I went trap shooting today for the first time at the Pinebelt Sportsman Club in Shamong, NJ. What a blast! I was using a 20 gauge shotgun and hit 6/25 and 9/25 in my first 2 rounds. Quite frankly, it was better than I anticipated lol.

 

My question is, what is a reasonably priced good shotgun for a beginner?

For clay sports, an over under cant be beat. Easier to clean than an auto, less complex than both pump and auto, with a single trigger they are actually faster than an auto, you can have 2 different chokes on at once and select between them, will never jam, dont throw the shells on the ground or onto the shooter next to you, oh yeah, and they are awesome looking lol. You will never be presented more than 2 clays at once so you are not disadvantaged there. Avoid: mossberg, stoeger, and ruger over unders. Best bang for the buck is CZ. Brownings are next in line with the Citori and Cynergy. Caliber is up to you, but if you can handle a 12 you may as well use one. You can always get a tube set to shoot subgauge if you so desire, or download 12ga to subgauge specs.

Thanks, Glenn. I'll do a little research.

Just a word of warning... Shoot an over/under before buying one. I shot Glenn's high-end Browning and hated it. YMMV.

Don't discount a good SxS that fits you well either! CZ makes both 12's & 20's with & without exposed hammers (old style). Beretta makes a nice gun too. Some of the older ones have choked bores so watch for that. The newer ones all have choke tubes. Gun fit is the most important thing with a shotty. What is looks like or who makes it is secondary. I have a 12 ga. Winchester pump that the Boss bought me with S&H Greenstamps about 28 years ago. I can just about hit anything with it, including side matches at Knockdown Steel, LOL!

 

Dave

I use a Remmington 1100 I bought from Tim on here. Broke 11 on the first round, 15 the next after I was told to shoot sooner! I am stuck between 19 and 21 right now most of the time. It's an addictive sport.

 

I bought my wife an 870 pump, broke 23 with that one.

 

It is a LOT of fun! I put a $14 clip on my 1100 to stop the shells from hitting the people next to me. The wifes 870 is simple, just open the action easily and catch the shell in your hand.

 

Both these guns are 12 gauge and neither bother me too shoot. Have done 6 rounds in a row, my legs get tired from standing for so long, but the shoulder was just fine.

 

By the way, bought both guns used, have less than $1200 into the pair.

870 express would do fine for trap but I found sleet much more exciting personally then you might need a semi or a o/u or s/s. I got a 12 gauge o/u mossy I could part with

Best bang for the buck is CZ.

 

Glenn, the Turkish CZ's have a good rep? I know the BRNO did, but they are $$$.

Glenn, the Turkish CZ's have a good rep? I know the BRNO did, but they are $$$.

 

 

Yep!