16 years of shotguns - What's next & which gun should you choose?

It was a very strange feeling, yet extremely liberating and exhilarating, to be able to choose my own gun after so many years of shooting.

As a newcomer to the sport 16 years ago, being a female in my mid-twenties surrounded by men, I accepted that I knew nothing and therefore I should take the advice - and guns - that I was given.

However, after several years of doing this and with more experience under my belt; I realised it was time to reflect on the type of shooting I was doing, what I was enjoying more of, and therefore what type of gun would best suit me for each shooting situation and purpose.

For those of you who are at that stage of buying your first gun(s) or thinking about expanding your collection, I have put together some info about the guns I have used over the years which I hope might help a little with your decision.

Beretta Silver pigeon,

This was the first over under I ever used. It was a 12 gauge, 30 inch/32 inch barrels (can't remember which), and was used on clays and pigeon decoying. How did I find it to use as a beginner? Heavy yet comfortable to hold, the stock was too long for my arms, the kick in the shoulder wasn't horrendous but I definitely felt it after 50 shots. And the ejector barrels were another thing I needed to contend with as a new shooter.

Overall it was a beautiful gun; but as a 5' 8" woman who was a very slim dress size 8, it probably wasn't the best gun to start with! Nowadays, I would buy one of these all day long, but back then, it was an intimidating introduction to the sport. Not enough to put me off entirely though, clearly!

Yildiz 12 gauge

This over and under had a 28 inch barrel and it was bought for me as a gift - so I should be grateful right?

Not necessarily!

Ok so, at the time, I didn't have the budget to buy a £500 gun like the brand new Yildiz was at the time. However, I wasn't "allowed" to buy a gun that I could afford at the time, like the many of the secondhand shotguns that were available in my local gun shop at the £250 mark, and that were more suitable for me.

If you're thinking of buying a gun for someone, especially if they are female, make sure you are getting what is right for them, not just what you personally prefer.

As a woman who is tall and has long limbs, the 28 inch didn't feel long enough, and being on the skinny side, the light weight of the gun gave me more kick in my shoulder even just using 6's let alone the 4's I sometimes used on driven game days.

For walked up shooting it was ok, as the weight on my arm wasn't too heavy, and the non-ejectors were great for that too, removing the need to search for empty cartridges whilst on the move. But the stiffness of opening and closing - even after years of use - made walked up shooting frustrating, since the quarry had often long gone by the time I had reloaded. And the lack of correct gun fit meant I was uncomfortable and often had to think about each shot more, and often 'adjust'my shooting position to make it correct rather than shooting naturally, snap shooting on instinct. Safe to say, even using it now as a more experienced (and no longer size 8) gun, it still just doesn't work for me - but could be perfect for you or your loved one.

Hatsan Semi Auto - I have owned 3 Hatsan semi autos over the years, each with it's own issues. The latest lasted a decade before any issues appeared, but as a basic shotgun to get started with on pigeons, to get used to the difference between how an over/under or a shotgun works, it was a good start.

It has been great for wildfowling and in the pigeon hide, but you get what you pay for - sometimes I have to deal with jamming/not recycling cartridges which can be really frustrating for the experienced gun when going for that second and third shot, and can also be terrifying for the beginner who doesn't understand what has happened nor how to correct it. The action is also not the smoothest and is quite clunky; I have gotten a finger or thumb stuck whilst loading cartridges on several occasions (it hurts a lot!) Just be aware of these things before buying a semi-auto for a beginner.

Fausti 12bore side by side

I used my partner's 28 inch barrel side by side when pigeon shooting a couple years back - or should I say, I tried to use it! I would now prefer a longer barrel length, but 28 inches was a length I was used to after having the Yildiz. It had a good swing, and felt really comfortable on the eye - but my brain couldn't cope with the double trigger! That's right, be aware that most side by sides have 2 triggers, one behind the other. So rather than having a barrel selector switch, you have one trigger for each barrel. This fried my brain - and it's the last thing I want to be focused on when pigeons are swooping all around!

Beretta A400 & Benelli M2

A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to use a couple of 3 shot semi autos on loan. This gave me a good idea of what I could get for my money and also gave me a chance to feel what was right for me before spending anything.

At the time I was doing a lot more roost shooting and pigeon decoying than I am now (purely down to what was happening on my permissions at the time and where in the country I was living). This meant the old Hatsan was getting used sometimes 3 times per week, and it just couldn't take it!

The Beretta was lovely, a decent weight without being too heavy, smooth action and a lovely swing; it felt very familiar due to using Beretta in my early shooting days.

The Benelli M2 was a favourite - so much so I asked for an extension to the loan time! It was light, comfortable to hold with great grip even when wearing gloves. the action was insanely smooth and due to it's material I didn't have to panic about it getting a bit muddy.

However; after thinking about the reality of my budget, it was sent back and I re-evaluated what I would go for - especially once I had moved house and realised my new permission was a bit sparse on the pigeons...

Kemen Guns side by side

On a lovely shoot in Devon last year I was offered to use this gun for the day - and my goodness was it a belter! It felt like an extension of my own body, light enough to not feel like I was swinging a cannon, yet heavy enough and perfectly balanced for a lovely swing through.

This was for a Massy-Birch tailor-made tweeds promo shoot, and this particular shotgun cost around the £30K mark, so it's not something I'll be adding to my portfolio anytime soon! But what the experience did give me was the certainty that a side by side was the way to go for me, something I had already decided 15 years ago. Oh, and that I definitely needed a single trigger and not a double!

What next?

Well, I'm looking to replace the Yildiz with my first ever side by side - which one I haven't decided yet so I should probably try out a couple. But with a definite decision on it being a single trigger, the options are few - so I may have to 'hunt' around for a while before finding the right one at the right price.

I have recently found a semi-auto to replace the Hatsan. It's a Winchester which feels very familiar in the hand, and although second hand it was so close to new it still had the barrel sticker on it! I am looking forward to taking this onto the marsh very soon...

I have also recently joined the airgun crew and bought my first air rifle - an FX Impact M4 Compact - and this is by far the best decision I have made in terms of buying the right equipment for my body (which is no longer skinny but is still 5'8") and for the task at hand - namely rat and rabbit pest control.

What are your favourite shotguns to use? And have you ever been given or gifted a shotgun that just wasn't right for you? Let me know in the comments section below!