antdg Posted November 6, 2011 Report Share Posted November 6, 2011 (edited) Hi all I have never shot a shot gun. I have had my FAC (.22lr and hmr)for a year. Yesterday I went to a shop to have a talk about buying a shotgun. I will be applying for my cert soon, so thought I would get some info about different guns. The guy was very nice and went out of his way to explain things and answer all my questions. Most of my shooting is on rough farm land. At one point I was looking at a camo semi-auto. The guy told me that if I was to buy a shotgun in this style, I may not be welcome at all clay shoots, and would not be able to shoot on any organised driven shoots. Pls could somebody confirm this, as said I may never go to a driven shoot, but I would like to know before I buy. Sorry forgot to put I live near Bolton Lancs. Thanks Antdg Edited November 6, 2011 by antdg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshLamb Posted November 6, 2011 Report Share Posted November 6, 2011 I would suggest popping along to your local clay ground, having a lesson, and trying out whatever guns they have for size and fit before you go shelling out the hard earned . Where abouts in the country are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted November 6, 2011 Report Share Posted November 6, 2011 The shop owner was talking garbage. Many shooters on driven shoots use Side by Sides, but autos or welcome at clay grounds. Go to McAvoys at Standish, Bamfords at Eccleston or Malmo near Lancaster. Better guns at good prices. There are no decent local gunshops in and around Bolton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted November 6, 2011 Report Share Posted November 6, 2011 As a first gun you can do anything with a multi choke over and under that fits you. Doesn't matter if it's a Beretta or a Baikal. The important thing with a shotgun is 'fit' because your eye is the rear sight and if the gun doesn't fit you won't hit much! You need to have a go at a clay ground, or even better a few lessons and you'll start to get a feel for it. Don't rush and buy a gun before you've shot a couple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted November 6, 2011 Report Share Posted November 6, 2011 As WelshLamb suggested,try as many as possible.Over and under multi-chokes are about the most versatile shotgun on the scene;accepted by everyone,no empties to search for in the long grass(if you cup your hand over the ejectors prior to breaking)straight-forward to unload if climbing over fences etc,but the choice is yours.I know of no clay grounds which would stop you from using a 'camo' gun,after all it's only cosmetics,but no doubt there will be some.Autos are not seen on many driven shoots in this country for various reasons(they're welcome on ours!)but like I said,o/u multi-chokes are acceptable everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 (edited) Our clay ground allows semi autos but you are only allowed 2 cartridges to be loaded into it at any time! I have heard that on some driven shoots semi autos are frowned on, the main reason being that it is not so easy for other shooters to see that it is unloaded and safe. Please don't just go out and buy the first gun that you think looks nice when you get your SGC without trying it and others first, you could be wasting your money by buying one that doesn't fit you or doesn't suit or feel right to you. As has been suggested, try to get to a clay ground and ask to try different guns to get an idea of what feels best for you. We have our next clay shoot on Sunday 20th November and if you would like to join us for a day you would be more than welcome to come and have a go while trying different guns as my guest and maybe even get a bit of tuition free at the same time. I see that you are in Bolton in Lancashire, not too far from where we shoot (Milnrow) so if you want to send me a PM I will give you all of the details and my contact details so that we can try to advise you better and get you some "hands on experience"! Edited November 7, 2011 by Frenchieboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 (edited) Sorry, double post yet again. I'm going to have to sort this "effin" PC out to try to find out why it keeps doing this before it goes out of the window for a flying lesson! Edited November 7, 2011 by Frenchieboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Wow..you are the first person I have ever heard of who started with HMR rifle pre shotgun. If you want a shotgun for mainly rough,a bit of clay and the odd game shoot..?which I think is what you are saying,then I think you are better off with a s/s or u/o. I think it is easier to learn and been seen to be safe with either of these rather than a semi-auto. I would suggest you go to a clayground,try a few different guns etc.Shotgun technique is very different to rifle...so a lesson or 3 would also be money well spent.Try more than 1 shooting ground,this way you will probably try more than 1 make of gun,find an instructor YOU like,then have 3/4 lessons.At that point I think you will be in a better position to know what type/make of gun to source.I think you would later regret buying a gun at this point.. hope helps atb.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Wow..you are the first person I have ever heard of who started with HMR rifle pre shotgun. If you want a shotgun for mainly rough,a bit of clay and the odd game shoot..?which I think is what you are saying,then I think you are better off with a s/s or u/o. I think it is easier to learn and been seen to be safe with either of these rather than a semi-auto. I would suggest you go to a clayground,try a few different guns etc.Shotgun technique is very different to rifle...so a lesson or 3 would also be money well spent.Try more than 1 shooting ground,this way you will probably try more than 1 make of gun,find an instructor YOU like,then have 3/4 lessons.At that point I think you will be in a better position to know what type/make of gun to source.I think you would later regret buying a gun at this point.. hope helps atb.. Very sound advice there which is basically what I was suggesting along with an invite! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Its not that unusual for people to start with FAC i started with FAC air then got .22 then 17 HMR a few years later i started with shotguns then started to collect C/F 223 243 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackbird Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 My advice would be start off with a o/u it wil fit all shooting you mentioned, I have a o/u for game shooting/decoying & a semi auto for clay pigeon shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besty57 Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 take frenchie boy up on his offer.hes a top guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Its not that unusual for people to start with FAC i started with FAC air then got .22 then 17 HMR a few years later i started with shotguns then started to collect C/F 223 243 Me too, rf and cf before shotgun, thats because our farm was dairy and pasture until the last few years when the beast went. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antdg Posted November 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 Thanks for all the advice from everybody. Frenchie boy I will check my work rota and if I am not busy working I will PM you (if the offer is still open). Cheers Antdg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 Thanks for all the advice from everybody. Frenchie boy I will check my work rota and if I am not busy working I will PM you (if the offer is still open). Cheers Antdg )The offer is still most certainly still open. If you can make it you will be more than welcome. If you want to PM me nearer the time I can arrange to meet you if need be! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning 425 clay hunter Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 Hi ant. I'm a local (Oldham) and a newbie to shooting shotguns too. If your after any lessons try Manchester clay shooting Eccles. I did the pre licence course package they do and got to try a few different guns and a basic understanding of shotgun politics. My instructor said that semis are frowned upon mainly because of the safety issue. Unless it has the cart with the big red ribbon hanging out to show it's not loaded people stay clear and don't show the same friendliness as they do to o/u and SxS. My coach gave a rollicking to a few semi owners as they didn't have the ribbon on display. Maybe in the past there have been a few incidents with semis that have given them a bad reputation plus the fact they can't be broken to show there unloaded. As always safety is paramount. I might be wrong but I think on the whole there cheaper too which some people look down upon as poor mans shotgun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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