Odd question - advice required!

[LondonLuke]

Hi all

 

Just got my SGC through and looking to buy first gun. This is likely to be through RFD transfer.

 

Situation is that I don't have a local shop to get carts from or at least not that I have found.

 

This week I have the opportunity to have some carts delivered - not normally an option - and thinking on ordering some from just cartridges.

 

So question is...is there cartridge that I can order (suitable for clays) that will be fine with whichever o/u I end up with?

[Tod]

firstly you need to know that the gun will fit you, i wouldnt buy a gun without trying it unless its the exact same model you have tried, my advice is travel to a good gun shop and try some out then do a deal or find something you like and look for a good second hand one that hasnt been modified in any way, as for the carts most modern shotguns will take pretty much anything you want, dont just go for the cheapest though, you want something that will be consistant, try various 28grm in 7.5, when you find one you like stick with it.

[LondonLuke]

Thanks for this. Think the gun purchasing could be a slowish process. The one thing London doesn't have is any local gun shops.

 

Why is there no gun supermarket like car giant equivalent?! Need somewhere you can travel to and find hundreds to look at

 

Thanks for advice re carts. Might order a few hundred assorted ones in that size to test out

[HDAV]

Thanks for this. Think the gun purchasing could be a slowish process. The one thing London doesn't have is any local gun shops.

 

Thanks for advice re carts. Might order a few hundred assorted ones in that size to test out

London has quite few gun shops in fact, for now might as well buy where you shoot all grounds sell carts and if you want to try a few better buying a few boxes at a ground

[LondonLuke]

London has quite few gun shops in fact, for now might as well buy where you shoot all grounds sell carts and if you want to try a few better buying a few boxes at a ground

Ok sounds good

 

Where are the gun shops in London?

[M.I.A]

http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&safe=off&biw=1280&bih=868&sclient=psy-ab&q=gun+shops+london&oq=gun+shops+london&aq=f&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_l=hp.3..0l4.636l4870l0l5298l18l15l1l2l2l0l263l2015l5j9j1l19l0.llsin.&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=485b52c7a81c1469

[LondonLuke]

http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&safe=off&biw=1280&bih=868&sclient=psy-ab&q=gun+shops+london&oq=gun+shops+london&aq=f&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_l=hp.3..0l4.636l4870l0l5298l18l15l1l2l2l0l263l2015l5j9j1l19l0.llsin.&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=485b52c7a81c1469

 

Yes, um, very helpful

 

Probably should have mentioned I'm not looking at spending £4000 upwards

[BerettaSV10]

Have you a budget in mind? new or second hand. New you should be able to pick up from around £800 too £1500 starting from the Lanber sporting delux, Beretta Silver Pigeon 1 for around £1250, Browning 525 and Miruko's for around the same or less than the SP1, Other Beretta 686 series around £1400 to £1500.

 

There are cheaper new guns tha are less than £800, just indicated what is a popular chioce of guns, as mentioned before you need to try one before buying. I think a lot of us has bought a gun and changed it shortly afterwoods as some did not feel quite right.

[LondonLuke]

Have you a budget in mind? new or second hand. New you should be able to pick up from around £800 too £1500 starting from the Lanber sporting delux, Beretta Silver Pigeon 1 for around £1250, Browning 525 and Miruko's for around the same or less than the SP1, Other Beretta 686 series around £1400 to £1500.

 

There are cheaper new guns tha are less than £800, just indicated what is a popular chioce of guns, as mentioned before you need to try one before buying. I think a lot of us has bought a gun and changed it shortly afterwoods as some did not feel quite right.

 

Thank you for this. Interesting to hear other thoughts on it.

 

At the moment I'm at a bit of a financial cross roads and keen to not spend a huge amount, preference be to spend around the £300 ish mark. Whilst by no means going to buy me a super dooper shiny gun it should mean I can buy something that will allow me to trial the sport for six months and see how I get on

 

What with all the other kit to purchase its a balancing act (don't get me wrong, would love to spend heavy three figures) but just can't justify it at this stage.

 

Also I'm hoping by spending less it should mean I could sell it again in six months if I love the sport and want to upgrade.

 

Though I appreciate with this budget it does make it more difficult to find a gun, especially where I am, though does take some stress from the decision

[HDAV]

Guntrader lists the dealers in an area, £300 not huge keep an eye on what wabbit bosher has, other kit all you need is a slip, ear and eye protection and carts anything else is not necassary make sure the gun fits and buying a better gun used will hold better value

[LondonLuke]

Guntrader lists the dealers in an area, £300 not huge keep an eye on what wabbit bosher has, other kit all you need is a slip, ear and eye protection and carts anything else is not necassary make sure the gun fits and buying a better gun used will hold better value

Will check on there - from doing near my house I seem to get all the SUPER expensive brands, Boss, Purdey etc so it's proving tough at the lower levels

 

From reading on here I think I will get Howard Leight ear protection as seems to have all good feedback but not super expensive. Strangely keener to buy once buy right with these as if like sport in 6 months then no need to upgrade and if not they work ok for future house jobs and the like

 

Guntrader lists the dealers in an area, £300 not huge keep an eye on what wabbit bosher has, other kit all you need is a slip, ear and eye protection and carts anything else is not necassary make sure the gun fits and buying a better gun used will hold better value

Will check on there - from doing near my house I seem to get all the SUPER expensive brands, Boss, Purdey etc so it's proving tough at the lower levels

 

From reading on here I think I will get Howard Leight ear protection as seems to have all good feedback but not super expensive. Strangely keener to buy once buy right with these as if like sport in 6 months then no need to upgrade and if not they work ok for future house jobs and the like

[HDAV]

http://www.guntrader.co.uk/DealerSearch/

 

Try there plenty of choice

[Livefast123]

You need a lesson on budget shooting from Livefast!

 

1 x Lanber 12g over and under = £145 from eddoakley, there are also lots of other guys on PW who do cheap guns.

1 x Gunslip = £10 from above

1 x Silverline electronic ear defenders from Amazon = £13.99 3 year warranty

1 x 5 lens shooting glasses from ebay = £15.00

1 x Jack Pyke cartridge bag from ebay = £10.00

 

Total ready to shoot £183.99

 

I'll never win any nice kit competitions but the gun shoots and everything else does what it says on the tin and if It turns out I don't like it or can't shoot shotgun then it's no great loss.

Edited March 25, 2012 by Livefast123

[MiLisCer]

Luke,

 

Where in West London are you? I used to work in Chiswick and can point you towards some shops if you tell me where you are.

 

Mike

[LondonLuke]

Luke,

 

Where in West London are you? I used to work in Chiswick and can point you towards some shops if you tell me where you are.

 

Mike

Hi Mike

 

I am near to Shepherds Bush sort of area, am happy to travel a bit but finding it tough to find anywhere local but not ridiculous!

 

Thanks

 

Luke

 

You need a lesson on budget shooting from Livefast!

 

1 x Lanber 12g over and under = £145 from eddoakley, there are also lots of other guys on PW who do cheap guns.

1 x Gunslip = £10 from above

1 x Silverline electronic ear defenders from Amazon = £13.99 3 year warranty

1 x 5 lens shooting glasses from ebay = £15.00

1 x Jack Pyke cartridge bag from ebay = £10.00

 

Total ready to shoot £183.99

 

I'll never win any nice kit competitions but the gun shoots and everything else does what it says on the tin and if It turns out I don't like it or can't shoot shotgun then it's no great loss.

Nice, thank you for this. Really appreciate your thoughts and help, will investigate into these products and glad to hear I'm not the only one doing it my way!!

[MiLisCer]

http://www.yell.com/ucs/UcsSearchAction.do?startAt=0&keywords=gun+dealers+and+gunsmiths&location=west+london&scrambleSeed=58979508&showOoa=10&ppcStartAt=0&pageNum=1

 

Don't forget West London shooting ground at Northolt too-nice ground - plenty more in Surrey - including Alan Wey - just otherside of Box Hill.

 

Mike

[Livefast123]

While having the brand names is nice, they can be pricey so I looked for stuff that would do the job just as well.

 

Firstly you need to find your local RFD and enquire how much it would be for him to recieve a gun for you then put an advert on PW for a cheap O/U and I'm sure you'll get plenty of offers, I did. Guntrader etc always seem to have a fair few cheepies as well.

 

Once you have bought it you could drive to pick up or I would bargain on between an extra £30 - £50 RFD's charge to get the gun in your hands.

 

Regarding the fit, as long as you are generally of average build you should be ok, I am and the Lanber fitted me like a peach.

[LondonLuke]

http://www.yell.com/ucs/UcsSearchAction.do?startAt=0&keywords=gun+dealers+and+gunsmiths&location=west+london&scrambleSeed=58979508&showOoa=10&ppcStartAt=0&pageNum=1

 

Don't forget West London shooting ground at Northolt too-nice ground - plenty more in Surrey - including Alan Wey - just otherside of Box Hill.

 

Mike

 

Thanks for this - though from clicking that link you can see what I am up against!

 

How do I find details of the range near Box Hill?

[LondonLuke]

While having the brand names is nice, they can be pricey so I looked for stuff that would do the job just as well.

 

Firstly you need to find your local RFD and enquire how much it would be for him to recieve a gun for you then put an advert on PW for a cheap O/U and I'm sure you'll get plenty of offers, I did. Guntrader etc always seem to have a fair few cheepies as well.

 

Once you have bought it you could drive to pick up or I would bargain on between an extra £30 - £50 RFD's charge to get the gun in your hands.

 

Regarding the fit, as long as you are generally of average build you should be ok, I am and the Lanber fitted me like a peach.

Ok cool. That sounds good and it's a relief to know it is possible to do it on a bit of a budget. I will have a search around for the best RFD to use and go to.

 

Where abouts do you place the advert on here for the guns wanted? Interesting you should say about Lanber as that is a brand I quite like the look of!

[MiLisCer]

Luke there is also one in Feltham - if you want recommendations then.

 

http://www.frederickbeesley.org/find.htm

 

Alan Wey in Surrey (Otherside of box hill- he is a shop/dealer not a range)- http://www.alanwey.co.uk/joomla/

 

And West London Shooting School at Northolt. http://www.shootingschool.co.uk/

 

These three are GOOD places to start.

 

Mike

[Livefast123]

If you go into the Trading Post section then you can put your add under the wanted section. Get the add on now and you'll have a gun before you know it.

 

As people rightly say fit is important but you cant always get an ideal fit on our type of budget. You can always have a cheap gun fitted to you if it is that bad. Lanbers seem to be built for average fit and there are lots of cheap ones about. Mine was built in 1981, the same year I was born and even though the blacking is worn I could have it redone for 45 quid if needed.

Edited March 25, 2012 by Livefast123

[LondonLuke]

Luke there is also one in Feltham - if you want recommendations then.

 

http://www.frederickbeesley.org/find.htm

 

Alan Wey in Surrey (Otherside of box hill- he is a shop/dealer not a range)- http://www.alanwey.co.uk/joomla/

 

And West London Shooting School at Northolt. http://www.shootingschool.co.uk/

 

These three are GOOD places to start.

 

Mike

Thank you very much for these, helps to see the wood for the trees. I will be sure to investigate these.

 

Appreciate everyone's help!

[LondonLuke]

If you go into the Trading Post section then you can put your add under the wanted section. Get the add on now and you'll have a gun before you know it.

 

As people rightly say fit is important but you cant always get an ideal fit on our type of budget. You can always have a cheap gun fitted to you if it is that bad. Lanbers seem to be built for average fit and there are lots of cheap ones about. Mine was built in 1981, the same year I was born and even though the blacking is worn I could have it redone for 45 quid if needed.

I dont have access to the wanted section - think you have to be on here for 6 months. I will put it in guns and equipments once I am certain what I'm looking for. The Lanber does sound like a good option and good to know it will for an average size person.

 

I have just seen a nice one through a site I have been browsing which could work out ok.

 

Thank for your help and advice

[Jesse James]

There's a great clay ground at headley too (Box hill) to have a look and try.... there's a few members from there on here too.

Me being one also that would be happy for you to try out a few of our shotguns. Semi auto and O/U.

 

Phil the owner also does coaching...

 

If not there is also Gatwick clay school.

 

if up this way you could also look at two shops in Reigate Surrey (bottom of box hill as such) John Powell & Reigate Armoury.

or a little closer to me there is also Surrey Guns at Wallington or GT shooting at Coulsdon.

 

lee.

[HDAV]

I dont have access to the wanted section - think you have to be on here for 6 months. I will put it in guns and equipments once I am certain what I'm looking for. The Lanber does sound like a good option and good to know it will for an average size person.

GO shoot some guns and have some fun before you rush to buy. It's good to get a feel for a few there are plenty of dogs out there at that price and a few diamonds that look a bit rough.