Jimmymature Posted April 10, 2016 Report Share Posted April 10, 2016 Hi gents, I've recently got into decoying and have been using my clay gun - a 30" Beretta 690 III Sporter. I cringe every time I get mud and rain on the perfectly oiled Turkish walnut so I've decided I want a dedicated semi-auto. Some suggestions would be great, no more than £1k and new. Thanks as always, Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted April 10, 2016 Report Share Posted April 10, 2016 hello, do some research on what you can buy for that money,then pop to a RFD that holds a good stock of semi autos and try each one for fit/ lop/weight/ chokes/ reliability/ etc then choose best for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesMoody3 Posted April 10, 2016 Report Share Posted April 10, 2016 Browning maxus for me, hands down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted April 10, 2016 Report Share Posted April 10, 2016 Two suggestions, one at either end of the spectrum. Cheap option, a Hatsan Escort Magnum, and at the pricier end a Browning Maxus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted April 11, 2016 Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 Beretta A400, comes in both wood and synthetic, reliable, not fussy with cartridges, and easy to strip and clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unico1 Posted April 11, 2016 Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 Beretta A400, comes in both wood and synthetic, reliable, not fussy with cartridges, and easy to strip and clean. Beretta A400, comes in both wood and synthetic, reliable, not fussy with cartridges, and easy to strip and clean. +1 for the a400, great gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRDS Posted April 11, 2016 Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 (edited) Just use the Sporter, I am using a 690 Field 30 inch for Pigeons. Mud and rain wipes off as long as you keep on top of the oil finish, guns are for using. Edited April 11, 2016 by JRDS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crumpler1991 Posted April 11, 2016 Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 a400 also or a nice tecknys for that money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy King Posted April 13, 2016 Report Share Posted April 13, 2016 I use a my 5 shot Beretta Extrema 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted April 13, 2016 Report Share Posted April 13, 2016 get an old a303 26" or 28" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exudate Posted April 13, 2016 Report Share Posted April 13, 2016 Benelli M2 Essential, black synthetic stock, around £950 brand new. Absolutely love mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmymature Posted April 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2016 Thanks again for the advice gents, I'll start looking into the suggested models. Cheers, Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfanz Posted April 14, 2016 Report Share Posted April 14, 2016 (edited) at the cheap end go for armsan a612 better than hatsan.and they use mobil chokes. Edited April 14, 2016 by hawkfanz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmitty Posted April 14, 2016 Report Share Posted April 14, 2016 I faced a similar dilemma and after using a friends hatsan escort I decided to buy one in resin stock format. Its a great gun that cycles anything I have put through it and all for around £350 brand new ( I have seen lightly used ones for £275ono) Having the resin stock means mud can just be washed off and rain won't ruin it. I've been out in heavy rain, got home, stripped, cleaned and oiled the gun and given it time to dry out properly before going back in the cabinet and the gun still looks like new. I would be very hesitant to do the same with a £1000 gun no matter what it was, hence the reason for not going for a maxus. Obviously none of the above is relevant if it doesn't feel comfortable in hand. BTW. The hatsan comes with 5 chokes and butt spacers so you can adjust the LOP or change it from right hand to left hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted April 14, 2016 Report Share Posted April 14, 2016 +1 for the Benelli M2 Essential, absolutely love it and consumes every cartridge through it no problems.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazb1967 Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 A400, mine gets used and abused and always cleans up great, I would go for a good used Synthetic Extreme model instead of new because the new one will be a bit over budget Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Go for a good used Benelli M2 comfortech or any other Browning or Beretta that fits. Lightly used makes a great buy over a new one for hide,as you say in mud rain etc so why buy new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Flashheart Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 I felt the same about my 690 Field III, so bought a mint Previously Loved Benelli M2 Comfortech for £600. Not only will I not gasp when it gets knocked, but I'm going to stick in a variation to get it upped from 3+1 as well, which isn't an option on the 690, so win:win Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordieh Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 If you shoot well with it either get another Beretta o/u that you can use in the rain or stop being precious with the one you have already got.It is a tool at the end of the day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbower Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 MP 153 Forget the brand name , they are awesome ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted April 19, 2016 Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 The Franchi Affinity (Benelli ?) gets a good write up and it is easy to clean after use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonepark Posted April 24, 2016 Report Share Posted April 24, 2016 The Franchi Affinity (Benelli ?) gets a good write up and it is easy to clean after use. There are a lot of used franchi's (612/620 and 712/720 that are very little money but cracking guns, just make sure you have the piston weight the right way round (flips for heavy or light cartridges) and are beretta made and mobil choked. MP 153 Forget the brand name , they are awesome ! Got to be a Baikal with a name like that..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin-till Posted April 28, 2016 Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 I have a Winchester sx3 field, cycles everything I've put through it with no problems, keep them clean and they're bomb proof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sishyplops Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 A beretta 301,2 or 3 will suffice for pigeons and you will not loose Money on it ether Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stimo22 Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 I went for the new Franchise Affinity, should get one for about £560 with 7 year warranty . They are made in the same factory as Benelli, take a look at other links on Pe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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