Semi Auto Hunting Shotgun Advice Needed

[19powell90 89]

Hey all,

 

me and my mate are keen airgunners and recently joined a sydicate with a good amount of land thats riddled with rabbits, the owner/manager has agreed to let us shoot air rifles untill we get out shotgun licences and shottys, so i am hear to ask

 

what decent shotguns are there out there for the primary use of rabbit and pigeon/crow shooting?

 

what bore/guage?

 

are the hatsan escorts any good?

 

my budget is probably about £400

 

any more info is very much appreciated.

 

thanks

 

scott

[JamesK 2]

Hey all,

 

me and my mate are keen airgunners and recently joined a sydicate with a good amount of land thats riddled with rabbits, the owner/manager has agreed to let us shoot air rifles untill we get out shotgun licences and shottys, so i am hear to ask

 

what decent shotguns are there out there for the primary use of rabbit and pigeon/crow shooting?

 

what bore/guage?

 

are the hatsan escorts any good?

 

my budget is probably about £400

 

any more info is very much appreciated.

 

thanks

 

scott

 

12 gauge hatsan escort is your best bet, been using one for years and its never missed a beat,

[Terryorr 27]

For £400 mate you could pick up a really good second hand Beretta 301 or 303, have 303 model and has never let me down. I could have sold it 10 times now but naa.

[f.a.c.sam 1]

If you've joined a game syndicate surely they will be a bit funny about you using semi's on a shoot day? Would you not be better off with a second hand over and under? However if they are fine with a semi then may I suggest you look at a webley & Scott 812 I picked up a brand new 3" multi choke, 28" barrel with 3 year warranty for £385 the other day and it shoots very well even with 28grams.

[Noz_God 0]

i second that webley & Scott 812 very nice gun for the money

Edited July 2, 2011 by Noz_God

[halamrose 24]

I find rabbits shot with a shotgun very bloody, Headshots with an FAC air rifle are my preference as I'm not allowed rimfire on the farm where I shoot.

 

Having said that my Hatsan does fine but I prefer it when other people use break barrel shotguns as it is so obvious when they are safely broken. Also the semmi is longer than the over&under.

Halam

[kirkrfd 2]

Hatsan are a good choice and they have a good range of models with a good backup warranty.

Most game shooters frown on the use of semiautos but if you make sure you always pick up your spent cartridges at the end of a shoot they will not moan .

[bullshot 5]

Hatsan are a good choice and they have a good range of models with a good backup warranty.

Most game shooters frown on the use of semiautos but if you make sure you always pick up your spent cartridges at the end of a shoot they will not moan .

I second that!!! a couple of us use semi autos on a syndicate with no problems from other members. My escort has always been reliable

[danebrewer10 6]

If you've joined a game syndicate surely they will be a bit funny about you using semi's on a shoot day? Would you not be better off with a second hand over and under? However if they are fine with a semi then may I suggest you look at a webley & Scott 812 I picked up a brand new 3" multi choke, 28" barrel with 3 year warranty for £385 the other day and it shoots very well even with 28grams.

 

I think he means a vermin control cyndicate..... they did say they were initially using air rifles.... I think you'd be hard pressed to even hit a fezzie with that!

 

or maybe not....? I'm v. surprised the other shooters are happy for you to use a semi... and a plastic one at that! personally I can't see the issue. but I might draw the line at only allowing wood stocked guns on to the shoot.... purely from an aesthetics point of view.....guns should not be discouraged purely because of their operating system!

Edited July 6, 2011 by danebrewer10

[19powell90 89]

it is more of a shooting club where we can go on the land any time, 365 days a year.

 

atb

 

scott

[Bobba_fett 117]

dont bother with an escort they are a heap of shite and will not stand up to any real work, i had one and i used it every day and it only lasted a year before it started so f**k up, now i shoot with an 8shot m2 benelli. its like driving an old banger for a year then upgrading to a bugatti, its a joy to shoot.

[The Seeker 3,048]

dont bother with an escort they are a heap of shite and will not stand up to any real work, i had one and i used it every day and it only lasted a year before it started so f**k up, now i shoot with an 8shot m2 benelli. its like driving an old banger for a year then upgrading to a bugatti, its a joy to shoot.

A mate had a hatstand miss fired and wouldn't eject he took it back twice, the gun dealer said he wasn't going to sell them anymore due to problem returns he'd had

 

Some guys on here swear by them but to me they are cheap for a reason

 

Better with a 2nd hand beretta, winchester or Benelli

[danebrewer10 6]

 

 

Some guys on here swear by them but to me they are cheap for a reason

 

Better with a 2nd hand beretta, winchester or Benelli

 

I'll second that....

[Qbgrey 4,070]

i picked up old but spotless winchester1500xtr 3 shot for 150 notes and i love it,a bit heavy but a joy to use.

[charlie caller 3,654]

If you buy a Hatstand,get it deactivated and use it as a hatstand mate,utter c--p,get a good used auto by a well known name,should get a s/h winchester x or a franchi ect for the price of one! dont do it dude,you will wish you had not