which shotgun?

[SPR18]

i never shot a shotgun b4, i'm going to sign up for skeet and trap shooting class but i need to get a shotgun 1st, which one should i get to learn(barrel length 20" or up) or should i start with 20 gauge or 12 gauge?

[vaqueromuerto]

I recommend a Mossberg 500 with the 2 barrel combo to start out with..Now, a bunch of people on here will say how inferior that choice is because they have nothing better to do with their time..Ok I'll distract them for a minute..Ignore the next statement..Ok who's better Captain Kirk or Captain Piccard?..Ok I got the nerds distracted..Now I have just recently started to shoot trap..I go out there with my Mossberg 500 Big 5 special and I keep pace with the guys with overpriced, inlayed, imported shotguns with choke tubes..My point being is that its the shooter not the shotgun that makes you successful..So in my opinion to start out with a Mossberg 500 12 gauge is the best bang for the buck to start out with in the sport..Think this, I bet you Mark McGuire could still hit a homer with a bat from a garage sale..If you get to a competitive level I think its worth spending the money for a more expensive shotgun..Pick a 12 guage the ammo is more plentiful and from what my reloading boss tells me they have the same amount of powder in a 20 guage shell as the 12 gauge shell..Now I have fired magnum buckshot with my Mossberg 500 and that will jar the fillings out of your teeth..Since I started shooting trap my scores have increased steadily from 8 to 12 to 16 to 18 to 20 on my last outing..I'm still hoping to get 25 like bowling a 300..My advice just get a gun even a used shotgun and just practice, practice, practice..Don't aim the shotgun point it and watch the target not the barrel..And I am partial to Winchester #8 shot ammo but thats my preference I won't knock anyone elses choice..Hope this helped..

[vaqueromuerto]

I'm still laughing that I whoop people with a Big 5 special Mossberg 500 at trap shooting with Wal-Mart value packs of Winchester #8..

[vaqueromuerto]

Yes, but the Mossberg 500 is an all purpose gun..Maybe the guy will lose interest or never go but at least he'll have an all around gun..Thats an awesome collection I'm drooling with envy..But I still stand by what I say..And I don't work for Mossberg..Yes there are a lot of O/U and semi's when I go trap shooting (singles mind you) but momma won't let me spend too much on gun stuff so I got to keep my budget low..I'm just trying to help a new shooter..

[vaqueromuerto]

Kirk got all the women..

[acorn]

I recommend a Mossberg 500 with the 2 barrel combo to start out with..Now, a bunch of people on here will say how inferior that choice is because they have nothing better to do with their time..Ok I'll distract them for a minute..Ignore the next statement..Ok who's better Captain Kirk or Captain Piccard?..Ok I got the nerds distracted..Now I have just recently started to shoot trap..I go out there with my Mossberg 500 Big 5 special and I keep pace with the guys with overpriced, inlayed, imported shotguns with choke tubes..My point being is that its the shooter not the shotgun that makes you successful..So in my opinion to start out with a Mossberg 500 12 gauge is the best bang for the buck to start out with in the sport..Think this, I bet you Mark McGuire could still hit a homer with a bat from a garage sale..If you get to a competitive level I think its worth spending the money for a more expensive shotgun..Pick a 12 guage the ammo is more plentiful and from what my reloading boss tells me they have the same amount of powder in a 20 guage shell as the 12 gauge shell..Now I have fired magnum buckshot with my Mossberg 500 and that will jar the fillings out of your teeth..Since I started shooting trap my scores have increased steadily from 8 to 12 to 16 to 18 to 20 on my last outing..I'm still hoping to get 25 like bowling a 300..My advice just get a gun even a used shotgun and just practice, practice, practice..Don't aim the shotgun point it and watch the target not the barrel..And I am partial to Winchester #8 shot ammo but thats my preference I won't knock anyone elses choice..Hope this helped..

Don't listen to this guy! First I will say the Moss 500 is a great gun but the OP said Skeet and Trap and I'm sure he'll discover Sporting Clays as well. The Mossberg 500 DOES NOT have removable chokes only fixed barrel, this may work for Trap but for Skeet and Sporting clays you will need different chokes. Ideally you want an O/U or a semi auto 28" barrel, removable chokes. If $$ is a factor check out the Mossberg 930's for semi auto's, for O/U's well good luck. Go to Buds Gunshop.com and see Mossberg 930's shipped for under $500.

[SPR18]

rent or borrow first before you buy..

any suggestions form the skeet club where you're taking lessons?

http://www.prgc.net/

[SPR18]

wow.. that was a mouthful for a first post..

smile when you say Kirk..

500 is not a bad choice.. if your set on a pump gun..

I see a lot of auto and O/U when I have a chance to get out to the range..

the two on the left go with me.. the others stay home.

i like the one on the left, what is that?
the range only allow steel and non toxic shell, any cheap suggestion?

[FatalKitty]

Be careful the advice you take from this forum... its easy to sound like an expert on the internet, spouting your limited and personal experience as indisputable fact.

There are guns suited to your desired activity, basically what you shout do is try them out! See what you like for yourself.

[SPR18]

Don't listen to this guy! First I will say the Moss 500 is a great gun but the OP said Skeet and Trap and I'm sure he'll discover Sporting Clays as well. The Mossberg 500 DOES NOT have removable chokes only fixed barrel, this may work for Trap but for Skeet and Sporting clays you will need different chokes. Ideally you want an O/U or a semi auto 28" barrel, removable chokes. If $$ is a factor check out the Mossberg 930's for semi auto's, for O/U's well good luck. Go to Buds Gunshop.com and see Mossberg 930's shipped for under $500.

is any good website i can go learn more about shot gun and skeet and sporting clays and trap, what's all the different, specially different chokes,

[SPR18]

I personally would look at good used (not abused or used up) and go a little higher up the quality scale. In general, Tacticool and HD shotguns are not the best choice for target and hunting use. If you can find a decent O/U, I think that will be the best choice. There are the go to brands Browning/Beretta, but also several lesser know makes, some discontinued, that will give you years of great service. Pumps, I would look at Remington or Benelli, maybe one of the newer "Brownchesters". Autoloaders, I would add Beretta to the list. I am not a fan of Mossbergs. In my experience, they break under sustained use. A target gun gets shot a lot more than a HD gun and you don't have a department armorer looking after it.

Talk to a few guys who have been at the game in a reasonably serious way for awhile (they are easy to spot), tell them your budget and start collecting opinions and looking around. The chances of getting a good gun at a good price are better if you are informed and not in a hurry.

THANKS

[Masterdebater]

Buy mine lol

[BigDogatPlay]

If the OP is going to a formal club for public / open shoot, then it's very possible / probable that there would be club members right there that would be willing to loan you theirs to help you find what fits and to learn. Talk to someone at the club and see what's available to rent or to borrow.

Example... at the club I shoot at the membership secretary runs the public shoot field on Sunday mornings. He always has at least a couple of his own guns there, and they are darned fine, for a noob to try out, and has loaner shell bags and such so that a novice will have the proper gear to shoot and learn safely. Last time I was out I forgot my shell bag at home and borrowed one of his.

I usually always bring at least two guns, and am happy to loan one for a try.

[Thefeeder]

Look like your in the bay area...come down to Pacific Rod and Gun and you can try some different shotguns. Get some Steel #7 shot and come on down some weekend.

drop me a pm .. I shoot there most weekends.

[ChaparralCommando]

Different shotguns will fit your body shape differently, especially depending on the height of your neck. I have shot a Remington, Ruger, Weatherby, and Mossberg and none of them fit me due to the comb being too low. You can put on pads, but they're ugly and not quite the same. That's why I shoot a Browning. You're going to need to handle multiple models and shoot some to know how the fit affects your shooting. If you're just going to be target shooting I'd recommend a 12 ga.