Good beginners shotgun?

[AceOfHearts]

I know there are a few gun people on here so thought i would post for a bit of advice. I have just applied for my shotgun certificate so will be looking soon for my first gun (if all goes well with the application).

Being new to the sport i have bought a few magazines to start reading up, but when looking for my first gun what brands are better than others and are there any i should avoid? I will have a budget of around £500. What other advice can people give to a newcomer?

[GroundEffect]

AA12

[jackh707]

Armsel Striker

[u05je7]

As a slightly more serious answer to the rest:

Assume you are shooting clays. An over and under of some sort. Go for a sporter as it will shoot fairly straight unlike a trap gun etc.

The actual model/brand is up to personal preference. I use a Browning 525 sporter (grd six-pretty wood). Prefer it as it has a bit more weight and a wider rib. Holds the line quite nicely. Others I can't get on with. Beretta 687 EELL (probably not first gun territory!) is a bit too light and skittish for my liking as an example.

Get a multichoke if you can. Don't bother playing about with them initially. Quarter and Half will work for most things.

By far the best advice is to get the gun fitted by a gunsmith. Chances are it will just need a little taking off the stock or conversely a thicker butt plate putting on it. Rare for the cast to be altered. If it doesn't fit it'll never shoot that well.

[Turn7]

What he said^^^.

Try and up your budget a bit and buy a decent used known brand ie Browning or Beretta.

Avoid the cheaper new stuff and find someone who will advise on fit.

[AstonZagato]

What are you thinking of using it for? Clays? Game? Knocking over the local bank?

I'd be thinking about a Beretta Silver Pigeon, if you can stretch to one. Reliable and doesn't look out of place on a clay ground or a posh shoot.

[AceOfHearts]

I am looking at getting tuition and starting on clays and progressing onto game.

[Turn7]

Guntrader.co.uk currently lists 7 Beretta O/U's between £495 and £695.

Also check out Brownings.

[pidsy]

Buy a used beretta silver pigeon. Great o/u which is fairly forgiving. They are a good place to start.

My silver pigeon v set me back around £800 a few years ago.

[Bodmin]

Get the tuition before you buy. My OH is a proffesional CPSA coach & she is amazed at the number of people who turn up with guns that are not suitable for them i.e. incorrect stock length/comb height and weight to name a few.

A proper coach will be able to advise you what to look for in a gun before purchase, it appears some gun dealers are more interested in emptying your wallet than making sure the gun is right for you.

Do not discount 20 bore guns over the larger 12 bore especially if you are going to be using it for game. The 20 bore has become very popular in game usage as it is lighter, something you will appreciate if you have been lugging it around on a shoot day for 6-8 hours

Gun manufacturer is really down to personal choice/budget and is very similar to buying a car, some are badge engineered and you are paying for the name.

TBH as a beginner it is very unlikely you are going to be able to appreciate the difference, in say, the trigger weight between a £300 Baikal or a £150,000 Purdey. Some people get to hung up about the gun make but at the end of the day receiving the correct tuition is what enables you to hit the targets

Bodders

[Jem0911]

What Bodders said.

Get a gun that fits you. Doesn't matter what you spend.
I wasted tooooo much money on guns I 'couldn't' get on with.
They weren't shooting where I thought I was pointing them.

So lessons and gun fit. Vital.

I advise Sporting targets at Risley.

Then a Second hand multichoke over and under will easily be achievable in your budget.

[1point7bar]

Have a good play with a new gun in the shop, so you know how little play they should have. Then you will be able to feel if a s/hand gun has fired half a million cartridges.
Also 20 bores are easier on the shoulder when shooting hundreds of clays in one day.

[AceOfHearts]

Thanks for the information, Sporting Targets at Risely is not far from me so i will give them a call tomorrow and hopefully book a few lessons and see how i get on

There seem to be a few large gun shops close to me so i will figure out what i am looking for and then when i have my certificate hopefully be in a position to make an informed decision.

Edited by AceOfHearts on Thursday 5th January 20:35

[Johnny]

This thread is making me itch.

[Jem0911]

Johnny said:

This thread is making me itch.

Don't scratch it with your 12b.

[condor]

AceOfHearts said:

Thanks for the information, Sporting Targets at Risely is not far from me so i will give them a call tomorrow and hopefully book a few lessons and see how i get on

There seem to be a few large gun shops close to me so i will figure out what i am looking for and then when i have my certificate hopefully be in a position to make an informed decision.

Edited by AceOfHearts on Thursday 5th January 20:35

I shoot at Sporting Targets - they're very good.

[AceOfHearts]

Have just booked an hours lesson at Sporting Targets for the 16th

[LotusMartin]

I've been thinking about having a few lessons as I've always wanted to have a go. I live about 10 minutes from Bisley but the instruction prices there seem about double Risley Shooting Club. Does anyone have any recommendations?

[PhilboSE]

I'd agree with the good advice and to get something that fits. If you get on with a Browning or a Beretta then it's hard to go wrong with either: they'll do the job, won't give you any trouble and will have easy resale if the time comes to move on.

[condor]

AceOfHearts said:

Have just booked an hours lesson at Sporting Targets for the 16th

Don't know how old you are - but yesterday's Times and Citizen (page 38) had an 8 week clay shooting course at Risely for the over 50s at £45 starting 2nd Feb. I'm already booked on it