You're going to get a lot of opinions, but here are mine FWIW

Get a semi-auto. They recoil less than an Over-Under, they are easier for women and kids and even adult men to learn on; and there are fully capable tournament competition models available at "reasonable" cost. I would recommend as first choice a Beretta A400 Excel, or second, a Benelli Ethos or Cordoba model. Note the Beretta is gas-operated and one of the softest shooting shotguns available while the Benelli is recoil-operated so will recoil a little more than the Beretta. The Benelli is a little simpler and a little easier to clean and maintain than the Beretta, but I'd opt for the softer recoil over the simpler mechanics. These are all excellent out of the box target guns, and all run around $2000 - $2500, and you may be able to find one used for less. You can also get "field" versions of them and save about $300 or $400, but IMHO the target versions are worth the added cost. Oh, these are all somewhat "fittable*" shotguns as well -- a good dealer will help you with some initial adjustments. Finally, there will be somebody at almost every range in the US who will be able to help you tune and service these if they need it.

Whatever you get, try to get one with a 30" barrel -- you'll thank me later! 28" is okay, especially for casual clay shooting, but you'll all eventually want a 30, so my advice is to start with one. Plus, any of the above target guns, especially in 30" barrels, will be easy to resell if you don't stick with it.

If you want to save money, a good used Beretta 391 (probably in the $1200 - $1500 range) is hard to beat and there are multiple models and configurations out there on the used market. Next come the lesser contemporary field options, and here the A300 is probably the best value proposition.

While it will probably be recommended as a good and inexpensive option, I would stay away from a pump of any kind. Cheaper yes, but not great longer-term target solutions IMO.

*A word on gun "fit." It is not likely you, your son and especially your wife will all be able to shoot the same gun optimally. Most off-the-shelf shotguns are designed to "fit" an average-sized adult male shooter. But you can all go out and get started with the same gun, have fun together and figure out if this is a sport (hobby) you want to explore more seriously down the road. At that point, you'll likely all be wanting your own guns.

 

I'd recommend an automatic. Great for recoil reduction. I've used 1100s for 50+ years, but if I was buying now, I'd probably buy a Beretta.

My regional big dealer has Beretta A300s from ~$900 to a tad less than $1100; and A400s from ~$1750 to ~$2,150. Sorry, I don't know the reason for higher prices for the A400s.

Additional comment #1 - If you get an auto, shoot it wet with BreakFreeCLP.

Additional comment #2 - If you get an auto and desire to pick-up your empties, get a collapsible magnetic pick-up stick.....or one for each of your family members.

 

Definitely a semi auto for wife & if you want one gun, make it a S/A. The A300 sporting is a good solid choice. Get a 12 ga & 30 in barrels. I say 12 ,because you can shoot lighter loads for the wife & whatever you & the son want.

 

I know a fellow shooter that just bought a Beretta a300 Sporting 12 gauge new in the box for $1,250 out the door price. These are soft shooters for sure. I have a 12 gauge and a 20 gauge a300. Cleaning is a bit more labor than an O/U but you don't have to do a complete tear down clean after every use. Maybe you could find someone to let you try a few shots with one.

 

For your price range you'll get a better semi-auto than O/U, unless you are ok with used. Beyond that, get a gun that fits. Beware of specific gun recommendations. What fits well for one shooter may be a poor fit for another. If you can try them before buying that is your best bet.

The problem I see is a single gun shared between your family. One shooter might find it comfortable and another find it terribly unwieldy. Worse yet, one shooter may shoot lights out and another may get discouraged because they can't hit the broad side of a barn. There is no easy way to make it fit everyone. At best you'd have to have it customizable and do a bunch of adjustment every time you switched shooters. I think you need to increase your budge and look at getting multiple used guns.

 

Semi auto! Beretta!
If you can find a used 391 buy it. Used 391s are like hens' teeth I still have mine and wouldn't part with it. Rather than limiting yourself to $1200, you might come up just a few bucks and buy a new Berretta. It will last you a lifetime.

Don

 

I'm also going to recommend a semi-auto. I love o/u for clays but if all three of you are going to be shooting it once or twice a month, that is a lot for a cheap o/u to withstand. If you get lucky and get a good cheap o/u (which is a crap shoot with any brand of cheap o/u) you might get a year or 2 out of it with that volume of shooting. If you aren't lucky with your cheap o/u you may not get a whole round out of it. The Beretta A300 Ultima is a solid choice, I recommend looking at the sporting model of it. From what I understand, it is based on the 391. You might also be able to find a used A400 in your budget. The A400 is a little easier to clean and assemble/disassemble than the A400. Since those autos are gas operated they will provide less felt recoil than a similar weight o/u. Once you break in the SA it should cycle 1oz 1200 fps shells without a problem. I've owned several SA shotguns and every one of them will cycle those shells reliably.

 

I am a long time volume competition shooter that has tried to use O/U guns off and on but 90% of my many targets have been with Beretta semi automatic guns. 391 platform early and A400 xcel for the past 5 years

I would also recommend trying to fit the A400 into the budget. Yes it’s more but this gun is purpose built for target shooting. Mine runs everything I feed it. You could get 7/8 ounce 12 gauge loads that would be very comfortable for your wife to shoot

Curious if your wife is petite compared to you and your son. Sometimes fatigue and discomfort is more associated with gun fit and what might fit you could be not matched as well to her frame

And if you are running 1 1/8 ounce loads for all of you in an O/U, that’s another consideration to get some 1 ounce loads for your wife to try. Should be more comfortable

 

Sounds like you've done your research and have made a good choice. Cleaning is no issue, follow the steps recommended by the manufacturer and you'll be fine. (do NOT watch 100 different YouTube "influencers" and buy $100 worth of products, just follow the manufacturers directions and keep it simple)

When you look back on this 5 years from now, you'll realize the guns are the cheapest part.

 

Semi auto definitely the best option in your price range, the tricky part as some mentioned will be good fit for three different shooters. Don't worry too much about the cleaning issue, wipe the metal down after each outing to prevent rust, many shooters let them go a long time between deep cleaning and after you take it apart a couple of times it will be no big deal.
Best of luck whatever you decide and welcome to the sport.

 

Over the last 27 years I volunteered with SoCal Topguns youth shooting group. We started young shooters ,10 and up, and had a bunch of different shotguns. I scoured the auctions and bought several Berettas of both 20 and 12 Gauges. It was our shotgun of choice for starting shooters. Many of them stayed with the semi auto and were very successful with them. The LOP (length of pull) could be a problem for the three of you to be sharing a shotgun, but that depends on the different sizes between you, your son and your wife.

Regarding cleaning, once in a while I found a shotgun that missed our cleaning routine. I had to dig the crud out of the gas cup. I couldn't believe it still functioned, but it did. I'm not recommending not cleaning the gun properly, just thought I would let you know Berettas still work ok when they are abused and not properly cleaned.

Don

 

A semi auto for the lady. Make sure the stock is short enough and then build the comb up with moleskin so she can see over the rib. Almost every lady I see trying this out has to lift her head because there is too much drop in the stock and gets beaten up because of it. Your son and wife could probably share that gun, depending on how similar their size is. I would then use the excuse of your body requiring a much different gun to get yourself whatever you want.

 

If you have a dealer near, I would look at the SKB RS300 in that price range. I don't know anyone that has one.
Semi-auto, adjustable butt plate and comb are stock items. I see them for about $1100 on GI.

While one can compensate for a stock that is too short, you just can't compensate for a stock that's an inch too long. Wives and Youth get beat up. In order to mount, the gun ends up out of the shoulder pocket, on the upper arm. Bruises and shooting left result.

The best cheap over and under is solid semi-auto.

I don't care for Berettas that have moving parts in the butt plate or squishy plastic in the middle. The gas system already reduces recoil. No need for gizmos. Reduce payload or add weight to the gun. Easy.

 

The 39x Berettas had stock shims that allowed for some stock adjustment.

Do the A300 series and A400 series have that feature?

 

Yes, the a300 and a400 (plus 391) do have the shim system. Also the a300 sporting I mentioned comes with the kick-off recoil reduction system. It also has the recoil pads and stuff to change it to regular type (without the kick off). A lot of bang (pun intended) for your buck.

 

That confirms they are a good choice for the Opening Poster.

Dunno how to resolve stock length for three individuals. But not that long ago most shooters managed with the factory length.

 

Per the above, in addition to a one size fits all issue, that gun, especially a semi, is going to get hot.

There have been times in the past when a friends gun goes down, and we shoot 10 rounds a piece out of my semi auto, back to back, and you can't hardly touch the forearm. An o/u dissipates heat a little better, but not much.

Not sure what the work around is, just something to be aware of.

 

Great advice above, especially given your budget.

Beretta 390, 391 and the newer A300 are great candidates.

 

Zack started with a 390, how did that turn out?

Don

 

I am also going to recommend a semi auto Beretta 391. It was the model I learned to shoot clays (trap) with and used it for sporting as well. I still have that gun for new shooters to use. I would also recommend trying some 1 ounce loads for shoulder relief. I got a flat for the wife and she finds them better on the shoulder than 1 1/8 loads. There is also one tip that you will see repeated, gun fit. Make sure the gun fits the primary users well. No experience with the newer semis to comment further.

 

I have an A300 12g field: Does not fit me well.
I have an A400 28g field: Love the fit and shooting it is a pleasure.
Get the A400!!

 

As with the others I would recommend a semi for your first Family Gun. However I'm going to be more specific and tell you that a Gas Operated Semi is a better choice. Because they are more tolerant of a variety of shells that an Inertial Semi. At my range we go thru gun cycling issues with every years new Youth shooters. Parents of younger children don't typically have stacks of cash laying around so the will go cheap on the guns and that means intertia guns which then have to be resprung to operate with reduced recoil target shells. Beretta a300's don't need this done because they typically work right out of the box.

The cost difference between the A300 and A400 is mainly down to features. You can purchase A400's with 1500 dollar wood sets and they are beautiful to look at. In addition you can option the Kick Off recoil reduction system and purchase setups that are very competition focused. With the A300 you are going to have a composite stock that will take a beating and keep on working in a gun that was primarily designed as a Hunting tool that would stand up to abuse. They do offer it in the Ultimate Sporting configuration which does come with a less sophisticated version of the Kick Off recoil reduction system. If I were shopping for a Sporting Semi Auto that is where I would go.

Final note. I do NOT like seeing reports of a shooter with a sore shoulder. THIS IS NOT an indication of someone shooting "too much gun". It's an indication of a shooter who needs some professional training. That is not some friend, that is someone who's job is to train new Shooters or Shooters who have developed bad habits. I have shot with a 10 year old girl in the 12 gauge event at out State Skeet championship and she had no issues handling her 12 gauge and she didn't weigh more than 90 lbs. She also hit 84 targets which is quite good for a 10 year old at her first State Championship. What your wife is doing wrong is pretty basic, she is not mounting the gun properly. One to 3 lessons and time spent at home spent practicing at a mirror will correct that quickly. I'll also warn you that if she listens well and develops a first class mount she will probably start beating you. The tip here is think Family lessons. I will also warn you that it's best when everyone has a gun individually fitted to them, so plan on more shotguns in the future.

 

20 GA autoloader, inertia for ease of maintenance. Wifey will like the recoil level and when you decide to get another shotgun say in 12 ga, she'll have one to call her own. I recommend A Weatherby Element 26" barrel, color of your choice, they are in the $600 range. I have one and really like it and it's reliable with all Walmart ammo except the White box winchester. Runs Remington, Federal, Fiocchi, Noble, AA's at 1300 all just fine. It takes STANDARD Invector tubes so you have a good choice of aftermarket. If you like it the 12 ga version will be a good choice for gun no. 2. You'll have 1200 bucks spent and two good guns that are easy to clean. My 2¢

 

Get what Momma likes best. The more she likes to shoot and the happier she is the faster you and the boy get the guns you want. It won't be long! And the saying that the gun is the cheapest part of this sport is one of the few things that is the honest truth!!

 

Almost sounds like you need 2 guns.

I have a two cheaper o/u and they are just fine. They shoot every time without fail. Your wife might like a semi-auto better because its light and minimal recoil. If you get that one, then you should get a 12ga, then buy 1 oz shells for yourself and 7/8 shells for your wife. That's shooting 20ga loads in a 12ga gun. Its ho

You should have no problem keeping up with routine maintenance on a semi-auto. Its not big deal at all.

 

I personally think its wishful thinking to have one shotgun for three different people to shoot unless you all are the same size with the same fit requirements like length of pull etc.Fit is important in shotgun shooting clay target shooting especially.

 

+1 on A400 with kickoff. My wife loves to shoot mine. Only issue may be LOP.