First Shot Gun purchase for a newbie?

[Big Al.]

Just taken up the sport of Clay shooting and currently applying for my shot gun Licence, the wait begins...

So in the meantime I've been looking around the various new/used guns available that fall withing my budget. max £1800. So far I've narrowed it down to a few within my price range these being:-

12 Gauge, O&U, R/H.

Beretta Silver Pigeon 1,
Beretta Ultralight Classic,
Browning B725 Hunter UK Black Gold,
Caesar Guerini Magnus Sporting,
Winchester Energy Select,

Any others I should not be ruling out?

So what would you plump for and why?

Thanking you in advance.

[Big Al.]

Thanks for the guidance so far guys, much appreciated.

[Big Al.]

Thanks Guys, much appreciated.

Decided to plump for a Beretta 690 Sport Scroll. I think I tried nearly every gun in the shop within my price range, although I did go a little over my original budget as I really liked the 690 and decided for an adjustable cone stock.

[Big Al.]

Little Pete said:

I've been tempted by the same gun myself recently!
What barrel length did you choose Al?

My quarry is Clays, so I got the 30" multi chokes.

[Big Al.]

Stig said:

Al - when did you apply for a licence? Huge backlog at the moment (well, there is with Thames Valley at least). I've had a licence for donkeys years, but my laster renewal took more than a year to process! They had to issue a temporary licence (as original expired during the period), then that almost expired too.

Hope you get it sooner rather than later or you could face a frustrating wait for your gun.

Sorry for the delay Stig, I applied about 3 weeks ago my referee shots every Wednesday with our local Firearms executive and he reckons all being well and good shotgun licences are usually processed with about 5- 6 weeks.

Decided to have an additional Adjustable cone stoke fitted prior to delivery that won't be available form Beretta until July, so no Panic and fingers crossed.

[Big Al.]

Hoppum said:

Local gun shop warned me to expect it sometime next year.

Requested my licence 16 days ago, had my FEO inspection this morning and all went according to plan, as a parting shot (excuse the pun) he told me to expect my licence to arrive within the next 4 weeks!

So fingers crossed, the wait begins.......

Watch this space.

[Big Al.]

aeropilot said:

Crikey that's quick.....I take you're not in Essex, Kent, TVP, Hants or South Yorks then

Hopefully in a position to order my Beretta 692 Black Edition this week......

Sussex for me.

Nice choice of gun.