I've shot sporting clays with my old model 1200 winchester pump and did just as good as the guys with $2000 O/U's. If you are not really shooting competitive you can use any shotgun. I shoot sporting clays twice a year at work and I either use my old pump or my Baikal S/S. Though automatics and O/U's seem to be the choice of guys that shoot all the time. I also play around at my buddies place with a electric thrower I bought. The main thing is to find one that fits you. My S/S I was shooting over the clays at first because it was a little too short and once I added a spacer and adjustable recoil pad I did a lot better. the pro at the club looked at my gun and suggested the change and he shot it himself and said there was nothing wrong with the S/S I had. I only paid $300 for it. Baikal is the company that makes the Remington Spartan so you pay a little more for the Remington name for the same shotgun.