Skeet Shooting Guns

You can use any shotgun for skeet shooting that fires two rounds (shots / shells). This is essential as there are four sets of doubles in each round. The shotgun can be either a double-barrel over-and-under, or side-by-side, it can be a semi-automatic or even a pump-action.

There are many different gauges of shotgun – official skeet matches are held for 12-gauge, 20-gauge, 28-gauge and .410. Gun choice usually comes down to the individual – typically, the higher the gauge the more of a kick is received by the shooter – thus it is often found that smaller framed individuals will tend to go for the smaller gauges. To confuse things even more, there are different barrel lengths and shotgun chokes that will produce different shot patterns over different ranges.

Finally, there is the choice of ammunition for skeet shooting to be considered. All of these bring a great deal of variety (and discussion) to the sport. Modern shotguns have many different construction choices and it is important that the individual try out many different models and sizes of gun before deciding to purchase.

Many stores will help with getting a gun that fits you well, but if you are really determined to ensure the most success out of your purchase you may want to arrange for a professional ‘fitting’ of a gun or to go one step further, you can even have a model manufactured to suit you. Typically, when you mount the shotgun, you want the gun to come up into a natural shooting position with the butt nicely tucked in to your shoulder and without having to dip you head down to meet the stock. Always ask about gun fitting when in the store and don’t buy if the assistant can’t give you good advice on this.

If you are planning to buy a shotgun online in the US then it must be shipped to a registered Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder. The FFL holder will carry out the necessary background checks before a gun is handed over to the buyer – there is usually a fee involved in this service.

New vs Used Shotguns
The advantage of going into a store and buying a shotgun brand-new has several advantages. Firstly, you are obviously getting a new model covered by warranty and at the peak of its performance – in much the same way as a new car. You can also try the gun out for size and arrange to have it adjusted to suit you if necessary. If it simply does not feel right you can choose another one.

Now some stores also stock a number of second hand shotguns in much the same way as you would find a second-hand vehicle at a car lot. This can give you the same advantage in terms of getting a good gun fit without the full price tag of a brand-new model.

Buying online either new or second-hand limits the buyer somewhat in being able to determine the fit of the shotgun in advance. However, you should be able to find out from the owner or seller if the gun has any built in stock adjustment (this is becoming more common). Failing that, if you can get one at a really good price you might be able to get some minor adjustments done by your local gun store.

You may be able to find sellers in your local area by having a look through the classified ads either online or in the local newspapers. In such case you will again want to inspect the gun before committing to buy it.

Author’s bio: Jack is a firearm expert and an experienced hunter. Time after time he teaches shooting courses.  He writes a blog on Secretstorages.com where he shares some tips on firearms and gear.