bas402
Well-Known Member
Just as the title says. I am a small guy so don't want the recoil of a 12 and I'm just getting started.
Good OU 20 gauge for Sporing clays
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imartin
Well-Known Member
You will need to pick up a few to see what feels good and fits, points where you look, but I've had a gun feel good to me and then beat the crap out of me when I shot it. I would stick with a quality maker, Browning, Beretta, or even Rizzini. You are going to spend about ~$2K. Just go pick them up and see what feels the best and go from there.
bas402
Well-Known Member
Thanks, that's not easy due to short inventory. what about barrel lengths? I realize it also comes to a balance issue as well but 28-30" be fine?
imartin
Well-Known Member
32" is the popular length, but honestly I usually can't tell a difference. I think a 30" 20 ga O/U should be a pretty sweet handling gun. I did my best shooting years ago with a 28" Winchester 101 field gun that I got rid of. It's all about what you shoot well and feels comfortable to you.
Orange Dust
Well-Known Member
Everybody pretty much learns on Berettas and goes from there. If you are just getting started use your hunting semi auto and use the money you were going to spend for lessons. In this case lessons are $200-$300 an hour for a private session. If you don't save at least that much in ammo you did not listen and do exactly as you were told, or got bad advise picking a coach. Ammo is expensive and hard to come by. 20ga Shells are much harder to find lately than 12ga. Loading your own is tough due to unavailability of primers. I like 1oz or less @1200fps in a 12ga but factory loads in that are scarce as hens teeth.
A good coach will teach you much more than how to shoot a shotgun. He (She) will teach you how to practice correctly, and use both your time and ammo wisely. You learn absolutely nothing banging away at birds. You must learn to practice your goals and achieve them without the added pressure of competition. I used to shoot 100 rds or more a day, every day to try and remain competitive @ skeet at my age LOL. Can't score that much in components in the last couple of years. But, I have continued to take lessons. One at the beginning of the season and another near the end. If you want to play and fool around don't listen to me. If you want to compete the above is sound advise, and good for any form of competitive shooting. If you do get a gun, get it fitted. With the way things are right now as a beginner you are really better off with a 12ga gas semi auto. Put a mercury bar in the magazine and balance it in the butt and you have your 9# target O/U with half the recoil and pennies on the dollar for cost.
If you do these things, when you decide to buy a new O/U you won't be asking anyone what to purchase, and you most likely won't be looking @ Berettas other than maybe a DT11. Your biggest issue will be trying to convince your other half that you NEED a shotgun that costs as much as a new bass boat LOL...
Think very carefully before you go down this rabbit hole, Brother. It is more addictive than cocaine and every bit as expensive. There, I did my part. You were warned.
edited to add: A 9# 12ga gas semi will have less recoil than a 20ga (esp a 20ga frame) O/U) Actually noticeably less
A good coach will teach you much more than how to shoot a shotgun. He (She) will teach you how to practice correctly, and use both your time and ammo wisely. You learn absolutely nothing banging away at birds. You must learn to practice your goals and achieve them without the added pressure of competition. I used to shoot 100 rds or more a day, every day to try and remain competitive @ skeet at my age LOL. Can't score that much in components in the last couple of years. But, I have continued to take lessons. One at the beginning of the season and another near the end. If you want to play and fool around don't listen to me. If you want to compete the above is sound advise, and good for any form of competitive shooting. If you do get a gun, get it fitted. With the way things are right now as a beginner you are really better off with a 12ga gas semi auto. Put a mercury bar in the magazine and balance it in the butt and you have your 9# target O/U with half the recoil and pennies on the dollar for cost.
If you do these things, when you decide to buy a new O/U you won't be asking anyone what to purchase, and you most likely won't be looking @ Berettas other than maybe a DT11. Your biggest issue will be trying to convince your other half that you NEED a shotgun that costs as much as a new bass boat LOL...
Think very carefully before you go down this rabbit hole, Brother. It is more addictive than cocaine and every bit as expensive. There, I did my part. You were warned.
edited to add: A 9# 12ga gas semi will have less recoil than a 20ga (esp a 20ga frame) O/U) Actually noticeably less
bas402
Well-Known Member
Thank you very much for some great advise. I really don't plan to compete unless it at my local range, they have a great layout there with 2 courses. As far as the money, I understand completely I have been competing in precision LR & ELR for about 12 yrs and I'm not even going to get into the $$$ I have invested but let's just say "I get it". I reload all my ammo and set up nicely with supplies even shooting 2-4K per yr. I have now retired and will cut my precison matches back cause I can't seem to keep up with the youngsters
. Been lurking around the sporting clays game and it looks like fun. Again much appreciated!
Orange Dust
Well-Known Member
If you want an O/U get one. It won't beat you up if get it fitted properly. If you are going to load your own shoot 7/8oz loads in it. Save on components and shoulders. beg for primers. Crush Birds. Will pattern better than a 20 and kick less in the heavier gun. Both my daughters shoot a 30" gun. I have 30 and 32 and the difference is the 30's are faster and the 32's are smoother. But, it takes a lot of rounds to really feel much difference. If I were you I would get 28 or 30. Then you would have a gun you would also enjoy hunting with. I shot quail with a 30 and it was fine. The cheapest gunI would buy would be a 686 or 687 Beretta Sporter with 30" barrels. In the used market look for a 30" Beretta 682. these will hold up to very high round counts. Just the thing when components become available again, and they will.Thank you very much for some great advise. I really don't plan to compete unless it at my local range, they have a great layout there with 2 courses. As far as the money, I understand completely I have been competing in precision LR & ELR for about 12 yrs and I'm not even going to get into the $$$ I have invested but let's just say "I get it". I reload all my ammo and set up nicely with supplies even shooting 2-4K per yr. I have now retired and will cut my precison matches back cause I can't seem to keep up with the youngsters
Orange Dust
Well-Known Member
You will find that "Keeping up with the kids" is just as tough or tougher in shotgun sports. In their late 20's and early 30's they have better eyes, reflexes, and are well coached. Sometimes us old guys can beat them all. Not usually, but sometimes. Those "Sometimes" make all the extra effort we have to endure totally worth it.Thank you very much for some great advise. I really don't plan to compete unless it at my local range, they have a great layout there with 2 courses. As far as the money, I understand completely I have been competing in precision LR & ELR for about 12 yrs and I'm not even going to get into the $$$ I have invested but let's just say "I get it". I reload all my ammo and set up nicely with supplies even shooting 2-4K per yr. I have now retired and will cut my precison matches back cause I can't seem to keep up with the youngsters
I shot a lot of clay targets with a 20ga and 3/4 ounce loads to save recoil, money (components) and improve my shooting. Tighten the choke up a little and you lose nothing in distance capability to break targets, but you have to be more accurate and especially when the targets are close. I shot a lot with a 12ga before and during also. Orange Dust has given great advice on the gun and training side, and I agree 100% get training and spend what it takes to get a good gun. I've seen a few Citori's/525/625 that were worn slap the (blank) out, round counts under 100K on a couple of them, and some other more expensive guns with several hundred thousand on them get a tune up and keep going with no issues. Back in the days when components and targets were cheap I and a lot of the guys I ran with were shooting 1000 a week on a normal basis. Doesn't take long to wear a gun out. The autoloaders died quickly and in quantity regardless of maker back then LOL.
bas402
Well-Known Member
Not opposed to a good semi for sure. Been looking at the 686 sporting and the 725 Citori with adjustable combs, can't find any decent reviews on the 725 trigger. What about chokes any difference between extended or not? Are the Benelli lines any good. Again I know what it's like to buy once cry once but don't want to overspend getting started that make since?
bas402
Well-Known Member
Agreed that's why I still compete in precision rifle, sometimes the youngsters look at me and say "I hope I'm as good as you when I get older"
bas402
Well-Known Member
Interesting info, thanks!
I use extended chokes exclusively for the very important reason that I can make sure they are tight by hand.... Kidding aside, I also like confirming what choke is installed without having to take it out. If you don't buy the Briley fishing reel handle choke wrench you will regret using non-extended chokes, but they work absolutely well and no reason not to use the factory chokes that come with the gun until you figure out what whizbang in between choke you just have to have LOL. Hastings makes good chokes for the $$, I have about half Briley and half Hastings I would guess.
I shoot every week, I have .410 through 12 Ga, go with a 30"barrel 20 gauge and 12 gauge, they just follow through better and seem to be better balanced. Get a good set of extended chokes (I recommend Briley https://www.briley.com/c-241-briley-replacement-chokes-for-factory-threaded-barrels.aspx) and practice with the lighter loads. I shoot Light Modified and Modified chokes and hit 40 and 50 yard targets consistently with the cheap stuff. Try to find a gun that has been ported, the recoil is negligible even with high brass loads. Auto Loaders are fine but with the cheap loads the gas operated guns are prone to fowling even after just 75 rounds and that is all of them as I have several of those as well. Lessons are a great way to get started and highly recommended, but the way to being good is lots of rounds down the tube, when it becomes instinct its so much fun. Good Luck and shoot with both eyes open and where the clays are flying!!!!
