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Which shotgun?


toxo
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Hi Guys.

I'm expecting my ticket to arrive in the next 2/3 weeks so have to find some dosh for a .22lr (Sorted), An FAC air (will save my pennies for a Mk2 Rapid 7) and a shotgun. Quite fancy having a go at clays and pigeons so what should I be looking for in an all round shotgun that won't cripple my bank account and what size cartridges should I be looking for?

 

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Unless you are wild fowling 2 3/4 chamber is fine, fixed chokes 1/4-3/4 and OU will do there's a tidy franchi for £300 on gun watch. Personally I would say leave semi's well alone!

 

Clays 7.5 shot 21-28g, pigeons size 6 25g+

 

Oh most important with a shotgun is that it fits I recommend finding a local clay ground and having a lesson or 2 to get you started!

Edited by HDAV
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Ahhh the feeling you get when that certificate lands on your door mat ....... No sooner had mine got snatched from the grasps of the postman, it was in the hands of my local gunshop getting the first purchase stamp on it... Fast forward 8 months and I'm on my 4th gun!

So +1 on what HDAV says, fit and a lesson or 2 :).

Enjoy your shopping.....

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Thanks Gazzer.

Already have an Anschutz 1417T on hold and can't wait. My permisions are quite small and sometimes getting close to the bunnies isn't easy. The extra reach is going to change things dramatically.

Same with pigeons. All different when you don't need them to land :)

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Look around for a Browning Medalist-28" multi in good nick should be a few out there. Not made by Browning but to their standards and carrying the name seems to enable these guns to hold their value.

That was the missing bit Bruno. Is 28in the norm and I assume a longer barrel means more reach before the pattern opens up? Still don't know the distances we're talking about though?

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OP,

Go try a shooting ground a few times.be in absolutely no rush to buy at this point.

If it is mainly clays I would guess 85% of folk use and over/under.Size & brand vary a bit but once you have tried a few you will have more idea.Most folk learn to drive in ford fiestas/Novas/Clios...shooting schools with have equivalant guns see which you like.....Miroku(Browning same thing) & Berettas are mainstay of the mass market.you will have a preference for one or the other........standard 12 gauge clay cartridges are 24-28g of small shot sized 7-8..all shooting grounds will provide their own variation.Go try it & enjoy it,talking to your guide/instructor you will start to form some opinions and only at that point would I suggest you consider buying anything.All best and have safe fun.

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Re barrel length OU 28" is probably the norm for a field gun 30" for a clay gun 32" for a dedicated/specialist clay gun, on a sporting clay shoot you will see people using 28-32" to great effect. Trap guns tend to be longer and heavier. Game guns lighter after all shooting game you could walk several miles in a day shooting trap it's several yards....

 

The thing that effects the pattern is the combination of the cartridge and the construction at the muzzle (choke) different carts will throw different patterns through the same constrictions, just because the choke is marked as 1/4 does not mean it will throw a 1/4 pattern with all or indeed any cartridge.

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Re barrel length OU 28" is probably the norm for a field gun 30" for a clay gun 32" for a dedicated/specialist clay gun, on a sporting clay shoot you will see people using 28-32" to great effect. Trap guns tend to be longer and heavier. Game guns lighter after all shooting game you could walk several miles in a day shooting trap it's several yards....

 

The thing that effects the pattern is the combination of the cartridge and the construction at the muzzle (choke) different carts will throw different patterns through the same constrictions, just because the choke is marked as 1/4 does not mean it will throw a 1/4 pattern with all or indeed any cartridge.

You can't just throw stuff like this out without explaining why! I'm just about to get into this side of shooting and I know nothing. What's the diff between clay/trap/skeet? What are the advantages/disadvantages of different length barrels and chokes. I know there are some that will say don't get hung up on chokes but I'd like the info all the same. Maybe there's a link someone can point me to? Shotguns for dummies maybe!

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toxo

Copy and Paste this The CPSA Clay Target Shooter’s Handbook into Google and you will be given the PDF file as the first hit. Download it and print it out. Its the first thing I read before I even applied for the certificate. Lots of good info in there, including the info HDAV has given

Its not an 'answer all' booklet, but worth reading if your are new.

 

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Use the forum search box for any of those terms.

 

Trap and skeet are clay disciplines that are not sporting clays.

 

Choke is the constriction of the barrel diameter at the muzzle.

 

Tight chokes (far away targets) trap (OT/DT/UT/ABT/DTL)

 

Open chokes (near targets) Skeet (English/Olympic)

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Skeet and trap are variations of clay pigeon.Skeet is fairly close set targets thrown from set traps(within little towers called houses)and the shooter moves to vary the type of shot/lead.Open or little choke ideally as targets so close.

Trap,which has a couple of variations is basically fast going away targets with the shooter in set places behind the traps.

Barrel length is of marginal importance.....as skeet is quick close targets a lighter shorter gun used traditionally ie 26 inch barrels...trap is longer away targets and often has high stock and long barrels more choke...heavier/steadier.......BUT any sporter gun can be effectively used on either. Skeet and trap and quite specialised,whilst skeet I would say a brilliant place to try early on,most folk shoot sporting as it gives greater variety.......Only if you think you are going to specialise should you look at specialised/specific gun/barrel length.From your description/rough shooting etc you will be wanting an all round sporter type gun,and these days thats 28-30 inch barrels. Barrel length affects weight/balance a little......no effect on chokes/patterns....Chokes..frankly far less important than most folk think...most sporters are 'multi choke' which means you can change the chokes(literally screw in the ends) but at this point forget about choke.

Go try a few sporters at local clay grounds,you will be hard pushed to know difference between 28/30 inch...........1/4 & 1/2 choke.....

1.go learn safe gun handling & loading

2. have a go!

 

walk before you run........!

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An 'all round shotgun' in my opinion would be a multi choked over and under 12 bore 'Sporter' with either 28" or 30" inch barrels. If it's JUST for clays and pigeons then I'd be equally happy with an auto, but it may not be welcome on a driven game shoot if you happened to get an invite, so as an 'all rounder', the O/U is the most versatile.

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Thanks again guys to those who took the trouble to explain.

Gazzer - Downloaded and looking forward to reading it.

When I do go to my first clay session I'll at least know what they're talking about.

It's most excruciating - this waiting for the ticket to arrive :sad1:

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Did know that guys. Have already spoken to clay club man who sounded very nice. Cost is very reasonable too I thought. Enjoying the learning, love finding out about new things. Even been learning about reloading and magnets and decoys and... and... and no - won't be buying any gun without more learning and measuring. Watch this space :)

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