First gun

[jagster]

Hi all, I'm a newbie to this shooting and just about to purchase my first gun, SGC now in my hands!! Due to budget limitations I'm looking at a max of £800. I have visited a few dealers and several recommend the Bettinsoli at £695. Having read on this forum, and in some mags. that these guns had a reputation for being a little unreliable due to double discharge. Has anyone brought one recently? Are they as good as the dealers are telling me. One of the dealers in my area, iI live near Christchurch in Hampshire, tells me that Bettinsoli have resolved this problem with a redesign of the trigger action. 

 

[Hamster]

Almost all experienced shooters will advise you to buy a second hand Miroku or Beretta 682 for that kind of money and as your first gun. There is a very good chance you'll get every penny back when you trade in for you next gun and they wil be much nicer to use and own than a new gun made to sell for £695. 

 

[Les53]

Almost all experienced shooters will advise you to buy a second hand Miroku or Beretta 682 for that kind of money and as your first gun. There is a very good chance you'll get every penny back when you trade in for you next gun and they wil be much nicer to use and own than a new gun made to sell for £695. 

Very sound advice Hammy!

 

[jagster]

Thanks for that, I just needed that nudge in the right direction. I reckon if I  up the budget to £1000 I'll get a good Silver Pigeon. It's going to cost me a bit more than that as I need to sweeten 'her in doors' a bit as well. Also need a gun slip, cleaning kit, and 1000's of cartridges I hope. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Simonix]

Hello and welcome to the forum. 

As above, don't bother with a new gun at your budget, just buy a used beretta or miroku/browning. 

People can, and have won many titles with those guns, and if looked after, won't drop any more in value and probably outlive you. 

Happy shopping!

 

[westley]

You could always tell the seller it is your first gun and try to work a gunslip and cleaning kit into the deal. I have done this with people that I have given lessons to and then helped purchase their first gun.

 

[jagster]

May I indulge you guys a little further and tap into you knowledge. When looking for a used gun, probably a Beretta as that is what I have been using for my lessons, should I be looking for a fixed choke Sporter or multi choke. I do appreciate that different chokes won't make a blind bit of difference to my shooting at this stage. To hit any of them at present is very satisfying. If I am to buy a better gun then I may wish to keep it longer. Just a thought.

 

[Will Hewland]

May I indulge you guys a little further and tap into you knowledge. When looking for a used gun, probably a Beretta as that is what I have been using for my lessons, should I be looking for a fixed choke Sporter or multi choke. I do appreciate that different chokes won't make a blind bit of difference to my shooting at this stage. To hit any of them at present is very satisfying. If I am to buy a better gun then I may wish to keep it longer. Just a thought.

Assuming you are looking for a sporting gun, I would see this as the least important element. If you find a gun you love, that fits, then buy it regardless of the choke set up. The only choke set up you should avoid is fixed skeet and skeet or similar. If it's fixed 1/4 and half, that's perfect. If it's fixed tighter, then it can be opened up later if needed for sensible money. If it's multi choke, then that's fine too of course.