I'm looking for a 12 gauge for trap/skeet/sporting clays. Any recomendations on where to start looking? Also what are your thoughts on lengths and I would prefer a Beretta or guerini.
thanks!

What's your price range?

$1,000-$2,500ish

That's going to put most Cesar Guerinis out of your reach. No worries there, though, Berettas are more than adequate for competition shooting.

For a good Beretta around that price, you are looking at the 686 sporter models. I'd also recommend looking at the Browning Citori line.

But field guns, rather than just sporting models, should also be considered. Take a look at Browning and Beretta's websites and see what's around your price range. Just buy a model of shotgun that is better fit to your game of choice. Trap models are going to have straight or monte carlo stocks and raised ribs, which skeet/sporting clays are going to have lower ribs and sometimes drop combs.

Thanks for the help HicksHunter

You can't go wrong with a Beretta Auto. The 390 and 391 sporting clays lines are phenomenal. I have 5 of them and they all are great. And plus, that will leave you some cash left over to have it custom fit to you or for you to modify some.

I put my oldest son in one of these last year;
http://www.berettausa.com/al391-teknys-gold-sportingaspx/

He won the state 4H Whiz Bang (basicly 50 bird 5-stand that is shot from low-gun) so yea they'll run.
Good bang for the buck in a sporting gun. He has a 686 for the American and International games but the 391 seems to be a little "faster" on the swing.

28 inch is pretty much the norm.

It seems like most of the big sporting clay guys I've talked to are going 32 inch. Would a 30 inch barrel be my best bet for skeet, sporting clays and the field?

30 Inch is perfectly in the middle

Also, does anyone know much about the beretta 686 onyx pro vs the 686e? It seems like there are a lot of people that have issues with the xtra wood on the 686. Can you get a 686 without the xtra wood?

Beretta SV 10 Perennia is a good choice. Mine has a 28 inch barrel so it can also be used in the field
jwt

The Perennia is a great field gun but I found the one I bought to be too light for clays - I was swinging way too fast through shots and missing in front. Went back to a stacked browning.

You could try mounting a bbl mercury recoil reducer/wgt on the
bbl and one in the stock..that is what I did when I used to over
control my Browning O/U..and it had 32in tubes and was a Trap gun
w/tubes..DD

Recommendations, are dependent on a lot of factors, none of which we know. First if you shoot an auto take two inches off barrel recommendations to account for the extra length of the reviver. How tall are you? you can shoot a longer barrel the taller you are. What type of lead do you use? A sustained lead or easy swing through lend themselves to longer barrels. A quick swing through method lends it's self to shorter barrels. I'm short, 5'7, and use a quick swing through, I prefer 28 to 30 in barrels for all games except International Skeet then I prefer a 26.

28" for 3" autos and 32" for o/u...both of those will sell fast when it comes time for you to either upgrade or just get rid of the gun.

Pm Judd and red gun

Those two are serious about their clay birdies

See

I definately want an over/under. I would like a multipurpose gun, but primarily used for skeet/sporting clays. Any thoughts on the perennial vs. the onyx pro? Looks like the perrenia only comes in a 28 inch barrel. Wanted a 30 inch barrel.

I saw a used but like new Perrazzi in Uvalde last yr in a Gun Shop on consignment..Wife and I are going there Sat to get her Jeep warranty work done..I'll ck and see if he still has it..I think he told me he had two on consignment..DD

I'm shooting a 26". Is that why I can't hit anything?

26" barrels are quick and fast handling which helps in some situations but can magnify errors in technique. Target games get repetitive so guns that lend themselves to consistency tend to be favored. If your primary a field shooter, then try to stay close to your field gun, if your a gamer, then a specialist gun for the sport. The only reason not to use a field gun for targets is that their lightness will pound you after awhile.

If you want a Guerini, Nagels has about 9 left from the 10 they
purchased a few years ago..both them and the Beretta are good in
the upper grades..Briley tubes, make sure and get the 410 rifled.
If you can handle a little wgt..get the 30 in tube and add wgt in
recoil reducers to the stock and bbl as needed..Good Shooting Don

It depends on which game you want to shoot most if you are only buying one gun. Trap and skeet are two totally different games and theyre various versions are all different too. Also when you get a gun, you need to find someboday that knows how to check to see if it fits you. If it doesnt fit you wont shoot to your full potential.

Highly recommend the Beretta A400 series