New into the clay shooting world, Gun Suggestions please! (3k)

[Daberb]

Hello all,

Just wondering if some experienced clay shooters can give me some recommendations, I've recently just finished my 5th lesson in the sport and my certificate has been in for some time now so was just researching for when the time comes.

I've got on really well with guns that have a mid bead, not sure if its an eye dominance thing but its helped me achieve 80 percent compared to other guns without it (Not sure if this is coincidence as I'm still very new) 

My budget is around 3k at very most as I'll still have the rest of my kit to purchase,

Do you guys have any recommendations on both New and Second-hand options I should be looking at?

Budget options are welcome too! 

Many thanks for reading

[Scully]

I would suggest the one you’ve been achieving 80% kills with. 👍

[Yellow Bear]

2nd hand beretta, browning, moriku until your mount and muscle memory are established should be 500 to  700 tops.

As Scully says the one giving you most kills.   With centre bead I suspect Browning.

[Daberb]

14 minutes ago, Scully said:

I would suggest the one you’ve been achieving 80% kills with. 👍

Beginners luck! Same one I couldn’t hit a barn door with on another day haha😂👍🏻

12 minutes ago, Yellow Bear said:

2nd hand beretta, browning, moriku until your mount and muscle memory are established should be 500 to  700 tops.

As Scully says the one giving you most kills.   With centre bead I suspect Browning.

I’ll have a look at all those makes thank you👍🏻 

[ryle]

3k? 2k on a gun and 1k on clays and ammo so you can get out and enjoy it!

It seems a buyers market for second hand guns. As others have said, get the gun you've been shooting well. I know ive bought guns that look pretty and cost lots and at the end of the day, I've never shot any better with them. For me, beretta, miroku, browning etc, i all shoot to a similar standard. If I've begun to struggle, its been me, not the gun.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Welcome to Pigeon Watch.

[Red carp]

I think the coach/instructor that is giving you lessons would have a far better idea what gun he would advise you get 👍

[BobbyH]

I would suggest don’t get a gun because of the name or brand. Get a gun that fits and suits you.

I had a £2000 budget, £70 SGC, £400 on the gun, £170 on extended chokes, £30 on ear pro, £40 on eye pro, £70 on a Skeet vest, £268 on 1000 carts, £340 on 1000 clays.

And I still use the same gun years later for my comps

[TIGHTCHOKE]

When you SGC arrives go and buy something cheap and cheerful from a shooting ground with a gun shop, so that you can try several.

Fit is far more important than the looks of the gun, it will allow you to learn and get a good mount that you can replicate repeatedly.

Once you've got used to shooting the cheap old gun and possibly had it made to fit with the addition of cardboard and tape. Then you will be in a good position to understand what you really need.

From that point you are back to buying a gun from somewhere that you can try several and pick something nice that fits you.

Good luck

[Red carp]

I would say first look at a BROWNING 325/425/525 Beretta silver pigeon or a Miroku MK38 preferably with adjustable comb then probably the only alteration you probably will have to make will be LOP ( length of pull ) your best bet is to visit a shooting school which has demo guns. Shooting a gun is totally different to handling a gun in a gun shop.

[Mullard83]

Where are you from ? As you may get some recommendations of good gun shops/shooting grounds to try. Also if you may get an offer of meeting up with a member on here who would let you try their gun. Myself and others I have shot with are always happy to let someone have a go with their gun if you ask.

[Wylye]

2 hours ago, Red carp said:

I would say first look at a BROWNING 325/425/525 Beretta silver pigeon or a Miroku MK38 preferably with adjustable comb then probably the only alteration you probably will have to make will be LOP ( length of pull ) your best bet is to visit a shooting school which has demo guns. Shooting a gun is totally different to handling a gun in a gun shop.

This

[Daberb]

Thanks all, I've taken notes of what's been said and all the recommendations.  I'll take it to my local rfd in the future. 

 

@Mullard83Kent way

 

Just one that hasnt been mentioned yet, I've seen alot of cheap s/h Yildiz Pro's around, anyone had any experience with them? 

Edited Wednesday at 14:29 by Daberb

[Scully]

4 hours ago, Daberb said:

Thanks all, I've taken notes of what's been said and all the recommendations.  I'll take it to my local rfd in the future. 

 

@Mullard83Kent way

 

Just one that hasnt been mentioned yet, I've seen alot of cheap s/h Yildiz Pro's around, anyone had any experience with them? 

No experience of the Yildiz, but everyone I know who’s had one and sold it says the resale value is dire. 🤷‍♂️

You get what you pay for. 

[Daberb]

8 minutes ago, Scully said:

No experience of the Yildiz, but everyone I know who’s had one and sold it says the resale value is dire. 🤷‍♂️

You get what you pay for. 

Seems that way! 800 odd quid for a grade 4 gun doesnt seem right? 

 

Thanks all for the help the current folder consists of a mk38, 525, 725, Silver Pigeon 1, 692, Yildiz Pro(Resale putting me off), Fabarm Elos n2

I'm sure that's plenty to get a good price/fit on one of them, 

 

Has anyone owned a 525SL, not sure I'm overly keen on the laminate but saw some very good deals on them especially being adjustable. 

 

If theres any other suggestions please let me know

Edited Wednesday at 18:39 by Daberb

[Red carp]

Don’t rule out the 525SL I have shot one & really liked it, being laminate it seemed heavier than a standard 525 & soaked up recoil. 

[Agriv8]

If I was in the market a 535 sl adjustable would be on my to try list.

the laminate is far denser than the more normal wood which is a real benefit around the ejector springs !

I like the look of them but some struggle with being different.

Agriv8

[vmaxphil]

I've got a 525sl, handles very well for me, slightly more weight in the stock than the standard 525 so balanced better especially in 32", only thing I would like is a palm swell like my caesar guerini invictus 

[chesterse]

Used Browning Ultra XS pro in 32” is a good option, adjustable comb, selection of pads and spacers, weight balancing kit and titanium chokes.

[Mullard83]

I had a .410 yildiz sbs & really liked it. I sold it to a friend as I wasn`t really using it & needed to downsize my collection. Not sure if it`s true, but I was told the family that own Yildiz also own alot of the forests where their wood is obtained & also sell to the Beretta factory. My sbs certainly had some nice wood on it & the gun is still regularly used by my friend & has given no trouble & looks as good as the day I bought it.

[Gordon R]

£1k will buy you a gun which is more than enough to win a clay competition, in the right hands. £3k is way over the top. Spend a grand and get some lessons.

[Daberb]

9 hours ago, chesterse said:

Used Browning Ultra XS pro in 32” is a good option, adjustable comb, selection of pads and spacers, weight balancing kit and titanium chokes.

Added to the list, very nice looking thing, Bit of a beginner here so assumption is thats a higher grade wood 525 with all the bells and whistles? Many thanks

8 hours ago, Mullard83 said:

I had a .410 yildiz sbs & really liked it. I sold it to a friend as I wasn`t really using it & needed to downsize my collection. Not sure if it`s true, but I was told the family that own Yildiz also own alot of the forests where their wood is obtained & also sell to the Beretta factory. My sbs certainly had some nice wood on it & the gun is still regularly used by my friend & has given no trouble & looks as good as the day I bought it.

Undeniably great looking wood on those! The one i used ony my first lesson was a really nice looking thing just struggled with how front heavy it was.

2 hours ago, Gordon R said:

£1k will buy you a gun which is more than enough to win a clay competition, in the right hands. £3k is way over the top. Spend a grand and get some lessons.

Thanks for the engagement, any suggestions on such apart from whats been said? I've been having 2 lessons every month for the past 3 months

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Do you have the same Instructor for every lesson?

Have you asked the Instructor what he recommends?

[Mullard83]

I`ve never had lessons myself & just started with a Browning medallist ( not a true browning ) & still have it. Maybe I would`ve benefited with lessons, but I read up on gun mount & how the sight picture should look along the rib & most guns seem to fit me well. I can usually hit around 75-80 % of clays with no problem & if I shoot clays regularly this goes up, so spending time breaking clays & building up a memory bank of sight pictures will help. If I had the £ & time to shoot weekly regularly then I can get good, but I won`t be troubling the likes of George Digweed. Most of all just get out & enjoy & remember we all have our bad days, but keep practising & it will all come together

[Daberb]

11 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Do you have the same Instructor for every lesson?

Have you asked the Instructor what he recommends?

had 2 to begin with, stuck with the later a month in. Pretty much what im doing here Tightcoke, get a list around my budget then go for the one that fits best