Newbie Looking To Get A 12G Shotgun

[Worzel40 9]

After 28 years of air rifle shooting I've decided to have a go at shotguns as the 4 permissions I have want the pigeons and corvids taken care of.

 

The FAO has just visited and approved my gun cabinet and said I should get my licence in a few weeks so am now looking for a shotgun, however I'm not that clued up on them.

 

I will be doing decoying from a hide and probably a bit of rough shooting, I have a budget of around £250 so I'm not looking for a Purdy.

I'm not bothered about an O/U or side by side or even a 3 shot single barrel but I want a single trigger as I had a go of my mates O/U with a double trigger and found it awkward.

 

I will be visiting the gun shop to try a few on but don't want to pay their prices.

 

Any tips and advice welcome.

 

Worzel

[rimmer 33]

have a look on here:

www.gunwatch.co.uk

[brucemyster 75]

a few weeks!! hope it comes to pass and I don't want to piss on your bonfire but my sons took an eternity, months not weeks, probably from same place if your Kent based, Maidstone?

good luck and I genuinely hope your certificate comes trough asap as it's as frustrating as hell waiting for the post every day, try ringing the issuing office and ask what kind of backlog there is, if any, so that your not left on tenterhooks.

As for a shotgun, after shooting air rifles for years I found I shot best with a semi auto, just felt right

Just type in "used shotguns" in Google and a ton of sites come up, Chris Potter in Tonbridge always seems to have a good selection of reasonably priced used guns as does Kent wool Growers in Ashford, both give some good advice too.

ATB bruce

Edited July 30, 2013 by brucemyster

[Worzel40 9]

a few weeks!! hope it comes to pass and I don't want to piss on your bonfire but my sons took an eternity, months not weeks, probably from same place if your Kent based, Maidstone?

good luck and I genuinely hope your certificate comes trough asap as it's as frustrating as hell waiting for the post every day, try ringing the issuing office and ask what kind of backlog there is, if any, so that your not left on tenterhooks.

As for a shotgun, after shooting air rifles for years I found I shot best with a semi auto, just felt right

Just type in "used shotguns" in Google and a ton of sites come up, Chris Potter in Tonbridge always seems to have a good selection of reasonably priced used guns as does Kent wool Growers in Ashford, both give some good advice too.

ATB bruce

I asked the FAO what was the waiting time for a licence and he said "a couple of weeks" but he also said the system has got better over the last couple of weeks so fingers crossed it wont take months.

[DeerhoundLurcherMan 997]

My mate waited 10 days for his SGC. Got it last month.Kent police..

Edited July 30, 2013 by DeerhoundLurcherMan

[brucemyster 75]

sounds like things have speeded up re. issuing certificates, great news for all those applying, get them in now if you can!! maybe it's like passports and at certain times of the year there's a bit of a backlog?

[Alsone 789]

Make sure you check anything you buy is in proof if buying 2nd hand (the date should be stamped on the barrels usually by the receiver).

 

Also, check for obvious excess wear.