Skeet gun...
 

Iam just getting into skeet shooting and was wondering which gun that is fairly affordable. I currently have a Winchester Pump gun in 12 guage and Iam looking for a semi-auto

Thanks for your help guys.

Russell

RE: Skeet gun...
 

You won't see too many people shooting any sizable amount of Skeet or Trap with a semi auto. If you want to play with the big boys it's gonna cost you about $1,000 and believe me that ischeap when your talking about this sport. Your best bet is to get an over under. I imagine you can still find a decent usedBrowning for around $1k. If your talking about going out back with a hand thrower thats a different story. Heck any shot gun with a modified choke will do maybe even an improved cylinder

RE: Skeet gun...
 

Look for a Remington tournament skeet ..beautiful wood and a step up from their regular 1100's

RE: Skeet gun...
 

When I started shooting skeet and sporting clays 15 years ago, I started with a Browning Citori 12 ga., but I found the Browning to be "clubby". My second sport specific shotgun was a Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon Sporting 12 ga, and I wish I had that gun back. I had a guy walk up and offer me $300 more than I paid for it, and I let him take it home. I don't shoot as much as I used to, and I have used my Benelli Super 90 for the last several years. I also have a Beretta 686 Onyx 12 ga with an English stock, but I am quite comfortable with my Benelli for an all around shotgun.

I am not knocking Brownings, and I have no experience with the newer "sporting" models. The older Citoris do not fit me though.

RE: Skeet gun...
 

Skeet and affordable really don't belong in the same sentence.

It really isn't a "skeet" specific gun but the Beretta 3901 statesman with a 28" barrelwill get you going with out breaking the bank too much. They go for about $700. It is a good solid semi auto with a very simple and very reliable gas system that uses no o-rings to seal off gas. It also makes a great dove gun.

http://berettausa.com/product/product_field_guns_main.htm

RE: Skeet gun...
 

Great suggestion! I have never own one, but I have shot many Beretta autos and like them all.

RE: Skeet gun...
 

Nothing wrong with starting out with a Remington 1100...

RE: Skeet gun...
 

WHile I think the Beretta is a better semi then a Remington in a lot of situations when it comes to a dedicated skeet gun the Tournament skeet series guns they sell offers a much better package for skeet shooters and are designed soley for that purpose. I purchased one last year that was the best made 1100 I have ever owned with absolutely beautiful wood. It comes standard with Briley Chokes as well. They swing and pattern beautifully and no you don't need a o/u to shoot skeet.

RE: Skeet gun...
 

I personally feel that the Beretta semi-auto's feel terrible, they feel bulky and heavy and just kinda awkward. The Benelli SuperSport and Cordoba both are awesome in terms of feel and balance. I shoot a 1100 that works great if its kept clean. I also have a Browning Citori Lighting Sporting Clays gun, but I never seemed to shoot it as well as the 1100, so I went back to the 1100 for clays.

RE: Skeet gun...
 

I had the opposite experience. I started out shooting sporting clays with an 11-87, and hit a kind of scoring plateau. I switched to a Browning Citori Special Sporting Clays, and my scores instantly improved by about 20%...

RE: Skeet gun...
 

I grew up shooting an 870 and then went to the 1100 so I was really used to that style. Also the Browning was just to short for me. My Dad now uses it and his scores have jumped big time, it fits him perfect. I really like the Browning, its an awesome gun, just doesn't quite fit me right.

RE: Skeet gun...
 

A gent I worked with at the gun shop in SC was a three time state champion skeet shooter. All he ever shot was a competition grade Remington 1100. Never slowed him down any.

The issue with a used browning or other O/U in that price range, is that while they are good guns, they are entry level O/Us. A browning in that price range would likely be a standard citori, which is a field gun. Its an extremely good field gun, but its sort of like playing hockey in a pair of fine Italian wingtip shoes... there is a tool for every job.

Most of the hardcore skeet shooters do in all honestly shoot O/Us, unless they are sponsored by a company trying to sell semi-autos. Clays grade over unders start at about $2500 new and go 'up'.... way 'up'. Most semi autos (sporting grade) are about half that, but you can pay as much as $1900 for a new one if you try really hard.

RE: Skeet gun...
 

No argument SwampCollie. I love the 1100 and there is nothing wrong with them. Heck I have 2. I shot trap fora few years and never used them for that. I have seen some mighty fine shooters using semi auto's. I sold a Pigion Grade 101 a couple years back for$1200. I know it's been a couple years ago but I'm certain you can still find a good deal on agood used "real"Skeet gun or Trap gun if your not in a hurry. I would still lean towards the over under though in something other than a field grade.

RE: Skeet gun...
 

go for a 20 gauge shotgun in Remington semi auto really good gun

RE: Skeet gun...
 

I'd stay away from a 20 gauge, that handicaps a beginner in skeet/trap.

I personally shoot my M1 Super 90 with a 24" barrel, and its all covered in camo. I get some funny looks from guys shooting expensive single shots/doubles, but at the end of the day when I've beat the majority of them, their "snickering" stops. ;)

It all amounts to what gun fits you the best. Go to the gunshop, and have him get out a bunch of shotguns and tell him what you want/expect out of a gun, and go from there. Benelli's feel the best in my hands, and a Beretta or Remington, etc might feel best to you.

Heck, baaack in the day when I was a youngin I won the state jr division shooting a Browning BPS Stalker.

RE: Skeet gun...
 

Having two barrels, with the option of two different chokes can be a great aid in sporting clays, and even in skeet if you really wanted to pick nits. I think the greatest benefit (and most shooting ranges will agree) is that an OU is able to be broken, so that everyone may clearly see it is unloaded and action open. The added safety of that is a very big plus.

RE: Skeet gun...
 

Thanks for all the help guys! It helped alot. I will let you know what I decide on after I go to the gun shop!