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

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  • fabsroman

    Ultimate Member
    Mar 14, 2009
    35,852
    Winfield/Taylorsville in Carroll
    Does anyone like the Ruger Red Label O/U shotguns?

    Scarab

    I agree with Augie and Pinecone. The Ruger Red Label makes for a decent field gun, but it cannot handle the number of rounds that an avid clays shooter will put through it.

    Heck, my Browning Lightning field gun didn't even handle trap very well. If you are looking for something to get started with, just find something cheap to see if you like it. Then, if you like shooting clays, upgrade the shotgun later on.
     

    Pinecone

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 4, 2013
    28,175
    Or just start with renting shotguns. Many places have rentals available.

    YOU can shoot a rental a LOT of times before you hit even the price of a cheap shotgun.
     

    rico903

    Ultimate Member
    May 2, 2011
    8,802
    If someone gave me a Stoeger today it would be up for sale tomorrow. Don't know about the Tristar. As mentioned, rent several guns before you buy. Both O/U and SA. Loch Raven and PG County both rent guns. You may find the recoil on an O/U to be too much for you. With shotgun season coming up there will be plenty of guns up for sale on the boards at both places as people up grade, or try to "buy clays" so to speak. The Gun Shop i Essex has quite a few used shot guns for sale at good prices. But try before you buy. You'll definitely like the sport.
     

    BFR50

    Member
    May 20, 2013
    98
    Reisterstown, PRM
    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.

    Doesn't Beretta also own Stoeger as well?
     

    Pinecone

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 4, 2013
    28,175
    Beretta owns Benelli, Stoeger, Franchi, Uberti, Tikka, Sako, and Burris optics. I might have missed some more obscure names.

    Owns or is the US distributor for?

    IIRC, some they own, but others they only distribute in the US.
     

    Scarab

    Active Member
    Apr 5, 2013
    626
    Carroll County, MD
    Nothing curious about it LOL! I have a full family, a demanding full time job and a huge honeydo list :)

    And the spare time I do have I try to go to the range and shoot pistols, revolvers and rifles.

    I fear the real issue that I must admit is a serious amount of trepidation at the thought of going to a new range, and jumping in feet first with a group of potential irritable older gentlemen, and not knowing what the hell i'm doing. Or making them irritable because I don't know what I'm doing.

    Scarab
     

    BFR50

    Member
    May 20, 2013
    98
    Reisterstown, PRM
    Nothing curious about it LOL! I have a full family, a demanding full time job and a huge honeydo list :)

    And the spare time I do have I try to go to the range and shoot pistols, revolvers and rifles.

    I fear the real issue that I must admit is a serious amount of trepidation at the thought of going to a new range, and jumping in feet first with a group of potential irritable older gentlemen, and not knowing what the hell i'm doing. Or making them irritable because I don't know what I'm doing.

    Scarab

    Come on May 17th at 5pm to AGC trap range. Public trap will be over and I'll be the only one there most likely. Our club shoots a few rounds of trap before the monthly meeting at 6:30pm. Be glad to have you as a guest.
     

    Jarhead FLSTI

    Active Member
    Aug 31, 2008
    804
    Glen Burnie
    I got into busting clays a few months ago. I didn't want to dump a lot of money into a shotgun that I didn't know if I would shoot it very often. I ended up buying a Tristar Hunter EX O/U for just over $500. I've taken it out 4 times now and I'm happy with it, especially for the price. My last outing I was hitting 22 to 24 on trap and even had a couple of rounds of 23 on wobble trap. So far I've put about 700 shells through it and it still feels solid. At the rate I'm shooting I'll have over 10,000 shells through it before the warranty is up. If it falls apart before then, I'll do a warranty claim. If it falls apart after the 5 year warranty expires I'll most likely go with a Beretta for 3 1/2 times the cost...
     

    BFR50

    Member
    May 20, 2013
    98
    Reisterstown, PRM
    That's a generous offer. I will try. I'm putting it on my calendar now. Should I even bring my Versa Max Tactical (22" barrel)?

    Scarab

    Yes, bring it. Only shot shells 7.5, 8, or 9, max powder load of 3 dram and max 1200 fps are allowed. (typically Walmart sells target shot shells like these) Also, bring eye and ear protection.
     

    Overboost44

    6th gear
    MDS Supporter
    Jun 10, 2013
    6,619
    Kent Island
    Owns or is the US distributor for?

    IIRC, some they own, but others they only distribute in the US.

    The parent company, Beretta Holding, also owns Beretta USA, Benelli, Franchi, SAKO, Stoeger, Tikka, Uberti, and the Burris Optics company.

    News to me, I thought they only owned Benelli, Franchi, Stoeger and Uberti.
     

    fabsroman

    Ultimate Member
    Mar 14, 2009
    35,852
    Winfield/Taylorsville in Carroll
    The parent company, Beretta Holding, also owns Beretta USA, Benelli, Franchi, SAKO, Stoeger, Tikka, Uberti, and the Burris Optics company.

    News to me, I thought they only owned Benelli, Franchi, Stoeger and Uberti.

    I am pretty sure I am right.

    From Sako's website:

    http://www.sako.fi/our-story

    At the turn of the millenium, Sako was honored to become a member of the Beretta Group.

    Tikka is a subbsidiary of Sako. Its website says the same thing as the Sako website.

    http://www.tikka.fi/about-tikka

    Beretta owned Burris acquires Steiner optics:

    http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2008/09/beretta-owned-burris-acquires-steiner-optik-gmbh/

    Burris scopes and Steiner binos offered for sale on Beretta's website:

    http://www.berettausa.com/en-us/store/optics/

    Here you go, from Shooter's Log, Beretta owns all of the above and a 20% interest in Browning. Think I just threw up a little bit.

    http://blog.cheaperthandirt.com/beretta-a-history-of-the-worlds-oldest-firearm-company/

    Lastly, I think that the Vatican is a major owner of Beretta Holdings

    Beretta Holdings website:

    http://www.berettaholding.com/en/group-profile
    (Does not mention Stoeger or Uberti, but I only speed read it)

    So, Stoeger's website says it became a member of Beretta Holdings in 2002:

    http://www.stoeger.com.tr/eng//sayfam/1764/Firma.htm m1=131&m2=269&m3=0&m4=0

    Who did I leave off? Uberti?

    Uberti is part of the Benelli USA family of brands:

    http://www.uberti.com/history

    Think that is all of them. Had no idea about Browning and now I am sick to my stomach. Have to tell myself it is not a controlling interest.
     

    Overboost44

    6th gear
    MDS Supporter
    Jun 10, 2013
    6,619
    Kent Island
    I am pretty sure I am right.

    From Sako's website:

    http://www.sako.fi/our-story

    At the turn of the millenium, Sako was honored to become a member of the Beretta Group.

    Tikka is a subbsidiary of Sako. Its website says the same thing as the Sako website.

    http://www.tikka.fi/about-tikka

    Beretta owned Burris acquires Steiner optics:

    http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2008/09/beretta-owned-burris-acquires-steiner-optik-gmbh/

    Burris scopes and Steiner binos offered for sale on Beretta's website:

    http://www.berettausa.com/en-us/store/optics/

    Here you go, from Shooter's Log, Beretta owns all of the above and a 20% interest in Browning. Think I just threw up a little bit.

    http://blog.cheaperthandirt.com/beretta-a-history-of-the-worlds-oldest-firearm-company/

    Lastly, I think that the Vatican is a major owner of Beretta Holdings

    Beretta Holdings website:

    http://www.berettaholding.com/en/group-profile
    (Does not mention Stoeger or Uberti, but I only speed read it)

    So, Stoeger's website says it became a member of Beretta Holdings in 2002:

    http://www.stoeger.com.tr/eng//sayfam/1764/Firma.htm m1=131&m2=269&m3=0&m4=0

    Who did I leave off? Uberti?

    Uberti is part of the Benelli USA family of brands:

    http://www.uberti.com/history

    Think that is all of them. Had no idea about Browning and now I am sick to my stomach. Have to tell myself it is not a controlling interest.

    I wasn't doubting you at all. I found what I knew at the Harrisburg Outdoor Show. There was a Benelli booth there and my brother and I were checking out the Benelli vs. Franchi vs. Stoeger. The guy was very knowledgeable. I also saw Uberti at their booth. The quote that I got was from a Wiki entry, so you were right.

    Yes, the Browning thing is a little sickening as is them owning Benelli. Then, I think of Fiat/Ferrari or VW/Audi/Porsche/Lambo and it seems ok.
     

    fabsroman

    Ultimate Member
    Mar 14, 2009
    35,852
    Winfield/Taylorsville in Carroll
    I wasn't doubting you at all. I found what I knew at the Harrisburg Outdoor Show. There was a Benelli booth there and my brother and I were checking out the Benelli vs. Franchi vs. Stoeger. The guy was very knowledgeable. I also saw Uberti at their booth. The quote that I got was from a Wiki entry, so you were right.

    Yes, the Browning thing is a little sickening as is them owning Benelli. Then, I think of Fiat/Ferrari or VW/Audi/Porsche/Lambo and it seems ok.

    You have me wrong there. I have a distaste for Browning more than I do for Stoeger. The rest of their holdings I might actually contemplate purchasing. Already own a Beretta or 5 and a Benelli. When I bought my Ruger .220 Swift, I was debating a Sako, and that is how I found out Beretta owned Sako and Tikka. I really want a Sako TRG42 in .338 Lapua now, but my wife would use it on me.
     

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