I’ve started shooting sporting clays regularly. Nothing serious, just some informal fun. My shot gun at the moment is a beretta silver pigeon 2, 28 inch barrels fixed 1/4 and 1/2.
Just recently I’ve got it in my head I would like an extra couple of inches ( on my barrels ).
Now do I swap it in for another O/U with longer barrels and multi choke. I quite like the look of the beretta 690 field 3.
Or
Do I keep the silver pigeon and buy a semi auto. I had a Winchester sx3 when they first came out, and got on quite well with it.
What’s the thoughts of the collectives knowledge and experience
Competitive clay shooter so here goes:
Shoot one gun, stop changing.
Lots of US competitors shoot semi's as there is cannot be a mismatch between the two barrels point of impacts which can happen on o/u's. (On all guns no matter how expensive. Been there). Downside is you have to be confident shooting 2 targets with one choke. Most good guys don't change chokes, so not an issue. Some do though, so room for different approaches. Cleaning is a pita compared to o/u. Chuck shells around the place which you need to clean up - a) makes you unpopular b) pita. You may not be universally popular with your fellow shooters as everyone subconsciously relies on the broken gun to feel safe. Personally I don't like being near someone with a semi on a clay ground. Irrational but there you go.
If you want to shoot clays buy a Sporter model not field/game. The wee bit extra weight will help, broader ribs etc. Still works well in the field. Game models less so the other way around.
Only worth making the change if you are going to go 32". No practical difference between 28" and 30".
Everyone goes on about fit, no-one (only the top guys) think about dynamics which actually are more important. You have to adapt to a gun fit to an extent (no such thing as a perfect fit, so buy one with an adjustable rib and get someone to help you set it up) but if you get a gun with poor dynamics for you then it will always be a struggle. So a 6' 6" brute will never control a 26" skeet gun on a long crosser and a 4'11" whimp isn't going to get on very well with a 32" concrete fence post (early DT11's).
Choke - the reality is that once you get to 3/8 there is little difference between any choke to 3/4. It does exist, but it is very small. Husthwaite won the World FITASC shoot off with 1/4 and 1/4. He normally shoots 1/2 and 1/2 but thought the targets were really long and would regret losing if he didn't tighten up to 3/4 3/4. Mixed them up and only found out when packing for the airport! So don't sweat choke, just put the shot in the right place.
Shooting is about confidence and consistency. Pick something you like, don't fiddle with chokes all the time (just read the target) and stick with one gun.
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got a used sx3 camo use it in the mud it loves to get dirty lol
it was the gun I shot best with even on driven days I whacked more pheasant than I do now with my sxs. Must have just fitted better.
