I've got the clay bug.

[leftnose]

Madworx;

What if I was to scale back from semi-auto to a over/under?

Are we still in the "B"s for brand (Benelli, Beretta, Browning)? Or can something more economical like a Mossberg Maverick Hunter, Stoeger Condor, Stevens 512, or Yildiz still be competitive at the beginner/intermediate level?

Don't buy a 'cheap' O/U. You'll have problems. Guaranteed. More than just paying for the name, there's a reason why Berettas and Brownings are more than twice the price of even a CZ.

Either buy a used Beretta or Browning for ~$1,000 or go for a Beretta auto. Don't go for a Benelli auto for clays. They're great guns for hunting and practical shooting but they're not right for clays despite what Benelli's marketing department might want you to believe.