Please recommend an over/under shotgun...

[bsumoba]

Im totally new to the shotgun world, but I think I want to have a nice over/under shotgun for clay shooting.

Budget is $700-$1400, but if there is something really nice just outside this number then im open.

12 gauge, and from what I hear 26-30" is what I want to be around as far as length.

[ysr_racer]

Get a good used Browning or Beretta with a 30" barrel, and call it a day.

[anti]

Get a good used Browning or Beretta with a 30" barrel, and call it a day.

Best advice you're going to get unless somebody really hooks you up with a great deal. 30" is the best for most. I shoot a 34" top-single Ljutic for trap and 32" Citori XS Special for skeet and I'm a smaller/average-sized guy. Most people my size don't like barrels that long but they work for me because they help me swing-through and keep the gun moving. Most prefer doubles guns that are 30" - 32" for trap and 28" - 30" for skeet. Sporting guys seem to like 30" - 32" and sometimes 34".

For $1400 I'd look for a Citori or 682. Now, people are going to tell you to just buy a sporting gun so you can shoot everything but I can almost guarantee you're going to discover you enjoy one of the games over the rest and you're going to regret NOT buying a game-specific gun. Not saying you can't have fun with an all-around gun, but having the 'right tool' for the job makes it that much more enjoyable, if you know what I mean. I would advise borrowing or demoing some guns to see what you like first. Quality double guns are NOT cheap. You will see the Browning and Beretta are quite different. The Browning is beefier than the Beretta and balances differently.

[ysr_racer]

Triple B Clays is located in El Monte off of the 60 near the 605. They have a 24 station flat course, in a heavily treed setting. There are 12 hunter stations and 12 tournament stations, most have A, B & C shooting position. Most of their stations have three or four machines presenting a good variety of target presentations. Their monthly registered shoot is on the first Sunday of the month. http://www.triplebclays.com and the home of this year's CA State Sporting Clays Championship June 19 - 22.

http://www.raahauges.com/

Moore-N-Moorehttp://www.moorenmoore.com

Oak Tree is located in Newhall off of the 5 near the 14. They have some of the most spectacular views on a sporting clays course anywhere in America. http://www.oaktreegunclub.com/ (Call before going)

Prado Olympic Shooting Park is located in Chino off of the 71 near the 91. They offer trap, skeet & 5-stand. http://www.shootprado.com/

http://www.ysr-racer.com

[VictorFranko]

Selling my Browning Citoris (12 ga. and .410) is one of my bigger regrets in my involvement in firearms

[Novak77]

My hunting partner uses a Citoris for upland and we actually just shared a goose pit with a guy who was using a Citoris.

They are damn fine shotguns and I believe they are right inn your price range.

[SoCalPI]

My friends and I are always willing to help a beginner out. Between us we've got a good selection of guns, so if you're in town or just visiting, drop me a line.

Sporting Clays in the Los Angeles area:

Say what you want about So. Cal. We’ve got restrictive gun laws, we’ve got earthquakes, we’ve got wildfires, we've got 4 Sporting Clays ranges in the Los Angeles area.

Each of them holds their monthly registered shoot on a different weekend. Each of them has something different to offer, all are fun to shoot, and all are open to the public.

Triple B Clays is located in El Monte off of the 60 near the 605. They have a 24 station flat course, in a heavily treed setting. There are 12 hunter stations and 12 tournament stations, most have A, B & C shooting position. Most of their stations have three or four machines presenting a good variety of target presentations. Their monthly registered shoot is on the first Sunday of the month. http://www.triplebclays.com and the home of this year's CA State Sporting Clays Championship June 19 - 22.

Raahauge’s is located in Corona off of the 91 between the 71 and the 15. It’s a semi-flat course set in the Prado flood plane. They keep adding new stations and new machines all the time. I think they're up to about 25 by now. Their monthly registered shoot is on the second Sunday of the month. Mike has passed away, but the range is still going strong. http://www.raahauges.com/

Moore-N-Moore is located in San Fernando off of the 210 near the 118. It’s a great course with hills and valleys in the San Gabriel Mtn foothills. They have 12 stations, 10 of them have A & B shooting positions. They really are “The friendliest range in southern California”. They hold their monthly registered shoot on the third Saturday of the month. http://www.moorenmoore.com

Oak Tree is located in Newhall off of the 5 near the 14. They have some of the most spectacular views on a sporting clays course anywhere in America. http://www.oaktreegunclub.com/ (Call before going)

Prado Olympic Shooting Park is located in Chino off of the 71 near the 91. They offer trap, skeet & 5-stand. http://www.shootprado.com/

All of these places offer public shooting so don’t wait until they hold their monthly shoots. Contact the clubs directly for more information.

If you live in Los Angeles and you can’t find a place to shoot, you’re not looking hard enough.

Here’s a link to my website. I’ve got pictures & reviews of the clubs:

http://www.ysr-racer.com

+ 100 to this, great advice. Some (haven't been to all of them) will rent you guns to try out. But take ysr_racer up on his offer to meet up, you'll learn a lot.

[dune870demon]

+1 to Prado and Raahauges, moore n moore I believe is private isnt it? And these boys speak the truth. Browning citori, make em in about any configuration you want. I have two and working on getting a third...

[ysr_racer]

moore n moore I believe is private isnt it? ..

No, all the clubs I've listed are open to the public. If it stops raining I'll be at Raahauge's tomorrow

[003]

Take a serious look at the new Ruger Red Label, I have one of the old originals in 20 gage and it is first rate in all respects. Great for dove, and great on the skeet range. Based on everything I have read about the new one, it should make an excellent first all around shotgun.

http://www.ruger.com/products/redLabel/index.html

[wweigle]

I have a Browing Citori and my cousin has a Beretta 686, both 12 gauges. They fit different, similar, but different. I preferred the fit and safety design of the Citori, My cousin who is definitely built different than I am preferred the Beretta. They are both great guns, along with several other in the market. Try to hit a few gun shops that carry several lines if you can. After you have handled a few, I think when you pickup the gun that fits you best out of the bunch, you will know it. Even if you hate shopping like I do, shopping for a new shotgun would not be a chore in my book. Good luck

[RedFord150]

Beretta, Browning, or Ruger.
Find the one that fits you best and buy it.
If you are near Azusa, visit Pacific Sporting Arms and talk to John, the owner. He will find the best fit for you and he can probably answer any question you can think of.
I bought my Beretta O/U from him several years ago. He picked out a model I did not know existed. Perfect fit, no mods.
Your local range will also have a Pro Shop that should be able too help you with fit.

[RNE228]

Any ranges/clubs around you that rent? Try before buy...

[bsumoba]

there are a couple places. I will definitely have to try before I buy.

I looked at the beretta's and citori's and some are in my price range. most are in the $1700+ range though

[dune870demon]

Any ranges/clubs around you that rent? Try before buy...

Trible B's or Triple Clays(same place) in El Monte, they have a good selection for rentals i believe. or go to the local range find someone with the gun you are looking at and pay them rent, Ive seen a few guys do that. usually they are cool with it.