Want to start clay pigeon shooting. Need basics info from all you experts

[max111]

This is a great idea. We didn't know about this.

We've been shopping for Trap/Skeet/Clays guns and have been going nuts "trying on guns" at stores like Bart's.

We found my wife is very sensitive to length of pull and length of trigger pull. If either is too long she is very uncomfortable.

I seem to have an issue with drop at comb, at least for rifles.

PG have beretta silver pigeon 1s for rent, for right handers only though along with the semi's. They have a nice Beretta Parallel Target their with a reduced LOP, that's priced decent also. Me being left handed had to deal with it. Have you considered going to PA? Hi-Grade Shooters, Cove Creek Outfitters and Joel Etchen are within an hour or so of each other. Its what we ended up doing due to the amount of left handed versions available. Between those 3 imho there will be one fine gun to be found for an individuals budget

 

[rtse4me]

For my wife we found the Beretta with adjustable length of trigger pull and the Benelli with the right length of pull (or was it the other way around LOL).

I guess there's no "off the rack" fit for her so it's going to be a custom stock. We just haven't gotten around to doing it yet.

Have you looked at the Caesar Guerini Syren for your wife? They are expensive but designed for women.

 

[Scarab]

If anything, I'll be starting with a less expensive shotgun. I just can't afford a $2,000+ gun right now.


That said...

Semi or SxS or O/U?

I see some Berettas A400 and 686 for about $1,200-$1,400 new.

How do I go about finding THE RIGHT SHOTGUN FOR ME? What are the features I look for? How do I find the right fit?

Any and all responses welcome.

Scarab

 

[fabsroman]

If anything, I'll be starting with a less expensive shotgun. I just can't afford a $2,000+ gun right now.


That said...

Semi or SxS or O/U?

I see some Berettas A400 and 686 for about $1,200-$1,400 new.

How do I go about finding THE RIGHT SHOTGUN FOR ME? What are the features I look for? How do I find the right fit?

Any and all responses welcome.

Scarab

Well, you can do it one of two ways. Go to somebody with some experience fitting people, or just keep trying guns until they fit you. If the LOP (Length of Pull) works for you on a Beretta or Benelli such that it does not feel like you are reaching for the trigger, the drop at comb can be easily changed by replacing spacers between the stock and the receiver. You want to be able to mount the gun and have your head in the right spot so you are looking down that rid. Of course, it also takes practice to mount the gun properly shot after shot. Every once in a while, I take a shotgun out of the safe and practice mounting it while swinging it along the corner of the wall where the wall meets the ceiling. I try to mount and track that corner. Practice makes perfect they say.

End of the day, just try shooting as many guns as you can and see which feel the best to you. If a Beretta or Benelli does not fit, see if the gun you are borrowing can be adjusted. Benelli and Beretta semis do not fit me out of the box and I have to actually reduce the amount of drop at comb to make them feel right for me.

 

[max111]

Scarab, at your set budget you can find a nice semi like the ones you mentioned. The plus is that they come with shims for cast and comb adjustments, recoil pads to change LOP. An O/U unfortunately at that price range doesn't come with as much adjustments. Im assuming you are right handed since you haven't mentioned it. Left handed versions are virtually non existent at that price range and very hard to find one that is cast neutral for us left handers. Any case you have been to Barts so you know what they offer in gunfitting. I watched as many videos as I can prior to driving around to get the lingo down. Let us know what you end up with
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLLnGM3DXE0#t=18

 

[fabsroman]

Scarab, at your set budget you can find a nice semi like the ones you mentioned. The plus is that they come with shims for cast and comb adjustments, recoil pads to change LOP. An O/U unfortunately at that price range doesn't come with as much adjustments. Im assuming you are right handed since you haven't mentioned it. Left handed versions are virtually non existent at that price range and very hard to find one that is cast neutral for us left handers. Any case you have been to Barts so you know what they offer in gunfitting. I watched as many videos as I can prior to driving around to get the lingo down. Let us know what you end up with
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLLnGM3DXE0#t=18

Benelli offers the SBE II, M2, and Montefeltro in left handed models with the spent shells ejecting from the left side of the receiver.

Both the Benelli shims and the Beretta shims for the semis can be set to cast the stock for a left handed shooter. However, the ejection port would still have the spent shells ejecting from the right side of the receiver unless it is one of the Benelli left handed models.

 

[max111]

Benelli offers the SBE II, M2, and Montefeltro in left handed models with the spent shells ejecting from the left side of the receiver.

Both the Benelli shims and the Beretta shims for the semis can be set to cast the stock for a left handed shooter. However, the ejection port would still have the spent shells ejecting from the right side of the receiver unless it is one of the Benelli left handed models.

Benelli has some nice semi's I will eventually upgrade my beretta 1301. Both my beretta and benelli SN is set up for cast on

 

[Scarab]

Is Benelli just a lower priced Beretta? Like from a Ford to a Mecury? Or Chevy and GMC? Same thing but just less bells and whistles?

Scarab

 

[fabsroman]

Is Benelli just a lower priced Beretta? Like from a Ford to a Mecury? Or Chevy and GMC? Same thing but just less bells and whistles?

Scarab

Not even close, and Benelli is just as expensive as Beretta. Most of the Benellis are inertia operated, which means they work on the recoil of the firearm. Most Berettas are gas operated, which means they work from the gas generated by the burnt powder. There are two holes in a Beretta barrel right at the top of the forearm. The gas goes through these two holes and pushes a piston down that then pushes the action. The Benelli pretty much just works on the recoil from the fired shell.

I believe there are exceptions to this rule. The Benelli M4 is gas operated but with an ARGO system. The Beretta 1301 might be recoil operated, but I am not 100% sure of that.

Benelli recoil operated guns:
SBE
SBE II
M2
Montefeltro
Vinci
Super Vinci
Super Sport
Vinci Super Sport
Legacy
Ethos
......pretty sure I missed a bunch

Beretta gas guns
A390
391
3901
A400
...... pretty sure I missed a bunch

Anyway, A Beretta is not a dressed up Benelli, like a Mercury Sable was a dressed up Ford Taurus. Not even close. The guns do not even look the same, and they do not operate the same way.

Beretta bought Benelli after one of the Beretta execs took a tour of the Benelli factory and Beretta decided it wanted to add an inertia system to its "portfolio". Believe Beretta has been in business since the 1,500s, and Benelli started up its business in the 1980's.

 

[Scarab]

Thanks!

Scarab

 

[Scarab]

I just feel so overwhelmed about the whole thing. Feel like I'm in way over my head

Scarab

 

[max111]

Scarab, you just need to go out there and make some noise! I just got into it myself a few months ago and glad I did. I know it's a hike from you but if you ever make it toward Myrtle Grove look me up. I'd be happy to go out shoot with you. It's pretty much run what you brung in myrtle grove. PG Trap also, I'd be happy to shoot there too...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pbharvey]

Scarab, you just need to go out there and make some noise!

^ This

Go have some fun (and a little frustration) and you can figure out the rest as you go along. Gun rental at PG is like $7 or $10.

 

[Scarab]

I bought myself the Champion Wheelybird which is the same exact thing as that. Now I just need it to stop f'ing SNOWING and start getting above 40 degrees!

Scarab

 

[fabsroman]

I just feel so overwhelmed about the whole thing. Feel like I'm in way over my head

Scarab

As already mentioned, just go out there and shoot clays. I understand you will be shooting on your own at first. However, when the bug really hits and you start going to places to shoot, you will see plenty of guns and get an idea of what fancies you. You can also figure out which of the games you like the most. Me, I shoot them all, but that isn't the norm. Then, once you know which game you like, you can start looking at guns for that particular game.

Like anything, getting started seems overwhelming if you think too much about it. Easiest thing is to go out there and shoot. If you get tired of shooting in your backyard and want to shoot somewhere in the central Maryland area like PG, CCGC, Loch Raven, etc., I would be more than happy to shoot with you and show you how the games are shot, etc.

Just remember, KISS.

 

[Scarab]

I really appreciate that. I'll just go out with my Champion Wheelybird and my Remington Versa Max Tactical 22" abd see what I can hit. Just don't want to get into any bad habits that will be hard to break. I'll definitely be down to Loch Raven when (if?) The weather ever breaks. Going to take a class and just sit and watch and perhaps take you all up on meeting you there and soaking up your knowledge.

Scarab

 

[possumman]

If you are in Carroll Co.you can shoot Sporting clays at Mayberry starting in May (?)and Littlestown F&G should start soon too Check out their websites for dates and times.

 

[Scarab]

What do you think about the new Remington V3 Sport?

Scarab

 

[Gcs7th]

Anyone who's looking to get a little practice in this weekend the Arlington Rifle Pistol Clubs Bust Fest is a great opportunity to shoot a lot of birds cheap. We shoot at the AGC. There will be plenty of members willing to lend a hand and dozens of shotguns for you to try. I always bring at least a case of shot shells and I rarely leave with any.

Sunday, March 8th from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Bust Fest Trap Shoot on Trap 1. The cost is $10 for all the birds (clay pigeons) you want to break. Target loads only – #7.5, #8 or #9 shot with a velocity of 1200 Feet Per Second (FPS) or less.

http://arlingtonrpc.org/

 

[El_flasko]

What do you think about the new Remington V3 Sport?

Scarab

I'm dying to try one out to be honest. I'm a big fan of the versa max and Remington semis.