Ninj Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 Hi all, New to the forum and just looking for a bit of help. I have been involved with shooting for many years but having mostly shot vermin with a few clays along the way, I find myself being drawn to my local clay club to get a bit more serious. My OU is getting a bit tired and Im seriously considering an SA, specifically for clays. Not so much for the recoil benefit, but more as Ive always had a soft spot for them and fancy one. I know very little about them (apart from the law and the dislike of them for Trap) so can anyone point me in the right direction. What are they like to clean vs an O/U? Are there any models/gas vs recoil I should be avoiding? Im looking to spend up to about £600 and I really like the modern synthetic finishes on these guns. I havent read anything bad about the Berettas with regard to stoppages, but the price of the Webley 810 appeals. Not that Im a snob in any way shape or form but how are the Webleys viewed these days? As a new member of my club, I dont want to pitch up looking like a wally The Benelli M2 also looks like a nice gun. Finally, I notice some US shooters use case catchers to avoid flying empties. I assume these are only good if firing single shots? Surely the first round needs to be ejected cleanly so that the subsequent empties dont jam? Thanks in advance for any pointers, like I say, I really dont know much about them at all or how they fit into todays clay scene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InGen Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/ind...c=56704&hl= read the lower posts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweedledee Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 1 auto worth a look is the winchester sporting clays x2,i love it for skeet/sporting and its 1 gun i ll never part.a second hand 391 would be well worth a look as well.there are plenty of remington 1100s and 1187s out there as well.handle a few and see what you think of the handling.i seldom lift an o/u and use autos for 99%of my shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caragh Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 Franchi Raptor can be bought for about £600 brand new excellent semi cycles anything and a doddle to clean. very light though advantage/disadvantage depends on your shooting style for me it was a definite disadvantage shame as I thought the gun was excellent. regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el-chimbo Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 hello, you won't find a better gun for your needs than a beretta 301, 302 or a 303.. only thing is they are all wooden stocks.. ultra reliable guns.. you can pick up a bloody cracker with best walnut and m/c for around £500.. cleanin is easy as barrel comes off in seconds.. regards, matt.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninj Posted April 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 (edited) Thanks for the replies guys. In general terms, cleaning....I assume you pull the barrel through as opposed to using rods? Compared to an OU are we talking twice the effort or much more? Like the look of the 391 but I intend to get a crack with a few to see what suits - still loving the black synthetics Thanks again NJ eidt: posted before I saw el-chimbo reply Edited April 15, 2008 by Ninj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEREALTHRILLER Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 Browning Gold Hunter - super semi... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushat Posted April 18, 2008 Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 Thanks for the replies guys. In general terms, cleaning....I assume you pull the barrel through as opposed to using rods? Compared to an OU are we talking twice the effort or much more? Like the look of the 391 but I intend to get a crack with a few to see what suits - still loving the black synthetics :( Thanks again NJ eidt: posted before I saw el-chimbo reply Remove forend and the barrel comes off so you can use rods. Not twice the effort of an O/U as you only have one barrel to clean, but you do need to give the mechanism a bit of a clean now and then. Your questions sound suspiciously like some I already answered in an email last week - that you Rich? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted April 18, 2008 Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 Yep, a second-hand Beretta will be your best bet, you will get one as new for that money. One finger-tight nut and fore-end and barrel off, takes seconds. Leave it on and clean from the muzzle if you prefer, or don't bother, bores are chromed so not cleaning won't cause any problems. My 302 is many years old, the bore is rarely cleaned, the bore is as good as new. To clean the action, push out one pin, it drops into your hand, blow with an air line, or slosh in a cleaning solvent, done job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninj Posted April 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 (edited) Thanks for the replies guys. In general terms, cleaning....I assume you pull the barrel through as opposed to using rods? Compared to an OU are we talking twice the effort or much more? Like the look of the 391 but I intend to get a crack with a few to see what suits - still loving the black synthetics :( Thanks again NJ eidt: posted before I saw el-chimbo reply Remove forend and the barrel comes off so you can use rods. Not twice the effort of an O/U as you only have one barrel to clean, but you do need to give the mechanism a bit of a clean now and then. Your questions sound suspiciously like some I already answered in an email last week - that you Rich? Yes indeedy - you kept this forum quiet Had a look at a 391 Urika last night, looked superb with the really dark walnut. I was a bit bothered about an SA being a faff to clean but sounds like a piece of cake. If I get the Lanber sold, I think I might be really tempted by a Beretta, synthetic or not after seeing the Urika. Also like the look of the Franchi Raptor although not seen any around here. Anyway, thanks all for the info Edited April 18, 2008 by Ninj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackbird Posted April 18, 2008 Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 I bought a Beretta AL391 sporting about a month back after years of shooting a o/u, fantastic gun for clays :( can now shoot 200 targets with no recoil pain problems. Just remember if you now shoot a 30" o/u go for a 28" semi . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninj Posted April 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2008 Thanks BB Particularly like the 391, the deep walnut is stunning. Ill have to keep my eyes peeled for one in the local area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning GTS Posted April 20, 2008 Report Share Posted April 20, 2008 Franchi Raptor can be bought for about £600 brand new excellent semi cycles anything and a doddle to clean. very light though advantage/disadvantage depends on your shooting style for me it was a definite disadvantage shame as I thought the gun was excellent. regards Got one going for now £400 http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/ind...showtopic=57055 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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