New to shooting

[Andy001]

Hi, just looking for some general advice about setting myself up for clay shooting.

I have received loads of varying, possibly biased, advice from some gunshops about what type and make of gun to choose initially ranging from new guns like Franchi and Bettinsoli and going progressively higher in price with Berettas and Browning, some say go new others say second hand, any thoughts will be appreciated. I am lucky to have a reasonable budget  (£1300 Approx)but not sure which way to go.

Also what other kit do I need to get going and what do you recommend, cleaning and cartridge choice would be helpful. I have a gun cabinet just waiting for the inspection and then hopefully licence should not be too far behind.

I appreciate that this is a vast subject area but am happy to receive any helpful and constructive advice any one may have on these or any other subjects you feel would help me out.

Regards

Andy

 

[Bebo]

If you go for new you might be able to a Browning 525 for that money or a Beretta Silver Pigeon for a little more.  Second hand you should be able to get a pretty decent Browning / Beretta / Miroku.  Should be plenty of 525s and 682s around for less than what you've got to play with.

Cartridges.  Cheapest you can find.  28g 7.5 is a good place to start, but if you find recoil a problem drop down to 24g.

 

[ips]

what bebo said ?

 

[40UP]

Cap, glasses, muffs, wellingtons, gun slip, oil spray, metal cleaning rod, wire brush, Kleenex tissues [12 bore], shopping bag to carry these.

 

[Andy001]

Thanks for the replies, Browning and Beretta seem to be top choice, I've looked at a silver pigeon, seams to be favourite in my price range will see if I can stretch to New.

 

[maddmatt]

Save yourself a load of regret and get  a Miroku MK38, MK60, work horse of a gun, loads of them about, generally fit etc etc. Cap is optional, quality glasses and ear defenders are a must.

 

[Bebo]

If you can get yourself to a shooting ground with a decent shop it will give you the opportunity to try a few. Don't get wedded to the idea of a particular one until you've shouldered a few. My husband wanted a Beretta but when he actually mounted one he had to scrunch himself up like quasimodo to get his cheek on the comb. He ended up with a Browning that fitted him much better.

 

[Andy001]

Thanks Bebo, I intend to do that this weekend, I have tried both guns and found the stock of the Browning a little long Beretta seamed to fit better.

 

[RobertBeard]

If you  buy new you are likely to lose more when you trade it in for a better gun in due course.  Buy a good secondhand Miroku, Beretta or Browning and spend the money that you save on  a few lessons from a professional to get you going!

 

[Andy001]

I've had one lesson got another booked, was then going to see how I went on for a while with practice, then maybe get some more do you think this is a good way to approach it?

In regards to buying second hand I was just concerned about warranties as you seem to get a good warranty with a new gun, are older guns reliable enough and how old should you go when buying second hand?

 

[Will Hewland]

Totally agree with lessons interspersed with practice. Just make sure you think during the practice about what you were taught and of course make a note of which targets you struggle with most. Lessons should be all about teaching you how to shoot when you are on your own anyway, so practice it.

 

[ips]

I've had one lesson got another booked, was then going to see how I went on for a while with practice, then maybe get some more do you think this is a good way to approach it?

In regards to buying second hand I was just concerned about warranties as you seem to get a good warranty with a new gun, are older guns reliable enough and how old should you go when buying second hand?

used is all about condition and serviceability rather than age. A reputable dealer will usually give three months warranty on a used one

 

[RobertBeard]

You may find that a used good make will have had the extended makers warranty taken out by the previous owner and this may be transferable to you.  For example Beretta offer an extended warranty.  I don't know about Browning or Miroku.  People quite often change after their first year so you could easily get a one year old gun with little use and the remainder of an extended warranty and any initial niggles should have been sorted out by the time you buy it.  Buy from a reputable dealer or shop.  Take someone with you who is experienced to advise you and make sure that the gun fits - this means that the gun should come up with your eye looking straight down the rib and you can see the bead on the end of the barrels with a one pound coin sat on the back of the rib.  If its not straight then the gun will not shoot where you are looking!  If you find your eye not looking slightly down on the rib but at the back of the lever then the stock is too low. 

You should be able to establish the age of a gun from the serial number so make this a key factor in the sale of the gun so the dealer commits to giving its age though he won't be able to commit to how many shots it will have fired!  So you could set yourself a target to buy nearly new  rather than new and save yourself some money.

Make sure that if you shoot right handed then you buy a right handed gun or vice versa.  It is not unknown for a shooter to be sold a wrong handed gun!  Make sure all the chokes are present.  The top lever should point to the right if its not done a lot of work but if its central then its shot loads and may be due to have some work done on it.  Parts will be readily available for Beretta, Miroku and Brownings and other good makes.  Cheaper starter guns and foreign makes may be more difficult to get parts for.  Do plenty of research!  For example a fairly new Webley & Scott will not be a true British Gun as the name was bought some years ago and has been put on a foreign import possibly from Turkey I believe the affecting the resale value.

Look at Guntrader to compare prices and to review dealers stock.  Ask us plenty more questions as your search continues.  It is difficult to advise on personal specifics and gun fit on a forum.

 

[Andy001]

Thanks for your advice, I have plenty of time to shop around as I have just contacted the police about my licence and they say there is a 6 week backlog so it could be a wait, more time to save and shop.

I did hear that you can buy a 10 year warranty with a Beretta, once I find something suitable fit wise I suppose its just a matter of how deep my pockets are!!!

 

[Will Hewland]

Thanks for your advice, I have plenty of time to shop around as I have just contacted the police about my licence and they say there is a 6 week backlog so it could be a wait, more time to save and shop.

I did hear that you can buy a 10 year warranty with a Beretta, once I find something suitable fit wise I suppose its just a matter of how deep my pockets are!!!

I think a lot of newbies think with the mindset of buying a car when they are buying a gun. With a car, the older it is the less it's worth, the more likely to need expensive parts replacing, or even break down so badly it's not worth repairing, so warranties are a critical element. Also, older cars are always inferior because they look tatty and the sat nav and Bluetooth phone stuff is missing or rubbish. And whatever car you buy, you immediately haemorrhage depreciation value every month it's owned.

Shotguns are not cars. Technology has not progressed in shotguns in decades, despite what a desperate sales force will try and tell you. Small changes to try and tickle the buyers eye are there, but nothing substantive. A few very modern designs have emerged and they are all horrible to shoot. If you can find a gun in good condition, that fits you, that is the right sort of weight and size for the use you have in mind, then buy it even if there is no warranty in sight and it's 20 years old. 

 

[Salopian]

A word of advice !

Guns are like Fisherman's floats, everytime you go into the shop there is a new shiny one begging you to buy it.

Anglers have many floats that have never caught a fish. Because they haven't been tried and tested.

 

[Simonix]

Like what will said. 

If you get a reputable brand second hand. (Beretta, browning, miroku) you won't need warranty. 

Guns rarely go wrong, and if they do, they're not very expensive to fix most of the time. 

 

[Les53]

All the above is sound advice!