First shotgun advice

[jim37]

Looking for advice on a decent first shotgun I’ve not got a big budget so will more likely be second hand I was looking at a Webley and Scott 1012 (second hand) and all it felt nice just wondering if anyone had any recommendations or advice on the Webley ? Will be mostly for shooting pests around the farm the odd clay day

 

[Will the chippy]

Also look at lanber and Lincoln's. If you can afford new look at ATA and yildiz. Both have great reviews for cheap Turkish shotguns. webley are now made in Turkey too I think.

 

[Heym SR20]

I would go to a gun emporium that knows and understands shotguns, and most importantly can guage whether a gun is a good fit for you.

Little point in trying to speculate what is the best gun for you as have no clue whether you are 5 ft tall and 5ft wide, or are 7ft bean pole.

Best value for money though are boxlock AyAs - you can get a fine hand built gun for £200 or £300.

 

[Sampo]

Try borrowing a few from friends if you can and try them. Based on what I have learnt, most shotguns work just fine if you are a decent shot. I have shot clays and hit them with the same accuracy as my over and under. If I was starting afresh and was looking for a field gun I would get a fairly cheap one without much hassle that you wouldn't mind getting knocked around, getting dirty and wet and can take the abuse. Its a toold and if you treat it that way, you will be fine. Brand names doesn't mean much unless you are talking about it.

A synthetic stock which is semi auto would be my preferred option for pest control which reduces the recoil, a lot lighter and is cheap. It won't win any awards for looks but it will get the job done. If it breaks, get a new one just like any other tool. You could find one under £150 and sometimes a single shot for under £20 or even free if you just want one to get started. Once you form your likes and dislikes, you can always get a second or third or more.

 

[Len the dog]

If looking at S/H then every gunshop across the land is bursting at the seams with used guns and you should be able to get a bargain if you aren't p/x anything. However it pays to know what to look for aside from fit, feel, looks and suitability.
Check the action isn't sloppy about the hinge pin and it closes properly every time, also check the firing pins aren't bent or damaged and that they spring back in without sticking. Take a pair of snap caps, especially if looking at an ejector, fire it onto the caps to make sure everything works as it should and that it ejects both barrels simultaneously and to the same distance across the floor.
Give the rib a tweak along its length to check for any loose soldering and that the top lever spring still has a decent amount of power in it.
Any looseness anywhere, put it back on the rack.
Obviously check the bores are like mirrors, but also check there aren't any dings in the tubes, you'll be able to feel them easy enough if you run your fingers down them.
Look for signs of over zealous oiling, it will have run down the action into the wood and stained it darker where it meets the metalwork, this can weaken the wood over time. Ideally the grain of the stock will be nice and straight along the line of the grip for strength.

 

[Heym SR20]

Looking for advice on a decent first shotgun I’ve not got a big budget so will more likely be second hand I was looking at a Webley and Scott 1012 (second hand) and all it felt nice just wondering if anyone had any recommendations or advice on the Webley ? Will be mostly for shooting pests around the farm the odd clay day

Jim, get yourself across to Graham Mackinlay or down to @Edinburgh Rifles

 

[phildsmith69]

ATA

 

[jim37]

Cheers guys for your advice I never thought it would be this difficult especially sticking to a budget

 

[Liveonce]

Looking for advice on a decent first shotgun I’ve not got a big budget so will more likely be second hand I was looking at a Webley and Scott 1012 (second hand) and all it felt nice just wondering if anyone had any recommendations or advice on the Webley ? Will be mostly for shooting pests around the farm the odd clay day

buyers market plenty of second hand guns for sale, look on guntrader and gunmart.

 

[scoby3030]

As some have said plenty of 2nd hand decent quality guns out there, for me the most important thing is to make sure it comes up nicely and fits you properly, some people can use virtually any gun but the vast vast majority of us can't. My last one i purchased new and the gunsmith checked that it fitted me before i spent my money and took it away, been very happy with it since.

S

 

[gunmandanieltex]

First gun on the cheap - semi auto. They will do everything from hunting to clay busting and a gas gun will get you shooting without too much recoil too. Second gun get an over and under - there are many new turkish guns for very littel money, but you can pick up some real bargains if you are willing to overlook cosmetics - just make sure the lockup is solid and the metal work is free from dents and dings. Also don't be put off fixed chokes on O/U guns most are 1/4-1/2 and to be honest I have not changed mine since I bought it.They are usually a bit cheaper than multichokes. What is most important is the gun fit. Try to get a gun that actually fits you. On a cheap semi get a wood stock - you can alter it much more easily than a synthetic in length of pull by cutting it down and most have shims to shift the cast or drop to suit. Use tape and cardbaord to alter comb height. It might not look all that swish but you will shoot better.
A gun that fits you will mean you look where the gun shoots - look at the target, you're on aim without even trying. Try as many guns as you can to find one that fits you. This is where an expensive gun that's custom made to fit you really makes the difference, but that doesn't mean you can't find or alter a cheaper one yourself to do the same.
The Webley and Scott shotguns usually have better average decent wood on them for the price and the ATA and Yildiz are more than OK especially a new purchase on a reasonable budget , but best bargains are older S/H shoguns from the big three - Browning, Winchester and Berettas. These guns are built to last decades and have steel receivers not alloy ones like some of the turkish guns.

 

[Beretta V]

My personal opinion is to steer away from a semi auto for a first shotgun.
Safety is key and the amount of horror stories is not good.
A good gun shop will advise what fits. Be wary of the shop that wants to sell you the only gun on their shelf in your budget.
Personally I don’t know your budget but there are some great beretta, browning and miroku about.
Also lamber, Betinsoli. The Turkish stuff at low end isn’t great but it’s functional.

 

[Len the dog]

Semi autos are great for in the pigeon hide, but if you plan on visiting a clay ground then you won't win any popularity prizes.

 

[jim37]

I’m not going to name the shop I was in a shop on Friday that the guy behind the counter was trying to sell me a new silver pigeon knowing it was out of my budget he had suggested taking it out on finance multiple times and was pushing for the sale I understand we all need to make money but that put me off . Although a few other shops had been fine one guy had suggested I go to the game fair next weekend as I might get a good deal

 

[Tim.243]

Semi autos are great for in the pigeon hide, but if you plan on visiting a clay ground then you won't win any popularity prizes.

Over the years the most mess from cartridges around hides also on the marsh is from Semi autos as they spew the spent rounds everywhere. Regarding in a hide then if you have 3 the gun it is 3 to unload also if you need 3 shots then go home lol

@jim37

With it being warm there is a good chance you will be in light clothes so less constrictive so all most any gun will come ok so think what it could be like come the winter clothes go on.
Both my Browning's are the same trigger length also a cast on the stocks as I am left handed, the 425 (marsh only gun) is 8oz's heaver as it is a 3" so with ducks tend to be more on a straight line then I do push it a bit harder both 30" multi choke.
Gun fit is important but so is feet position and a consistent mount. Pigeons will turn you inside out all day long and shooting clays is no training ground for them.

 

[Len the dog]

Unloading three cartridges is exactly 50% more work than unloading two cartridges, which is exactly 100% less effort than breaking wind.

 

[Tim.243]

Unloading three cartridges is exactly 50% more work than unloading two cartridges, which is exactly 100% less effort than breaking wind.

Glad you took maths lol However as often the case people swerve the important part to leave out which is clearing up so most spent rounds from an auto go out and over the hide, and are contained in the hide with a OU or SbS
On the marsh (mud) I can cup my hand over the chambers and catch the spent rounds with the Auto (especially) at dusk
they go every where!
As you quoted they are not so clay shoot friendly also not used on game days which a OU or SbS is
That leaves you the magnet stick and a hide...

 

[Len the dog]

If people aren’t going to pick up after themselves, something I abhor, then their choice of shotgun isn’t going to make a great deal of difference.
I use ejectors, SxS and O/U and generally cup my hand when breaking the gun, but in the heat of the action I will just let it eject, if it goes out of the hide it gets picked up later.

The point I was making however is that for someone unfamiliar with shotguns, a semi auto is not generally liked on clay grounds.

 

[Tim.243]

If people aren’t going to pick up after themselves, something I abhor, then their choice of shotgun isn’t going to make a great deal of difference.
I use ejectors, SxS and O/U and generally cup my hand when breaking the gun, but in the heat of the action I will just let it eject, if it goes out of the hide it gets picked up later.

The point I was making however is that for someone unfamiliar with shotguns, a semi auto is not generally liked on clay grounds.

I never said not pick up the shells (your words) I said with an auto there will be a great deal of the spent rounds out side a hide more than with a ou or sbs...

 

[viking90]

I picked up my Benelli SBE2 a few years ago for about 800 and its the best shotgun (including boring over and unders) I've ever owned, if your budget can stretch that far I'd highly recommend. That's had 3 1/2" BB mammoths through it for geese down to 27gram clay loads. 21 gram loads don't have the punch to cycle it. Winchester SX3 is a good shotgun around the 500 quid mark or if you want really cheap and reliable you can have a Baikal MP153 for about 250 (I'm looking for a synthetic one myself). Hatsan are hit and miss, it was only yesterday I was welding up hatsan pump action parts for a mate so we could go clay shooting lol