My brother, who lives in Walnut Creek, California, would like to buy a used O/U for his son and has asked for suggestions. Being in France I'm not really in a position to guide him to the best way to find a used shotgun. Can any of you suggest a good approach? Web sites? Specialized magazines? My brother doesn't know a lot about firearms, but he would like to encourage his son to take up a shooting sport. He would like find a used Browning or Beretta over and under in a sporting clays version if possible. Thanks for your assistance.

Wink:

I think that perhaps one reason you have not seen any replies is because the question is so general. How old is the son? What is the O/U to be used for? (use in a "shooting sport" offers some guidance -but there is a world of difference between a trap vs skeet gun -or even a clays shotgun. Why an O/U at all? I appreciate that your brother probably doesn't know too much about an O/U and wants your advice but wouldn't a trip to a reputable gun shop (on a Saturday morning when all the "experts" are hanging out) help?

My nephew is 21 years old, wants to learn sporting clays. Since I shoot clays myself I have offered my opinions to him on gun selection, what I'm not sure about advising is just how to go about searching for the right gun (since it seems the new gun prices are a little high for him yet). I have told him about gunbroker, but perhaps there are other places to check in the USA as well?

Wink, I hesitated to respond earlier. My two cents is that you should find out more about his interests. Sporting Clays is now a "game" (IMHO) in the worst sense, with people changing chokes on every station etc. etc. Thus a Browning or Beretta in sporting clays configuration will probably mean big bucks. Others can chime in here. SC is also expensive to shoot. Has he tried skeet or trap? That might be a good way of seeing his interests. Some of the presentations in SC can be "unique" to say the least!
Peter.

Wink:

I'm kind of doubtful about a new shooter starting off on Shooting Clays. I think that's what Peter was indicating (about considering trap or skeet) I agree with him and think that a beginner should be learning the fundamentals of shooting a shotgun. Shooting Clays can have some stations that can be discouraging to experienced wing shooters as I'm sure you know! and would rapidly discourage a beginner. As to whether trap or skeet, he can try both, of course, and it really depends on what the atmossphere is at the range. (I've shot trap with some people who were very intolerant of a beginner even if it was a "pick up" squad -and skeet does allow shooters not on station to fire to kind of group together and socialize -useful for a beginner to be able to ask questions. I loved trap and certainly knew many shooters who would have been glad to advise a beginner and if one guy stands behind him and follows him through, can give useful advice. If money is not a factor, the Orvis Wing Schools are great,too, for giving a beginner a solid foundation and even a big leap forward in the "art" of wing shooting.

I'm with the other guys about not jumping into sporting clays. There's too much variation to just step into that game. With trap and skeet, you have an idea of what you're getting and then you know what you have to do. Then it's just a matter of making yourself better. After he gets proficient with a shotgun, then he can pick the game he likes best. However, here in America, if you shoot skeet you are required to shop at the Banana Republic and buy pink shirts, skirts, and clothing items of that nature.

PS-
I'm a trapshooter and work at a sporting clays range.

quote:

here in America, if you shoot skeet you are required to shop at the Banana Republic and buy pink shirts, skirts, and clothing items of that nature

Jeez, Justin, you sure know how to hurt a guy! The other nice thing about skeet (which I shoot!!!) is that it may be possible to shoot (by yourself) 25 birds, "out of sequence" ie. shoot the easy stations first, get an idea about leads, swing follow through etc. and thus learn the game easier. Just a thought. Some clubs may be so busy that they won't let you do this.
Peter.

Peter:

Even though I usually shot trap (by preference and don't ask me why) I think you're very right about a beginner being able to pick up on fundamentals of lead much better with skeet. (Like many trap shooters I did learn to "read the machine") Now, having complimented your good advice I must now ask if you don't remember the old saying: " Trap looks easy -and is difficult. Skeet looks difficult - and is easy". (Just kidding. Skeet always gave me problems, the relatively few times I tried it)

All comments have been noted, and I agree with them. But first step is to get a shotgun in his hands. If he justifies it by aiming for SC then so much the better (he probably doesn't yet know the difference between skeet, trap and SC anyway). The SC models are good all-around shotguns so he can use if for whatever he wants afterword. I started shooting trap with a single barrel 16 gauge bought at Montgomery Ward, full choke, one brass bead on the front of the barrel, no ventilated rib or other "must have" features. No recoil pad either I might add. I still learned to hit.

Some time back I bought a Rem 1100 in 20 ga. (black stock) from WalMart pretty cheaply. Bought a skeet choke for it. It shoots very well.
Peter

Wink - Peter

Hate to be like a terrier worrying a rat, (I know, lousy example) but I keep coming back to "How does he learn fundamentals?" All three of us apparently did it by trial and error with our shotguns - but shouldn't we be able to spare the young man wasted hours with the wrong shotgun -and that his poor shooting (because the shotgun is wrong itself) can be corrected to some extent by what he should be learning with? I honestly think that he should be advised specifically about what to get for his first shotgun. Here's my contribution - Since the apparent choices are trap,skeet and clays, that means a single barrel shotgun. (I have given up trying to persuade people nowadays that the sxs ,known as a DB in my youth -when dinosaurs roamed the earth works as well -"The "single sighting plane" propaganda has conquered all) The gauge should be the 12 and bbl length should be 28". There, I have set out the standard for the young man! It's alright, no need to thank me. Glad to help.

I know the comments about skeet were a little harsh, but all in fun. I've even been known to get in touch with my feminine side (AKA shot some skeet!). But what you guys are saying about learning fundamentals can be learned easier on a skeet field, if he's shooting sporting clays and skeet or getting ready for hunting. However, if he wants to compete, especially being a younger guy that probably doesn't have a TON of money to spend, trap is about the best game to get into. It may be different, but around here, you can shoot trap 7 days a week if you want. Not that many sporting clays or skeet ranges around and sporting clays is really expensive, even if you're just shooting practice more than once a week. Skeet is about the same expense as trapshooting (from what I gather, anyway), but again, not as many registered shoots to go to (if that's the route he wants to go). Obviously I enjoy trapshooting more, but these are some of the reasons I shoot it. I gave sporting clays a shot this summer, even traded a trap gun in for a sporting clays gun. Tried it and even got fairly proficient at it. I couldn't believe the money I was blowing compared to trap and I was just shooting practice! Not to mention, most places when you go, you get to a station and you get 4, 6, or 8 shots at 2 different targets. When you're getting started shooting a shotgun, it might take you a few more than that to learn how to break that target (or maybe I should say become proficient at seeing what you have to do to break targets of varying presentations). When he gets the hang of trapshooting or skeet, then maybe sporting clays would be OK to try, but stick with the other 2 games first. That's what I'm trying to say.

As to which gun he should get, I don't know if an O/U would be the best, I really like the Beretta semis as good guns for people to start out with. Not a lot of money, and we all know we don't generally stay with a gun for very long. Then, he has a cheaper gun to start with, after he gets a little experience he can try some different guns (probably O/Us) and then make a decision on what HE likes himself. How's that?