Semi auto for clays

Can anyone recommend a semi auto for sporting clays and skeet. Mainly as a 2nd gun to the O/U and for really bad weather use.

Thanks

Hi, you won’t go wrong with any of the beretta range from the 301 to to A400, the Remington 1100 sporting clays are also good. Avoid all the Turkish stuff if you want reliability and want it to last.

Remember that a 28 in auto feels like a 30 o/u as the action is that much longer.

hope this helps, skin

Forget the expensive stuff and go for the Turkish.

Nothing wrong with the guns coming out of Turkey at the moment and they have fantastic warranties and parts back in up if needed from Edgar Bros.

Any of the Hatsan range, cheap, cheerful easy to keep clean, strip and re assemble.

Absolutely no reliability issues whatsoever as long as they are kept clean. They recycle anything from 24gram to 66gram, and have virtually no recoil. Mine recycles 21gram but apparently that's an exception. Best used with cartridges of 70mm.

They also look smart enough not to be embarrassed with the cheapness if that worries you.

A few pictures of what to expect, mine was 2nd hand. They also come in black or camo if that's your thing.

About a third of the price of a bretta.







I use mine as a rough gun

Look no further than a Remington 1100/1187. The competition model is even better with an ISIS damper and adjustable comb. More skeet titles have been won worldwide with these than any other semi automatic. Failing that the Beretta AL390/391 has a good reputation.

I too would avoid the Turkish guns. They're built to a price. That's fine if it's to be used for the odd days rough or clay shooting but that's all. You'd probably find a good used 1100/1187 for similar money as a new Hatsan anyway.

If you really want a challenge try a Beretta UGB Excel. Super rare, super troublesome but strangely quite collectable nowadays.

In the affordable bracket I would look no further than Beretta. Any auto  with the Beretta name on it will do the job. Unless obviously  knackered. Although even then they can surprisinhly reliable. 28" Barrels. 26" for skeet. 

Browning B80. (Basically a beretta) 

There are other good later models from benelli,  browning or Winchester but may not be in second gun, bad weather budget range. 

I can't comment on other makes as I never had them but I have shot a lot of clays (auto shoots and as my 2nd gun)  with my Beretta AL391 Teknys Sporting and wouldn't hesitate in recommending one for clays.

Thanks for the replies, looks like Beretta is a firm favourite. I'll have to do some research

Just buy a used, good condition Beretta 303. Easy to clean, will work in all weathers, shoots most ammo from 24 gram upwards, plenty of after market chokes readily available, oh, and you will not need the warranty that is given with other guns either  ! I use a 303 for clays and have just rebuilt a scrap 300, which is a rough knockabout gun. Parts (mainly new springs) are also readily available.  I have owned and used just about every Beretta auto model there is, with the exception of the latest 300 or the 400. I now just keep the 300 and 303, just for their ease of cleaning and reliability. 

My first Beretta auto was a brand new 301 with the drop in chokes, back in 1970 something.

Interesting, thanks

Hope you take note of the replies above, a used beretta is head and shoulders above any new Hatsan all day long.

good luck, skin

Quick question 

Is the Beretta Outlander similar to the 303 or would a more dedicated clay shooting model be better?

AW13 said:

Quick question 

Is the Beretta Outlander similar to the 303 or would a more dedicated clay shooting model be better?

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The A300 Outlander is Beretta's entry level semi-auto, without the bells and whistles of the A400 series. There are also anecdotal reports from US shooters that the A300  does not stand up well to getting wet, with numerous people writing about rust in the action and springs. 

The basic A400 does not cost much more than the A300, and it seems to be the better gun. If I remember correctly, there should be a shim kit included with both models that will allow some limited stock adjustment to be more or less suited to you. I would however not shy away from a used A300 at a great price. 

The major benefit of the Beretta is that the gas system is highly tolerant of ammunition choices and has a lower perceived recoil. It should cycle even the lightest 24gr loads. 

I am beretta through and through but I did drop into the dark side a short while ago and bought one of the cheap Turkish semi autos. I shot one round of a 100 sporting and promptly got rid.

But you don't say why :dontknow:

Semi auto shoots. There aren't many. One at Northampton, one at AGL that I am aware of. The one at AGL requires you to be shooting a Beretta, Benelli, Franchi or Stoeger IIRC. That should be taken into consideration.

ColinD said:

But you don't say why :dontknow:

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Because it would have taken a magician to get it anywhere near a decent fit it jammed on 28 grams and the trigger pills were of Herculean proportions which there was no adjustment . It was £400  new dump it for £200! Then bought a beretta which works faultlessly and on first try shot 24ex 25 on sleet and only a £100 more than the Turkish sh*te

I don't think any group of people will ever agree on what's right and wrong for someone else. 

Whilst I very much agree that Beretta is an excellent gun it's not for me at this moment, that's not to say in a year or so as my body and eyesight change it might be.

Hatsan for a semi is my choice  Miroku MK38 Sporter for OU.

Its very much what suits an individual.

My son likes a Franchi semi a Miroku MK70 game for everything else.

We're both different sizes and shoot the same but different if that makes sense. What I find easy he struggles on and vice versa.

Each individual should try a range of guns for fit and if possible try firing them first before purchase. Nothing like lead in the air to find out if it suits.

As for quality, everything new is built to a price now rather than quality. 

I have been massively re-thinking my options.   

I have a B725 Black Edition for sporting most of the time.

For bad weather I shoot a Franchi Affinity -  took it out yesterday and shot really well with it.

I also have a lightweight Benelli semi with very pretty inlays and grade 3 wood -  this is the gun I will probably change.  It shoots really well but is very light, about 6 1/2 pound I think.  So I hardly ever use it and it generally just sits in the cabinet.

I was originally thinking to sell both the Benelli and the Franchi and buy one semi that specialises in sporting.    I am now not sure what to do. I am in no rush so will deliberate.  I don't really have access to test any semi near me as I don't really see 2nd hand guns in the local shops and I don't know anyone who shoot a Beretta A400 or similar.  Some friends shoot SX3/4's and swear by them but I'm not sure about them, hence the post to obtain a range of user views and opinions.

Thanks to all for contributing. 

ehb102 said:

Semi auto shoots. There aren't many. One at Northampton, one at AGL that I am aware of. The one at AGL requires you to be shooting a Beretta, Benelli, Franchi or Stoeger IIRC. That should be taken into consideration.

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The one at AGL was the Benelli auto and it changes ground almost yearly...