Recommendation for a cheap clay gun?

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Alex23

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What would people recommend when it comes to a cheapish 12ga for clay shooting? I haven't shot clays in a long time but think I'd like to get into it again. I will most likely be buying second hand. I used to use a semi-auto Remington I inherited (can't remember the model) but sold it long ago.

Would you recommend a double barelled, pump, or auto?

Thanks.
 
Sporting Clays, or some other discipline?

CDNN has some pretty decent options right now, for clearance prices.

Fit matters, as you know. A $1000 Belgian-made Winchester O/U is a deal if and only if it works for you, for example.:)
 
Thanks. $1000 is a bit to steep for me considering I'm not looking at any kind of competition shooting at this point. More like me and the wife in the field out back. :D

I have seen some 870s in pawn shops and the like for around the $200-300 mark....like this:

Remington 870 Express Magnum 12GA
LIKE NEW Remington 870 Express Magnum 12GA

$249.00

*** URL REDACTED ***



$249

Decent price?
 
More like me and the wife in the field out back.
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Ah. That's different. That gives you a lot more options.

I have had fun with an ancient Ithaca 66 SuperSingle 20 Gauge, doing that. I picked it up off a guy for 50 bucks.

You can get a new 870 Express for under 300 bucks. That's one reason I haven't sold mine and probably won't ever. I won't get squat for one with a fair amount of use when a new one, with the nicer current stock and rib, is under $300. I'd rather just keep the gun, which works fine.:)

Do you and your wife want to shoot the same gun? Would the same gun fit you? Is she above average height and strength? I've seen too many smaller people -- in good physical shape -- leaning back to balance an 870 12 Gauge. You really can't hit anything that way. There are some women whose size, limb length, and strength are a good match for a stock 870 Express 12 Gauge, but they are not the majority. (I knew a woman who was an ace with big, heavy trap guns, but, while she was a real estate agent, she had been a truck driver in Alaska when they built the pipeline. She wasn't burly, but she was tall and strong enough to wrestle those old semis along bad roads for a living.)

For shooting out back, there's no reason the gun has to be pristine. It can be more fun if it isn't. Two beater H&R single shots that actually fit you and your wife well would be better than a brand new Krieghoff that doesn't.:)
 
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Do you and your wife want to shoot the same gun? Would the same gun fit you? Is she above average height and strength? I've seen too many smaller people -- in good physical shape -- leaning back to balance an 870 12 Gauge. You really can't hit anything that way. There are some women whose size, limb length, and strength are a good match for a stock 870 Express 12 Gauge, but they are not the majority. (I knew a woman who was an ace with big, heavy trap guns, but, while she was a real estate agent, she had been a truck driver in Alaska when they built the pipeline. She wasn't burly, but she was tall and strong enough to wrestle those old semis along bad roads for a living.)
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Excellent point. She's above average strength and height at 5'9" but not burly, I think she may well prefer a 20 ga. now that you mention it. She doesn't mind hard kicking handguns but it's a bit different taking it in the shoulder.
For shooting out back, there's no reason the gun has to be pristine. It can be more fun if it isn't. Two beater H&R single shots that actually fit you and your wife well would be better than a brand new Krieghoff that doesn't.
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That makes a good deal of sense. Hmmm, will investigate...

Thanks.
 
WRT the guns, it's not recoil that's the main issue. Heavier guns will kick less. However, what I've seen is that guns that weigh too much for a person's upper body size and proportions tend to pull them forward, and give them a feeling of tipping over. To compensate, the shooter will lean back. It's like a crane lifting a heavy bridge girder: the crane has to be the right size to counterbalance the weight of the cargo.:)

BTW still check CDNN for some fun guns. There are O/U and SxS shotguns, 12 and 20, in their catalog in the few-hundred-buck range. These could be fun and practical.
 
Remington 1100 would be my choice. I'd make sure it was an older one though as I wouldn't get a new Remington. The quality just doesn't seem to be there anymore. If I was to get a 870 I'd only get a wingmaster. I wouldn't get an express.
 
Seeing as you're in Academy Sports territory, check out the Yildiz O/U. It's a great deal at $400. My son has one in 12 ga and it's a winner. I'm planning to pick one up in 20 ga since I can't justify the cost of another Beretta.
 
There have not been many guns made that will kill clay pigeons better than a nice used Remington 1100. And few that shoot softer. 12 or 20 gauge both work well in my opinion, and there are a gazillion around so finding one won't be an issue.
 
Rem 1100 is a good choice if you like how it feels. For semi-auto, I would also look for a used Beretta 390.

Rem 870 is always a good place to start any kind of shotgun shooting. Many people on this site are also saying the Mavericks are a decent gun too, but I never owned one.

Stoeger Condor/Rem Spartan/etc. inexpensive shotguns that tens to go bang every time you shoot them. If you can find a used one, they should be CHEAP. You have to be carefull when looking at inexpensive O/Us, some were pretty badly made guns which is why most people will steer you to a pump gun in this price range.

Steven 311 SxS and the store brand guns they made - good serviceable SxSs. A bit of a utilitarian quality to them. Used to be plentifull and cheap, but are a little harder to find nowadays.
 
A Remington 1100 is a good choice for shooting out back if you think cleaning dirty guns is a lot of fun.
 
For semi-auto, I would also look for a used Beretta 390.
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That would be my suggestion, and is exactly what I did when I first got into shooting clays. I found a nice wood stocked A390ST with 30" barrel for $475.00 at a local gun shop. I now own 12 shotguns, and this is still my favorite. It is dependable as an anvil and with 1 oz. target loads is a pleasure to shoot.
 
I shoot a Mossberg Maverick, and I couldn't be happier. It kills squirrels, rabbits, birds, clay pigeons and just about everything else without a hiccup.
All for right around 200 bucks.
 
If you want 'soft' shooting, hard to beat a good Remington 1100. If you are in the market for a good, reasonably priced O/U, look at Mossberg's O/U series.
 
I knew a number of people who bought those Mossbergs (Khans, actually). They all broke down, and soon.

I wouldn't get one for shooting clays out back. I'd figure on a good number of rounds going through the gun, since it's going to be cheaper than paying range fees.:)
 
Thanks for the replies. I had a look at a bunch of used Remington 870s today. One very clean one and a few slightly more battered 'Magnum' models (no need to shoot the larger loads here).

Prices were hovering around the 250 mark. Seemed a tad high to me but I do not know what used shotgun price are reasonable. The one I like looked barely used - barrel was very clean and the stock was almost totally unscathed.

The Beretta semis run more as did the 1100s.

Now just need to find some used Mossbergs and take a look.
 
Keep an eye out for used Winchesters, too, 1300 or the 1400 automatic. The 1300s are more common and they really are slick guns. You might bet either a 1300 or 1400 cheaper than you can get an 870 if they're running that much. I have the 1400 autoloader and love the thing, softest shooting 12 gauge I've ever shouldered. Reliable, too, if you keep it clean. It's a gas gun and needs a cleaning after shooting. I let mine go for a whole dove season one year when I had a dove lease and was shooting a lot. Only toward the end did I start having some jams. But, it's easy to run some hoppes in the gas cylinder and mop it out with a rag.
 
under $220

Norinco (interstate armory)
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_288/products_id/91401

maverick 88:
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/42608
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/42605
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/42628

under $300

Charles Daly
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_224/products_id/58243 (this is the one i ordered)
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_224/products_id/36376

under $360
mossberg 500:
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_336/products_id/46281

Mossberg 590 (my favorite, a gift from my wife, but i cant have it untill then)
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_336/products_id/46282 (she have it on lay-away untill feb-14 )
 
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