Competitive clay target shooting isn’t exactly an inexpensive hobby. When I first entered this world, I thought I knew shotguns because I’d been a duck hunter for years. I was wrong. There’s some crossover, but not much—suddenly I found myself surrounded by $10,000-and-up over-unders with custom stocks, fine engravings and upgraded wood.
You can spend as much as you want on a competition shotgun, and the deeper you get into that world, the more you’ll discover that the high price tags really are a little more worth it than they appear at first glance. But if you’re just getting started, or if you’re perpetually on a budget, you can absolutely be competitive for much less money than that.
While you can certainly shoot the clay target games with a pump-action gun, you’ll grow tired of that very quickly. Over-unders are by far the most popular in skeet, trap and sporting clays, so you can start with an inexpensive o/u if it suits you, but many shooters are most comfortable starting with a semi-auto. Some of the world’s best shots still compete with a semi, so while you can always upgrade later, you certainly don’t have to. If you do start with an over-under, be aware that many of these guns in the sub-$2,000 category are not made to handle an extreme volume of shooting like clays competitors will put them through. If you start with an inexpensive over-under, you might find yourself upgrading sooner rather than later.
These clays guns will get you started on the cheap. Well, relatively cheap.
Beretta A300 Ultima Sporting
The Beretta A400 is the semi-automatic of choice among clay target shooters, but it’s twice the price or more than the A300. For those getting started, the A300—try the Ultima Sporting version—offers everything you need in a smooth-shooting gas-operated action. Features include 30" barrels, a stepped rib, enlarged controls and loading port, Kick-Off recoil reduction system for stability and control, and more. Get it in 12- or 20-gauge for $1,169 MSRP.
FabArm L4S Sporting
FabArm USA makes quality semi-automatic shotguns in the mid-price range. The L4S Sporting is specifically made with clay target shooting in mind, designed to balance and point like an over-and-under. It’s gas-operated, with a beautiful wood stock and microcell recoil pad. Get it in 12-gauge with a 28"-, 30"- or 32" barrel, and five choke tubes are included. Left-handed versions are available at a small upcharge. MSRP is $2,425—while this isn’t exactly a bargain-basement price point, this gun is an excellent compromise that will serve you well for a long time.
Browning Citori CX
You’ll see a lot of Browning Citoris on skeet and sporting clays fields, for good reason—they’ve been around a long time, have a great track record of quality and represent a lot of value in the over-and-under category for the price. The Citori CX is sort of an entry-level model, designed to be adaptable to any of the clay target games and to hunting, and three barrel lengths are available (28, 30 and 32 inches). A three-position trigger lets you set the exact finger-on-trigger position you want. With hammer ejectors, chrome chambers, a stronger and longer-lasting full-width hinge pin and more, this gun is built to last. While it’s not the least expensive over-under on this list, it’s a classic for a reason—this is a shotgun you could buy as a beginner and use for a very long time without wearing it out or needing an upgrade. MSRP is $2,529.
CZ 1012 G2
CZ designed this semi-auto as a hunting gun, but claims it will cycle light loads with ease. It’s inertia-driven, which means a little more recoil than you’d get with a gas-operated action, but also less cleaning. It’s got a Turkish walnut stock, a 28" barrel, a flat vent rib and five included extended choke tubes. At just 6.5 lbs., the CZ 1012 G2 is a little on the light side for a target gun—that will help with fatigue, but it also means a little more recoil. This is a sort of no-frills option that might not hold up to high-volume target shooting forever, but at an MSRP of $699, it would get you started while you figure out which game is right for you and plan your eventual upgrade.
Tristar Setter S/T
In the world of inexpensive over-unders, you have to understand that you’re buying a gun you’ll want to upgrade sooner rather than later—not that there’s anything wrong with that. The TriStar Setter S/T is in this category. It has a solid frame, steel mono-block barrel construction and sealed actions, and it comes with five interchangeable choke tubes and a simple rubber recoil pad. Features include a single selective trigger, extractors, and a chrome-line barrel and chamber. The cool thing is that you can get it in 12-, 20- and 28-gauge as well as .410. At an MSRP of $699, this gun can help you decide if an over-and-under is right for you while you learn the fundamentals of your game of choice.
Weatherby Orion 1
Between the TriStar and the Browning in price, the Weatherby Orion I is a relatively inexpensive over-under made for sporting clays and for hunting. It has ejectors, which are a relative luxury at this price point, and a slim action for a less bulky feel and easy handling. The barrels are chrome-lined, with a vented top rib and three included choke tubes. You can get it in 20-gauge with 28" barrels or 12-gauge with 26"- or 28" barrels (choose the 28" for clay targets) at an MSRP of $1,149. The Orion is not a perfect gun for skeet, trap or sporting clays, but it would get you off on the right foot and become a great hunting gun when you eventually upgrade to a target gun.
Mossberg Gold Reserve Super Sport
For an entry-level over-under, Mossberg’s Gold Reserve Super Sport has some features that will serve you well in the clay target sports: ejectors, jeweled actions, chrome-lined bores and chambers, and five included choke tubes. Its 30" barrels are suited for clay target games or for hunting, but the best part about this gun is the adjustability for fit. The stock can be adjusted for length of pull, comb height, and cast—perfect for a growing shooter or just for getting a good-enough-for-now fit while you’re perfecting your gun mount and stance (which affect your gun fit). At an MSRP of $1,408, the Gold Reserve Super Sport can get you started in the clay target sports with plenty of flexibility.
One final word: No matter the gun you start with, the most important thing is that a shotgun must fit you properly in order for you to successfully, consistently break targets with it. You will need at least a basic fitting to get the gun shooting where you’re looking, so be sure to factor this cost into your budget when shopping. Choosing a gun with an adjustable stock can make this initial process cheaper, but you’ll still need some guidance to help you know exactly how to make the adjustments.
There are two schools of thought when it comes to buying entry-level anything: the “you can always upgrade later” team and the “buy once, cry once” team. Personally, I like the idea of starting with an affordable gun while you get your feet wet, decide how serious you’re going to get about competition, and learn the fundamentals of the sport you’ve chosen. Once you’ve participated for a year or two and you’ve got the basics of shooting down, you’ll have a much better understanding of what you want in a gun, and you’ll make a smarter decision when you upgrade than you probably would have if you’d just bought an expensive gun to learn on in the first place.
