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Like a party
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Picture of armored
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The price difference between the Beretta 692 Sport with B-Fast and the Citori 725 Sport with adjustable comb and Graco adjustable butt and recoil reducer is about $500. The Beretta costing more. Both guns are about 3 years old.
 
Posts: 4609 | Location: Chicago, IL, USA: | Registered: November 17, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Rumors of my death
are greatly exaggerated
Picture of coloradohunter44
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quote:
Originally posted by armored:
The price difference between the Beretta 692 Sport with B-Fast and the Citori 725 Sport with adjustable comb and Graco adjustable butt and recoil reducer is about $500. The Beretta costing more. Both guns are about 3 years old.


Nice, but do either of them fit you? It's like magic when you find and shoot a gun that shoots where you look/point it. You can spend lots or little. I loaned my best friend my 686/12 gauge, 28 inch barrels. He shot it very well. It fit him too. I found one for him shortly after that. He's deadly with it. Do you understand cast on. Cast off? Are you right eye or left eye dominate. Take your time in this search. Read up and learn. You will be handsomely rewarded when the firearm you purchase shoots well for you.



"Someday I hope to be half the man my bird-dog thinks I am."

FBLM LGB!
 
Posts: 10895 | Location: Commirado | Registered: July 23, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I would suggest getting the Browning. Learned last weekend that the Beretta 692 is now exhibiting issues with the intertial reset. Specifically with some guns what is happening is after a couple of years of use it's not possible to shoot doubles using the bottom barrel first. What happens is you get a dead trigger after the bottom barrel fires. What shooters who have this model are doing is setting their guns to fire with the top barrel first, a less than ideal setup for shooting doubles because you get a bit more muzzle rise when firing the top barrel.


I've stopped counting.
 
Posts: 5621 | Location: Michigan | Registered: November 07, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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From my research the 692 experienced a number of problems the first few years then Beretta seems to have worked out the bugs. Eventually the 694 replaced the 692.
I'm still looking, a Caesar Guerini Summit Ascent is my next gun to investigate.
 
Posts: 4609 | Location: Chicago, IL, USA: | Registered: November 17, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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A local shop where I get my cleaning essentials sells the Guerini. Don't have any experience at all shooting this brand but they are exceptionally lovely to look at. Unlike Beretta who uses quarter sawn ruler straight grained walnut for the entry level 686 with a Guerini you can be certain the wood will be grade 3 or higher. If I ever remember to pick up a lottery ticket and win I fully intend to get one just to try out.


I've stopped counting.
 
Posts: 5621 | Location: Michigan | Registered: November 07, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by armored:
I'm still looking, a Caesar Guerini Summit Ascent is my next gun to investigate.

It's been a few years since I've competed, but I shot Guerini and there were other competitors with them.

My take:
- They have really good wood. Better than just about anything I've seen in this price category.
- Their actions were not as tight as the B guns. They loosened up too soon IMO.
- Their balance was good, but nothing special. Closer to the hinge pin than Browning. Not as nice as Beretta.
- Ultimately I decided against buying a Guerini. Aesthetically nicer than my Browning 525, but no better in function.

I feel they emphasized having a good looking gun for a given price point, rather than offering a better gun for that price point.
 
Posts: 7853 | Location: Colorado | Registered: January 26, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Beretta silver pigeon 12 gauge O/U is a solid gun that will last you. New they're $1700-2000 so if you can find one used, they should be in your price range. Fabarm makes an excellent quality shotgun at relatively lower prices.

Personally I prefer semi-auto. Haven't had anyone complain about the ejecting shells, but picking them up is well not as much fun, but plenty of cheap claws you can buy to pick them up without bending down.
 
Posts: 21335 | Registered: June 12, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of HayesGreener
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I shoot a Krieghoff for skeet which is out of your ballpark, but my bird gun of choice is a Browning Citori O/U, so I use it for sporting clays. I shoot trap with an old SKB O/U doubles gun but they are no longer made. I have several SKB's of that genre, and other than springs and small parts I do not think it is possible to wear one out. I also have an older Weatherby Orion that was made by SKB with the Greener crossbolt, and it locks up like a bank vault, but the new Orion has a different lock design that I have no experience with. Beretta and Guerini also make fine firearms. I cannot speak to CZ and I have not shot one. All of those guns are available within your price range.

I agree with posts above, gun fit is the first most important aspect of choosing a shotgun in terms of gun mount, pointability, and recoil management. I have seen so many new shooters discouraged, and beat up by shooting a gun that does not fit them. Shotguns are manufactured to the "average" person, but what the hell is that? If you fit into the magical "average", you are fortunate. But if not, as mentioned above, an adjustable Graco pad/recoil reducer and adjustable comb makes the gun adjustable to you. Bad advice on gun fit is available wholesale. Whichever gun you choose, have an experienced gunfitter adjust the gun to you, and once it is dialed in by a pro, DON'T SCREW WITH IT. Fit will relieve a lot of frustration in getting hits from the start. The Country Gentleman is a professional gunfitter who travels all over the country to tournaments in a mobile shop, and I can recommend his work. There are other gun fitters, but here is a link to one whose work I know. https://www.gunfitter.com/


CMSGT USAF (Retired)
Chief of Police (Retired)
 
Posts: 4358 | Location: Florida Panhandle | Registered: September 27, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Originally posted by HayesGreener:
The Country Gentleman is a professional gunfitter who travels all over the country to tournaments in a mobile shop, and I can recommend his work.


Trivia: I took a shotgun to his Dad who started the business in a small operation. I had probably changed my stance, the gun I had shot for years had recently started hitting me in the face. He put on an adjustable buttplate and cut the stock-receiver inlet to give more pitch. It was more comfortable to shoot, but the changes took me off the target and my scores plummeted. I took the gun to my neighbor the gunsmith who returned the pitch to standard and backed about half the drop and twist adjustment off the buttplate. That was enough to save my cheek and got me back on target.
 
Posts: 3278 | Location: Florence, Alabama, USA | Registered: July 05, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Dean of Law
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I also shoot a Beretta 686. I do not see the need to upgrade unless I was going to shoot for a living.


H. Dean Phillips
$99 Gun Trusts
https://nfalawyers.com
 
Posts: 6614 | Location: Georgia | Registered: December 02, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Originally posted by heavyd:
I also shoot a Beretta 686. I do not see the need to upgrade unless I was going to shoot for a living.


To tell the truth even if you shot for a living there really isn't any reason to upgrade from a 686. The two most important factors for a competitive shooter are 1) will it always work properly and 2) does it "Fit" properly.

Beretta has a reputation for the 680 series being rock solid reliable and if you have the money there are multitudes of options out there for building adjustable stocks or even having hand fitted made to measure stocks designed specifically for your body. Me, Ive gone to adjustable comb stocks on my 12 and 20 gage 686's.


I've stopped counting.
 
Posts: 5621 | Location: Michigan | Registered: November 07, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Rumors of my death
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Picture of coloradohunter44
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quote:
Originally posted by Scooter123:
I would suggest getting the Browning. Learned last weekend that the Beretta 692 is now exhibiting issues with the intertial reset. Specifically with some guns what is happening is after a couple of years of use it's not possible to shoot doubles using the bottom barrel first. What happens is you get a dead trigger after the bottom barrel fires. What shooters who have this model are doing is setting their guns to fire with the top barrel first, a less than ideal setup for shooting doubles because you get a bit more muzzle rise when firing the top barrel.


I had this issue with one of my 28 gauges, a model 686. A trip to Coleguns, who retimed it and problem solved. BUY a gun that fits.



"Someday I hope to be half the man my bird-dog thinks I am."

FBLM LGB!
 
Posts: 10895 | Location: Commirado | Registered: July 23, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of armored
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Zoli Z gun EVO has crossed the radar.
Looks like a good gun that has poor resale thus lower price for a used one.
Dealer is over 350 miles away so looking for advice before making the trip.
 
Posts: 4609 | Location: Chicago, IL, USA: | Registered: November 17, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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In the end, you will get exactly what you pay for.



"Someday I hope to be half the man my bird-dog thinks I am."

FBLM LGB!
 
Posts: 10895 | Location: Commirado | Registered: July 23, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Lawyers, Guns
and Money
Picture of chellim1
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quote:
Originally posted by Scooter123:
quote:
Originally posted by armored:
I feel the familiar feeling of wallet hemorrhage as I start looking. I'm a sucker for fine wood and craftsmanship also tradition.
The Browning Superposed has caught my attention.
I like the old school build and that Browning built and designed the gun. I have read about the "salt" guns and cracking of some of the steel internal parts.
How do you rate this gun?


A true Browning Superposed will start at 4000 dollars in used but not abused condition. BTW, with the Superposed the forearm is slid forward to break the gun down for transport, so you end up with just two parts to put in your case. With the more recent Browning's (really a Moroku) you first remove the forearm and set on something stable then remove the barrel from the receiver. This is one reason why the Superposed commands such high prices and the other is that they are highly collectable.


I have used a Browning BT-99 for trap since my Uncle helped me find one, almost 30 years ago.
He shot a Browning Superposed. He let me shoot it a few times and I thought it was really awesome.

I'm pleased to report that I just found one like it for a good price. It's a newer Browning Superposed Lighting 12 ga. The shotgun has hard to find 30" barrels with MOD and FULL choke. LOP is 14.5". The shotgun is in very good condition with with a fitted case, excellent mechanics (very tight) and perfect barrel condition. The gun was manufactured in 1972 (not a salt gun).

I'll post pics when I get it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: chellim1,



"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible."
-- Justice Janice Rogers Brown

"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth."
-rduckwor
 
Posts: 23945 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: April 03, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I lost my direction and was won over by looks.
I found a beautiful Weatherby grade V Athena that was first production series made by SKB, for a very reasonable price. It has a Greener cross bolt lock up and locks like a vault. Looks to be hardly if ever used, still very stiff to open.
Comes to my shoulder and eye perfectly.

https://www.gunsinternational....cfm?gun_id=101513995

This message has been edited. Last edited by: armored,
 
Posts: 4609 | Location: Chicago, IL, USA: | Registered: November 17, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Lawyers, Guns
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armored, That Weatherby ~ Athena Grade IV Field ~ 12 gauge is absolutely beautiful!



"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible."
-- Justice Janice Rogers Brown

"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth."
-rduckwor
 
Posts: 23945 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: April 03, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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They come,they go.
The Weatherby was made about the same time as my Son was born, he just had his 33rd Birthday.
I gave him the Shotgun for his Birthday gift.
 
Posts: 4609 | Location: Chicago, IL, USA: | Registered: November 17, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Chilihead and Barbeque Aficionado
Picture of 2Adefender
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You’re a good father. Now you get to buy another one Smile


_________________________
2nd Amendment Defender

The Second Amendment is not about hunting or sport shooting.
 
Posts: 10487 | Location: FL | Registered: December 29, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Lawyers, Guns
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Great gift, armored. I’m sure he will cherish it for a long time.



"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible."
-- Justice Janice Rogers Brown

"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth."
-rduckwor
 
Posts: 23945 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: April 03, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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