YAGT: Buying a Shotgun

[Kelvrick]

Hmmm. Well that makes me feel better . I'm not exactly a big guy but I have no problems shooting a hundred or more rounds from my 7.62 AK, 20 rounds or so from my Mosin Nagant 91/30, etc.

Cool well maybe I will get the Mossberg 12 ga combo then, that looks great!

Yea, you should only be using 7/8 or 1oz 8 shot for clays anyway. It definitely gets easier. The first time I shouldered a 12ga, it seemed like a lot, but now I can shoot clays all day. It will be nothing compared to a mosin nagant. Especially a mosin with a metal backplate when you have the rubber on the 12ga.

Also, just from how you described the barrel differences in the combo packs you're looking at, are you talking about the combos that maybe have a 28" and a 24"? Be careful you don't pick up a combo with a 28 smooth bore with a rifled 24" that is designed for hunting with slugs.

 

[Phoenix15]

Prepare for my rambling!


1. With a shotgun the recoil is HEAVILY dependent on the load. If you are more familiar with pistols you may not appreciate how much difference a different load can change felt recoil. Commercial pistol ammo of different weights doesn't drastically change felt recoil. OTOH A 3 inch slug vs buck shot vs a bird shot load makes it feel as if you are shooting three different guns.


2. I have shot a whole case of clays with my 500 in one outing and had no pain or soreness. I use something like this for clays:

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/s...51_28418_-1?N=858982009+4294963078+4294963063

Just find whatever brand has a 1 1/8 8 shot load for the cheapest price.

3. 12 gauge ammo IS usually cheaper than 20. My local Wal Mart has 100 round bird shot value packs for $18.99. 410 is $12 for a 25 round box!

3. As someone mentioned most SERIOUS clay shooters use over/ unders or double barrels. If you are like me and just want to have fun at an informal range/private land then I think it's a little silly to pay the big bucks for a specialty shotgun just for clays. If you want a HD gun as well then you can't go wrong with the Mossberg 500 combo pack.

Well I checked out the Mossberg and Remington combo packs. I like the Mossberg combo packs better, and they're cheaper, but the only ones I would buy are in 12 gauge (like the link posted to the combo pack on Cheaper Than Dirt). Yeah they have 20 gauge combo packs, but the barrels are 2 inches in difference (to me, that's useless). But yeah, there's definitely a difference between a 18.5 inch barrel and a 28 inch barrel.

I did see a Remington 20 gauge combo pack on Bud's that had a 4 inch (IIRC) barrel difference, which is ok, but it was over $100 more expensive than that Mossberg 12 gauge pack.

I'd really like to have a 20 gauge but it doesn't look like they make quite what I'm looking for, and in my price range. Maybe I'll just get the 12 gauge Mossberg Field/HD combo and hopefully find some lower power rounds to shoot clays with. I'd just hate to get a 12 and find I hate shooting it for more than 3 rounds.

 

[pontifex]

Hmmm. Well that makes me feel better . I'm not exactly a big guy but I have no problems shooting a hundred or more rounds from my 7.62 AK, 20 rounds or so from my Mosin Nagant 91/30, etc.

Cool well maybe I will get the Mossberg 12 ga combo then, that looks great!

7.62x39 is pretty close to 5.56 imo, which isn't much recoil.

mosin is def alot more recoil.

 

[jagec]

Hmmm. Well that makes me feel better . I'm not exactly a big guy but I have no problems shooting a hundred or more rounds from my 7.62 AK, 20 rounds or so from my Mosin Nagant 91/30, etc.

Cool well maybe I will get the Mossberg 12 ga combo then, that looks great!

I have a Mosin Nagant and a Mossberg 12 w/18.5" barrel. I've actually shot skeet with the Mossberg, which is fun (although people tend to look at you funny when you're using a short-barrel gun for skeet!), and I've also put 00BK and 3" Magnum slugs through it. Those offer a lot more recoil, but nothing compares to the Mosin with that metal butt plate. My GF also tried birdshot and 00BK, but wasn't willing to do it twice.

 

[BladeVenom]

moved

 

[pontifex]

Cosplay girls at Comic-Con 2012. http://thechive.com/2012/07/17/comi...just-how-much-i-love-cosplay-girls-43-photos/

in a gun thread?

 

[Leymenaide]

http://http://www.berettausa.com/products/a400-xcel-parallel-target-kick-off/

I would go with this. Price is good and you cannot beet Beretta

 

[BladeVenom]

in a gun thread?

Oops. I meant to post that in the Babe thread.

 

[zinfamous]

does the hobo come with it, or does it cost extra?

 

[zinfamous]

in a gun thread?

 

[BladeVenom]

Some of them did have big guns.

 

[zanemoseley]

Over and under are best for clays but very expensive for nice ones. My suggestion is a Remington 1100 or 1187 auto. You definitely don't want a pump for skeet as you won't do well on the doubles.

I also recommend a 12ga as the ammo is cheap and the recoil isn't bad on skeet loads, magnum loads are a beast.

 

[Bashbelly]

Keltec KSG

http://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/kel-tec-ksg-15-round-shotgun-range-report/

 

[Sukhoi]

If you really want to get into the sport of shooting clays, you need to get an over-under or side-by-side. Typically, gun club rules prevent ever having any more than 2 shells in the breech/magazine (unless you are shooting 5-stand).

Over-unders are typically lighter (especially 20 gauge), and typically safer because its easy to identify that the gun is safe when the breech is cracked.

I love my Ruger Red Label for skeet/trap as weel as quail hunting. Make sure that you have interchangable chokes.

Yes, get an over-under if you're focusing on clays. You'll regret a pump quickly as it makes shooting doubles a biatch.

 

[KillerCharlie]

To repeat what everyone else said:

1) 12 ga or nothing. Recoil is not a factor when shooting trap loads.

2) Start out with a pump, either Mossberg 500 or Remington 870. They both allow quickly changing the barrel to a shorter home defense length if you need to.

If you like trap shooting enough you'll eventually buy an over-under, but they're almost an order of magnitude more expensive. All of the ranges I've been to primarily shoot American Trap (singles) - doubles aren't nearly as common. You will never regret owning a cheap Mossberg 500 or Remington 870, even if you later don't use it as much.

 

[velillen]

I bought the Mossberg 500 "silver" combo (big 5 sports) which was the 18.5" and 26" barrels. Couldnt be happier since its my first shotgun. Like others have said just get skeet loads and it isnt to bad (and im 5'10" 140 on a good day so for a skinny guy to say that).

Also if you do decide to upgrade later the mossberg 500 seems to hold its value pretty well so you could get a decent return on it for upgraidng. They seem to resell for between 230-280 depending on shots fired and what all it comes with around me.

 

[gorcorps]

I have a standard 12ga 870 express that I've had for about a year. Great gun that I use clay shooting a lot. Shooting doubles isn't hard one you get a feel for your gun. One thing my buddy has which I like is the Stoeger Condor, which is an over/under that has both 12 and 20ga barrels that can be swapped with ease. I actually like 20ga because it's lighter and more mobile. Plus... at some point you might actually get good enough to where 12ga is too easy. 20ga is a little easier to maneuver but you have to be a bit more accurate with it. People of the "12 gauge or nothing" variety don't go often enough for them to realize why 20 exists. That's why I like the Stoeger... you get both.