flashgordon

Thanks everyone for the advice. Looks like I need to choose between the Browning B525 and Beretta Silver Pigeon I now!

The bruising was specifically in the shoulder pocket, where the butt of the gun was. I only had that on the one occasion I asked to shoot with a B525 Lightweight, which I think is about 6.5lbs? Looking back on the experience that probably is too light for me. If I was going to go for a lighter gun then 7lb seems comfortable to me.

Thanks everyone for the advice. Its reassuring to hear that with repeated gun mounts practicing at home my arms will get used to the weight. There doesn't seem to be much support for buying a 7lb gun? I'm not a particularly unusual shape. 5ft11, 11 stone. With all that in mind I am probably more inclined to revert to my original thoughts to get either the Browning B525 or Beretta Silver Pigeon I. I've shot with both in sporter versions and the SP seems to be a little more on the lighter side which would probably suit me better. I guess it's not the most exciting option but as many of you have said I need a year or two to find out what works for me and get some serious practice in. At the moment my sum experience is based on about six one-hour lessons which is nowhere near enough time to truly judge things.

Last hours lesson I think I took about 80 shots (think..). I noticed it a bit more as my first few lessons with shared with my wife, but the last lesson was just myself. For interest one lesson I asked to shoot with the B525 lightweight, and I came away with a very very bruised shoulder! I guess I'm looking for a happy medium - something that's a bit lighter than a 'standard' clay gun, suitable for clays and pigeons. The Guerini Tempio seemed a very nice gun. I'm just concerned about that wooden butt plate.

Greetings all! First post after being a keen reader for a while. Looking for a bit of advice on my first shotgun after having taken a good few lessons. I intend to mainly focus on shooting clays, but would definitely like to try getting into shooting pigeon. The standard first shotgun advice seems from various websites seems to fall into the 12 gauge Browning 525 or Beretta Silver Pigeon I category. My first lessons were with a B525. The thing is that I don't have a huge amount of upper body strength and so am finding that after 30-45 minutes of clay shooting that a 525 12g was rather tiring in my arms. I could switch to a 20g but the 12g seems better suited to the clays which will be my initial focus. I went to one of my local shops this weekend and he advised me on two shotguns that he thought would suit me. Firstly, the Beretta Silver Pigeon I Field at 7lb 10oz, and secondly, his preference, the Caesar Guerini Tempio 30" Game model at 7lbs. I have to say I'm rather taken with the Tempio, although the butt plate is wood rather than a recoil pad. The weight felt a lot better for me, and it was certainly a beautiful gun. It came in at £1,795. My budget was initially £1,500 but I guess I could stretch for the right gun. Would anyone give any other advice on a 12g shotgun that weighs around the 7lb mark? Thanks very much indeed!