First Gun...oh the complication of it all

[HairySmurf]

Good evening

 

I am sure you are tired of reading the same question...which gun should I but as my first. Trust me im tired of reading all the suggestions but please bear with me!

 

The problem I have is one of pressure, in a way, from the people who introduced me to shooting and those i shoot with.

 

They have been shooting for years, 20-50, and have always stuck with the same models..Miroku, Beretta and Browning. Admittedly all fantastic guns but I now have £500 (and it took a long time to get that) to spend and an itchy trigger finger and these are not really in my price range, unless they are worn out or older than me.

 

The thing is all I keep been told is to keep saving and wait for the right one to turn up (the right one been one of the 3 models mentioned) and I feel concerned that buying something different and turning up on a game shoot, pigeon bash or a crack at the clays will be frowned upon with the ol waggling finger and a muttered " wont be long before he wishes he waited!"

 

I have been reading several good reviews and am interested in a couple of different models. a Huglu 103DE and a Bettinsoli Diamond. I want to stick with an O/U and as im used to a Miroku 800 with a 26" barrel I guess I should look for no more than a 28" barrel. preferrable multi choke but not the chokes that poke out of the muzzle. Otherwise fixed 1/4 and 1/2 would be fine for me.

 

The question is....... Should i do as i am been advised and keep waiting a looking for a bargain model or head towards the darkside and go different.

 

Please let me know your honest opinions/recommendations and , as always, i appreciate your reading time!

 

Thanks

 

Duncan

[shaun4860]

Nothing wrong with Bettinsoli, or Lanber, Ive had no dealings with Huglu

 

You could also try Browning medalists, a budget Browning.

 

Yes you could hang on for one of the 3 you have mentioned, but bear in mind, not many people started off with those types of guns,

 

they worked their way up to them

 

I started with a Baikal o/u double trigger and progressed from there...

 

Good luck

 

oh and dont worry about what other people say, as long as you're happy with it then that's all that matters

Edited November 25, 2012 by shaun4860

[jay222]

Enjoy the choosing it adds to the experience

[robbiep]

For starters, stuff the label snobs.

I know people who shoot with £5,000 shotguns, and they are ****. I also know someone who shoots with a £80 shotgun. He'd pretty good, to put it mildly.

Now, you're going to get people here who love Beretta, hate Browning, adore Baikal, detest Bettinsoli.

And that's only 1 letter of the alphabet !

Find a gun that seems to fit you. If you can, go to a clay ground that sells second-hand guns, and ask if you can try something.

 

I took my Bettinsoli game gun to a clay shoot a few weeks ago (its a leftie, and suits me beautifully), and someone actually said that I shouldn't have been using it there. My reply : I don't think having more toys will make me a better shot.

Go on, try a few guns. Include a few oddballs to try. You might be surprised.

 

Oh, I learnt to shoot with a Baikal, I also own a Browning Medalist in 12bore, and my wife has a lovely Gunmark Kestrel S/S 20 bore. I can shoot all of them equally as badly

Edited November 25, 2012 by robbiep

[shaun4860]

There is this one within your budget

 

http://www.guntrader.co.uk/Guns-For-Sale/Lanber_Shotgun_Sporting-Delux_For-Sale_121119163904513

 

check Gunwatch/Gun trader/Gun Star

 

[terence]

i started with browning 425 lovely gun but sold it and got a new lanber sporting and dont regret it for £500 you should be able to get a nearly new one good luck and hope you enjoy what ever you end up with

[Dekers]

For starters, stuff the label snobs.

I know people who shoot with £5,000 shotguns, and they are ****. I also know someone who shoots with a £80 shotgun. He'd pretty good, to put it mildly.

Now, you're going to get people here who love Beretta, hate Browning, adore Baikal, detest Bettinsoli.

And that's only 1 letter of the alphabet !

Find a gun that seems to fit you. If you can, go to a clay ground that sells second-hand guns, and ask if you can try something.

 

I took my Bettinsoli game gun to a clay shoot a few weeks ago (its a leftie, and suits me beautifully), and someone actually said that I shouldn't have been using it there. My reply : I don't think having more toys will make me a better shot.

Go on, try a few guns. Include a few oddballs to try. You might be surprised.

 

Oh, I learnt to shoot with a Baikal, I also own a Browning Medalist in 12bore, and my wife has a lovely Gunmark Kestrel S/S 20 bore. I can shoot all of them equally as badly

 

 

...........and just what have you got against Benelli?

[HDAV]

I wouldn't buy a medallist as it isnt a browning, might as well buy a lanber, bettinsoli or FIAS (the gun that was branded by browning as the medalist). more important than what make it is is that it fits.

 

I would suggest a that you may get a Miroku or Beretta for £500 but unless you know what to look for you could be buying problems. Plenty of good guns for £500 as long as you aren't left handed.......

 

Oh and don't worry about "chokes that stick out" as there are flush and extended for pretty much every gun it's just a matter of choice which you use. if you shoot well with a Miroku 800 why not buy one?

 

http://www.guntrader...120106165840001 (some hard negotiating and shopping around should get you one in budget) but take soemone who knows what to look for and walk away if it not 100% right, plenty of guns forsale!

 

As for "label" snobs how well you shoot with it has nothing to do with the price tag, its value, quality and pedigree does (price tag) spending £5000 on a gun will get you a better gun than spending £50 or even £500 but it doesnt mean you will shoot any better!

Edited November 25, 2012 by HDAV

[Coolhead]

Good evening

 

I have been reading several good reviews and am interested in a couple of different models. a Huglu 103DE and a Bettinsoli Diamond. I want to stick with an O/U and as im used to a Miroku 800 with a 26" barrel I guess I should look for no more than a 28" barrel. preferrable multi choke but not the chokes that poke out of the muzzle. Otherwise fixed 1/4 and 1/2 would be fine for me.

 

The question is....... Should i do as i am been advised and keep waiting a looking for a bargain model or head towards the darkside and go different.

Thanks

 

Duncan

 

Huglu and Bettinsolli will not disappoint you even if second hand. There are several lesser known Turkish makes like Huglu that are built like tanks.

 

CZ rebrand Huglu for the US market and they wouldn't choose rubbish.

 

Whatever you find, check the barrel for pitting and make sure there is no play when it is shut.

 

Why spends a load of money when you'll miss at first anyway?

 

Only an utter $%& would take the pee out of someone's gun while out for a friendly shoot.

[Livefast123]

The first shotgun I bought was a 1981 Lanber, made in the same year I was born. It's blueing is tired and the woodwork is ok but guess what.........when I put 2 cartridges in the end of the 2 steel tubes and pull the trigger it goes bang.

 

It cost me hardly anything yet as my first it feels special. Personally I say sod the brandaphobes and get something in your budget that fits. You'll not go wrong with a Lanber.

[Mr Rizzini]

I picked up about 10 guns when going to buy mine, I didnt even look at brands etc as I wanted a gun that fitted pretty well. Once I found that I then wanted something I liked the look of and guess what! I ended up with a lovely bettinsoli diamond that fits like a glove, I absolutely love it

[Sx3 clay breaker]

A lad had a bettonsoli on a local clay shoot and had nothing but trouble with it and had a refund on not fit for purpose and bought my dads mk38 sporter which he lives the. There's anther lad who had a lanber which he shot good with bought a mk70 and ending up going to lanber which go to show its personal prefence I'd sooner shoot a £50 gun better than a £5000 gun which I dosent

[Albert 888]

If I was buying my first gun knowing what I know now,it would be a 28"12bore over and under with multi chokes 3" chamber and steel shot proof,that fit and felt good in the sholder. Looks and cost is unimportant as long as you can shoot it well. If you pick the right one it should last you a lifetime. I went for browning as it felt good and still does but I cant use for half of my shooting as its not steel proof:'(. Its worth the wait just have a look at all your local shops and enjoy it.

[ace_of_hearts]

I have just sold my Bettinsoli Diamond Deluxe for not much over your budget. It was a beautiful gun and i never had any trouble with it. I would definitely recommend one

[hawkfanz]

why did u sell it then ?

[The Essex Hunter]

I have a 325 grade 3 Browning 20 + years and had one small spring in the safety replaced (probably due to me switching it over from top to bottom barrel and back again while watching pigeons lol)

A friend has a Bettinsoli from new 7 ago and it has been back 4 times after the warranty finished.

Granted mine was £1400 and my mate’s was £650, however I wonder how it will fair with 13 more years of use?

My guess is he will buy another gun with in 4 years and loose more cash….

 

 

TEH

[bruno22rf]

Buy a cheap o/u from wabbitbosher for about the £100 mark and keep adding to the remaining money.If you are going to fall over,stand on bend or break your gun doing stupid things its best to do it with a cheap one.By the time you need a "decent" gun you will have the money and experience to get the best from it-you then need to decide if you want one gun for the rest of your life or are you going to want a change every now and then.If you decide on a "keeper" then it needs to be a Browning Beretta etc.

[cumbrian shooter]

Good evening

 

I am sure you are tired of reading the same question...which gun should I but as my first. Trust me im tired of reading all the suggestions but please bear with me!

 

The problem I have is one of pressure, in a way, from the people who introduced me to shooting and those i shoot with.

 

They have been shooting for years, 20-50, and have always stuck with the same models..Miroku, Beretta and Browning. Admittedly all fantastic guns but I now have £500 (and it took a long time to get that) to spend and an itchy trigger finger and these are not really in my price range, unless they are worn out or older than me.

 

The thing is all I keep been told is to keep saving and wait for the right one to turn up (the right one been one of the 3 models mentioned) and I feel concerned that buying something different and turning up on a game shoot, pigeon bash or a crack at the clays will be frowned upon with the ol waggling finger and a muttered " wont be long before he wishes he waited!"

 

I have been reading several good reviews and am interested in a couple of different models. a Huglu 103DE and a Bettinsoli Diamond. I want to stick with an O/U and as im used to a Miroku 800 with a 26" barrel I guess I should look for no more than a 28" barrel. preferrable multi choke but not the chokes that poke out of the muzzle. Otherwise fixed 1/4 and 1/2 would be fine for me.

 

The question is....... Should i do as i am been advised and keep waiting a looking for a bargain model or head towards the darkside and go different.

 

Please let me know your honest opinions/recommendations and , as always, i appreciate your reading time!

 

Thanks

 

Duncan

 

hello mate

i started of with a £200 gun and worked my way up no where near where the top yet but the gun i have is a brilliant gun, its a lanber sporter model 2097) and its shoots as well as any other!! You would pick one up for around £500!

 

I can see where the old guys are coming from but they probs dont have much to pay out now and have worked up a bigger bank account than you!

 

we all have to start somwhere and theres no shame in that, it doesnt matter what you buy aslong as its what you want and you chose it, if i was you id be going for a bettinsoli or a lanber or laurona! All proven makes!

good luck and choose what YOU want!

 

atb c.s

[hawkfanz]

nowt wrong with budget guns i,m in my 60,s been a shooter all my life,have 2 medalist a 20 an a 12 an a berretta a300,ok there not browning but niether are browning there made by miroku,my mate has 2 sil pig,20,and 12,they dont shoot any better than my guns.,and thinkin of gettin rid of 12 cos i need steel proof and 76mm chambers.guess what i,m looking at,lanber,lincoln,bettinsoli.they all shoot were you point em no matter who makes em.

[Fib new]

I would try a few guns that are within your budget and take the one that fits you best. Don't look at guns that are not in budget. My first gun was a cheap second hand (or maybe third of fourth hand) AYA sxs which worked for me. Used it for a few years and then upgraded to a b25 which also is nice to shoot.

My old AYA went to a friend who still uses it today for rough shooting.

 

Best advice is to try before you buy and take the one that fits you best within budget.

Edited November 26, 2012 by Fib new

[Cosd]

I wouldn't buy a medallist as it isnt a browning, might as well buy a lanber, bettinsoli or FIAS (the gun that was branded by browning as the medalist). more important than what make it is is that it fits.

 

Very confusing answer for the OP, you wouldn't buy a Medalist because it doesn't have the right label but the important thing is it fits right :wacko:

 

What if a Medalist fits him perfectly?

 

 

Edited November 26, 2012 by Cosd

[al4x]

 

I would suggest a that you may get a Miroku or Beretta for £500 but unless you know what to look for you could be buying problems. Plenty of good guns for £500 as long as you aren't left handed.......

 

 

you may very well get a 686 or silver pigeon for that or not much more but the key is fit. I'd be very wary on cheap guns they are hard to shift if they have much wear / pitting or any cracks and just clutter up peoples cabinets till they get punted on cheap. Your mates are on some not bad advice a basic 28" beretta with 1/4 and 1/2 chokes you can shoot anything with clays / game. Needs to be steel for wildfowl but that depends whether you are likely to shoot any. If you buy one that fits you may find you keep it most of your life,

[Catweazle]

For less than £500 you can get an old, but sound, Winchester 101 Sporter. That's a quality gun for very little money. The later models are 3" chamber, multi-choked and steel proofed too.

[HDAV]

 

 

Very confusing answer for the OP, you wouldn't buy a Medalist because it doesn't have the right label but the important thing is it fits right :wacko:

 

What if a Medalist fits him perfectly?

my poor explanation, I meant don't look specifically for a medalist, but for a gun that fits (which the medalist may do).

 

Funny thing gun fit every shop I went to had a gun that "fitted like a glove" according to the salesman..... My insistence in having £500 to spend and wanting a factory cast on (lh) stock meant choice was limited.... Eventually upped budget to £1000 to get a gun that was close enough, still needs fitting to me properly which I'll do when I have the cash.

 

I started shooting with i inherited, so didn't buy a first gun, took the buy once buy right approach, could have easily bought 3-4 in same time period....

[escortmagnum999]

I started with a new lanber o/u, wish id bought a 2nd hand one because it promptly got battered around, dropped and scratched. Best to work out what you'll use it for before you splurge. Im sure somebody said this before but a £50 gun that fits is better than a £5000 gun that doesnt. Enjoy having a look around gun shops, handle as many as you can and dont be pressured into something you dont want! Best of luck!