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.
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.
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.
I would like to be under 1K, closer to the $800 mark.
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.
These guns come up for sale all the time. They are not uncommon in the least.Those are game guns in a style that has not been widely been made for years.
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.
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.
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.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.