New game gun should I buy or stick with current

[Kersnow]

Have been pondering buying a new gun for a while, am recently retired and my limp sum is itching to be spent!

However, with all of the changes that are going to occur some time in the next six years or so is there any point in investing a reasonable amount in a new gun.

Am thing of sending £8k plus what ever I get trade in for a good quality 12 or 20 to be used for clays, pigeons, inland geese and a few trips to the coast.

Should I stick with my current Beretta 690-3 or upgrade? TIA

 

[Rasputin]

Iv never bought a new gun and been unhappy. Just saying….!

 

[Stalker62]

Should I stick with my current Beretta 690-3 or upgrade? TIA

Stick with what you have.

Spend the rest on a 'spell checker app', wine, women (fill in any alternative that floats your boat) and song.

 

[Beretta V]

I wouldn’t spend that amount on a gun that might go on a marsh! I would have a few guns

 

[8x57]

I wouldn’t spend that amount on a gun that might go on a marsh! I would have a few guns

Too true, get an old Baikal or a Mossberg for the shore.

 

[Bowland blades]

that amount on a gun you might use on foreshore geese ? most new guns are steel proofed now and truth be told many older ones will pass superior steel proof.

 

[Heym SR20]

The sort of sum you are thinking about will get you a very nice made for you Rizzini, Chapuis, Verny Carron etc.

I know that @Pine Marten recently had a side by side built for him and is very pleased with the result.

An alternative may be to find a decent English / Scottish gun with thin barrels and have it sleeved with modern tubes and then stocked to your dimensions.

I would be doing this because you want to. I would not be doing it because you feel forced by impending ban on lead shot.

There are already a number of good steel alternatives that work in any shotgun in good order proofed post 1954 and not tightly choked.

But if your current gun fits you, you love it and it shoots well, £8,000 will perhaps be better spent on going on a few adventures.

 

[martin_b]

I was in a similar situation a few years ago, decided I wanted a nice gun for my 60th.. Howerever I rapidly came to the conclusion that no such thing as "one gun fits all." I invested the majority of the money on a Perazzi for my first love trap shooting, then got a 16b O/U for walked up game shooting and a bit of sporting, Kept the semi auto for the beach, got a spanish S/S in the hope I get invited out on a posh day. now after a 16B Hammer, just because i like them, and a single barrel trap gun.. You see how it can escalate

 

[sir-lamp-alot]

Only you can know your finacial situation and know if you can afford £8k so that bits down to you other than that I think working your whole life and then buying yourself a nice present at the end to enjoy isnt exactly "taking the urine"

 

[The Singing Stalker]

If you really must spend a pile of money on a new toy then go for it. But you said the word, upgrade, is it really an upgrade? What benefits will spending all that money bring? Don’t get me wrong, if it floats your boat then go for it. But here is the thing I always look at when spending money on a rifle or shottie, WILL IT FIT. you see I am not Mr average, so every rifle out there that comes along I need to consider the extra price of a stock made to fit, so no point in buying something with grade 1 wood because I will have to take it off and replace it.

here’s an idea…. What about getting your shottie fitted, if not already done, your hit rate will increase significantly on that alone. Or, go spend some money getting lessons, if you haven’t done so already.
I remember an archery bloke giving advise to a newbie. He said, when you can group the arrows in the target regularly in a small group, then you can consider buying the all singing all dancing bow with the counterbalance weights.

So something to consider, are you a good enough shot that spending all that money will be a benefit? Or do you just want to tell everyone how much it cost, so it must be good.
For The record I am a complete tightwad and wouldn’t even contemplate spending that sort of money. I’m still trying to figure out how to skin a fart so you may wish to completely ignore me.

 

[Magnificent 7]

I upgraded last year to a miroku MK11 and love it get it spent but a lot can be had for less than 7k

 

[Robs]

Made the biggest mistake of my shooting life. Had a Berettta 682 for upwards of 30 years. Loved it, then it started with trigger issues. Bought a new Beretta to replace it. Stupid, still trying to get another 682 sporter, beaver tail forend, LH with silver finish. If you shoot well with it don't sell it.

 

[Utectok]

Bought myself a perazzi mx20 a few years back no regrets probably just about work for steel too. It’s pretty battered now and worth half what I paid for it but it shoots as well as I do and I did get it checked for fit. Go for it I say?

 

[Rhodesianjess]

In my job as professional keeper, I see a lot of different guns in use. Just because people spend a lot of money on them doesn't reflect their performance with them!
Looked at a Longthorne just last week on a clayshoot. Quarter of cost was stock alone, superb grade walnut though. Bearing in mind that it a bespoke weapon,the owner didn't perform too well with it.
I was highest scoring gun in our team of eight, using my Nikko skeet gun. Forty years old ISH,cost me £350 twenty plus years ago.
Shoot with a gun that suits you on the day. Clays,game, foreshore requirements different IMO.
Fancy stocks and expensive engraving don't put birds on the ground.

 

[6pt-sika]

Bought myself a perazzi mx20 a few years back no regrets probably just about work for steel too. It’s pretty battered now and worth half what I paid for it but it shoots as well as I do and I did get it checked for fit. Go for it I say?

I have a buddy that has a MX20 30” and an MX28 32” they both are a delight to shoot .

 

[User00033]

Just follow Del Boy’s advice, go see Iggy Iggins. Then, shoot like a pro.

 

[6pt-sika]

It’s no great secret I shoot SxS’s almost exclusively now . However I’ve always had a deep affection for the K-32/K-80 guns and the predecessor Remington 32 having had several . Kinda miss them and from time to time look around for a nice slightly used K-80 , but as much as I miss them I know now it probably wouldn’t be used much . Still I keep looking

 

[Utectok]

I have to agree though in truth my old 30yr berreta shoots just as well as my perazzi but nice to use nice things. Berreta is at home on the foreshore these days and onto it’s third stock and second hinge pin lol

 

[Malxwal]

I have a lovely Browning Crown 30" 20b m/c, steel proofed, that was purchased brand new in February and hasn't been fired. Will leave you £4k to spend on hookers and coke

 

[HandB]

In terms of the mechanical process of hitting clays in my experience most guns from reputable manufacturers will do a decent job for an amateur level shooter, provided the shooter avoids technique errors. But a gun that gives you a buzz to own is much more personal whether that is due to the wood, engraving, handling etc. So treat yourself to a new gun that gives you a buzz to own and then shoot the pants off it. If I ever became wealthy that would be a Longthorne.