Shotguns

[carpetstu]

Hi Smegablade, I am a BASC qualified shooting coach & still shoot quite a lot of clays. If you would like any advice then email me  & I will mail you my phone-no.

Otherwise Google CPSA who are the main clay shooting organisation for England & you will find a lot of advice & information there. Beware of "advice" such as it is a class 2 firearm & therefore not dangerous. All guns are dangerous & should be treated with the greatest of respect.

Good advice  

[Darrell O'Neill]

Some good advice here. I was was a shooting coach and range officer for along time from the age of 18, ive shot just about everything from .177 air rifles to the .50 cal barrett.

As with all shooting getting instruction is the key, bad habits are easily formed and difficult to get out of. With clays its more important than ever, you 'need' a gun fitted to you, dont just buy what everyone else is using, but buy one that fits and don't be too taken into buying something too expensive (although keep away from the cheepo's) spend you money on tuition and practice.

Instruction, instruction, instruction.....

[Darrell O'Neill]

If shooting interests you you'll like these vids, ive seen it live, and it takes some believing

[Matt Seabrook]

ive shot just about everything from .177 air rifles to the .50 cal barrett.

Why does that not surprise me      

[blitz]

I Must agree with Jonah, a shotgun is a b****y sight more dangerous than people think. An ounce and a eigth of lead traveling at 12000 feet per second does not wound you, it blows great big gaping holes in you.  Please remember, NEVER EVER point your gun empty or loaded at anything that you don't intend to kill.   Lessons are a must for anyone starting out.  It is a great sport, exciting, interesting, competitive, friendly, out doors and difficult enough to be rewarding.  But there is a strict etiquette, that has been developed over a considerable number of years.   This will keep you and the friends you shoot with both happy and alive.

[nikpro]

There are three main disciplines in clay shooting - Sporting, Skeet and Trap.

Depending on what type you fancy will depend on what type of gun you buy.

Basically the barrels of the gun are 'choked' and this effects the spread of the shot.

Skeet is shot at very close range so requires an 'open choke' to allow the shot to spread quickly.

Trap can be shot at long range (for a shotgun)so requires a 'tighter choke' to keep the shot closer together.

the reason for this is as the shot spreads it's ability to break the clay lessens.

Sporting can have two simultaneous clays; one close and one far away so will have two different chokes to cope with this.

The barrels are all different lengths as well; 28",30" & 32" are common.

The shorter the barrel the easier it is to swing the gun faster but is also easier to stop making you shoot behind the clay.

Guns come in different 'grades' (say 1-5) The lower grade gun ususally has exactly the same mechanism but the woodwork and engraving isn't as eloborate.

Good quality value for money guns are Browning and Beretta.

I would personally go for either a Browning or Beretta Sporting Gun with 30" barrels and interchangeable chokes as this can be used for all disciplines.

P.S. It's very addictive and expensive! (I used to shoot 500 clays a week practicing for competitions   )

An excellent sport to teach teenagers and it breeds discipline and respect.

   

[Paul M]

a shotgun is only a class 2 firearm and therefor not that dangerous.

Interesting, and completley inaccurate, Up close, a 12 bore shotgun is considered to be the most lethal defensive weapon there is.

Try shooting something at close range with one rather than a clay 15-20 metres away and see what I mean.

Always remember the four golden rules of firearm handling and you will never go wrong.

1. All guns are always loaded ( if you know it's not, treat it as though it is)

2. Never point the muzzle at something you are not willing to destroy.

3. (the golden rule) Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target

4. Be aware of your target and what lies beyond it.

Get some coaching, be safe and enjoy.

[Darrell O'Neill]

ive shot just about everything from .177 air rifles to the .50 cal barrett.

Why does that not surprise me      

at £10 per round i didnt fire many, not when you could buy 2000-3000 .177 pellets for the same.  

At times, fullbore pistol shooting made motorsports look good value for money

[blankczechbook]

have been on a few duck shoots and also shot some clays - but i am otherwise still a bit of a beginner.

our local landie club also does a range event - shooting and then offroading - ( then beer )

indoor laser clays onto a projector just aren't the same :-0

a few more lessons from an instructor would really help confirm if you want to get into it as a hobby - or just an occasional activity to be proficient at.

- either way the instruction does help you get more out of the sport.

i like not having a licence or gun - i go and shoot, but then i don't stress about having a firearm in the house.

[Blatman]

Sorry to steal Blatmans thunder - but is a public forum the best place to be talking about who / who hasn't got access to shotguns / firearms?

My thunder?

I live in London. Of course I have access to firearms

[stephenh]

Have some lessons before you contemplate buying a shotgun. Then if you are happy with the coach, ask his advice. If you're not happy with the coach, then find another one who you are happy with.

Many shooting coaches can also sell you a shotgun, however their stock may not be as extensive as the bigger gun dealers. Again, ask around at any clay shooting club, and the more experienced guns will tell you where to go to get a good range of guns.

Yes, guns are VERY dangerous, if not handled carefully. Find a branch of a shrub or softwood tree about as thick as your armbone, aim the barrels at it from a couple of yards, and pull the trigger. That is quite a good demo of how dangerous they are!

[RS WST]

I've been shooting for almost 30 years now

Been brought up with them since I was a kid as both my father and grandfather were big shooters and shot clays for England

IMO i'd stay clear of Beretta, they go loose in the head after alot of use, been there done that.

I personally like the Miroku over the Brownings for trap

I use a 32"barrelled 3/4 full fixed choke Miroku 3800 grd 5 with a few special mods for down the line, ball trap, olympic trench, universal trench and ZZ

When I bought my 3800 grd5 a few years ago all the england team were using them

They are owned by Browning and made in Japan

Quality is A1 and they last forever if looked after

Clay pigeon shooting is an expensive hobby and can be very competitive and b***hy at times

There seems to be a certain arragance / snobary at the club I used to shoot at regular as most people thought they were top dog.

Garlands, Euroguns and most other big gun shops / clubs do try before you buy which is well worth it in my opinion

Stock size can make a huge difference, I had a Beretta and Miroku at the same time once and ended up selling the Beretta 682 as I couldn't get on with it.

[Buzz Billsberry]

I think Manchester's Diggsy does a bit of clay pigeon shooting....

cheers

John

Not just Diggsys most mancuians carry a gun...

Buzz

[boblog]

I have a Beretta muti-choke which I use for different clay disciplines and I have had it for quite a few years, it cost quite a bit of money too, would buy a b****y good kart!!!!!

I also have a Century Magnum for lets say " field" shooting and it will knock basil over at 60 paces, gives the shoulder a good bat too.

Could'nt agree with RS WST  more about the snobbery aspect, I would take their guns from some of them, pig ignorant up there own holes!!!

[Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO]

I think Manchester's Diggsy does a bit of clay pigeon shooting....

cheers

John

Not just Diggsys most mancuians carry a gun...

Buzz

I'm gunna get you Buzz  

I'll take you out from 600mtrs, you wont even hear it coming