First clay guns

[klonkadik]

Hi all.

Can any of you experienced shooters give me some advice on first guns for me and my 2 sons, I will soon hopefully be buying soon but only have a small budget for each of us, of about £300.

Number 1 son is a l/h 17yr old, and number 2 son is r/h 12 yr old, we have only shot with o/u's so far but the lads quite like the idea of semi autos after seeing them being used at our shooting ground.

I've no preference at the moment, I'm open to all advice but my budget is quite restricted as I need to get 3 guns.

Thanks a lot in advance for your help.

Cheers!

[timps]

Any gun Just make sure it fits.............. Sorry I had to post that

 

for £300 you are looking at lanber territory for the best value IMHO for an o/u

 

For Autos hatsan are cheap but that starts a whole other debate.

Edited December 14, 2011 by timps

[Mike525steel]

Why not buy two. A small cheap one for the 12 year old *** a hatsan as he will out grow it quickly and pool your money for a nicer semi for you and the 17 year old maybe an sx3 or a s/h fusion something a bit nicer IMHO you would be better sharing one and then in time you could look to upgrade /replace the hatsan and ad another maybe an o/under

[ChAoS]

A couple of years ago, I started shooting clays and PSG using my late father's pump-action shotguns. While you may not hit as many clays as with a boring over-and-under, they are *much* more fun.

 

Also, if'n they start using pumps, they should have no trouble using anything else. (When they learn to drive, if they learn in a manual car, they'll have no trouble driving an auto, either.)

 

Regards,

 

Mark.

[bakerboy]

Any gun Just make sure it fits.............. Sorry I had to post that

 

for £300 you are looking at lanber territory for the best value IMHO for an o/u

 

For Autos hatsan are cheap but that starts a whole other debate.

3 recent threads in one there Timps

But the advise you have given, is wise and correct

 

For the 12 year, I have single barrel 12g BSA, FOC, if you want it, light enough for a youngster to handle and a good intro into 12g shooting, This will leave you more money for the other 2 guns and saves the possibility of mixing cartridges, whilst being able to buy the most cost effective cartridges. All I ask is that when you have grown out of it you pass it onto another beginner.

You can a try before you buy if you want, you are not too far away.

Edited December 14, 2011 by bakerboy

[hitclays]

3 recent threads in one there Timps

But the advise you have given, is wise and correct

 

For the 12 year, I have single barrel 12g BSA, FOC, if you want it, light enough for a youngster to handle and a good intro into 12g shooting, This will leave you more money for the other 2 guns and saves the possibility of mixing cartridges, whilst being able to buy the most cost effective cartridges. All I ask is that when you have grown out of it you pass it onto another beginner.

You can a try before you buy if you want, you are not too far away.

 

great offer

[Winterwolf]

 

I bought a used Lanber sporting Delux M/C for about £320 which I use for clays, its right handed, but the cast on it isnt to bad.

I then decided to buy a semi auto Hatsan Escort (left handed) for £320 and I love it as well ... no issues with it.

 

Both used for Clays

[HDAV]

Are you L/H or R/H? I am L/H and can shoot a R/H but not ideal, also with semi's you get the cart eject infront of your face if you shoot a RH action LH. I would suggest get 12 a single or similar as suggested (he will soon grow to shoot a 12) There are plenty of guns about for £300 some great value some dogs only good for the scrap heap. Most clay clubs have a notice board with guns for sale, and members are normally happy to let you try before you buy. You'll need to learn what to look for or take someone with you who knows what to look for. I see your in Northants, I bought mine from Rugby "The Gunshop Rugby" (i think same chap has a shop in northampton " the gun Shop Northampton" ) Great service fromt eh shop and the owner is L/H shot i got to take 2 guns to Barby Sporting their clay ground and try them both out before buying so a big from me.

[Drayman]

Have you put the word out with the local gun shops. Around this way they often have folks trying to trade in guns that they won't be able to sell on for a profit. They won't be great guns but they will be serviceable and the shop will check them over for you, and they may well be enough to get you started. And a bit of home work on the stocks can make a world of difference and it's not too difficult to do. If you let them know they could well help you out with connections and it can be the difference of a sale for them of another gun.

I've seen this happen a couple of times where someone has brought in a gun to sell or trade, the shop doesn't want it, but another customer has bought it at a price that works for all. Just let them know you are looking - can't hurt.

[Spara Dritto]

3 recent threads in one there Timps

But the advise you have given, is wise and correct

 

For the 12 year, I have single barrel 12g BSA, FOC, if you want it, light enough for a youngster to handle and a good intro into 12g shooting, This will leave you more money for the other 2 guns and saves the possibility of mixing cartridges, whilst being able to buy the most cost effective cartridges. All I ask is that when you have grown out of it you pass it onto another beginner.

You can a try before you buy if you want, you are not too far away.

A very nice offer Baker, one of which Klonk, I’m sure, will gladly accept!

Where have you been? We haven't chatted in a while, too much time in the barhumbug no doubt!

Edited December 16, 2011 by Beretta Italy

[bakerboy]

A very nice offer Baker, one of which Klonk, I’m sure, will gladly accept!

Where have you been? We haven't chatted in a while, too much time in the barhumbug no doubt!

Will not be out of the Bar Humbug until after New Year now.

Have a good Christmas

[dan-250]

Single barrels are quite awkward to shot a double target tho. All serious, that's a great offer. As normal from baker boy. Seems a great chap. On the plus side all the same size carts. Why not get a cheap sxs,(100) o/u(300) Or a new hatsan (400 and that's with all adapter and stock alterations) and a single.(free if taken up/bottle of whiskey or something for the favour), plenty left over for more time shooting/carts. You Can swap and have a go with each others then all in 12g just give the youngster 21g eley first or soft recoil cartridges otherwise might put him off. you don't need any bigger loads for clays, it will end up probably making you a better shooter, as it surely would be less spread with less lead. Meaning you have to be more accurate

Edited December 16, 2011 by dan-250

[Chazzmeister]

Hi all.

Can any of you experienced shooters give me some advice on first guns for me and my 2 sons, I will soon hopefully be buying soon but only have a small budget for each of us, of about £300.

Number 1 son is a l/h 17yr old, and number 2 son is r/h 12 yr old, we have only shot with o/u's so far but the lads quite like the idea of semi autos after seeing them being used at our shooting ground.

I've no preference at the moment, I'm open to all advice but my budget is quite restricted as I need to get 3 guns.

Thanks a lot in advance for your help.

Cheers!

Semi Autos / Pumps always look like fun but there's more to go wrong with a SA and pumps make a second shot more challenging due to reloading - they're not always as welcome on rough or driven shoots as it's harder to see when they're 'safe' out in the field.

There should be O/Us within your price range - E Rizzini multichokes often appear at about £300 in 28" barrelled form and you'd have to be a hooligan to make it worth much less for a trade-in in a couple of years time.

If you're buying secondhand (which is only sensible) stick to a 12bore as carts are less expensive than 20bore (and I doubt you'd find a 20bore in that price range).

Buy locally if at all possible because there's nothing better than being able to go back to a gun shop and asking them to put right any small glitches - by the time you've packed something up and RFD'd it that's another wedge spent putting right something that shouldn't have been wrong in the first place - that bit is the voice of experience talking

A lot of grounds / shoots will be able to lend you something (hitclays always comes up with a loan gun given notice) and that way it's much better to try autos / pumps / OUs / SBSs. OU is, in my considered opinion, the way to go despite the fact that I use a S/A for rough shooting.

Good luck and keep posting - lots of people on here will be happy to help

ALL OF THE ABOVE IS ONLY MY OPINION AND NOT INTENDED TO RATTLE ANY CAGES - EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN OPINION AND IT WOULD BE BORING IF EVERYONE THOUGHT THE SAME WAY!

[Spara Dritto]

Will not be out of the Bar Humbug until after New Year now.

Have a good Christmas

 

 

Just make sure the taps don't freezzzzz!