do pretty good with the pumps. Even had one for Trap, Doubles in trap was no problem with a pump.

I don't shoot skeet/trap much any more, but if I did, I wouldn't have any heart ache using 870s.

I still have my 12 & 20 gages guns. Screw in chokes weren't around then and I ended up with several barrels for my 870s.

1100s were popular back then. But autos need a lot more cleaning then pumps. You shoot 400-600 shells a week that does become an issue.

870s don't care if you clean them or not.
__________________
Kraig Stuart
CPT USAR Ret
USAMU Sniper School Oct '78
Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071
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Wow! That was a very good post. I wish I had access to the guns you did.

I worked at Roberts' Shooting Park (Elkhorn NE) in the late 60's. Skeet and trap. 5 ranges. Made $1.50/hr. and loved every minute of it. As an aside, the site is now a community college. My, have times changed!

I had an 870 12 ga. 26" IC VR that was very fine for skeet. It had a very high drop at the stock and was a pleasure to shoot as I could see the entire top of the barrel rib. Bought it as a kid with my Dad doing the particulars in 1969 for $110.

I was not into trap. To me it was boring because the gun moved very little. Skeet was very challenging, but it helped a bunch when it came to putting birds in the freezer. I once hit a rooster pheasant at 65 paces using my Dad' 16 ga. Winchester Model 12 full choke. It was a station 4 low house shot with a large lead.

As a skeet guy, you might understand.

Thank you for you post, sir.

Jim
 
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