Recommend a skeet gun

SniperCJ

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Minuteman
Nov 2, 2001
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Dallas,TX
Susan needs a skeet gun. Her group at work shoots skeet and she needs to get invited to schmooze.

I know nothing about skeet guns. What are we looking for? Nothing too expensive.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

I have a Ruger Red Label 30" skeet gun that wasn't too expensive (as opposed to some of the others out there) that shoots great. I haven't had any issues with it and would recommend Ruger.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

I use to shoot a lot of skeet a while back. I've tried the facny guns but always came back to the Remington 870s, Settleing on a 4 gun set in 12, 20, 28, and 410. I still have the 12 & 20. They are reliable and resonabley priced. If she's like most skeet shooters I knew, she is gonna get hooked and you're gonna have to buy 4 guns. (and 4 Mec 600 Jrs to feed them)

If recoil is a problem, the 1100 Rem is an excellant choice.

I had an ithica over and under, and working to get the recoil down, I have problems getting the second barrel to cock. With the 870s, you don't have to worry about the shells working the actions.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

Remington 1100 can't go wrong less recoil than a O/U or pump. My son swears by his Browning Silver Hunter and it does handle nice. So many good quality skeet guns that range from a few hundred to thousands. Like KraigWY said she is gonna get hooked. Good luck
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

Beretta made a bunch of the 303's in skeet configuration. And you can find them used for a decent price. If she is recoil sensitive then go with a semi. auto that shoots the light 12 gauge shells. Do not go with a sub gauge shotgun. You need the shot in a 12 gauge to bust the birds as a beginner.

What action type does she think she wants??

There is one attribute that is more important than anything else to a beginning woman shooter. The firearm must fit her properly, or you are just wasting your money.

No need for you to handle and swing the shotgun, she is the one who has to do it.

So unless you want to waste alot of money by buying an improper shotgun for her. The best advice is to go to the nearest shotgun dealer that stocks target guns, and take the time to find the proper fitting shotgun. Regardless of how far you have to drive to find one. Tom.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HOGGHEAD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

You need the shot in a 12 gauge to bust the birds as a beginner.

What action type does she think she wants??

...beginning woman shooter.</div></div>


Good info cuz I was originally thinking 20ga.

She isnt sure on action. Likes the looks of the O/U. Would probably not like the recoil.

She's spanked many a steel plate at 1000 with her GAP 308, so she isnt a 'beginning woman shooter', but I understand what youre getting at!
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

Benelli Supersport 30" 12g maby 20g depending on her skill level with a shotgun. Its pretty light weight and it ported which really does help to reduce recoil and keep the muzzle down.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

I'm not a huge skeet guy but the O/U's are usually set up with the stock ergonomics better suited to the nuances of skeet than semi's. I guess it depends how serious she could get and what investments her interest level may dictate in the future. Seems like serious interest in the game has the potential to accelerate the gadget acquisition process and being prepared by investing in the right platform at the start may pay dividends. Barrel sets etc.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

You do not "need" a 12 gauge. A 20's pattern with 7/8 oz loads is plenty dense enough for a skeet target.

Back in the day I shot the 410 most of the time. That will hone your skills on lead and follow-through. Half an ounce of shot with a full choke makes things interesting.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HOGGHEAD</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> There is one attribute that is more important than anything else to a beginning woman shooter. The firearm must fit her properly, or you are just wasting your money. </div></div>
+1 for HOGGHEAD. Also I would recommend a 26" barrel O/U or an auto, something she can swing pretty fast. No pumps for skeet or trap for me.

Link for some good info: http://www.shotgunworld.com
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

I agree with Hoghead. Get her something that fits her. That is one of the biggest challenges. I like Beretta gas guns, they dont have the recoil and you can always through a mercury reducer in there down the road. Go with a 28" barrel. The extra length will help her keep swinging through the birds. That is a big hurdle with begining shotgun shooters. They dont swing through. I used to shoot trap and skeet and sporting clays with a SKB semi auto Ducks Unlimited banquet gun that my dad had. I forget the model but it worked great for that. I now use my 24" duck gun for all the clay birds I shoot. I like to be as familiar with those as I can.

Good luck it is pretty addicting.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

if she is sensitive to recoil and you are fairly good with keeping a weapon clean and in working order, the browning gold is the lightest recoiling 12ga on the market. my wife loves her Ladies version with the short parallel stock. i prefer benelli's only. they work no matter what. the beretta 391 is a good economic choice, and is good for recoil sensitive shooters, along with having a good aftermarket also.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

Thank you all for all of the input. I'm doing the research and have made arrangments to go shoot a Barretta that a girlfriend has. I have been trying to get an invite out to a few of these events for years, not a single female Geologist has been invited all this time even though they know I like to shoot, but even the guys that don't shoot get invites. I now work for a boss that believes if the guys get an invite, Susan better get one too. So its time to get the right gun and get some practice so I can at least make a presentable appearance when and if the invite ever comes. If it doesn't I'll have fun anyway!

Susan
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _9H</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You do not "need" a 12 gauge. A 20's pattern with 7/8 oz loads is plenty dense enough for a skeet target.

Back in the day I shot the 410 most of the time. That will hone your skills on lead and follow-through. Half an ounce of shot with a full choke makes things interesting. </div></div>

+1 to this. No need for a 12 ga, as the idea that more shot is needed to bust the birds only helps to mask the fact that you weren't really on target. I used to bust real birds with the .410 single shot breakover all day long, making the elder brethren look silly with their autoloaders.

I have a beautiful little ruger 28 ga O/U that my grandfather passed down to me. It is, imho, a fantastic platform for skeet.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Blueclawz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">CJ -
I have a K80 sitting in the rack not getting used. It has a full case of Briley tuned chokes, 20ga,28ga & 410ga barrel sets, the aluminum Americase and plenty of other goodies....$12k take it away....tired of owning the damn thing and never getting around to shooting it... </div></div>

That *might* be a bit too much for a starter gun...
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Re: Recommend a skeet gun

I love shooting skeet, I picked up a mossberg semi auto 930 tactical/turkey combo for next to nothing last summer. came with 18/24" barrels. I agree with the above mentioned skeet guys are like golfers. I do get looks because i'm not standing on the line with a $1500 gun, but i love going 5/5 in a round against a guy that went 3/5 with a gun four times the price of mine.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _9H</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You do not "need" a 12 gauge. A 20's pattern with 7/8 oz loads is plenty dense enough for a skeet target.

Back in the day I shot the 410 most of the time. That will hone your skills on lead and follow-through. Half an ounce of shot with a full choke makes things interesting. </div></div>

Sorry but I am not buying that. You can buy a light load 12 gauge with 1-1/8 oz. of shot(I load them myself). That is 1/4 oz. more than your 20 gauge. Almost 1/3 more shot. And for a beginner that is a lot of shot. And the trick to keeping a beginner in the game is to bust birds. Not to worry about shooting with sub-gauges.

Just because you can shoot with a .410 does not make it a good beginners gauge choice.

And if she is buying her shells instead of rolling her own then the 12 gauge light loads will also be cheaper to buy. Although I will admit nothing in shotgun shooting is cheap to buy anymore. Even the price of shot has went nuts. But she can still buy and shoot the cheaper Wally World shells. You can't get those in a 20 gauge. And the price of .410's?? No way. Tom.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

I say go over to Bass Pro Shops or Academy and have her handle some shotguns try to keep barrel length at 26 with screw in choke tubes,12 or 20ga,find a style she likes (i prefer o/u 12) that fits well. if it does not feel natural she wont shoot it well. reloading 12ga will give quite an edge over 20ga more shot about the same recoil.

Good Luck Hope Yall have fun.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

I have several shotguns and always go back to the old Remington 11-87 for popping clay with. I've heard people complain about their gas system and replacing the o-rings, my o-ring broke probably 10,000 shells ago and I haven't had a failure yet without a ring in it at all. IMO there are many guns out there that would serve you well. What I'd be looking for is either an over/under with 30"+ barrels or a gas operated semi-auto with 30"+ barrel. The long barrel(s) both give you a longer plain to point at the going away shots and provide a little bit of aid with follow through. The reason for the gas operated system is that they seam to handle the light target loads better than the recoil operated guns. If I were looking for an all around clay breaking gun right now, I'd be looking hard at the Browning Cynergy w/32" barrels......that's me though and only because it points right where I'm looking.

I agree with a previous poster that the 12 is the way to go. The big difference between the 410, 28, 20, 16, 12 and 10 isn't pattern size as much as it is pattern density. You are not shooting at something that is a 4" diameter circle, you are shooting at something that is about 4" long and 3/4" high since you are shooting at the edge of the bird. That gives you only 3 square inches to cover with your pattern, which is pretty easy to slip through if you don't have much shot out there. Recoil-wise, you will not be able to tell the difference between 20ga target loads and 12ga target loads, you really don't feel a difference until you start shooting heavy, high velocity loads.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

Basically, go to your favorite gun shop and point a lot of shotguns. When you point the gun, pick a nail in the wall and don't take your eyes off of it. Don't look at the bead and keep your focus on the nail. Throw the gun up to your shoulder "pointing" the gun at the nail and then look where the bead is aimed at in relation to the nail. Buy the gun that repeatedly comes up with the bead covering the nail. If you are consistently to one side or the other, high or low, you can shim the stock to bring the gun into better alignment with your body and natural point of aim and any decent shotgun smith or experienced shotgunner should be able to set you up.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

CDNN in Texas has some lambers O&U 12 ga on sale for less than 500.00 made in spain we have 2 and love the old world makers also Bernidelli SX801 399.00 we have one my 12 year old loves it for lack of recoil buy on sale lambers listed over a grand so did the 801SX made in Italy browning cenergy 1300.00 with 500.00 gift pac hard to pass up skeet is fun and makes a better shooter man lady or child.I say buy low enjoy and heck sell for the money you have into them if she dont enjoy it.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

My girlfriend ended up getting youth model 870 express 20ga for last christmas.

Its cheap and not fancy but she's really started to enjoy busting clay birds with 'em.

Hopefully a turkey, dove, and pheasants this fall.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HOGGHEAD</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _9H</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You do not "need" a 12 gauge. A 20's pattern with 7/8 oz loads is plenty dense enough for a skeet target.

Back in the day I shot the 410 most of the time. That will hone your skills on lead and follow-through. Half an ounce of shot with a full choke makes things interesting. </div></div>

Sorry but I am not buying that. You can buy a light load 12 gauge with 1-1/8 oz. of shot(I load them myself). That is 1/4 oz. more than your 20 gauge. Almost 1/3 more shot. And for a beginner that is a lot of shot. And the trick to keeping a beginner in the game is to bust birds. Not to worry about shooting with sub-gauges.

Just because you can shoot with a .410 does not make it a good beginners gauge choice.

And if she is buying her shells instead of rolling her own then the 12 gauge light loads will also be cheaper to buy. Although I will admit nothing in shotgun shooting is cheap to buy anymore. Even the price of shot has went nuts. But she can still buy and shoot the cheaper Wally World shells. You can't get those in a 20 gauge. And the price of .410's?? No way. Tom. </div></div>

Dude you are out of touch with the times. 7/8 oz 12 gauge loads are common these days.

Where exactly did I recommend a 410 for a starter gun? Exactly NO WHERE. The point is, a 20 is plenty of pattern for one with a Skeet choke. Wal Mart ammo for the 20 is plentiful and suitable for the task at hand.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

When my wife showed an interest in shotguns I got her a Mossberg Silver reserve sporting. 12 gauge, o/u single trigger, ported barrels, looks nice, takes beretta/benelli chokes and relatively inexpensive. If and when she would benefit from something better I will be more than happy to upgrade. Early ones had an issue with firing pins, but I believe that is resolved. She likes it also, which is always a plus. Hope this helps.
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _9H</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HOGGHEAD</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _9H</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You do not "need" a 12 gauge. A 20's pattern with 7/8 oz loads is plenty dense enough for a skeet target.

Back in the day I shot the 410 most of the time. That will hone your skills on lead and follow-through. Half an ounce of shot with a full choke makes things interesting. </div></div>

Sorry but I am not buying that. You can buy a light load 12 gauge with 1-1/8 oz. of shot(I load them myself). That is 1/4 oz. more than your 20 gauge. Almost 1/3 more shot. And for a beginner that is a lot of shot. And the trick to keeping a beginner in the game is to bust birds. Not to worry about shooting with sub-gauges.

Just because you can shoot with a .410 does not make it a good beginners gauge choice.

And if she is buying her shells instead of rolling her own then the 12 gauge light loads will also be cheaper to buy. Although I will admit nothing in shotgun shooting is cheap to buy anymore. Even the price of shot has went nuts. But she can still buy and shoot the cheaper Wally World shells. You can't get those in a 20 gauge. And the price of .410's?? No way. Tom. </div></div>

Dude you are out of touch with the times. 7/8 oz 12 gauge loads are common these days.

Where exactly did I recommend a 410 for a starter gun? Exactly NO WHERE. The point is, a 20 is plenty of pattern for one with a Skeet choke. Wal Mart ammo for the 20 is plentiful and suitable for the task at hand. </div></div>
even better yet, my father hand loads .75oz loads that actually cycle in his Benelli M2 and my Benelli Cordoba
 
Re: Recommend a skeet gun

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _9H</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HOGGHEAD</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _9H</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You do not "need" a 12 gauge. A 20's pattern with 7/8 oz loads is plenty dense enough for a skeet target.

Back in the day I shot the 410 most of the time. That will hone your skills on lead and follow-through. Half an ounce of shot with a full choke makes things interesting. </div></div>

Sorry but I am not buying that. You can buy a light load 12 gauge with 1-1/8 oz. of shot(I load them myself). That is 1/4 oz. more than your 20 gauge. Almost 1/3 more shot. And for a beginner that is a lot of shot. And the trick to keeping a beginner in the game is to bust birds. Not to worry about shooting with sub-gauges.

Just because you can shoot with a .410 does not make it a good beginners gauge choice.

And if she is buying her shells instead of rolling her own then the 12 gauge light loads will also be cheaper to buy. Although I will admit nothing in shotgun shooting is cheap to buy anymore. Even the price of shot has went nuts. But she can still buy and shoot the cheaper Wally World shells. You can't get those in a 20 gauge. And the price of .410's?? No way. Tom. </div></div>

Dude you are out of touch with the times. 7/8 oz 12 gauge loads are common these days.

Where exactly did I recommend a 410 for a starter gun? Exactly NO WHERE. The point is, a 20 is plenty of pattern for one with a Skeet choke. Wal Mart ammo for the 20 is plentiful and suitable for the task at hand. </div></div>


First of all, you are right. I am definitely out of touch with the times.
grin.gif
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But I will admit that I like it that way.

Maybe you can buy 7/8 oz. 12 gauge loads?? But why would you?? Definitely for a beginner the 1-1/8 oz. loads are better?? Can you deny that?? And recoil will be negligible if you stay with the lighter charge. They may be a tad bit slower-no doubt about that. But speed is not necessary for a beginning shooter?? So I do not understand your point. But I am out of touch. Are the 20 gauge loads at Wally World as cheap as the cheaper 12 gauge light loads??

You did not directly recommend the .410. That is true. And I apologize if I made a mistake there.

All I know is this. Until I injured my leg we shot alot of competitive skeet shooting. And I have not met a person yet on the skeet range that does not want every advantage he or she can get. The rules allow for 1-1/8 oz of shot. And I have ever met a single shooter who would handicap himself by loading his own shells with 7/8 oz. of shot. Why would you do that??

If you want to shoot sub gauges. Then by all means go ahead and do it. But lowering a 12 gauge to 7/8 oz. makes no sense to me. Unless you just can not afford the extra shot??

I am a fair shooter at Skeet. I usually score from 95-98 in most competitions. I have shot some 100's, but I am not a 100 shooter like a couple friends I have.

All I know is this. We take our wives and kids to the shoot with us. We are a family oriented club. And the best way to keep the ladies and kids shooting is when they can hit and break the targets. It realy is that simple. Since there is limited noticable recoil between an X-tra light 1-1/8 oz. 12 gauge load and most 20 gauge loads then why would you limit the beginner shooters ability to bust birds with less shot?? Sorry, but I just do not follow that logic. Especially when the better shells are cheaper?? Tom.