My quest for a quality and capable skeet, trap, sporting clays gun lead me to the FN SC1. It was not a lengthy thought process. To me the SC1 addressed all “have to haves” serious shooters have noted all while staying far clear of typical a five digit $10,000+ price range. The FN SC1 will continue to perform far above my skill level for some time and delivers everything the pro shooter could ask for in a sporting clays shotgun just shy of custom stocks and custom height vent ribs.
I am definitely not a pro shooter, but I can appreciate all the SC1’s features without feeling like I either wasted money on a shotgun too expensive or one which is not suited for competition. The FN SC1 delivers a real competitive sporting clay, skeet, and trap gun in a sharp looking package and great price.
Years ago, I shot skeet, trap, and sporting clays informally… many years ago. I was raised on upland and bird hunting with my Browning Sweet 16 gauge shotgun and it was the natural training zone for up and coming shotgun hunters. Beyond busting 1000s of blue rock clays with that gun in prep for each hunting season, I really did not have a lot of “formal” experience with clays shooting. To this day I still feel most comfortable behind Browning ergonomics which the FN coincidentally mimics a bit.

ABOUT SPORTING CLAYS


That position, by the way, required the shooter to start with the shotgun pointed vertically for any hope of hitting the first target. Another had clays thrown level with the skyline and were barely visible. Sporting Clays has all the sadistic long and short shots, fast, slow and the “you’ve got to be kidding me” clay targets one would expect of a real hunt. Of course with sporting clays you can train to actually begin hitting this insane shots.
THE PUSH FOR A REAL CLAYS SHOTGUN


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Champion Whirley Bird Electric Thrower is the ONLY way to go for practicing clays shooting. |
ABOUT FN
FN also known originally as Fabrique Nationale has a very long storied base which dates all the way back to to 1889 when it was first founded to produce Mauser rifle for the Belgium government. FN was also the manufacturer of my beloved fine quality Browning A5’s which are still prized today if they feature the “Made in Belgium” stamp indicating manufactured by FN. From that point on FN and Browning had a very close design and manufacturing relationship with FN supporting production on the BAR, Baby Browning, Hi Power, and more. FN purchased the controlling interest in Browning and then Winchester Arms. Most people know FN these days by the defensive focused PS90 and SCAR rifles, however the SC1 proves once again that FN has not forgotten about the hunting and sport shooter.
FIT, FEEL, FINISH, FEATURES, & FUNCTIONS


The fit was so tight out of the box that I was actually a little concerned that it was too tight, however after the first 100 round practice session, the action was flipping open on demand and shells were jettisoning backward about 10-yards. Of note, the SC1’s ejectors fire out the empty shells when opened and you can definitely get some distance. My wife and I started aiming the ejected empties and hitting each other with them. Similar to the operation of most typical modern over/under shotguns, the FN features automatic ejectors which only eject the empty, so if you only took one shot the live round will stay in the chamber.
The shooter can select which barrel they would like to shoot first via the tang safety; in most cases the bottom barrel is selected to reduce recoil and muzzle rise. During our initial 100 rounds, we tested first shots with the upper and then lower barrel, however we settled on the lower barrel.
One of the USA Olympic Shooting team members provides a few quick clays and shotgun fitting tips to me which were extremely helpful. Overall he was extremely impressed with the shotgun, but noted that it provided all the right adjustments for even a serious competitor who does not have the budget for custom stocks. The SC1 provides the shooter out-of-the-box adjustment for comb height, cast and length-of-pull, adjustable recoil activated single-stage trigger (5.5 to 7.7 lb. trigger squeeze).

FN even includes a custom blow molded fitted case with tools, two Skeet Chokes (in gun), and one each of full, modified, and improved cylinder chokes for field work.
FINAL THOUGHTS

The price is definitely one of the things I love about this gun. I would even feel great taking this into the field on drier days and I don’t feel bad using it, setting it in the rack and even having it get a little wet. The gun looks amazing, shoots as well as it looks all in a package I can afford with features I will grow into. I think FN has a real winner in the SC1 across the board from hunting to all areas of casual and competitive clays shooting and for me it happens to coming in my favorite color - Blue.
SPECS
12-gauge 2 3/4"magnum
Over/Under
10mm ventilated top rib
Ported, vent rib with Invector-Plus™ choke threads
30 inches
Blue, black or green checkered laminated wood
Adjustable for comb height and length of pull (Blue or black only)
Adjustable, recoil activated single-stage trigger
5.5 to 7.7 lb. trigger squeeze
Tang safety doubles as barrel selector
White mid-bead and fiber-optic front
Designation: FN SC 1™ Over/Under
Bbl./Choke: Invector-Plus™
Overall Length: 46.38" with extended chokes installed
Sights: Ventilated top rib with white mid-bead and fiber-optic front
Ammo Capacity: 2
Weight: 8.2 lbs. (empty)
Street Price $2100
SOURCES
Shop a huge selection of Firearms and Accessories at Brownells.com - excellent prices and huge selection.
Shop a huge selection of Firearms and Accessories at Brownells.com - excellent prices and huge selection.
FN USA - http://www.fnhusa.com/
Champion Targets - http://www.championtarget.com/traps/recreational/wheelybird/
Wheelybird Clays thrower - $299 - 12V Foot pedal operated

3 comments:
I have been through 2 Gray FN SC1's. There is a major problem with the forestock cracking/breaking. The 1st one I had cracked completely in half longways while shooting trap, the second started to crack and had to be sent back. This is known issue and FN says's they are sourcing a new wood distributor. I owned the gun for 2 years and have waited 1 of two years for replacements. I would not recommend purchasing an SC1 for a few years so that it can be tested in the field.
nice post
Problems have been fixed. Check with FN
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