Game or Sporter

[john1234]

This question may have been answered in the past but I am wondering, if you were to have just one gun to do a few clays (never more thsn 50 in one day) and also to shoot game would you opt for a sporter or a game gun?

I like the appearance of the game guns more but would they give me any problem when shooting clays? Or is a sporter the best all rounder ?

I think it would be a Browning 525 game or sporter that I would go for.

 

[cockney21]

Depends on whether you would be willing to lug a clay gun about all day while game shooting. Sporter would be fine for game targets, it's just that most are on the heavy side. We have just bought a Caesar Guerini Magnus Deluxe Game, new model with a semi pistol grip, and tried it for the first time on sporting clays at the weekend. About a pound lighter than my MK38 but recoil was not a problem and would be a lot happier carrying it about for a few hours. Main thing is to try the fit of a game version of any gun first as they tend to shot flatter to give 50/50 spread where as a clay gun tends to be 60/40 to take into account most clays are rising.

 

[Will Hewland]

I took my very heavy DT11 on a game shoot recently and regretted it. Felt like a flagpole in the field. Will take my Perazzi next time. There is no real answer unless you decide between game and clays. There is probably an 8lb gun that is pretty damned good for both but not quite perfect for either.

 

[no.1topdog]

From what the original poster gives as their criteria, it's a game gun every time.

A game gun would never be completely out of place on a (sporting) clay shoot, but a heavy, dedicated clay gun sure is out of place on a game shoot, particularly if any degree of walking is involved.

My personal clay gun is light and slim in the grip, almost a game gun dimensions. Although light, it has ported barrels, a good recoil pad and fits me perfectly. To me I'm virtually unaware of any recoil. To others who have shot it after their own guns, it kicks like a mule. I like a gun that feels alive in your hands and have shot some that feel as dead as a fence post (including some well known and very expensive makes).

Horses for courses, get the one that suits you best.  :biggrin:

 

[Irishgunner]

I'd be inclined to go with a game gun they don't beat you up as much as people say if the fit is close enough, 30 inch barrels would work for both, if you get the bug for clays you can pick up a sporting gun later and you will have the benefit of knowing what you want out of a sporting gun

 

[EdSolomons]

Ill throw a spanner in the works and say I shoot my K80 at game all the time and have no problems, and it's just over 10lb.

And I'm 11.5stone wet through at the moment!

 

[no.1topdog]

Ill throw a spanner in the works and say I shoot my K80 at game all the time and have no problems, and it's just over 10lb.

And I'm 11.5stone wet through at the moment!

Yes Ed. But you have a "man" carry it between drives for you and only use it on the peg??

 

[Darkside]

I took my very heavy DT11 on a game shoot recently and regretted it. Felt like a flagpole in the field. Will take my Perazzi next time. There is no real answer unless you decide between game and clays. There is probably an 8lb gun that is pretty damned good for both but not quite perfect for either.

I took my equally heavy DT11 to a game shoot on Saturday, no problem at all!!! Made an excellent job of the good birds, shot a loooong crosser and 2-3 really high driven, not once did the gun feel out of place!!!

 

[Jonny English]

I would go for a sporter. Plenty of sporters these days can weight 7 1/2 lb and upwards. I have a 525 premium gold in 30", it weighs just over 7 1/2, and its a perfect size and weight for game shooting. I have a preference for a wide rib though which makes me biast, plenty of sporters can have attractive engraving. Both my 525's have game scheme engraving on a 30 and 32" sporters. I belive the silver pigeon sporters are also tastefully decorated.

 

[john1234]

I am looking at the 525 sporter or 525 game. What is the difference between these? They are both multi choke. One is 3.1kg and one is 3.5kg. Would 3.5 kg be light enough as a game gun?

 

[Hamster]

This question may have been answered in the past but I am wondering, if you were to have just one gun to do a few clays (never more thsn 50 in one day) and also to shoot game would you opt for a sporter or a game gun?

I like the appearance of the game guns more but would they give me any problem when shooting clays? Or is a sporter the best all rounder ?

I think it would be a Browning 525 game or sporter that I would go for.

Get a game gun, no problem doing the odd 50 birder, in fact pointless getting a heavy clay gun unless you intend to shoot a minimum of 100 targets regularly.

 

[Bryn12]

Depends on the kind of game shooting you do, driven on a peg it doesn't really matter, rough shooting you'll regret having to lug the heavier clay gun plus your game bag & carts around all day. I'm not sure there's much difference between weight on the 525s 

[SIZE=13.63636302948px]Hunter light - 3kg[/SIZE]

Game - 3.1kg

Sporter - 3.5Kg

Trap - 3.6Kg

 

[Stan]

Depends how big / strong you are too! :hunter:

 

[Jonny English]

I am looking at the 525 sporter or 525 game. What is the difference between these? They are both multi choke. One is 3.1kg and one is 3.5kg. Would 3.5 kg be light enough as a game gun?

Sporter has 10mm rib, game has 6mm

Sporter has vented mid rib, game has solid

Sporter has white end bead, game has brass stud

Engraving is slightly different,

Game is slightly lighter than the sporter

Sporter can sometimes have adjustable trigger, Hunter is always fixed.

Both very good guns, I'm 12 1/2 stone and 6 foot and a sporter is light enough to carry all day for me. Try both first.

 

[westley]

I will throw a bloody big spanner in the works and say ................................er, buy a SIDE x SIDE for game. Mine weighs in at 6lbs 2ozs, carries nicely on my arm (wider, flatter action) opens with a wide gape, which facilitates quick and easy reloading. Instant choice of chokes due to double triggers. Just would not want to use it on clays though. 

 

[Finners]

If you're going to get a 525, I reckon either version would be fine. The weight difference is not that great and the other differences are not going to have any great effect. It might be you just prefer the narrow or wider rib!