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The Duncan

By The Duncan,
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The Duncan

The Duncan

Posted
Posted

Hi folks,

 

as a newcomer to shotgunning I could do with some advice regarding what gauge of gun is best for my needs.

I'm looking to do mostly rough shooting for Woodies and the odd corvid.

Rabbits I put in the bag with my trusty air rifle (hw100s) or rimmie cz452. I've been an airgunner for many years and with the rimfire for about a year.

 

So chaps, what calibre/gauge should I go for? Why do some people prefer 20, 28 or .410 over 12 bore?

I'm looking to spend 500 - 1000 as I'm not minted, what are my options? I like the looks of O/U's.

any advice will be gratefully received! :good:

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HDAV

HDAV

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Posted (edited)

OK in simple terms 12G cheapest to feed, 20g can do everything a 12G can do except huge loads of steel for wildfowling etc, but will cost more to buy and feed, 28 gauge more expensive than 20 and mor elimited choices of .410 cheaper guns but expensive carts limited range.

 

12G 3" M/C Beretta, Browning, Miroku will cope with everything your likely to want to shoot. will get a nice one for under £1k, just take your time and if possible find a local dealer that will let you try them at a clay ground before buying, also probably worth having a few lessons on the clays to get used to to shot gunning it is a bit different to air rifle and rifle shooting

Edited by HDAV
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Thumpersniper

Thumpersniper

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I spent 600 on a lovley second hand O/U Browning, but although i love it, after using it for a few months i got to find that it wasnt a very good fit making it uncomfertable to fire. I bought an £80 french (no makers name) side by side with a rubber butt pad and 32" barrels with a longer stock and my shooting and enjoyment has multiplied, i find i always reach for the cheapo gun whenever i get a chance to take one for a walk!

 

If I were you i'd put the budget part to the back of your mind (within reason) and get something which fits and feels comfy

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vampire

vampire

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Best advise is to have a go with all of em to see which suit you. :good:

A 12g is the most common shotgun,some now prefer 20g,but the smaller calibre is more or less lighter and therefore quicker to aquire your target and easier to carry about.

IMHO,.410 is a good rabbit tool,12g o/u clays and pigeons,sxs rough/game shoot,most guns come in sporter or game,the game guns being lighter and fixed choke as a rule and quicker to load,what ever you get make sure it fits you as this will make a big difference.

Either way you have a good budget to get a gun with, :yes:

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Dekers

Dekers

Posted
Posted

Hi folks,

 

as a newcomer to shotgunning I could do with some advice regarding what gauge of gun is best for my needs.

I'm looking to do mostly rough shooting for Woodies and the odd corvid.

Rabbits I put in the bag with my trusty air rifle (hw100s) or rimmie cz452. I've been an airgunner for many years and with the rimfire for about a year.

 

So chaps, what calibre/gauge should I go for? Why do some people prefer 20, 28 or .410 over 12 bore?

I'm looking to spend 500 - 1000 as I'm not minted, what are my options? I like the looks of O/U's.

any advice will be gratefully received! :good:

 

 

12g is the most popular for a reason. It the most general purpose size, there are FAR more 12g guns and cartridges to choose from than any other, and they are the cheapest.

 

It is seldom that someone simply prefers 20, 28 or .410 over 12 bore, they are different tools which generally suit different jobs.

 

They are tools for doing a job, a 12g isn't better than a 410, a 28 isn't better than a 10 bore, they are different!

 

Would you go fly fishing with a Carp rod, would you go sea fishing with a fly rod?

 

It just so happens the 12g is the most cost effective and versatile out there, once you cut your teeth on one you may decide another guage suits your use/need better! But you will never have a problem selling/trading a 12g.

 

Just make sure you get something that FEELS right when you pick it up and shoulder it! :good:

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HDAV

HDAV

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Also buy a good O/U and lok after it and you wont loose money something like http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/145160-valuation-needed-please-beretta-silver-pigeon/ would be ideal (if it fits..) and if you decide you need a 28G Semi auto 5 shot later you wont have lost much...if anything. If your doing mostly walked up/rough shooting consider a SxS lighter easy to carry but more recoil (no problem if your shooting 10-15 shots an outing but is if your hammering 100-150+ (clays)

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garden gun

garden gun

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In a similar boat with a similar budget. Just lashed out on first lesson - a lot more to it than meets the eye. I can knock down "teal" clays until the moo moos come home, but other types are a bit trickier. Just as for any other weapon - fit, fit, fit; never mind the brand. The more expensive brands do seem to be better balanced for me though.

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Scully

Scully

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Welcome....a lot of good advice there.As has been stated,a 12 is the most versatile for a beginner,and o/u with multi-chokes are the most popular.You have to be a good shot to hit a flying target with a .410 so I would leave those 'til you gain a lot of experience.Shove in 1/4 and 1/2 chokes and then leave them be (apart from cleaning)and 21gm Hull Comp cartridges will do everything you want of them on a Sporting clay ground,but you should use heavier loads and bigger shot on birds.Find a good coach before you buy,and have a few lessons..he/she will advise you re' gunfit etc and answer all your questions.

But be very careful....tis sport is highly addictive!Have fun. :good:

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stubby

stubby

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if its to be used as a rough gun, why not get a semi auto, although hatsans are hated by some, theres some of us that love them, mine gets covered in all sorts of ****, yet carries on, have been down the route of buying o/u's, but its the semi all the way now :good:

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retromlc

retromlc

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if its to be used as a rough gun, why not get a semi auto, although hatsans are hated by some, theres some of us that love them, mine gets covered in all sorts of ****, yet carries on, have been down the route of buying o/u's, but its the semi all the way now :good:

I agree I started with O/U's but now only shoot semi's

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Swamp Beast

Swamp Beast

Posted
Posted

Hi folks,

 

as a newcomer to shotgunning I could do with some advice regarding what gauge of gun is best for my needs.

I'm looking to do mostly rough shooting for Woodies and the odd corvid.

Rabbits I put in the bag with my trusty air rifle (hw100s) or rimmie cz452. I've been an airgunner for many years and with the rimfire for about a year.

 

So chaps, what calibre/gauge should I go for? Why do some people prefer 20, 28 or .410 over 12 bore?

I'm looking to spend 500 - 1000 as I'm not minted, what are my options? I like the looks of O/U's.

any advice will be gratefully received! :good:

 

 

hi saw this has just been put up on a thread. worth an enquiry.

 

 

Emailpatch Posted Today, 05:46 PM

Newbie Pigeon Shooter

 

Group:

Members Posts:

1 Joined:

Today, 06:10 AM Member:

25912 Bettinsoli Diamond select 3 weeks old so as new.

30" Multi-choke barrels R/H.

Comes in it's hard case and only fired around 250 shells, bought for my good lady but she needed a smaller grip (now bought Beretta 686E sporting).

Bought from Gilsan sports for £695 accept £550 bargain.

Read the reviews of this gun on

http://gunmart.net/g...nd_line_deluxe/

http://www.sportingg...gun_review.html

Gun in Wakefield West Yorkshire.

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The Duncan

The Duncan

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Thanks a million guys, I found something useful in every answer :yes:

I think I'll take the advice and book in for a couple of lessons at the clays first to get a clue of how to shoot a shotty and perhaps try a few guns to find a good fit.

It looks like a 12b for lots of reasons and I'll definitely put fit and feel at the top of the priorities list!

I had a very brief go with a hatsan escort semi auto - very light ! I also need to be sharp on my permissions when it comes to picking up the empty cartridges and I found the escort flung them a good distance, making it harder tocollect them all! (My rifle and air rifle are both 9-10lbs scoped up with sling and swivels) so I'm used to a bit of heft.

Any gun I take hunting invariably ends up being fitted with a sling.

Any way, sound advice - thanks a bunch! Wife is now organising some lessons for Xmas :good:

Edited by The Duncan
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The Duncan

The Duncan

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Good stuff Duncan where so you hale from?

 

M/C OU is 7-8lbs for a 30" sporter which is an ideal do all gun

I've lived in north buckinghamshire since 1990 (bar a couple of years).

 

It turns out that there's s shooting centre with tuition literally 2 miles from my village - Sherington Shooting Centre, which incorporates a gun smith and shop, so all in all, pretty handy. If anyone's used it, feedback would be very handy :good:

 

Whereabouts in N Wales are you from? I've loved NW since I was a kid, now my kids do too :yes:

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HDAV

HDAV

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I've lived in north buckinghamshire since 1990 (bar a couple of years).

 

It turns out that there's s shooting centre with tuition literally 2 miles from my village - Sherington Shooting Centre, which incorporates a gun smith and shop, so all in all, pretty handy. If anyone's used it, feedback would be very handy :good:

 

Whereabouts in N Wales are you from? I've loved NW since I was a kid, now my kids do too :yes:

I'm in South Wales, Cardiff but agree North Wales is beautiful, sounds like you have found the ideal place to go and have a couple of lessons and try a few guns. The lesson prices look very reasonable, well worth going for a chat and a lesson or 2

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dmason24

dmason24

Posted
Posted

Hi folks,

 

as a newcomer to shotgunning I could do with some advice regarding what gauge of gun is best for my needs.

I'm looking to do mostly rough shooting for Woodies and the odd corvid.

Rabbits I put in the bag with my trusty air rifle (hw100s) or rimmie cz452. I've been an airgunner for many years and with the rimfire for about a year.

 

So chaps, what calibre/gauge should I go for? Why do some people prefer 20, 28 or .410 over 12 bore?

I'm looking to spend 500 - 1000 as I'm not minted, what are my options? I like the looks of O/U's.

any advice will be gratefully received! :good:

 

I think the general consensus is a semi auto for the woodies etc... Light and easy to handle, good for hides as they arent too long, get them generally in 26" barrels, 3 shots too! There is a real nice looker for sale from retromlc, I have used one for pigeon shooting, and they are very good guns for the money. I have also used my 12g out in the field other than my clay shooting, and to be honest, I like the semi for the field, its down to personal choice. Good luck :yes:

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The Duncan

The Duncan

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Thanks for that dmason24, I did like the feel of the Escort I tried, the only real drawback I could immediately see was how far it flung the spent cartridges! Metres away, which could mean losing some in the grass - the landowner is a stickler for that kind of thing! :blush:

I did like the low-recoil though: very impressive! I can see a 3rd shot would come in handy too :good:

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dmason24

dmason24

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Thanks for that dmason24, I did like the feel of the Escort I tried, the only real drawback I could immediately see was how far it flung the spent cartridges! Metres away, which could mean losing some in the grass - the landowner is a stickler for that kind of thing! :blush:

I did like the low-recoil though: very impressive! I can see a 3rd shot would come in handy too :good:

 

Yes, the Hatsan Escort for what it is, has a nice feel, it can be thrown about in the field (synthetic finish one), and its very good value for money. New, just uncer £400 with a 3 year no quibble guarantee from Edgar Brothers. My opinion is, as long as you use a more heavier load to avoid jams and stoppages then all well and good. Some misfire issues (minor) on breach block alignment etc... but thats what you pay for. I must admit, the recoil was light unlike my Benelli (not that its severe), but its in a diffrent class altogether. If you need any more help "fire away" :good:

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Dekers

Dekers

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There have been more problems with the Hatsan than ANY other shotgun I have ever heard of, don't listen to me research it yourself!!!

 

If you get lucky then you will get lucky, you will find, supplied in the new box, spare parts that break or go wrong :hmm::hmm::hmm::hmm::hmm::hmm: I'm not familier with this in ANY other shotgun! :hmm::hmm:

 

I do understand that things have improved over the last year or two but Hatsan design, tolerances and quality control was a sad sick joke a while back.

 

Yes, they seem to offer good VFM and feel ok, it is pretty obvious as soon as you touch them they are cheap, and I fell for it and bought my lad one...we are both lucky to be alive, the barrel let go, bulged, blew out most of the choke and was one shot away from inflicting serious injury or death on both of us!

 

ATB!

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HDAV

HDAV

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Then buy a decent double barrel gun far less to go wrong, wood can be refinished and barrrels re blacked, if recoil is an issue use lighter carts. Pleanty of good SxS and O/U for new hatstand money even if they are 10-20-50 years old will probably last longer with less issues

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