The last time I shot clays was at Scout camp when I was about 12. At that age, the gun may very well have weighed more than I did. Add to that the relative punishment of a 20 gauge (I had only shot a .22 at that point) and a very short flight for the clay, and I was a. unable to hit anything and b. highly uncomfortable and discouraged.
I am now rather bigger and stronger, and I'm interested in learning to shoot clays. I know I can handle them at this point, having fired several in recent months, and am now trying to decide which to get. Do you readers have any recommendations? My requirements are wood furniture (call me a purist, oh well.) swappable chokes/barrels, and a budget befitting a college student. 12 or 20 is acceptable. Primary purpose will be sporting clays, but it should be able to handle slugs at need. Let me know in comments or email if you have any ideas (or if you're looking to sell perchance.)
I'm not a shotgun guy so my advice is limited.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you have a car yet or not but the Super Secret Shooting range would be a good place to ask experts.
Check the calendar for events, come out and watch, ask questions. Heck half or more of the guys will offer to let you shoot their guns-- especially if you come up with some shells. If you can't, they ill still offier and answer questions.
Scribbler, my son has a 20 gauge pump shotty we bought from Walmart for about 150 bucks. Its a Charles Daly or equivalent, meaning its an import, but for the money you can't go wrong.
ReplyDeleteBarring that, single shot NEF shottys can still be had around 100 bucks.
If you want quality Americana, then a Mossberg 500 or a Remington 870 is tough to beat. They're both the ruger1022 equivalent of the shotgun world.