What Gun for Me ??

[BigIrish]

Hi All,

I am new to shooting this week. Went out shooting clay's a few days back and loved it. Went out shooting snipe today and not so much fun. Actually never shot anything accept an old tin can. Anyway, I have been using a browning Citori, excuse spelling, and have found it excellent. Is this the type of gun I should buy or is there somthing else i should consider. Not sure what info i need to give so here goes, the browning was 12 bore over and under 28" barrells. It may have been an Citori XS but not sure. I thinks its referred to as a sporting gun. I have been told that because I am quite tall I might be better with a 30 barrell. I am about 6' 1". I think this gun will cost about £1k. Is there somthing slightly cheaper that would do me just to begin with. Also, I want to purchase a portable trap. Is there a good shop online where I can check both these things out.

Excuse my absolute ignorance.. Any help would be appreciated.

 

 

Cheers

[lurcherboy]

Get some lessons and take the instructors advice IMHO.

 

OH, welcome to the money pit known as shooting

 

 

LB

[AdamC]

Would agree with the above. I have recently purchased my first shotgun (2 or 3 weeks ago), but I had shot before and knew it was what I wanted to do. Don't feel like you need to rush into anyhing, take you time and find what is right for you. I am the worlds worst for jumping in head first when the money starts buring a whole in my pocket.

 

Shoot a few different types of gun and get some instruction. When the time is right set yourself a budget and go to a good recomend gun shop and take their advice with fitting etc. Ideally find a shop that has a shoot you can try whatever you wish to buy out on. This really was the best thing when I was buying. It is a moment of clarity in the whole excitement of getting something new. Saves the agonising drive home and attending a first shoot with it wondering if you will be able to hit anything.

 

You did not mention your Shotgun Certificate. Do you have this already? If not, get onto you local Police dept. website as the forms should be downloadable from there. The license can take some time come through so is worth thinking about sooner rather than later.

 

Remember to factor in the cost of a gun safe into your budget. I applied for my cert. and was granted it on the basis I would keep the gun at my dads house and in his safe, but after some further thinking I just decided to buy my own. Perhaps this is an option to you to help keep costs down? If you like me you decide to get your own safe at a later date remember to tell you FEO so he can arrange to come and inspect it.

 

As for the trap their are loads of shops online that sell shooting supplies. Prices cary, so do some shopping around. I would perhaps see if you can pick up a second hand one on ebay.

 

Finally, do some searching on this forum. There is lots of great advice to be found on pretty much any aspect of shooting you can think off.

 

Take your time and enjoy it, it really is a great sport and I am now regretting not sticking at it when younger.

[Vic]

Big Irish

 

I was in a similar position about 8 weeks ago and have just got a second hand Berratta Silver Pigeon, which I really like. I had shot brownings up to that point but found them too heavy and big (probably not a problem for you!) the move to the Berratta was a revelation I was hitting a lot more clays, I also found the lighter cartridge loadings helped. I think the key bit of advice is get some decent lessons, I've had about 7 hours and went round the local clay course today and was hitting as many (if not more) than some of the old boys who had been shooting for years. I might have done better still if my 4 year old wasn't as irratic on the trap controls!!!

[Guest rabgoat]

hello there big lad,, all the advice you need up above there.good luck

[dazbrit]

I had only been shooting clays about five times before i got the bug so i applied for licence, bought gun (silver pigeon) and went another four or five times before i realised how **** at clay shooting i really was. So to cut a long story short, the wife got me some lessons for xmas and i had my first one just before xmas and the difference is amazing after just one lesson. So just a bit of friendly advice, i'd definatley have some lessons, for the sake of a couple of hundred quid youll shoot a hundred times better and save money in the long run by actually hitting the clays and not mid-air.

[BigIrish]

Hi Folks

 

Many thanks for all the advice. Beretta keeps coming up all the time when I talk to anyone about buying a gun. The opinion seems to be that one of these will be best for me. I will look into the Silver pigeon model entioned above. I have been in touch with the local police ref the certificate. I am not sure what 'hoops' I will have to jump through. Given our history here in Northern Ireland I would imagine they wont be too keen to hand out the gun cert's without a severe grilling. I think I have to track down two farmers and get permission to shoot o their land etc. I am also going to enqire about lessons. There are some good clubs apparently quite close. However, my friend who introduced me to shooting has about 30 years experience and so far has been excellent in 'pointing me in the right direction'...so to speak..Ha. Ah well, I will get the ball rolling this week, I am going hunting,(Excuse Pun), for a gun tomorrow or next day. Many thanks again for all the helpful advice.

 

Best regards and Happy New year to all...