Shotgun choice for clays on a budget

[DaveRC]

[SIZE=medium]Hi All, [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Just getting into a bit of clay shooting and loving it, certificate applied for and should be through the door any day now (I hope). I have tried some guns, but only what others around me have so it’s a limited selection. The one I had almost decided on was the Beretta Silver pigeon 1, but after a bit of a reality check I think it’s a bit over my budget and a bit more than I want to spend at the moment.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]So I am looking for advice and possible candidates that will fit what I am looking for.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]I am looking for a 12g, over and under, single trigger, multi choke, ejector and at least 28 or 30 inch barrels. My budget around the £500/£600 mark and quite happy with a getting a second hand gun as at this point as I am not sure how much it will get used and if all goes well and gets used a lot then later at some point I will sell and get something better if I need or want to.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]So what is there? What to avoid and what to look for,[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Thanks in advance for any help.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Dave[/SIZE]

 

[Will Hewland]

Hi Dave,

this has been answered on here about 100 times. It needs to be answered with an auto message for all new members

In short, spend a bit more if you can. Stick with the popular names. Beretta, Browning, Miroku. Not only are they good, but the resale used is excellent. Buy from a decent shop who can advise that the gun about fits you.

Cheers

 

[shootinguru]

Dave, don't skint yourself or else you won't be shooting very long!  A Lamber 30" sporter is a very good starters gun, its reliable (Gunmark importers) and you should find a nice clean fairly modern one in Guntrader or elsewhere for £500- £600.

 

[Jeremy Baker]

If you're after a budget Lamber multi choke
I have one for £450

 

[shootinguru]

There you go Dave job sorted.

 

[Paul120]

These look good and have had good reviews in the clayshooting Mags.:-SCORED A VERY IMPRESSIVE 91/100 IN THE "SPORTING GUN" GUN REVIEW TEST.

Webley & Scott 12 gauge 912K, There are a few second hand ones under £600, They are only £690 New so the depreciation looks ok. they are multichoke and not likly to have been shot to death as the model isn' t that old. If you go for a Beretta, Miroku or Browning make sure you take somebody with you who knows about them. At that price they are likly to have lots of milage on them or been messed around, stocks altered, barrels shortened etc.  :roulette:

 

[Shaun Hopkins]

Grade 1 mk38 good enough for AA Shooters no brainer..

 

[sibaldib]

Beretta SP1 or Mk38.

You cant go wrong with either. See what fits you best. 

Good luck.

 

[ips]

The best you can afford but bear in mind you WILL change it within 12 months (probably) so buy locally that way you will have a relationship with your local dealer who will be happy to do a PX on your next one.

 

[Skeet UK]

I would avoid any "new" gun that can be bought for your budget.  It doesn't matter if it is "just for starters" as when you want to sell it on, you will be hard pushed to get much for it, if you can sell it.  Dealers will likely make you cry with what they offer.

To avoid this issue, buy a used Beretta, Miroku or Browning.  You will be able to sell it for what you paid for it or even more.  It doesn't matter how old it is, within reason.

Ideally spend more.  Something worth looking at is Avalon Guns.  They are the only place that I know of who do DECENT TRUSTWORTHY finance, over 12 or 24 months.

You could bung down £500 on a £1400 Silver Pigeon 1 Sporter, and do the rest monthly.  Very little interest is charged.

I did this (some years ago) and I know that other members on here done this too.

Look on Guntrader also.

EDIT: Or, my mate who lives in Cliffe (near Rochester) has a Lanber Deluxe that he has probably used twice and would very likely take £500 for it, which he bought from John Forseys.

And, if you want anyone to shoot with, SibaldiB and I shoot together around Maidstone, happy to help out if you like.

 

[shootinguru]

:fie:  You ain't going to get a Browning,Miroku or a Beretta for £500-£600 sovs unless its a piece of poop!

 

[Les53]

:fie:  You ain't going to get a Browning,Miroku or a Beretta for £500-£600 sovs unless its a piece of poop!

Yep, even a decent old 3800  is going to be around £700. I reckon he could be better off spending another couple of hundred quid and getting something that will last well and that will have a good resale value!

 

[Angelfire]

I like old Miroku's. Unless they have been used for cricket bats or fence posts they are very reliable and very re-saleable.

Good advice given on a previous post, if you use a good shop they will advise if the gun of your choice "fits" you, which is a very important detail.

Phil*

 

[Les53]

I like old Miroku's. Unless they have been used for cricket bats or fence posts they are very reliable and very re-saleable.

Good advice given on a previous post, if you use a good shop they will advise if the gun of your choice "fits" you, which is a very important detail.

Phil*

You are right Phil. They never seem to hang around on the racks in gun shops for long unless they are overpriced! There is one old Mirook that sometimes hangs around though and that's the high rib 6000 trap gun. There is one at the Sportsman Gun Shop at Southern Counties, it's a grade 5 and in decent nick, but I think at £1495 it is going to stay there for some time. If it was about £300 cheaper it may have gone by now, but then again the high rib 6000's were never as popular as the flat rib 3800's.

 

[diver682]

I have just bought a miroku 800 hsw for 500 quid with a monte carlo stock . For that money you cant go wrong , great gun if your starting out  

 There is a 6000 high rib at hodnet for 549 !

 

[Les53]

I have just bought a miroku 800 hsw for 500 quid with a monte carlo stock . For that money you cant go wrong , great gun if your starting out  

 There is a 6000 high rib at hodnet for 549 !

I remember the old 800's, aren't they the ones with V springs? If so it could be a good idea to get them checked out and get a source for replacements, I know at one point they were getting a bit hard to come by.

 

[diver682]

Thanks for the advice les will do . Showed it to a couple of guys who have been around a few years , they reckon it hasn't seen a lot of action, so fingers crossed 

 

[Les53]

Thanks for the advice les will do . Showed it to a couple of guys who have been around a few years , they reckon it hasn't seen a lot of action, so fingers crossed 

They are nice guns without a doubt!!! If you have a word with Pete Harris (Salopian) on this forum, he may know about spares for 800's, he's a mine of info when it comes to Miroku's mate.

 

[ips]

Old winchester or nikko are options in that price bracket. 50 quid will get it tightened 30 for diy stock finishing kit and hey presto as good as new gun.