Hello!! I am new to shooting in general. I'm considering trying out clay shooting (probably not for big competition, but maybe for fun, or an informal "league--and maybe eventually, try upland hunting). While I would love to get a beautiful $1000 shotgun, common sense tells me to start out with a budget shotgun (which still acutally looks quite nice), in case I eventually decide to do much less or not at all. What are your experience/opinions about the following shotguns (all 12 ga., 28 in. barrels):

Stoeger Condor
Stoeger Condor Special
Stoeger Condor Surpreme deluxe
Baikal IZH-27

and, is 28" barrel a good start for clay shooting.

Thanks

Hands down, go with the Biakel. Good gun that can take alot of shooting. A guy at our club has literally 1000's of rounds thru his w/o a hicup. NEVER heard of a Stoeger that could say that!

Wow, thats pretty strange. Never heard anything good about a Baikal. Never had a chance to shoot one but their fit and finish is way below Stoeger. I own a Stoeger Uplander and have shot the heck out of it without any problems at all.

Guess you are hearing it now.

For a entry level gun either one would do the job . The fit and finish doesn't break many birds .

Unfortuately, I have a problem with the less expensive O/Us fitting me. The Browings and Berettas fit great but the Baikals and even the Charles Daleys don't.
If the Baikal fits you - go for it. I have a Baikal SxS and I just love it. The wood to metal fit is good and it is balanced nicely. They make a quality gun for the price.

go to wal-mart and look at the traditions. they seem to be better looking than the bakails and traditions. look over your bakails CLOSELY. i've been looking at them at every gunshow, and i have seen many with bent or wavy ribs