Krieghoff?
Yup. Narrowed the K collection to one K80 for sporting, one K32 for flyers and one KDR (double rifle) .470NE for making big rocks into small rocks. Life is too short to shoot disposable guns!
Krieghoff?
Ah, so you are the guy with the old field gun that outshoots the K80 guys. I often hear about this, but have never seen it. Now, my K80 didn't cost $50,000, but I'm willing to take a chance on you beating me with that GECO guild gun. Let's get together and shoot a round of sporting and see what happens....at PG perhaps. If nothing else, it's a day afield. Can we post the scores afterwards?
I've got a Belgian Browning Lightning 30" F/IM for $1800. Gun is in great shape. If you are interested....
Oh, that is just for trap on the AGC field, shooting trap. We have 1-2 persons there that insist that any gun below 1k is probably not worth it. After a little bit of training, I can now usually disprove them with 21-23 birds while some people with specially adapted, hilariously expensive guns explicitly set up for trap don't seem to do much better. At least I admit that when I pull the trigger and the bird still flies it usually is operator error!Ah, so you are the guy with the old field gun that outshoots the K80 guys. I often hear about this, but have never seen it.
Just figured, you might not have spent enoughNow, my K80 didn't cost $50,000,
but I'm willing to take a chance on you beating me with that GECO guild gun. Let's get together and shoot a round of sporting and see what happens....at PG perhaps.
Oh, that is just for trap on the AGC field, shooting trap. We have 1-2 persons there that insist that any gun below 1k is probably not worth it. After a little bit of training, I can now usually disprove them with 21-23 birds while some people with specially adapted, hilariously expensive guns explicitly set up for trap don't seem to do much better. At least I admit that when I pull the trigger and the bird still flies it usually is operator error!
I would think that those you spoke with were referring to longevity and not an ability to actually break a target with an inexpensive gun. By the way, that score of 21-23 is OK for soft targets at the AGC or just screwing around, but at a big shoot, those averages place you in the lowest class (D) in the ATA. Don't be fooled into thinking that "hilariously expensive guns explicitly set up for trap don't seem to do much better". As in all sports, the best equipment helps, but in the end it's the shooter. Just because someone shoots the same as you do and he shoots a $10K Perazzi, it is not a reflection on the gun. At ATA shoots, you will find that those "hilariously expensive guns" are pretty much the norm. The best shooters shoot quality guns.
Just figured, you might not have spent enough
I understand.
Hm, I believe you will have me at a slight disadvantage. I usually shoot trap and have done sporting clays twice in my life and have probably less training than you, too. I'll be up to a friendly challenge but if you insist on gaining publishable data, we should exchange guns about halfway. Either I get a lot better suddenly (and you a lot worse) or it's still the shooter who makes or breaks the results.
Oh, and we should probably invite our OP as well..... just for him to try out as many guns as possible.
My personal opinion is that, if you only want a single gun, that something in the "sporting" configuration is the way to go and I wouldn't bother with anything longer than a 30" barrel. I have two - a Browning 525 and a Beretta 391 Teknys Sporting - and I've shot all of the clay games with both of them.
I think that if you find a gun you really like to shoot sporting clays with then you're definitely set for skeet, trap and the other games. Sporting clays incorporates so many different types of target presentations that moving to skeet/trap is no problem. Change out the chokes and you're ready to go.
I like to shoot sporting clays with my Beretta 391 Teknys, but I believe that O/U's probably make the best overall choice if you want one gun. Less moving parts, easier to clean, and you don't have to chase any shell hulls.
You should easily be able to find a used gun in great condition in your price range.
Are you joking? Gunbroker says that is a $830 gun. I know enough to know what I do not know, so I look it up. In the case of O/U that is very true.
What do you guys think about a Remington 3200 Trap gun (O/U).
That might work for some shooters, but it won't work for all and won't work for better trap shooters. For instance, my 32" Sporter shoots 60/40 patterns and that works fine for me in Sporting. My 34" Trap Gun shoots 100% high, is longer and has a much different trigger, so I would certainly struggle with a Sporter for Trap. Over time, most will realize that a seperate gun is needed for each sport if you are at all going to be serious about it. That is also true of Bunker..... or different game birds. Heck... it gives you an excuse to buy more guns. That's a GOOD thing!
I agree with what you say. There's definitely a reason for specialty guns. But my thoughts were really meant for someone that wasn't going to shoot hundreds of targets per week. I love to shoot, and try my best to shoot 100 skeet targets every week (and twice when I can). Sporting clays once a month or so. In case everyone hasn't noticed - shooting can get a bit expensive! LOL!
And I still think that if you're going to have a single target gun that one in the sporting configuration is the way to go.
But...I turn 50 next summer and I'm seriously thinking about something along the lines of a Caesar Guerini Challenge Impact or a Blaser F3 Supersport as my present to myself. These both have slightly higher ribs, to allow you to keep your head up more, as well as adjustable ribs which you can tweak to your liking and the game you're shooting.
I wouldnt get a 3200. Its a good action but old. Kregoff bought it and made the K32 from it back in the day.
Buy a quality, cheap autoloader. Shoot the piss out of it and then you will have an idea what you want.
The Caesar Guerini's are the best kept secret in that price range. They are a greta mix of durrability and crafsmanship. Plus they are based out of Cambridge so you can go down there and have their master fitter, fit a gun to you. They also do pit stops to tune the gun up everyyear.