Mr_Logic 5 Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 Right folks, I'm branching out. Been looking at shotguns for a while, got my SGC all sorted. I know bugger all about them, but I want to kill flying birds and destroy flying bits of clay. Thus far I've got as far as (mainly thanks to Deker's very patient help) a 28" barreled gun of some description, either over and under or semi auto. Quick look at the gunshop at the weekend, quite like the look of the Winchester SX3. Seems to fit me better than anything else I've tried, good balance, light weight. Like the fact that it's a semi auto as the other half will doubtless want a go, and it won't kick her much at all. 800 quid's worth, but seems like a decent enough bit of kit, and the Powers Of Google seem to think it's not bad at all. Does anyone have experience of these? ALso had a look at Browning and didn't like as much. Also a secondhand Beretta, 304 I think, and that didn't fit at all. Budget is max 800 quid, preferably less. Answers on a postcard please, in small, novicey words Quote Link to post
shottyscotty 3 Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 all new browning semi auto come with spacers for behind the trigger and for the but so can fit nearl anyone. i would go for a over and under because your doing clays and there much more safe and can be seen to be broken and not ready to fire. Quote Link to post
woz 260 Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 semi auto's arent liked in the clay world.......but saying that shot guns are just a bit of tube with some wood at one end...i wouldnt blow alot of money on one they are all as accurate as another......think years ago they were called blunded busts.... Quote Link to post
shottyscotty 3 Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 .......but saying that shot guns are just a bit of tube with some wood at one end...i wouldnt blow alot of money on one they are all as accurate as another......think years ago they were called blunded busts.... i not sure thats all that true as a good fitting £800 gun will be more reliabled and will help you shoot better than bad fitting cheap gun Quote Link to post
Squirrel_Basher 17,100 Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 Try a lanber sporter multichoke before spending a lot of money mate .Upper cheap range if you know what i mean . Quote Link to post
woz 260 Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 .......but saying that shot guns are just a bit of tube with some wood at one end...i wouldnt blow alot of money on one they are all as accurate as another......think years ago they were called blunded busts.... i not sure thats all that true as a good fitting £800 gun will be more reliabled and will help you shoot better than bad fitting cheap gun thats not really an argument is it?? any bad fitting gun wont work as well as one that does fit..............so what if youve got a cheap shotty that does fit or an expensive one that dosnt??? again back to my point......a piece of tube with a bit wood at one end.....snobbery aside.if they fit they all shoot the same.... Quote Link to post
moonflight 6 Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 LOGIC there are thousands to choose from and they are all as accurate as the person behind them.I use 3.5" auto's mainly because im a wildfowler i had a winchester sx2 great gun very reliable fit me like a glove so if you feel comfortable with the sx3 go for it but yes there's load's more out there a lot cheaper but you will get the quality and reliability with the winchester good luck shopping. Quote Link to post
shottyscotty 3 Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 what i meant was by spending more he might get a bit more ajustabilaty over a cheap gun thats all. i wasnt wanting a argument Quote Link to post
dicehorn 38 Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 It would appear that you are going down the road of a semi Auto (excuse my finger at the back of my throat) As someone has pointed out they are not too popular as far as organisers of clay shoots are concerned - it does beg the question if the semi was that good why dont the top rate clay shooters use them? On another minor matter - who knows after downing numerous pigeons and crows your prowess may get to the ears of a pheasant syndicate who invite you over to down a few birds - you will have to borrow a shotgun for the day and probably shoot crap as a result - take the shortcut and spend the £700 on a good secondhand over and under, then spend the rest of your budget having it fitted to your build. Quite honestly it is always hard to find a shotgun that you like that will fit you 'off the peg' - If I asked you to get in my car and drive around, what would be the first thing you would do after sitting in the driver's seat? You would adjust the mirror and probably the seat - you would make the CAR fit you not YOU the car.............same as a shotgun Oh and if you get a O/U you can truthfully tell the wife "This is going to hurt" now you will only have to buy cartridges for yourself - job done Quote Link to post
shottyscotty 3 Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 "this is going to hurt" i have to tell the bird that a lot in the bedroom.. sorry coudnt help myself Quote Link to post
alimac 882 Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 dicehorn talks sense... go to a gun shop when its quiet and mount as many as you can, see what feels nice, they should also be able to tell you if say the rib or stock is too high or low for you... Quote Link to post
SportingShooter 0 Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 Well said Dicehorn Semi Autos are great tools for certain types of shooting, they cannot be classed as an "all rounder" at this moment in time as there are some forms of Shotgun shooting which simply won't let you use them The O/U was in the same boat once where they were snuffed at on Game shoots etc If I were you, I'd be looking at a Beretta, Browning, Miroku which fits you quite well and that you can have altered to fit you better All three of those will last you a very long time if looked after Quote Link to post
masmiffy 82 Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 (edited) For me a reasonable quality second hand 28 inch multichoke field. Multichoke will give you 'options' but bet you will stick with two chokes! Find a shop which will let you try one out or at least advise on the fit! Good luck Personally wouldnt touch an auto or pump. Not liked at some clay grounds They have no place on an organised shoot in company! Your never sure if they are 'safe' At least with a o/u or s/s you can break the gun and people can see its safe! Just my opinion Edited April 21, 2009 by masmiffy Quote Link to post
claybusers al 9 Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 semi auto's arent liked in the clay world.......but saying that shot guns are just a bit of tube with some wood at one end...i wouldnt blow alot of money on one they are all as accurate as another......think years ago they were called blunded busts.... i take it you dont do a lot of clays woz last year i put over 50000 shots through a browning semi instructing clays work for me and the young american called corey that you watch on sky win at lakenheath that was a browning semi that won Quote Link to post
Yokel Matt 918 Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 (edited) Semi's certainly have their role but they won't fill an all rounder role. Of course you could use it for everything but i know they are frowned upon - even banned alltogether from some organised pheasant shoots. I didn't realise they were disliked in clay circles with having a reduced recoil They are quite high maintenance on the cleaning side and you certainly don't want to release the slide on you fingers by mistake - trust me (Beretta have also just released, at vast expense i understand, the first 'recoil-less' shotgun based on a hybrid of the semi-auto action specifically for clays) Personally, i'm a bit nervous around self-loading firearms when other people are in the immediate vecinity. Of course it doesn't detract from muzzel awareness and basic safetly rules but thats just me. For pigeon shooting they are top (provided you keep them clean to stop them don't jamming) There have been some fantastic deals on Guntrader.co.uk with 'as-new' second hand beretta semi's for less than £800. Also the Fabarm 'LION' is supposed to be a cracker (i've got a brochure here if you want it) as i've been looking at getting one for a while. If you want an all rounder i'd go for a good s/h under n' over with internal multi chokes. Less to go wrong mechanically and they are some going for a song out there. Edited April 21, 2009 by Local Quote Link to post
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