Had my SGC interview yesterday

[Dan_Mercian 27]

All went well, I moved the safe from my previous topics position because I realized it was probably too in plain site.

 

Anyway, he came in checked the safe, gave me some pointers regards keys/ammo storage, gave me a bit of a talk on local shoots/shops. He was a really really top notch guy!

 

He said to get myself round some local shops etc and look at a few guns, maybe put down a deposit and my certificate will be with me within 2 weeks.

 

So Derbyshire constabulary from application to interview ATM is around 3 to 4 weeks! Good times!

 

Does anyone have any opinions on good clay guns for around £900, I will be getting shops opinions and stuff also but I just wondered if anyone had any personal reccomendations.

 

 

Thanks

[bert69 5]

I'm biased because i only shoot Beretta's but i don't think you can go far wrong with a beretta white onyx, essentially the same as a silver pigeon. I've had mine 4 years now and it's been abused had thousands of shells through it, is still tight and in very good condition even though i only clean it if it gets wet. If it broke tomorrow i'd be at my regular gun shop in the afternoon getting another one.

[Dan_Mercian 27]

Thanks for the quick reply Bert! That's sounds like exactly the gun I'm after if it's that well reviewed! Thanks alot

[DERBOY 18]

HI Dan , the first thing to do is go and do the rounds as many gun shop,s as u can

and get the feel of things, not every gun will look or feel the same as another person do. try and visit a few shoots ,(most clay shoots are on a sunday )and im sure their will be same good people their to give you a go , (well they do down my way )

it would be a good ideia to say what kind of clay shooting you whant to do. sporting ,skeet , down the line , ect . the size of barrel length as that all pay,s a big part on what gun u whant. its a lot to take on board on what to do. so take your time and GOOD LUCK.

[Dan_Mercian 27]

I don't know what the kind of shooting I do is called? We shoot birds that go from left to right/right to left either single or in pairs, and also going away/coming towards birds, I've only had 2 lessons so far, he did say we were going to try bolting rabbit clays next time

[markha 99]

Dan, you need to decide if its purely going to be clays that you shoot at, or if you are more inclined towards the sporting sid eof shooting and going for game shoots.

 

This may either steer you towards a longer barrel for clays or perhaps a bit shorter for a game gun.

 

The main thing is not how much you spend or the make of a gun, more importantly how the gun fits you.

 

You can spend thousands on a status symbol and shoot like poorly because the gun doesnt fit.

 

I was in the same boat as you a few weeks back when looking for my 1st SG.

 

I realy did want to buy a cheap gun for farm work and a bit of clays, however after trying a lot of guns out, including some very well priced Baikals, which didnt fit me well, and some brand new Webleys, also didnt come to the eye very well. In the end I ended up with a Bettinsoli delux, the reason why? because out of all the guns I tried off the rack, including some Berettas, It was that particular Bettinsoli which fitted me the best ( I did try another Bettinsoli, same barrel length and stock but low and behold the fit was different).

 

Fit is more important, believe me if the £200 Baikal had fitted I would have got that instead.

 

So try loads of guns out , see how the bead and rib lines up with your eye on repeated mountings, you will then see that not all is as it seems, some guns when mounted will have the rib to the left or right of your line of vision, others will have you staring at the release catch with no rib in sight! other will see you looking down on the rib.

 

All of the above will not help you point and shoot and hit what you are looking at.

 

So if a Beretta silver pigeon fits, then luck you, if it doesnt and you just 'want one' then get ready to have the fit modified, as well as the cost of lengthening the pull or shortening it, steaming the stock for cast on and cast off or drop heights as all this adds to the cost.

 

If your local gunsmiths have a 'try-gun' ie a gun that is completely adjustable for the best stock fit for you, then spend the money and get that done, you will then be armed with the knowledge of all the stock measurements that is your personal perect fit, and these can then be checked against and particular gun you may fancy buying.

 

 

Buy in haste and repent at leisure mate.

 

Im completely happy with my gun and its fit and now enjoying some days on the clays and also a fair bit of rough walked up game shooting on my permissions.

 

All the best and have fun.

Mark

[Dan_Mercian 27]

That was a really informative read, thanks alot, it appears my best option is to not rush into it, and just keep trying different places until I find one that "fits".

 

Thankyou very much for taking the time to answer with a great post.

[DERBOY 18]

sounds like sporting to me .

[markha 99]

Also, Gun dealers are gun dealers, gunsmiths are gunsmiths and there may be a lot of similarities between them, or they may be worlds apart.... not all gun dealers know a lot about gun fit, even if they have been in the game a long time, they sell guns and they will sell you one if you want one, or may even steer you towards something they want to sell

 

Gunsmiths may be a bit more discerning and may well have the fit of the gun as the top priority when thinking of selling you something.

 

You have to be carefull, as at the end of the day even if you get sold something that isnt quiet the best fit for you, but its a nice gun,and the dealer/smith wanted to shift it, youll probably end up thinking your a poor shot and then end up on a downwards spiral in confidence, however youll still be going back to the shop who sold you the gun and buying more shells, so a win win for the gun shop.

 

Keep at the clays with your coach whilst looking for a gun, be honest about how your shooting is going with the borrowed gun on your lessons, ask your coach about his thoughts on fit, If he is an honest bloke he may well say, yes it seems a good fit for you, or he may even admit that its not the best fitting gun, but hey its a club gun and we cant stock enough guns to fit everyone, atleast youll have a good starting point.

 

 

All the best in your search and dont let the cash burn a hole. Please do put some pics on here when you have finally settled on your perfect fit gun.

[Nik_B 3,790]

Have you got a coach? Mine has offered to come with me to chose a shotgun. All the best reviews in the world wont matter if it doesn't fit properly. I was also looking at guns off reviews and in shop windows, I was a little put out when my coach told me that his miroku M70 was a perfect fit as I didn't want that brand, but the difference in how I shoot with it compared with the club Browning is massive. I haven't bought a gun yet but when I do I'll be taking my coaches offer up and buy what he suggests. If I were you I'd take your time, you can always hire guns at the club so you dont need to rush in to it.

[jackinbox99 41]

Some excellent advice here. Fit is the most important thing, and dont worry about too much about the brand or cost. The 2 guns I use most out of my collection is my beretta semi automatic which cost about £800 if i remember rightly, and my spanish side-by-side which cost about £100. You couldnt get 2 more different guns, but both fit me perfect. In actual fact, I find im reaching more for the side by side now than the beretta. It just fits me perfect, and I seem to get on better with the lighter gun with shorter barrels.

 

Id try a few out, make notes of the makes / models, then shop about to get the best price.

[Dan_Mercian 27]

I do have a coach ATM and he has said he'll fit me up when the time is right, speaking to the FEO though he recommended a more local coach who owns a gun shop aswell, (he said he's in no way trying to sell him to me) but he believes this other guy is cheaper for lessons and is highly recommended.

 

So on Saturday I'll nip down and see him face to face.

 

Thanks for the excellent advice, theres some real pointers on here