'Better' gun for clays?

[FatAl]

Been a few years since I've done any shooting. I started with a multi choke Beretta Silver Pigeon 1 with 30" barrels for 'sporting'. I used a Miroku MK38 with 32" barrels for 'Down the line'. I sometimes used an old Spanish AYA SxS just for a bit of variation.
I also owned a Franchi Raptur SA, which I occasionally used for sporting and a bit of rough shooting at a mates farm. I was equally as a bad a shot with all them, but feck, I did enjoy myself.

 

[Santa-2512]

Ive shot loads of different brands

Some are preffered due to the Snob value

Some are preffered due to how they shoot

an expensive cartridge wont make you shoot any better, it may however provide the difference between a miss and a chip

Fiocchi are expensive and give that little bit more , but there quality controll is poor, and they dont respond to complaints (well not to me anyway)

Gamebore are a good allround cartridge with the 24 & 28 evo providing good value for money

 

[jags]

Ive shot loads of different brands

Some are preffered due to the Snob value

Some are preffered due to how they shoot

an expensive cartridge wont make you shoot any better, it may however provide the difference between a miss and a chip

Fiocchi are expensive and give that little bit more , but there quality controll is poor, and they dont respond to complaints (well not to me anyway)

Gamebore are a good allround cartridge with the 24 & 28 evo providing good value for money

i have used fiocchi litespeed for a few years now . as cheap? as anything else and the one brand i have never had a misfire with. my brother uses eley olympics and is equally pleased with them.

 

[JonnyBravo]

fiocchi litespeed - my go to and never had a misfire

Ironic as they are Italian ………..

 

[k80matey]

What you need is my Krieghoff K80 with 10 Titanium chokes, 32” inch barrels
withTitanium hanger. Two stocks; both fully adjustable Skeet/ Sporting and Trap/DTL. All in an Americase, with a Croots leather and canvas gun case. Krieghoff shooting vest and a leather cartridge bag from Allan Rhône.
Possibly not just yet though?
Take your time, shoot as many guns as you can get your hands on.
My advice, If, and I mean If, you are serious; buy the best gun you that you like and can afford, as early as possible.
Most of us have been through many, many guns which although reasonably priced at the time, when added up, cost many times the price of the top class shotgun if bought at the beginning. Good shotguns too hold their prices very well indeed!
I apologise for Hijacking your thread but ( I hope) useful advice
Anyway my Beautiful K80 is for sale or for swops. Wee Sportscar or maybe a three wheeler? WHY?

 

[Jeremy]

Find a cared for used Beretta Silver Pigeon in 20 bore under £1,000 on Gun Trader and spend the rest on ensuring the gun fits you like a glove and on lessons. It's just a tool so don't be tempted by nicer scrolls or fancy wood.

Also worth joining BASC for their insurance and taking lessons, both before applying for your licence to evidence you're serious.

 

[J biker]

I had a dabble at clays, many years ago. 28” Beretta Sporting. I seem to recollect there was two versuons. One game, one clay, I had the latter and my father the former.
I was actually a better shot when using my previous, cheap side by side boxlock! Go figure.
Auto shotguns were not liked then, as well highlighted above. You can always tell when a gun is ‘broken’ that it is safe…unlike the auto…..

 

[jags]

Find a cared for used Beretta Silver Pigeon in 20 bore under £1,000 on Gun Trader and spend the rest on ensuring the gun fits you like a glove and on lessons. It's just a tool so don't be tempted by nicer scrolls or fancy wood.

Also worth joining BASC for their insurance and taking lessons, both before applying for your licence to evidence you're serious.

i would argue that you are better using light loads in a 12 bore. something about the pattern? saying that a lot of guys get on very well with the 20's . me, if i can hit 2/3rds of the clays i.m doing ok.

 

[Loiq]

ah the pattern debate... and 20 vs 12.... arguement

modern 20g ammo is as good as a 12g I think that's accepted

the cost benefit however still says the 12g is better value and loads of places have it

the most important thing is if you have a 20g and a 12 never mix the ammo it's the quickest to end up in A+E

the old saying use to be don't mix and match ammo... cos you'll get a feel for the range and patterns each type can produce

 

[g.s.john]

I have a Beretta SP3 20g and a Browning 725 black 12g and they both pattern on a plate that is four sheets of A4 placed in a square at 20 mtrs but the 20g is more precise for aim off on crossing clays the 12g is more forgiving.

 

[Santa-2512]

Ah the overanalysers,

spend more time looking ad dots on a plate than shooting

just get the Bereatta, a slab of 24 & 28 carts and rock up to your local clay ground

pick a stand you can kill the bird on repeatedly, and then shoot half a slab of each,

once you find the load you want , go and enjoy yourself #

dont think ... just do

 

[Dave T]

Find a cared for used Beretta Silver Pigeon in 20 bore under £1,000 on Gun Trader and spend the rest on ensuring the gun fits you like a glove and on lessons. It's just a tool so don't be tempted by nicer scrolls or fancy wood.

Also worth joining BASC for their insurance and taking lessons, both before applying for your licence to evidence you're serious.

Thanks for taking the time to reply - but as in my original post, I already have (and have had for a number of years) my shotgun cert a 12g beretta o/u and a benelli 12g s/a.

 

[Dave T]

What you need is my Krieghoff K80 with 10 Titanium chokes, 32” inch barrels
withTitanium hanger. Two stocks; both fully adjustable Skeet/ Sporting and Trap/DTL. All in an Americase, with a Croots leather and canvas gun case. Krieghoff shooting vest and a leather cartridge bag from Allan Rhône.
Possibly not just yet though?
Take your time, shoot as many guns as you can get your hands on.
My advice, If, and I mean If, you are serious; buy the best gun you that you like and can afford, as early as possible.
Most of us have been through many, many guns which although reasonably priced at the time, when added up, cost many times the price of the top class shotgun if bought at the beginning. Good shotguns too hold their prices very well indeed!
I apologise for Hijacking your thread but ( I hope) useful advice
Anyway my Beautiful K80 is for sale or for swops. Wee Sportscar or maybe a three wheeler? WHY?

Thank you - I suspect the Krieghof is not s sensible proposition at the mo unless you want a straight swap for mine , but I do get what you're saying about 'buy the best you can as soon as you can and stick with it'.
Also agree that good guns will hold their value. I'm not looking for an upgrade as the beretta is lovely and will do me fine to see how I get on. I was really interested in whether the beretta or the benelli were the better one to start out on clays with.

 

[Dave T]

just get the Bereatta, a slab of 24 & 28 carts and rock up to your local clay ground

pick a stand you can kill the bird on repeatedly, and then shoot half a slab of each,

once you find the load you want , go and enjoy yourself #

dont think ... just do

That's the plan after my first lesson....

 

[Berin]

i would argue that you are better using light loads in a 12 bore. something about the pattern? saying that a lot of guys get on very well with the 20's . me, if i can hit 2/3rds of the clays i.m doing ok.

The other thing to consider here is the forthcoming switch to steel shot.

There will be plenty of choice in 12g but maybe not 20g which is already more expensive, so the above makes sense

 

[Dave T]

I had a dabble at clays, many years ago. 28” Beretta Sporting. I seem to recollect there was two versuons. One game, one clay, I had the latter and my father the former.
I was actually a better shot when using my previous, cheap side by side boxlock! Go figure.
Auto shotguns were not liked then, as well highlighted above. You can always tell when a gun is ‘broken’ that it is safe…unlike the auto…..

Yes, there were (still are?) two versions. I have the game version, as that's the shooting I was doing at the time.

 

[Loiq]

you can remove the auto safe bar, which turn it's effectively into a clay gun. and it's abit quicker.... but if your use to clicking the safety off it serves little point