willerby Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 Hello . Getting into shooting for the first time ( game & clays ) , sent off for the license and would like some advice . I need to buy a gun cabinet , is it best to go for new or secondhand ? Once I get the go ahead the gun will be next . But which one , new or secondhand , length of barrel etc . I've been reading the magazines and talking to people but it all seems confusing . Got about £700 to spend in total . I live in Essex . Any advice will help . Thanks . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hill billy Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 first as you said a gun cabinet i brought a second hand one out of sporting gun private sales section for about £80 it holds six guns and has got a shelf in the top which plod liked because it meant that all my ammo was locked away, so i would sugest for you to buy a second hand one due to your buget but keep in mind as well that you may wish to purchase more guns in the future so get one with a fair few spaces because once you get the shooting bug the guns soon start rolling in, if you don't know already a gun cabinet has got to be secured to an inside wall and very well attached for plod to pass it, i sugest securing it using coach bolts and raise it off of the floor to make it very clear that it is attached. Secondly your gun, if you go to any gun smiths and tell them your budget they normally have something to suit you, the number 1 thing to remember with a shotgun is that it must fit you well or you will shoot terrible with it regardless of its cost or make, i would sugest to you to buy a gun with barrels between 28" and 30", if you are wanting to shoot driven game ie phesants then an automatic shotgun is fround apon so go with a over and under or side by side as these can be made safe at the flick of a leaver. the two best makes to look out for are beretta and browning i would say for your buget both these makes are very well suited because they are very reliable and well built solid guns there are lot's of others out there but i won't start confusing you. i hope this has been of some help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willerby Posted May 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 Thanks hill billy , I was going to fix the cabinet to one of the walls in the loft ( access by a loft ladder ) . If I take to it like I have done other sports I will end up with more than one gun so I'll take on board your advice . One thing I forgot to mention was that I normally shoot left handed although I am naturally righthand as my left eye is far stronger than my right due to an accident when I was a kid . Should I buy a left or right handed gun as I can shoot either way but if I have to shut one eye it will always be lefthanded . Any particualr model of Berretta or Browning . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerman Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 hello mate, welcome to the forum. suggest you fill in your personal details (where you're from etc) and you'll get more replies. you said you're from essex and although i haven't been personally i've heard good things about Essex Gun shop, i think Mungler (another member) might know about that. get yourself down there and they should be able to point you in the direction of a decent gun which fits, of course you won't really know til you start shooting but it's a good basis. good luck mate, all the best, BM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hill billy Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 i think you will find that most guns are ambidextorus so can be used left or right handed except for self loaders like pumps and autos were the cartridge will eject from diffrent sides, personally i don't no much about browning but if you can get a beretta silver pigeon or something along those lines then that will see you proud for a long time ( iv had mine for 10 years and put roughly 50,000 cartriges through it and never had a problem ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willerby Posted May 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 Thanks guys . I've got a day off tommorrow might go to Romford , I think there's one near Stansted as well , I'll keep you updated . Anybody know of a secondhand gun cabinet . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 I use two gun shops Leech & Sons in Boreham and Essex Gun in Romford. Both are good but Leech & Sons edges out in front because they are just so quirky (the gun shop that time forgot) and because they give good advice. The best advice I can give is: 1. buy the biggest cabinet you can lay your hands on / afford - you think you won't fill it, but you will. If you do a search for "gun cabinets" on the forum, affordable gun cabinets have recently been discussed. I got an extra deep 7 gun cabinet with lockable top box, and delivered for £165 from http://www.bgaltd.co.uk/ (ask for Julian although he was talking about putting his prices up because the cabinets were a two man lift and ANC couriers were moaning etc). 2. Do not put your cabinet in the loft - it is impractical and the firearms officers hate it because they know that after a while you will not be bothered to go up and down to put your guns away / take them out. 3. As a first gun, get yourself a solid second hand Beretta or Browning over and under - this was actually the best advice I got (and it was from Leech & Sons). I got a sub £500 1980's Beretta Silver Pigeon and it is flawless and looks like it will last forever. It's very well made, easy to clean and maintain and I must have put 4000 cartridges through it (it gets borrowed by my non SGC possessing friends when we go clay shooting). I only use it for clay shooting now but it is still my favourite gun and my clay shooting is pretty good if I say so myself. There are lots of people that chop and change their guns but if you find something that works then stick with it (and like a set of golf clubs it will take you 3 months to know whether or not you will like and get on with the gun) 4. if you specifically want to focus on rough shooting or rolling round a farm / in a field then consider a synthetic semi (AL391) or a pump gun. The guy I went out with about a month ago went out with his £1000 + new Beretta O/U and after standing in the wet for 3 hours all the wood on the stock had swollen and the gun looked very unloved. Mung Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 i think you will find that most guns are ambidextorus so can be used left or right handed except for self loaders like pumps and autos were the cartridge will eject from diffrent sides, personally i don't no much about browning but if you can get a beretta silver pigeon or something along those lines then that will see you proud for a long time ( iv had mine for 10 years and put roughly 50,000 cartriges through it and never had a problem ) Most guns have a "cast" to the stock to suit right handed shooters, who are in the majority, some have straight stocks and are as you say ambidextrous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willerby Posted June 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 What gauge should I to go for , 12 , 16 or 20 . Most people seem to have 12g but I remember from my beating days ( 35 years ago ) that youngsters had 20g but some shooters swore that the 16g was the best gun . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatingisbest Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 What gauge should I to go for , 12 , 16 or 20 . Most people seem to have 12g but I remember from my beating days ( 35 years ago ) that youngsters had 20g but some shooters swore that the 16g was the best gun . I would definatly go for a 12g, there is a reason it is the most common shotgun round. The cartridges are also cheaper than 16g or 20g. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willerby Posted September 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Well after nearly 4 months looking I've bought a new Beretta Silver Pigeon S , 12g , 30ins , MC game gun . I looked at loads of new and secondhand stuff but finally decided on this gun . Hopefully I've made the right choice and that I get plenty of enjoyment using it . Thanks to all for your help and advice . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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