Shotgun Fitting: Bill Skinner? Bob Day?

[RoFin]

I have an early Beretta A400 Xtreme w/ KO and a Burris Red Dot Sight. When hunting with lead was legal, I called Coyotes with it. It probably never fit, but for Coyotes, up to 50 yards, I was successful.

I shot sporting clays with it a few times for practice. I'm going to put a lot of energy into sporting clays now. I'd like to just go buy a new gun, but it doesn't look like I can go rent guns now-a-days to see what fits.

I'll ditch the red dot, and learn to shotgun correctly. So, I'm looking for opinions on where I should go to get it fitted. I'm in the Inland Empire area.

I also plan to invest in instruction. Open to recommendations on that too.

Thanks

[squeeze]

I have an early Beretta A400 Xtreme w/ KO and a Burris Red Dot Sight. When hunting with lead was legal, I called Coyotes with it. It probably never fit, but for Coyotes, up to 50 yards, I was successful.

I shot sporting clays with it a few times for practice. I'm going to put a lot of energy into sporting clays now. I'd like to just go buy a new gun, but it doesn't look like I can go rent guns now-a-days to see what fits.

I'll ditch the red dot, and learn to shotgun correctly. So, I'm looking for opinions on where I should go to get it fitted. I'm in the Inland Empire area.

I also plan to invest in instruction. Open to recommendations on that too.

Thanks

Why do you want to replace it?
I have the same shotgun; great do it all shotgun.

[Imageview]

Unless you get (or make) custom shims, your options with the a400 are pretty much limited to the drops supplied and switching the cast from off to on if you shoot lefty. You could increase or decrease LOP with pads as well. As long as you aren't super outside average, you should be able to get pretty decent fit trying the two supplied drops and lengthening or shortening it slightly with a new pad if necessary. That might help give you a general idea of rough measurements, although every stock style is different and the measurements don't mean it'll fit the same way.

Pacific Arms isn't that far, and will let you shoulder a bunch of guns at least if you want to make a switch. It's not a full fitting, but they know their shotguns. There was another guy on this forum who recently drove up to the bay from Fresno as coyote clays is renting guns to test out a few different models.

I recently got a Graco buttplate and comb installed on one of my shotguns, will probably talk to an instructor and see if they'll help me get it adjusted a bit. Adjustable hardware seems like an easy way to approach this sort of issue, especially since the gun I wanted (is a combination gun, with a set of double shotgun barrels) didn't have much options for stocks.

[md2020]

I have an early Beretta A400 Xtreme w/ KO and a Burris Red Dot Sight. When hunting with lead was legal, I called Coyotes with it. It probably never fit, but for Coyotes, up to 50 yards, I was successful.

I shot sporting clays with it a few times for practice. I'm going to put a lot of energy into sporting clays now. I'd like to just go buy a new gun, but it doesn't look like I can go rent guns now-a-days to see what fits.

I'll ditch the red dot, and learn to shotgun correctly. So, I'm looking for opinions on where I should go to get it fitted. I'm in the Inland Empire area.

I also plan to invest in instruction. Open to recommendations on that too.

Thanks

Welcome to the sport. I started a little less than a year ago... but I had never owned a shotgun before. I pretty much had the same questions as you.

I think Moore N Moore rents guns. Nobody else, so take a chance and buy a gun in your budget. That's what I did and I ended up with a Browning. I know a little more today than I knew a year ago.

1. This sport isn't cheap. But its worth every penny
2. I've got a browning and a cheap turkish over/under. I also have an inexpensive semi-auto. All of them are reliable. I got them just so I can get a feel for different guns. I like them all.
3. Resale value on Brownings and Beretta is so good you'd loose very little if you bought new. CZ also have a great reputation.
4. You might not know what you like or don't like until you get more experience. I know I'm still learning. I'm almost ready for a professional fitting, but quite not yet.
5. I read a book, looked at some online video and then went shooting. I learn a lot from shooting with experienced guys. Everybody loves to share tips. I have taken a couple of lessons to get an understanding of the basics. Then I just go shooting.

Good luck...

[ysr_racer]

I'm new to the sport too, but I've heard that before you get a gun fit to you, you should take a few lessons to make sure your stance, gun mount, and mechanics are good.

Like I said, total newbie but that's what I heard.

Oh and either Bill or Bob can set you up.

[SoCalPI]

I'm new to the sport too, but I've heard that before you get a gun fit to you, you should take a few lessons to make sure your stance, gun mount, and mechanics are good.

Like I said, total newbie but that's what I heard.

Oh and either Bill or Bob can set you up.

Hope you stick with it. Lol

[RoFin]

Thanks for the advice,

squeeze - I'm not new enough to think I need a real reason for another gun...Really figured I'd end up with an O/U.

Imageview - I went through the shim process when I got the gun home from buying it from Pacific Sporting Arms years ago. Also added the burris Fast Fire with the shims. I'll give them a call, but online their current inventory doesn't include the shotguns I'd like to try.

md2020 - It does look like Moore N Moore is currently renting. Your approach seems very well thought out. I did take one lesson years ago at Raahauges, and got a lot out of it. I'm also watching a lot of videos.

ysr_racer (newbie) - I've always liked your style here. I will take yours and md2020's advice and take some lessons. I expect I'll make the drive to MNM, so I can also rent.