What affordable shotgun is recommended for Skeet Shooting

[wildkard6]

Went skeet shooting for the first time, last weekend now my girl and I are hooked. We gotten bored with static targets and find moving targets a fun challange. The thing is we are working on a limited budget and know nothing about shotguns. Our Dr. friend had a Benelli competition shotgun with him way out of our price range. So what would you gus recommend?

[RICH 45]

Stoeger makes some very affordable O/U starter shot guns. And if I'm not mistaken they are owned by Benelli. Just go to Stoeger.com, remember msrp is always higher than the real price. Good luck.

[metalguy]

I have shot Stoegers and was very impressed with them for the money. I finally settled on a CZ. It's a little more money, but I think it's built a lot better. Another is the Mossberg. I haven't heard good things about them them holding up long term though.

[wildkard6]

Looking into a mossberg 500 opinions?

[trapguy]

mossberg 500's are nice guns for the money, i own one but i dont recomend them for shooting skeet. first of all it will wear your SPAM out if you shoot much. you will notice that guys that shoot alot will have guns will recoil systems, ported/backbored barrels, and the guns will be very heavy. The beretta 391 is about as cheap and reliable as you can get. for skeet i would recomend a 30 inch trap model. the extra high rib is wonderful. I do not shoot skeet much but i have gotten into shooting trap very heavily. i was shooting a field grade beretta 390 with a 24inch barrel and it just wasnt enough. i recently purchased a browning bt99 with a 34 inch barrel. the results were amazing. when i said the 500 would wear you out is is because of the recoil. when you shoot all night the recoil is heavy. especally for your wife.

[Islander]

I would recommend looking and pricing some semi autos. Check Buds for some nice used ones too. Semi-autos generally have less kick than pumps and O/Us because they use some of the recoil gas to expend the shell. They will also do a couple of shots if/when you do multiple skeet targets. Trap generally requires a heavier gun with a good recoil system or start trialing 1 oz loads with different powders etc. so that you still might have a shoulder left. I have a Mossberg 500 pump and a CZ Redhead Deluxe O/U both 12 ga. I shoot more trap with the CZ. Looked at the Stoeger Condor with the ported 30" barrell O/U--however it was on a 3 month waiting list so I bought the CZ. You might want to check into a 20 ga semi auto for your wife if you shoot factory loaded shells.