Skeet guns – eight of the best

What make the perfect Skeet guns? Stuart Smith, MD at Eriswell Lodge and  CPSA ranked No.1 English Skeet shot, has the answer. “Fit,” he says emphatically. “Without the right fit it doesn’t matter how expensive or beautiful the gun is, you won’t hit a barn even if you stand in it with the door shut.” (Why Skeet shooting is a sure-fire way to improve your shooting skills.)

You can shoot Skeet with a Sporting O/U, but dedicated Skeet variants do have characteristics worth seeking out. (Read more on the history of Skeet shooting.)

What is a Skeet gun?

“Skeet guns tend to have shorter, lighter barrels –  28in are typical,” says Stuart. “Multichokes are useful. A weighted stock can make the front end quicker and an adjustable comb is desirable, usually on a parallel stock, which can give you an advantage for flat targets.

“A standard height rib is the norm with Trap-style ribs generally avoided because there’s the risk of shooting under clays, although we’re seeing more of them. Each to their own…”

Krieghoff K-80 Skeet 

RRP from £12,475

A high-quality forged steel receiver, finished by Krieghoff’s gunmakers, has a top-latch that secures the barrels at the optimal leverage point. This elegant solution makes changing barrels straightforward. If you have deep pockets, you can build a variety of guns from a single receiver.

The K-80 Skeet variant offers a choice of barrels from 28in, with a 10-6mm tapered flat rib. Fixed chokes, or titanium choke tubes from cylinder to super full, are standard, as is the fine-chequered select Turkish walnut stock with adjustable comb.

The K-80 isn’t limited to being solely a Skeet gun or a Sporter – it can be anything you desire.

Barrel lengths: 28in, 30in, 32in

Perazzi High Tech Skeet 

RRP from £10,500

As with Kreighoff, when you’re investing in a Perazzi you’re not limited to a narrow portfolio of ‘models’. If you want a Skeet gun, Perazzi’s gunmakers will build you a Skeet gun – just help them with your specifications and a wedge of cash.

Stock roughs are hand-finished to your dimensions, barrels hand soldered, woodwork chequered by artisans wielding fine pointy tools…

You are commissioning a high tech frame around which they build your dream Skeet gun. Define barrel length, rib type, ported barrels, an adjustable comb, a Monte Carlo stock – the list is endless. If you know what you want from a Skeet gun Perazzi will build it for you.

Barrel lengths: 26 3/4in, 27 9/16in, 28 3/8in, 29 ½in

Beretta D11 Black Edition Skeet Adj. 

RRP from £10,115

The DT11 is Beretta’s flagship boxlock competition gun. These hand-finished shotguns feature Beretta’s robust cross bolt locking mechanism, a removable trigger unit and barrels profiled to diminish felt recoil, improve shot patterning and reduce muzzle rise.

This black version boasts a carbon fibre top rib, carbon fibre trigger plate and matt black receiver with contrasting highly-polished details. The Steelium Pro Skeet barrels have no side rib, aiding cooling and saving weight, but the front end can be even lighter with Beretta’s B-Fast stock and barrel balancing system. The stock is adjustable for comb height, comb angle and the amount of cast, making for a highly configurable gun.

Barrel lengths: 30in

Blaser F16 

RRP £4,248

The Blaser F16’s big sister, the F3, is a truly modular gun. Almost every major part can be easily swapped out to suit shooter, discipline or conditions within minutes by anybody who knows their way around a screwdriver. The F16 isn’t quite as adaptable, nor as expensive, but it’s still a dream to configure as a superb Skeet gun.

Barrel length is 30″. The F16 comes with Blaser’s barrel and stock balancing system. One option worth a tick is the Sporting stock with adjustable comb.

In the right hands,  the F16 can become a formidable clay busting tool.

Barrel lengths: 30″

Zoli Kronos Skeet

RRP from £3,510

The Kronos’ monoblock low-profile action, made from forged stainless steel, features a Boss-type locking action that is reminiscent of the Perazzi MX8, as is its detachable trigger mechanism.

It’s not an over-embellished gun, but that just means money’s spent where it matters. Zoli is proud that its barrels are manufactured in-house where ballistic performance has been fine-tuned over decades.

In Skeet guise the Kronos benefits from shorter barrels, and optional fully adjustable stock. Its optional Bilanx-BHB balance system, which places weights in pistol grip, is worth the extra cash.

Barrel lengths: 28in, 30in, 32in

Benelli Supersport Special Edition

RRP from £2,615

Inertia driven semi-autos don’t usually enjoy the same reputation as their gas operated cousins for reduced recoil, but Benelli tweaked the Supersport until it mitigated felt recoil by almost 50 percent.

Benelli has given the UK a special edition for 2020 that features 30″ non-ported barrels, five extended chokes (from the 828U Sport), an oversized bolt handle, oversized bolt release, a silver fore-end cap and a stepped carbon fibre rib. These are cosmetic upgrades to a very attractive gun, but they are welcome none-the-less.

Benelli’s semi-autos are prized for being both reliable and robust. This gun won’t let you down.

Barrel lengths: 30in

Browning B725 Sporter Adjustable 

RRP £2,525

The 2011 B725 drew a loyal following, so this new version is more evolution than revolution. Its low action frame, which Browning claims makes target acquisition faster, is retained but there’s a shorter, lighter trigger mechanism and an Inflex II recoil pad is fitted as standard. Styling is minimalist, which looks contemporary and rather smart.

What sets the Adjustable version apart from the standard Sporter is its configurable comb. The gunstock is set up to take counterweights too, effectively lightening the front end. This means that the B725 can be set up for Skeet one day and, with a few simple adjustments, Sporting the next.

Barrel lengths: 28in, 30in, 32in

Beretta A400 Xcel Sport Black Edition

RRP from £2,075

Beretta visits the dark side with this handsome version of its A400 semi-auto, which includes a  carbon fibre rib that reduces barrel weight.

The A400’s party trick is its fast recycling time. Beretta maintains that it’s the fastest semi-auto on the market, capable of delivering two shots within half a second. The gas-operated system that makes this turn of speed possible contributes to the A400’s low recoil.

The A400 Excel was developed as a competition gun, not an out-and-out Skeet demon. Still, its ability to smoothly and quickly deliver shot after shot makes it appealing for Skeet.

Barrel lengths: 28in 30in 32in