sporting clays semi auto choice for a new shooter

I used a Mossberg 930 for a long time shooting skeet and sporting clays. It shot it well. Cheap with a lot of aftermarket parts available ahould you choose to upgrade some of it. You had to clean the piston about every 200 rds to keep it reliable. So it teaches proper maintenance too.
 
AR10ShooterinNC said:
My son (19) shot a few rounds of sporting clays and loved it, he got a 65% hit rate for the day, first time out. I'm not a shotgun sports guy, so really don't much about gun choices. Looking for an affordable semi auto 12G for him to start with.
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Would you mind defining “affordable?” Also, is he a big “maintenance” lover? Gas is softer shooting but requires more maintenance than an inertia system.

You can find new Beretta A300s in the $650-800 range, which also puts you in with the basic trim Franchi Affinitys, SX4s, and Retays. A mix of decent gas and inertia options there.

Next step down is the Tristan Viper G2 and Stoeger M3000 (about $500-600). Wouldn’t recommend going cheaper than that if you want a gun that works. Weatherby and CZ both import Turkish guns at the same price point, but I haven't seen them used as commonly as the Tristar and the Stoeger for clays games, so I don't know whether they'll hold up.

Used shotguns are a crapshoot, but at least with the older 1100s, you know that O-rings and springs are plentiful.
 
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JRV said:
Would you mind defining “affordable?” Also, is he a big “maintenance” lover? Gas is softer shooting but requires more maintenance than an inertia system.

You can find new Beretta A300s in the $650-800 range, which also puts you in with the basic trim Franchi Affinitys, SX4s, and Retays. A mix of decent gas and inertia options there.

Next step down is the Tristan Viper G2 and Stoeger M3000 (about $500-600). Wouldn’t recommend going cheaper than that if you want a gun that works. Weatherby and CZ both import Turkish guns at the same price point, but I haven't seen them used as commonly as the Tristar and the Stoeger for clays games, so I don't know whether they'll hold up.

Used shotguns are a crapshoot, but at least with the older 1100s, you know that O-rings and springs are plentiful.
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I would like to be under 1K, closer to the $800 mark.
 
AR10ShooterinNC said:
I would like to be under 1K, closer to the $800 mark.
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That's a great price range to be in. You're not going to get much more from a sporting semi-auto shotgun (e.g. adjustable stocks, adjustable weight systems, longer barrels) until you go a few hundred dollars over your ceiling, i.e. almost double your ideal price.

A300 is probably the best buy in that range, especially with Beretta's fantastic shim kits for fitting drop and cast. But, at that price, it's really hard to end up with a bad gun, so whatever fits your son and feels most natural should serve him well.
 
I'm somewhere between a recreational noob clay shooter and an "OK" shooter...by no means an expert.

My advice (from personal experience) is to go with an inexpensive over/under. They don't malfunction and will shoot anything you put in them. "Inexpensive" semi-autos will be finicky and only like certain ammo and/or demand high maintenance.

You can get a Stoeger, Yildiz, or like I have a Remington/Baikal for under $500.
 
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Definitely recommend the A300 in that price range. Though all of my experience is with the a300 Outlander and not the a300 Ultima that is their current flavor. Same base gun, just different add ons.

They’re probably tough to find but they made an a300 sporting Version with a beefier stock and 30” barrel.
 
A300 would be a great gun in your price range if it fits your son well. I’m debating selling my franchi affinity 3 pretty soon as well. It is a recoil operated and not quite as smooth as beretta but is still a pretty soft shooter.
 
I agree on the Beretta A300. Try to get a sporting model, 30" barrel if possible. But any A300 can be used for hunting and clays. For a serious clays gun, you'll have to upgrade to the A400 series. It will likely be double the price you've stated. However, a used A400 in the original blue received can be had for around $1,200. Join trapshooters.com and shotgunworld.com and keep an eye out if you're not in a hurry.

Another good clays semi is the Remington 1100 Competition model. They used to be about $1,000 new and a little less used, and came with adjustable butt plate and comb. It's a very nice, adjustable, soft shooting competition gun.

Remington 1100 Competition Shotgun R82821, 12 Gauge, 30 in, 2.75 in Chmbr, Adj. Synthetic Stock, Blue/Nickel Receiver Finish - Remington Shotguns

MPN: R82821 UPC: 810070680053
remingtonshotgun.com remingtonshotgun.com
 
The 1100 is a good gun, but be prepared to clean it more often than the Beretta, including replacing Orings every now and then.
Many high volume sporting clays shooters still think autoloaders aren’t the right tool for sporting clays because of the extra maintenance required in the older 1100s.

I doubt your son will shoot that kind of volume, but the Beretta gas system is just a better design in my opinion. Cleaner, not as many parts, no Orings to track the life of etc.
 
Not meant to disparage the others, everybody's different, but personally I hate the 30" barrels which often have a fixed full choke and also make the gun front heavy. If they sport interchangeable chokes, that's good. But regardless of choke, if you take off that 30" and switch to a 26 or even a 28, you'll notice better handling right away.
The full choke is great for shooting ducks or geese but suck for 4" clays. The pattern is too tight. It can be done, but you'll work for it and it's less than optimal..especially for a new shooter.
My .02;
-Get an over/under. They're made for this job. A successful 3rd shot at clays is rarer than hens teeth, and an O/U handles so much better with none of the semi-auto issues.
-Stay away from a full choke. He'll do worse.
 
Friday said:
Not meant to disparage the others, everybody's different, but personally I hate the 30" barrels which often have a fixed full choke and also make the gun front heavy. If they sport interchangeable chokes, that's good. But regardless of choke, if you take off that 30" and switch to a 26 or even a 28, you'll notice better handling right away.
The full choke is great for shooting ducks or geese but suck for 4" clays. The pattern is too tight. It can be done, but you'll work for it and it's less than optimal..especially for a new shooter.
My .02;
-Get an over/under. They're made for this job. A successful 3rd shot at clays is rarer than hens teeth, and an O/U handles so much better with none of the semi-auto issues.
-Stay away from a full choke. He'll do worse.
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30” and fixed full comes from the era of goose guns. Those are game guns in a style that has not been widely been made for years. I can’t even think of a modern waterfowl gun that doesn’t take chokes. Most have to because of steel shot requirements.

Proper sporting guns, like the ones everyone’s suggesting here, are available with barrels from 28 to 32 inches (32” being more common on O/U guns with shorter receivers) and fitted with interchangeable chokes.

You’ll occasionally find a fixed choke sporting gun on the higher end, but those are almost always IC/M, LM/LM, M/M, etc.
 
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JRV said:
Those are game guns in a style that has not been widely been made for years.
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These guns come up for sale all the time. They are not uncommon in the least.
If the OP shops new and only new then he'll be exposed only to the items you've mentioned.
If he includes used, there will be a million choices.
 
Friday said:
These guns come up for sale all the time. They are not uncommon in the least.
If the OP shops new and only new then he'll be exposed only to the items you've mentioned.
If he includes used, there will be a million choices.
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That first part’s absolutely true, but not a single person has recommended buying a used vintage fixed-full gun… or buying a fixed choke gun at all.

We’ve all recommended modern sporting guns in OP’s budget.
 
Stoeger M2k/M3k

I use it, just a very reliable firearm that had little kickback and was fairly lightweight.
Ive tried fancy O/U...did nothing for me.
 
Safest guns are over unders. They are by far the best clay guns. For $800 you can get a good gun. If he sticks with it he will eventually want one. One lifetime purchase. Maybe a CZ like a Drake or Redhead.
 
JRV said:
That first part’s absolutely true, but not a single person has recommended buying a used vintage fixed-full gun… or buying a fixed choke gun at all.

We’ve all recommended modern sporting guns in OP’s budget.
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JRV said:
Would you mind defining “affordable?” Also, is he a big “maintenance” lover? Gas is softer shooting but requires more maintenance than an inertia system.

You can find new Beretta A300s in the $650-800 range, which also puts you in with the basic trim Franchi Affinitys, SX4s, and Retays. A mix of decent gas and inertia options there.

Next step down is the Tristan Viper G2 and Stoeger M3000 (about $500-600). Wouldn’t recommend going cheaper than that if you want a gun that works. Weatherby and CZ both import Turkish guns at the same price point, but I haven't seen them used as commonly as the Tristar and the Stoeger for clays games, so I don't know whether they'll hold up.

Used shotguns are a crapshoot, but at least with the older 1100s, you know that O-rings and springs are plentiful.
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The way I read your first post. You also recommended a older 1100, if the OP went used. In that group, a shotgun like what @Friday mentioned fixed choke, long barrel, or both is plentiful.
 
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As someone who regularly competes and has success in sporting clays tournaments:

1) Buy a beretta semi, 30” barrel. (a300, a400, 390, or 391)
2) The reigning national sporting clays champion shoots a beretta semi.
3) Do not buy an over under at the sub $1,500 mark if your son plans to shoot more than 100 targets a month.

Why a beretta semi:

1) Easy to attain a basic fit with the beretta shim system
2) Generally these guns will shoot just about any ammo you put in them. I honestly seen more high end o/u’s fail in competition than beretta semi’s.
3) Maintenance is simple. Lazy people complain about the maintenance of a beretta auto.
4). Recoil is a significant factor in shooting.
5) Picking up hulls is less labor intensive than opening and closing a over/under 100 times.
6) Semi autos point better and are easier to learn on. (Yes, they tend to point better than o/u’s. No it’s not subjective, is about weight distribution )
7) Breaking more targets is better than looking cool with an o/u and missing.
8) Most shooters are better off shooting semi autos until they attain AA/Master class in sporting for all of the reasons above. Many would be better off sticking to the semi once reaching master class.
 
So I bought this one yesterday. CZ 1012 with Grey receiver. Inertia sytle 12 gauge. I have seen good reviews. It seems to be well made and looks great. I have some expeirence shooting sporting clays with a Browning Lightning Sporting Clays gun shooting in the neighborhood of 30K rounds through that gun. I don't shoot much anymore and have sold the Browning. I still own a 1958 Browning Superposed and a 70s Winchester 101. I wanted something cheaper to shoot occasional sporting clays and dove hunts. I need something lightweight due to a shoulder injury, I can't swing a heavy gun anymore. This one fits the bill. Finish is very good for the price point. 5 choke tubes and nice satin finish Turkish walnut. I haven't shot it yet but plan to do so tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.



 
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Couldn't wait to shoot it so I grabbed some random shells and did some static shooting. Right away the combo of 6-1/2 lbs. 12 gauge and inertia operation combined to beat up my cheek bone. I took it back home and used the shim set to raise the stock up one degree and add cast on ( lefty). This trip was better. Went back and disassembled the stock again and added 2 degrees up on the stock. Back to the range and a much better experience for my cheek. The recoil is more straight back into the shoulder now rather than up into my cheek. I shot a few more rounds and seem to be wrapping up the target. I want to do some pattern testing tomorrow to make sure my POI is where it needs to be.



I should add that even though I shot a variety of different loads, the gun chugged through them all without a hiccup. Very easy to use controls and a simple gun to operate. If I can hit anything with it then I believe it is a winner. 👍 👍
 
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