Sorry another "which gun" question

[a.f.dickin]

In a nutshell, I am getting round to getting my first shotgun, mainly for sport clays but hopefully in future game. I have read a bit, held a lot in shops, and shot a few berettas which I like, so figured even though I haven't shot a browning yet, let's not complicate matters and stick to beretta.

 

My budget is £1200-1400. So I had pretty much narrowed it down to a new silver pigeon, or a 10-15 year old 682 gold e I've seen.

 

However... The spanner in the works..... I've seen a 3 year old sv10 perennia 3 for £1200, looks beautiful, not shot it or able to before buying it, hopefully it will similar to other berettas I have shot. My question is, is this a good purchase for a first gun, also will it be ok shooting clays regularly to begin with ( knowing it is really a game / field gun ) but it seems it's a bit in the middle like a silver pigeon, and what are your opinions? Thank you.

[bostonmick]

For your budget you have a wide choice in the beretta range.a gun that feels right to you is more important than model you should be able to get a newer 682 than the one you have quoted and in my own opinion it is a much better gun than the sp1.don't rush into your first purchase and if possible try as many as you can before taking the plunge.atb

[Flynn]

I'm sure you'll get this same advice from others (far more experienced than I) but the bottom line always seems to be the following:

 

Buy a gun that fits. The only way you'll know this is if you actually try it out for size (literally).

If you shoulder the gun in what feels like a comfortable position, and it drops your dominant eye over the centre of the barrels and you can look straight down the to of the rib without having to move your face around, it's on the list as a potential purchase.

 

If it doesn't do this, then you're going to have to have it altered to fit you, which involves expense.

 

Seems to be the primary rule - get something that fits... if none of the 3 you mention point where you think they're pointing because they don't fit you, you might as well throw your cartridges as the clays, as you're not going to hit them.

[clayman]

Flynn is absolutely correct - buy a gun that fits.

 

A £50 Baikal that fits you will break more clays than a £10,000 K-80 that does not.

 

Best advice you can get right now is DONT rush into a £1000+ purchase before you know exactly what you need and want out of a gun.

 

Far better to buy budget now, Lanber / Lincoln / Laurona / Rottweil / Rizzini etc - lots around sub £500.

 

Shoot what-ever you get for 6 months and you will walk into a shop for your £1500 gun Soooo much better informed about your needs that you will likely end up with a far better gun choice.

 

The starter gun can be chopped back as a trade in, these things don't loose money, or kept as your spare ( guns break down, mates want to shoot with you - two guns isn't a bad thing)

Edited September 10, 2014 by clayman

[figgy]

If your into clay shooting go for the newest 682 Gold E you can buy for your budget as it's not going to loose much value anyway.

 

As for gun fit until you can mount consistently and correctly, your stance is correct your gun fit will be allover the place. So long as it's not miles away which you say Berettas suit you you've shot them. Any gun can be fitted to you, so buy one you like the look and feel of.

 

And enjoy shooting it.

 

Figgy

[Scully]

 

As for gun fit until you can mount consistently and correctly, your stance is correct your gun fit will be allover the place. Any gun can be fitted to you, so buy one you like the look and feel of.

 

 

As above.

[seeker]

But surely it makes it more difficult to develop a good and consistent mount, stance etc with a gun that is an unsuitable fit?

Maybe a new gun purchase should require a certificate from a competent gun fitter/coach. So money is spent getting it right rather than putting it right? Tweaking can build on a good foundation as experience is developped.

No egg = no chicken = no egg=

[Scully]

The vast majority of people pick a make and model with which they have shot for some time as a novice, such as a mates or a club gun. If they shoot quite well with it there's a chance that gun suits their build to a point, and so they choose that particular model and make and then learn to shoot well with it.

The point is that no one, no matter how good a gun fitter they are, can fit a gun to someone with an inconsistent gun mount.

This is where the use of a good coach will pay dividends when initially learning to shoot.

[bostonmick]

As far as fit goes with limited funds you would be better off buying a gun with adjustable stock and have an adjustable butt pad fitted this way you should cover almost every angle. And I have never been a fan of bending stocks as most go back to the original position within a short time. Atb

Edited September 11, 2014 by bostonmick

[dougall]

obviously berettas are good guns.It sounds to me though you are not really in a position to know/buy yet.Go to a big ground with a gunshop attached and try some...equally any clay club member would let you try their gun.....to simply dismiss miroku/browning 'cos it helps you narrow it down is bit daft and you have a good budget would enables mk38/60/70s etc to be at least tried...where are you?if you are Sussex area you are welcome to try mine...have Beretta SP & 425......as is would not rush to buy yet despite temptation! As for gun fit......if you are average shaped don't worry about it both will be nearer enough you can do all that adjusting/bending stuff if you must much later on........

[clayman]

As reflected by several posts, the key to good gun choice lies in it fitting. No gun should be chosen on the basis, "my mate's got one" or "I like the wood".

 

When the buyer has enough knowledge and experience to instinctively know for themselves the gun they have selected is the right one in fit terms, then that buyer is ready to purchase.

 

Whether they gain that knowledge through buying a starter gun that doesn't matter too much if they chop the stock , or add boots and raisers etc - or the shooter gets the opportunity to try a variety of guns with a coach, does not really matter. Its simply better that when the gun for life is chosen, the buyer is an informed buyer and makes their own decision, rather than being told, "this suits you Sir" by a slick salesman who may be keener on shifting a gun than advising best fit.

 

How-ever its gained, knowledge and experience is the key to making the best end gun choice.

Edited September 11, 2014 by clayman

[a.f.dickin]

Thank you for all your advice, and thank you dougall for your offer, I am in essex which is a bit far, but have a friend over in sussex who shoots so be over that way sometime.

I have read all your suggestions, and think the keys is for me to try as many as possible, but in reality, being relatively inexperienced my mounting v gun fit could be a bit hit and miss. So I think I will get something now that feels as natural to point and shoot as much as possible, and I like, and then work on my shooting then get another gun in the future.

I think the "don't worry about the wood, or engraving etc, get a gun that fits" suggestion is subjective to the person, people drive different cars / bikes for different reasons; ie a tool to get to work, a thing of beauty to polish, a thing that makes them feel a certain way, and in a similar way ultimately you need to buy a gun that fit and works for you but the reasons on top of this for the purchase is totally subjective to the person. I am one of those people, I have 2 motorbikes, one I much perfer riding, one I much perfer polishing to riding, but wouldn't change either.

Thanks once again for all your help, and will keep you posted what I end up getting....