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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 11
Boxlock
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OP
Boxlock
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 11 |
Hi Guys,
I'm a newby looking to get into skeet and clay. I live in Australia and I'm looking for a practical and appropriate gun for the purpose not sure which one so I'm looking for some advice from you regular skeet and clay shooters out there. Due to our laws I cant use semi-auto or pumps like you guys use in the states.
Thanks Barret
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 465 Likes: 13
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 465 Likes: 13 |
My advice would be to find a local club where you will shoot - and go and socialise and with luck you will be able to try a few guns, see what the locals use, learn about gun fit, master eye etc - and I've no doubt you will get LOTS of opinions. Some clubs have either a resident (or honorary) coach who may be able to help. Maybe take a few lessons. Find out which local dealers are well rated and respected by the club members. Club members in the UK are usually a sociable lot and keen to help.
Then, armed with that, go to the recommended gun dealers with a budget in mind - and see what they have to offer in your price range. Don't rule out second hand as guns don't usually 'wear out' if you stick to the better known and respected names such as Beretta, Browing, Miroku etc. MAKE SURE that you get a gun that fits you - a good dealer will be honest and helpful over this, but its quite hard to get just right with a beginner whose gun mounting is not consistent and developed. Here some dealers either have a pattern plate - or access to a clays ground and will give a trial to serious buyers. Such dealers are worth seeking out for a beginner in my view.
If you go for an unknown name, you will (a) have more trouble reselling when you come to upgrade, and (b) have more trouble getting repairs should you have any problem. I would personally prefer a used 'known name' over a new 'low grade' and stick to the popular names (they got popular by being good).
Most likely gun would be an over/under, 28" or 30" barrels, single trigger with multi chokes. If you go fixed choke, and want to shoot skeet and sporting I wouldn't go for more than say 1/4 choke in either barrel. In the UK, 12 bore would be the most plentiful.
Having said all that, I'm in a minority - and shoot a side by side at clays much of the time - and if you want to do that, the Spanish guns from AyA, etc can be very good value and are sound guns.
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 11
Boxlock
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OP
Boxlock
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 11 |
Thanks for your advice John, I'll take that and run with it! Sounds like good sound advice to me.........
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 268 Likes: 4
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 268 Likes: 4 |
Everything that John said.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,553
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,553 |
Barret,
Do you fancy an O/U or are you a sxs freak?.
Into vintage guns , or new?.
A nice vintage sxs gun of good weight n fit could serve well for your forays into these sports...& also be a treasure to own & use... but I'm biased :), how much is in the piggy bank?
cheers
franc
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021 |
How 'deep' are you getting into this? If you're going to shoot competitively then look at the over/unders as a lot of them today are built for this kind of shooting. Most of your side by sides were and are built to hunt. A dedicated skeet/clays gun is a completely different animal. And, most of these guys here will tell you that you need a side by side for everything. Are you digging a hole to plant a tree then you'll need a side by side, working on your car, then you'll need a side by side, fixing the door to your garage then you'll need to buy a side by side first. 
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12 |
--- most of these guys here will tell you that you need a side by side for everything. Are you digging a hole to plant a tree then you'll need a side by side, working on your car, then you'll need a side by side, fixing the door to your garage then you'll need to buy a side by side first. The above is, of course, quite true. Equally, you will need a different SXS for each of the mentioned activities as well as for shooting. 
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 11
Boxlock
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OP
Boxlock
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 11 |
Well it is true that I do have one hell of a soft spot for fine English sxs's like Boswell, WW Greener, Hollis and so on but I was kind of thinking a brand new O/U like a Franchi Harrier for fear of blowing too many rounds through a beautiful old sxs and trashing something nice like that would be such a waste, but by the same token to own something like that and not using it would also be sacrilege. The main motivation behind buying a new Franchi is the very real fact that my wallet won't allow me to own something like that just yet😃😝☺
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021 |
--- most of these guys here will tell you that you need a side by side for everything. Are you digging a hole to plant a tree then you'll need a side by side, working on your car, then you'll need a side by side, fixing the door to your garage then you'll need to buy a side by side first. The above is, of course, quite true. Equally, you will need a different SXS for each of the mentioned activities as well as for shooting. Isn't that the truth Rocket.....Isn't that the truth!!!!
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 267
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 267 |
The answer depends on whether you shoot for fun or to win. I
shoot sxs guns at skeet and sporting and have occasionly won something in years past. These days I use an o/u for all tournaments but no longer compete in skeet.
Danc AA 3 punches, SSV [76]
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