evolution380 Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 (edited) Hi There, New to all of this, wanting to look at the best options for my first gun once my certificate clears. I'm after an Over & Under mainly if not specifically for clay shooting, eventually I want to get into Pigeon Decoying at some point but this will be months ahead and I'll likely be looking to pick something else up specific to that in the future maybe even a semi auto on a firearms license. So just looking to try and get a bit of a shortlist together so I can look further into each specific gun, and try out the fit of each. My budget is up to £2000 but ideally closer to the £1500 mark would be ideal unless for the additional £500 I can get a much better gun as a result. This gives me a nice buffer to buy the rest of my gear without raising the girlfriends eyebrows.... too much at least. I'm after a 12ga with a 30" barrel. I can pick up 12ga 30" silver pigeon 1 sporter for around the £1500 mark new at the moment, can anybody recommend any alternatives or better options to this so I can review them side by side for my own preference prior to purchasing. Just don't want to overlook any other guns prior to purchase and kick myself thereafter. Thanks in advance Matt Edited June 9, 2017 by evolution380 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 Easy choice . . . for that budget you can probably find a second hand Grade 5 Miroku MK38. Lovely guns, easily the equal of a Browning or Beretta but for about half the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 Spend a few hundred on a cheap gun whilst you gain experience. What you think might suit could all change in a few months. Good luck whatever you decide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 Spend a few hundred on a cheap gun whilst you gain experience. What you think might suit could all change in a few months. Good luck whatever you decide +1 Try as many different ones as you can - A trip down to Kettering to see Wabbitbosher for your starter gun would be time and money well spent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-dot Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 I don't agree... a cheap gun may not help your needs and you will bin it for what you should have bought in the first place. My advice would be a Browning 325 30" in as high a grade as you can afford. Older the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 The Silver Pigeon is a great shotgun but I would also tend to suggest spending far less .... there are plenty of good suitable choices out there ..... Then after a couple of seasons upgrade if you need to. I'm an old skin flint and only buy on price and probably spend in one season three times what you are going to spend on a Silver Pigeon BUT I have a Yilditz 410 o/u 30 inch barrel ejector which cost me £750, which has now seen two full seasons, some 48 full driven days and some decoy days and it is still dropping them with boring regularity. You pays your money and makes your choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinchesterDave Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 Browning B525 Sporter One will be a good fun to look for in that price range. Berretta and Browning guns tend to fit different people so try them both - Also try Miroku. As said though just handle different guns from different manufacturers and find one that fits. All the best and most of all enjoy your hunt for your first gun Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 Spend a few hundred on a cheap gun whilst you gain experience. What you think might suit could all change in a few months. Good luck whatever you decide Also good advice. Having said that you're not going to lose much, if anything, on a second hand Miroku (or any other quality gun). Can't say the same for a new gun though. A bit like buying a new car, you lose money as soon as you leave the shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 What have you been reading? Where did the desire for a 30" barrel, not to mention an FAC rated gun for pigeon shooting, come from? See if you can find something along the lines of, "'ware the man who shoots one gun as he can probably use it" to read. This is why Brodie above makes sense. Get something middle of the road design-wise and shoot both disciplines - pigeon and clay - then when you've got some experience, you'll know better what you want and what suits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 Browning Miroku or Beretta; whichever feels best when you pick it up and swing it about, then learn to shoot with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 Browning Miroku or Beretta; whichever feels best when you pick it up and swing it about, then learn to shoot with it. I'm shocked Scully! Not by your choices, only that you didn't throw Winchester into the mix too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evolution380 Posted June 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 Thanks all for the comments: I actually have a project down it Kettering so swinging by 'Wabbitbosher' and trailing a range of fits could be very informative, any further information on this guy? What have you been reading? Where did the desire for a 30" barrel, not to mention an FAC rated gun for pigeon shooting, come from? See if you can find something along the lines of, "'ware the man who shoots one gun as he can probably use it" to read. This is why Brodie above makes sense. Get something middle of the road design-wise and shoot both disciplines - pigeon and clay - then when you've got some experience, you'll know better what you want and what suits. Those choices aren't particularly from reading, I was using a Beretta (I forget the model) during a lesson yesterday and 30 inch barrels was the correct fit for me, can this change from gun to gun within the O/U range enough to warrant a different size barrel? FAC for pigeon shooting mainly mentioned as for some reason I just love something about the Winchester SX4 it looks A LOT of fun, given the right environment. Not so much a choice based on effectiveness I'd just like to own one as a second gun for pigeon decoying at some point. I contemplated spending less, but I just wanted something decent for my budget that I'd just never want to let go no matter how many guns I have. I didn't want to skimp and regret the choice, due to my unfamiliarity with O/U I didn't want to spend less and end up paying more as a result. If a cheaper gun is viable or I'm best looking at certain second hand models I'll definitely entertain the choice. Just quite overwhelming the choice on the market these days, but as a starting point stick with the big 3 names mentioned by Scully which helps whittle it down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 Don't buy new. Guns are not like cars in that they last a lifetime, if treated properly. A good second-hand gun - even a minter - would set you back less than your budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 Well done, you've got off to the best start possible by having a lesson. To answer your question, yes, the variables are infinite which means that unless you've chosen wisely and probably with some knowledgeable advice, it can be better to make haste slowly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evolution380 Posted June 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 (edited) Well done, you've got off to the best start possible by having a lesson. To answer your question, yes, the variables are infinite which means that unless you've chosen wisely and probably with some knowledgeable advice, it can be better to make haste slowly. Thank you for that! Could have been an expensive mistake 'assuming' 30 inch barrels would just fit. I'll have to somehow trial a few variants and go from there! I'm going to be having a few more lessons so I'll double check the model of the gun I'm using currently and if I can trial a few others during lessons to try and determine a fit! I'll definitely look more into the second hand, already i've seen a mint silver pigeon with 5 chokes and a key for £900 which I guess wouldn't be far off the price of one if i bought it new and tried to sell it myself. Thank You All Edited June 9, 2017 by evolution380 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 Wabbitbosher --- Members ---W ---- bottom of 1st page -- check content and PM -- simples Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 I'm shocked Scully! Not by your choices, only that you didn't throw Winchester into the mix too. 😀 Think I'm just a bit tired of having to respond to all those who come up with the same old same old about the scarcity of spares etc when I mention 101's. 🙂 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve d Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 You dont need a FAC for a bog standard SX4, or any other 3 shot semi for that matter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evolution380 Posted June 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 You dont need a FAC for a bog standard SX4, or any other 3 shot semi for that matter My mistake I thought they held 4 cartridges! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckandswing Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 I would be buying a second hand browning or Miroku for around the £1000 mark, then a Remington 870 wing master for around £500. Then you'll get a semi auto, then a .410, then a side by side, then a lever action..... You'll have five within a year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 Thank you for that! Could have been an expensive mistake 'assuming' 30 inch barrels would just fit. Barrel length is somewhat down to personal preference rather than fit. The first gun I shot a lot with was a B325 with 28" barrels. Like you I assumed that was the gun for me. However I couldn't afford one when I received my license so I ended up with a Miroku with 26" barrels. Shot that pretty well but after about a year I I was fancying a change and as I struggled with crossers due at least in part to stopping the gun I opted for an MK38 with 32" barrels. The logic being that longer heavier barrels would be harder to stop. It seemed to work too my shooting definitely improved. However that could have been in some part due to the new gun fitting me much better than my original O&U. A year or so on from there and I do nearly all my shooting with a semi auto Hatsan with (I think) a 29" barrel. Some waffling there but what I'm trying to point out is that overall gun fit is far more important than barrel length. That you will most likely fancy a change after a relatively short while. Your shooting style will change or rather become more consistent as you become more experienced and you will soon find out what gun fits you better. Once you find one you can shoot, stick with it, at least for the majority of your shooting. As someone else said "Fear the man with one gun". Think I'm just a bit tired of having to respond to all those who come up with the same old same old about the scarcity of spares etc when I mention 101's. Haha fair enough Scully. Nothing wrong with the 101's though. I may well invest in one one of these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollieollie Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 Thanks all for the comments: I actually have a project down it Kettering so swinging by 'Wabbitbosher' and trailing a range of fits could be very informative, any further information on this guy? Be warned, once you enter boshers emporium there is no turning back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 (edited) For clay shooting go and buy a adjustable comb gun in 30" or 32" depending on your build from any of the big names that you like the look and handling of. Everything else on the gun can be altered to suit you as you develop your stance and mount and your shooting ability. If you fill your location in your profile, a member may know of a local shop or a shooter with a bargain for you to look at. Edited June 9, 2017 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 Don't buy new. Guns are not like cars in that they last a lifetime, if treated properly. A good second-hand gun - even a minter - would set you back less than your budget. This. ^^^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex1Nat2 Posted June 9, 2017 Report Share Posted June 9, 2017 Beretta 682E for the clays & get a new SX4 for the pigeons. Would just about £2k for both! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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