School me on shotguns!

[ScramblerX]

can someone school me on shotguns? or send a link?
I have a side-by-side which is my only 12 gauge experience and i am thinking of getting a more modern design. I see some have several chokes, what does this refer too?
what are some of the more popular reliable models in the 4-800 buck range.
Any quality semi's in that range?

[shovelon]

Shoot the crap out of the shotgun you have and visit the gun club. If you join a skeet game, and shoot the breeze, the oldtimers may even let you give their guns a try. That's what I did.

Found out I LOVE skeet and sporting clays.

[AAShooter]

Here is a good article on chokes . . .

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPage?storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&&mode=article&objectID=33771&subcatID=0

As far as quality semi-auto, at the price range you are considering will get a good used semi-auto. I would look at a something like a Remington 1100 to get an idea of what a new one would run.

Of course, you could get a nice pump-action shotgun for the price range you are considering. For example, a Remington 870 Wingmaster.

[ysr_racer]

Can we make an article on chokes, a sticky? I know it gets asked a lot.

Most clay games can be shot with anything from skeet (SK - wide open) to modified (Mod - tighter pattern)

[stevec223]

yep

dont buy a shotgun that dosent have removeable choke tubes....you will need the options they provide for a all around gun....rem 11-87 or win sx3 are my choices... and my .02....cheers...

[lewdogg21]

Regardless of what you buy get a used semi-auto. You will save a ton.

[stphnman20]

What is the purpose for the shotgun? HD? Trap? Skeet?