Alan,
Doug's suggestions are really good it you want a vintage gun. But, IMO, if you want to shoot clays really well I would make a couple suggestions. I compete with S x S guns and have tried L C Smiths, Foxes, Parkers, and others, and I have settled on a Browning BSS with 30" barrels as the best S x S I have ever used for sporting clays. It comes with a single trigger that is dead nuts reliable, has a very shootable pistol grip, which I feel is
very important for a competition gun, a beavertail forend to keep your fingers off the hot barrels, and has the ideal weight for 100 rounds in a short time. And, it can be found in excellent condition in your price range. If you had rather shoot shorter barrels it can be had a couple hundred cheaper, but I'd recommend the 30".
Recoil will not be an issue with it, especially with 1 oz. loads. I shoot 1 1/8 oz. when competing, mostly, and recoil is no problem at all. The BSS is a very strong and well built gun and would last you a lifetime with proper care, and never shoot loose.
SRH
P.S. Works pretty good on ducks, too!
