The 10 best shotguns for clay pigeon shooting

Whether you’re a novice or have been peppering the targets for years, choosing the right shotgun for clay pigeon shooting can be tough.

Indeed, clay pigeon shooting in itself can be challenging, even with the right shotgun at your disposal, but we’ve tried to make things easier for you in this blog.

Using the best possible shooting equipment can help you achieve pinpoint accuracy to your target. So, if you’re in the market for a new gun, we’ve put together a list of the 10 best shotguns for clay pigeon shooting for you to consider below.

 

What is the best shotgun for clay pigeon shooting?

From the well-priced Browning B525 Sporter to the more expensive Krieghoff K-80, there’s something here to suit all needs and budgets.

*The stated prices are the cheapest we’ve found but may vary between retailers and at different times.

 

1. Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon 1 Sporter

£1,650

Beretta makes some of the most popular competition guns in the world, and part of its extensive range is the Silver Pigeon 1 Sporter, which boasts exceptional engineering and design features compared to other guns with a similar price tag.

This entry-level shotgun is ideal for rookies and the occasional clay pigeon shooter. Among its key features is the Optima-bore system with flush-fitting chokes—a feature previously only used on the higher-grade models. Other features include:

• different barrels
• a tapered rib that helps the gun point accurately
• a stock with two choices of drop at comb that suits most shooters’ needs.

With natural pointability and excellent trigger pulls, it’s a delight to handle, and you’ll feel confident about hitting the target.

However, although it handles beautifully, the wood has a relatively plain matt oil finish, and the engravings don’t exactly ooze beauty and charm. But you have to remember—it’s only £1,600, so it’s worth weighing up if either of these points are dealbreakers.

On the whole, this is a strong and reliable shotgun for clay pigeon shooting. It’s well put together, great to handle, and won’t break the bank as much as other guns.

 

2. Beretta 692

£3,000

Built exclusively for clay pigeon shooters, the Beretta 692 is well-designed and functional. Its unique features allow it to adapt and grow into an extension of your body.

Features include:

• an adjustable single selective trigger
• adjustable ejection-extraction
• adjustable balance
• an optional adjustable comb

Sporting a wider and heavier construction than the 680 series, the Beretta 692 provides better stability and easier handling. If you want to improve the balance even more, you can also add weight up to 100g to the buttstock. The barrels also come with extended choke tubes, meaning you can tune the gun to your needs.

The moulded rubber part on the top lever makes the Beretta 692 unique for a sporting gun. This feature helps to give you more positive feedback if it’s cold or wet outside. As well as being functional, this shotgun looks the part as well. Fine checkering is engraved on both sides of the grip with a shiny-polished finish making it easy on the eye.

Although slightly pricier at £3,000, this high-quality, robust shotgun is worth the extra investment if you can afford it.

 

3. Perazzi MX8

£4,500

First introduced in 1968, the Perazzi MX8 has become the stand-out competition gun since helping Elio Matarelli to a gold medal at the Olympics that same year.
Perazzi guns have won 53 Olympic medals since—the most in the history of clay shooting.

And—if any more proof was needed—15 of the 16 placed Trap shooters at the 2008 Olympics used a Perazzi.

The Perazzi MX8 provides some of the finest handling in the world. A detachable single trigger and V springs provide quality trigger pulls and a fast lock time. The internal and external barrel quality is superb, too, as it’s made of high-quality steel and chrome-lined chambers. What’s more, you also have an array of distinct barrel lengths at your disposal, including fixed and multi-chokes.

One limitation of the Perazzi MX8 is its basic woodwork. However, if you think it’s a tad ordinary, you do have the option to order a wood upgrade. Having said that, this is a brilliant gun with or without the upgrade, worth its weight in gold medals for build quality and handling alone.

 

4. Browning B525 Sporter

£1,300

If you’re looking for a gateway gun into shooting sports, this is the shotgun for you.

Browning is one of the world’s most recognisable shotgun brands, with good reason. The Browning B525 Sporter gun ticks all the boxes for clay pigeon shooting, which is why it’s one of the bestselling guns in the UK.

The B525 handles effortlessly; it comes to the shoulder well and fits snugly. Despite being lighter than other sporting guns, it feels secure and is enjoyable to shoot. The reduced barrel weight also makes the gun handling responsive and intuitive without being jumpy.

Combined with a longer forcing cone, it’s lively but just the right amount. The reduced felt recoil makes controlling the shot much easier. With a good grip, back-bored barrels, and a simple but well-ventilated sighting rib, everything functions well together.

From an aesthetic point of view, the B525 looks traditional but has a delicately polished design. The elegant floral scroll pattern and fantastic metal-to-wood finish make it attractive yet modest.

There’s no denying the supreme quality of this gun. It’s incredibly strong, built to last, and offers outstanding reliability. Quite simply, it’s the perfect gateway shotgun for clay pigeon shooting.

 

5. Browning B725 Pro Sport

£3,000

The Browning B725 gives the more expensive, high-end competition guns a run for their money at a slightly more affordable price. It comes with a full set of eight chokes, two recoil reducing pads, three triggers, and much more.

The B725 Pro Sport shoots like a dream. It’s a good weight and has a massive grip, which makes it easy to handle. The palm swell is in a good position to allow your hands to place nicely, and the relatively slim neck lets you bring your hand up if you need to.

Though you might think the gun’s appearance is quite plain, the checkering around the grip is exquisite, and the stand-out gold lettering will certainly catch your eye. Make sure you opt for the matte black finish if you want less glare on the barrel when the sun’s out!

 

6. Miroku MK38 Sporter Grade 5

£2,600

Miroku, alongside Browning and Beretta, is a popular brand for new clay pigeon shooters.

In particular, the MK38 Teague Sporter Grade 5 is perfect for shooters of all abilities and is often also the gun of choice for experienced shooters who don’t want to spend a fortune.

The action is almost identical to the aforementioned Browning 525 Sporter action, but it’s a lot more noisy than other guns. However, it handles much like guns that are double or even triple the price.

One thing that is important to point out, however, is that the Teague Sporter Grade 5 doesn’t suit smaller hands very well—it’s very deep and has a large grip. Nevertheless, this contributes to its big selling point: its reliability. It’s virtually bulletproof.

You won’t get a better-looking gun for £2,600. It has a classic, beautiful design with deep cut scrolling. Plus, the fact it’s hand-checkered gives it a more personal feel.

 

7. Guerini Summit Impact

£2,400

The Guerini Summit Impact is unique in that you can build it however you like. You can customise the weight, trigger system, stock fit, recoil, balance, and point of impact (which can be adjusted from shooting flat to up to 300% high).

It gives you an upright shooting stance, which reduces the impact of recoil and puts less strain on your neck and shoulders. This way, it’s more comfortable to hold, and you’re more likely to hit the target. It also has most of its predecessor’s features, such as eight chokes as standard and a gloss wood finish.

It’s a well-thought-out, effective gun that can do a lot. But you have to wonder, is it too much? After all, it’s not uncommon to have different guns for different purposes. It could be too fiddly for some, but this is clearly a matter of personal preference.

 

8. Blaser F16 Sporter

£2,500

Blaser is a German manufacturer and the Blaser F16 is essentially their budget gun (although it will still set you back £2,500). The Blaser F16 is constructed to a high standard and is available in a 12-bore and with multi-chokes.

As you’d expect from Blaser, the trigger is adjustable and well-engineered. The ejector system is powerful and the balance is also easy to adjust, which is especially useful for competitive shooting.

Design-wise, it has to be said that the F16 doesn’t have the same flair or slick feel as other guns, and the uninspiring wood might not be to your taste, either—but you can always upgrade to something more exciting. The F16 won’t win any beauty contests, but it does the job.

 

9. Breda 930i

£1,250

The Breda 930i is a fully competition-ready shotgun and one of Breda’s most popular and photogenic. What’s more, it’s incredibly well-engineered and handles comfortably.
It boasts 29-inch barrels, extended multi-chokes, and an adjustable trigger, among other features. Like the Guerini Summit Impact, you can also customise it should you wish.

As an inertia-driven semi-auto, you won’t get the internal workings of the gun dirty, and it’s easy to maintain. One of the 930i’s most fascinating features is its removable top, which sets it apart from most other semi-autos. This means you can get into the guts of the gun and give it a thorough clean.

Breda shotguns look more modern and sporty than other shotguns. The 930i, in particular, has been described as the Porsche of the shotgun world. That said, its beautiful, varied checkering, unique sandpaper effect on the bottom, and quality walnut wood mean it still maintains those classic shotgun style elements.

 

10. Krieghoff K-80

£11,500

Krieghoff shotguns are best described as strong, heavy trap guns that suit the more wallet-busting budgets. The Krieghoff K-80 is another piece of precise German engineering, best known for its robustness and reliability. It’s unique compared to other makes of shotgun because it shoots very mechanically, as opposed to an easy Perazzi feel, for example.

Having said that, the K80 balances comfortably between the hands, so it still feels relatively lively. The gun fit is great, thanks to the class-leading adjustable stock that’s incredibly adaptable and easy to use. Along with the adjustable high rib design that helps improve target acquisition and shooting stance, the Krieghoff K-80 really is top-of-the-range. To ensure it’s to your taste, you can choose the wood, engraving, choke, and trigger types yourself.

Essentially, you’re buying your own bespoke gun—but with prices starting at £11,500, it’s a whopping investment, so you want to make sure it’s worth it.

 

Specialist shooting insurance through Ripe

Choosing the best shotgun for clay pigeon shooting can be difficult, but choosing the right insurance shouldn’t be.

Through Ripe, you can get specialist shooting insurance that includes up to £10m worth of Personal Liability cover and up to £50,000 Equipment cover.

Find out more about clay pigeon shooting insurance and get a quote online today.