Howdy,
I have become addicted (in record time) to shooting clays. Was out at a friends ranch the past couple of days and did surprisingly well (shot at 60+%). Not bad I'd say...and I've got a disability (only have about 50-60% of right arm usage).
I was using a Benelli Nova 20 ga pump. I liked it a lot, but really think I want to buy a semi-auto. I'm on a budget. I've come across two brands that seem reasonable in price: TriStar and Charles Daly.
Would you experts render your opinions on these?
Thank you.
Need some opinions on a shotgun
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glockoneniner
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stevie_d_64
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Its all about the Benjamin's...
Some can be had for $$$, and some for $$$$, its all about how much you want to actually spend...
Benelli's are very high end, but are fabulous for what you want to do with them...
If your getting into clays, there are some makers out there that won't bust your bubble...And I assume you'd want to go with an Semi-Auto, or do you want to go old school and work your way up through a pump action...
"El Gato" is in my opinion an expert in helping you figure out what you might want to go with...PM him, and see what he says...
Good luck, half the fun is in the hunt...
Some can be had for $$$, and some for $$$$, its all about how much you want to actually spend...
Benelli's are very high end, but are fabulous for what you want to do with them...
If your getting into clays, there are some makers out there that won't bust your bubble...And I assume you'd want to go with an Semi-Auto, or do you want to go old school and work your way up through a pump action...
"El Gato" is in my opinion an expert in helping you figure out what you might want to go with...PM him, and see what he says...
Good luck, half the fun is in the hunt...
"Perseverance and Preparedness triumph over Procrastination and Paranoia every time.” -- Steve
NRA - Life Member
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"
Μολών λαβέ!
NRA - Life Member
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"
Μολών λαβέ!
Our resident shotgun expert & clay shooting instructor is ElGato.
If he does not get in on this pretty quick then PM him on you Qs. He is a great friend, an excellent teacher, & he will be glad to answer your Qs.
If he does not get in on this pretty quick then PM him on you Qs. He is a great friend, an excellent teacher, & he will be glad to answer your Qs.
Carry 24-7 or guess right.
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HankB
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If you're planning on getting a shotgun to shoot sporting clays with, I have one suggestion: Get the one that fits you!
You'll do better with a $300 shotgun that fits you than with a $5000 shotgun that doesn't.
It's been my observation that Benelli, Beretta, Browning, and Remington semi-auto shotguns generally seem to work well under relatively heavy use. (The Remingtons seemed to need more TLC.) Other brands . . . not so much.
You'll do better with a $300 shotgun that fits you than with a $5000 shotgun that doesn't.
It's been my observation that Benelli, Beretta, Browning, and Remington semi-auto shotguns generally seem to work well under relatively heavy use. (The Remingtons seemed to need more TLC.) Other brands . . . not so much.
Original CHL: 2000: 56 day turnaround
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1st renewal, 2004: 34 days
2nd renewal, 2008: 81 days
3rd renewal, 2013: 12 days
Gotta agree with HankB, nothing hurts worse or negatively affects your shooting more than an ill fitting shotgun. Try them all and buy the one that fits you best.HankB wrote:If you're planning on getting a shotgun to shoot sporting clays with, I have one suggestion: Get the one that fits you!
You'll do better with a $300 shotgun that fits you than with a $5000 shotgun that doesn't.
It's been my observation that Benelli, Beretta, Browning, and Remington semi-auto shotguns generally seem to work well under relatively heavy use. (The Remingtons seemed to need more TLC.) Other brands . . . not so much.
I can't comment on Charles Daly or Tri Star,but I will add this.............
I've owned a bunch of shotguns over the years...mainly Mossberg, Winchester and Remington. All are good, reliable shotguns for the money.
In all my years of shotgunning, I've never had a malfunction of any kind with any of the major brands. This includes my Remington 11-87 that I have shot the bejeebers out of with nothing more than routine maintenance. In fact, it still has the factory gas system o-ring installed.
If you want to go with an autoloader, do yourself a favor and spend a little more money and go with one of the major brands. You won't be sorry in the long run.
"Superior firepower is an invaluable tool when entering into negotiations." - G. Patton
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stevie_d_64
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I can't believe El Gato hasn't chimed in...He's probably busier thant a one-legged man in a kicking contest...
I'll give him a holler here in a bit, see whats shakin'...
For the record...I like Browning's...If I could swing Benelli I would, but...You know the story...
I know some will dissagree, but hey...Its just me...
I'll give him a holler here in a bit, see whats shakin'...
For the record...I like Browning's...If I could swing Benelli I would, but...You know the story...
I know some will dissagree, but hey...Its just me...
"Perseverance and Preparedness triumph over Procrastination and Paranoia every time.” -- Steve
NRA - Life Member
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"
Μολών λαβέ!
NRA - Life Member
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"
Μολών λαβέ!
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mr surveyor
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- Location: NE TX
HankB is right on target, and obviously a shotgunner. The "FIT" is half the game. If you're "on a budget", which the vast majority of us are, you probably can't afford to go and have a $15k Holland custom fitted. So, try as many guns at the range as you can. At our range, most folks will hand you their guns and a hand full of shells just to let you feel the fit.
I would suggest you try a double, since you're talking clays. I personally like SxS, since they are such classy looking guns. The over and under guns were obviously designed by someone familiar with the "gang-banger" hold of handguns
... but even a good O/U can be had for under $1k. My most recent double is a CZ Ringneck that retailed for around $800, but the fit of the gun is not as good for me as an old 20 gauge 20-1/2 inch SxS gun my Dad bought many years ago. It was made by Laurona (in Spain) as a light upland bird gun (not a "coach gun") and marketed by Sears and Roebuck back in the day they sold such evil products as guns.That little Laurona still fits me better than my CZ, Beretta's, or Rem 1100.
Do some research on shotgun fitting and decide for yourself. I bet you can find a good starter gun for $500-$1000. You never know, a new Stoeger double gun for $400, or a used Beretta Semi-auto for the same price may be perfect.
I would suggest you try a double, since you're talking clays. I personally like SxS, since they are such classy looking guns. The over and under guns were obviously designed by someone familiar with the "gang-banger" hold of handguns
... but even a good O/U can be had for under $1k. My most recent double is a CZ Ringneck that retailed for around $800, but the fit of the gun is not as good for me as an old 20 gauge 20-1/2 inch SxS gun my Dad bought many years ago. It was made by Laurona (in Spain) as a light upland bird gun (not a "coach gun") and marketed by Sears and Roebuck back in the day they sold such evil products as guns.That little Laurona still fits me better than my CZ, Beretta's, or Rem 1100. Do some research on shotgun fitting and decide for yourself. I bet you can find a good starter gun for $500-$1000. You never know, a new Stoeger double gun for $400, or a used Beretta Semi-auto for the same price may be perfect.
It's not gun control that we need, it's soul control!
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ElGato
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I don't know if I'm THAT busy or productive, but I did find time to shoot shoot 5 round's of skeet this afternoon :lol:It's still fun.
I'm sorry Glockoneniner I really don't know anything about Tristar or the Charles Daly semi's, but I will try to some checking on them, I do have two Charles Daly O/U's from back in the 70's that are well made guns.
The O/U are still very much in use on clays but I think we are seeing more of the semi's than I used to, mostly Browning, Beretta, Benelli and Remington.
Do be sure and get a well made gun, and you might consider a used gun, if you get into clay's you will shoot a LOT of AMMO and need to have something that will hold up.
Because of your arms you might want to shoot shorter barrels, that keeps the weight in closer to you and handles easier.
I understand your problem with your arm's, I've had both wrist, elbows, and shoulders worked on and have less than 50% and because of a bad neck can't shoot off my shoulder any more, so I just clamp the stock between my arm and rib cage and point shoot, it's not as good as aiming but it's better than not shooting.
I'm sorry Glockoneniner I really don't know anything about Tristar or the Charles Daly semi's, but I will try to some checking on them, I do have two Charles Daly O/U's from back in the 70's that are well made guns.
The O/U are still very much in use on clays but I think we are seeing more of the semi's than I used to, mostly Browning, Beretta, Benelli and Remington.
Do be sure and get a well made gun, and you might consider a used gun, if you get into clay's you will shoot a LOT of AMMO
and need to have something that will hold up.Because of your arms you might want to shoot shorter barrels, that keeps the weight in closer to you and handles easier.
I understand your problem with your arm's, I've had both wrist, elbows, and shoulders worked on and have less than 50% and because of a bad neck can't shoot off my shoulder any more, so I just clamp the stock between my arm and rib cage and point shoot, it's not as good as aiming but it's better than not shooting.
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I'm better at retirement than anything I have ever tried. Me
Young People pratice to get better, Old folk's pratice to keep from getting WORSE. Me
What ever you do glockoneniner, be sure to stick with a manual trap on your friends ranch or maybe some skeet...don't try Sporting Clays, that could mean the end of life as you know it!
+1 to the comments on fit. The gun should feel good and feel like your face just "falls" into position when you mount it. While custom fit is high $$$$, you can usually get good fit if you try enough guns. You will want get someone knowledgeable to help you figure out what "good" is.
I will not get into O/U vs an autoloader. I don't want to spark a religious war with other shot-gunners here
My advise is wait until you have at least $750 to invest, with $1000 being better. In that range you have a choice of several entry level guns that will do you well, even if they do not have pretty stocks and lots of engraving. I hunted for years before catching the clays bug (it only took one round of sporting clays). I had a Mossy and a Remington pump that were both totally adequate for quail and dove hunting. I though I needed a different gun for sporting clays, but did not really have the bucks at the time. I went for a cheapy autoloader that cost about $400 and that was pretty much wasted money. The gun did not hold up for 1000 rounds before I started having trouble with it.
I know own two Berettas and love them (they are really soft shooting).
The AL391 probably has 20,000 rounds through it with only new seals and springs (standard maintenance).
God luck and shoot safe.
+1 to the comments on fit. The gun should feel good and feel like your face just "falls" into position when you mount it. While custom fit is high $$$$, you can usually get good fit if you try enough guns. You will want get someone knowledgeable to help you figure out what "good" is.
I will not get into O/U vs an autoloader. I don't want to spark a religious war with other shot-gunners here
My advise is wait until you have at least $750 to invest, with $1000 being better. In that range you have a choice of several entry level guns that will do you well, even if they do not have pretty stocks and lots of engraving. I hunted for years before catching the clays bug (it only took one round of sporting clays). I had a Mossy and a Remington pump that were both totally adequate for quail and dove hunting. I though I needed a different gun for sporting clays, but did not really have the bucks at the time. I went for a cheapy autoloader that cost about $400 and that was pretty much wasted money. The gun did not hold up for 1000 rounds before I started having trouble with it.
I know own two Berettas and love them (they are really soft shooting).
The AL391 probably has 20,000 rounds through it with only new seals and springs (standard maintenance).
God luck and shoot safe.
Or get one that will re-mold you to fit it: the Mossberg 835 Ulti-MagHankB wrote:If you're planning on getting a shotgun to shoot sporting clays with, I have one suggestion: Get the one that fits you!
(I'd swear it fits a little better after every 3.5" magnum load, though...too bad they sissified the rules of trap to not count flinging garage sale stoneware plates and busting them with 00 buck)