Christmas O/U (Advice Please)

I'm not trying to derail your thread, but can I ask why you want an O/U for shooting the clay games?

Browining Citori. Check out the Browing web site and look at the sporting models. The Citori is heavy which is a good thing for clays. The Beretta Silver Pigeon would be a good one too. I shot a round of skeet with one a couple of weeks ago and noticed its frame was shallower than the Citori's. Over all I really like the feel of the Citori. See if you can try out some different guns to see what feels best to you.

I think that in you wife's (what a wounderful woman she must be) stated price range I would stick with the B guns as the quality and longevity of these guns is well known and you really couldn't go wrong with either one.

Do you want the OU only for clays or do you want it for hunting too.

If both, I would go with a 20ga for the best of both worlds.

If what I say is blasphemy then go with the 12 ga in the Beretta SP or Browning Citori.

The Citori or the SP are both good guns but if I had my choice it would be the SP hands down. I own both of these in the trap models and comparing the two the Beretta is a better built gun only because there fit and finish is better than the Browning.

I like the Berettas better than the Brownings but this is your gun and most important is finding the one that fits you and feels best in your hands. Some shooters like the heavier forward weight of the Citori, others like the more nimble feeling of the Beretta. Either will serve you well.

But to be honest for an aspiring clay shooter with $2,500 to spend my advice would be to buy a Beretta 391 semi-automatic and spend the rest of the money getting lessons from Gil and Vicki Ash.

That would be my advice as well. Get a semi-auto and some lessons. You'll enjoy the sports that much more.

Forget about what everyone else is using. There's no way I could keep up with the Kreigers and Perazzis at the clubs I frequent.

I prefer Brownings and Winchester SX3s to the Berettas but any S/A will work fine.

It aint the gun, it's the shooter!

There's no way I could keep up with the Kreigers and Perazzis at the clubs I frequent

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I can and did.

But shoot my 391 just as well as my P-guns.

However I shoot ALL my guns better after two days with Gil and Vicki.

In your price range, a Browning or Beretta will fit the bill - they are two different-handling guns, so try them both to see which fits your style the best

Select Sporting

You can't go wrong with any of the guns suggested, but if you are looking for a 12 gauge, take a look at the Winchester Platinum Sporting.

These guns are relatively new. I purchased one about six months ago. The quality is outstanding (they are made in Belgium). Mine has had about 2000 rounds through it with no malfunctions.

The gun lists for $2600, but they can be found much cheaper. The receiver is similiar to a Beretta, and the Sporting model has all the whistle and bells (Backbored, extended chokes, porting, and interchangeable front sights.)

I really like mine.

Not sure if this is too big of a concern, but the O/U might have more recoil than the semi-auto, something worth researching.

And make sure it fits.

You can't go wrong with any of the guns suggested, but if you are looking for a 12 gauge, take a look at the Winchester Platinum Sporting.

These guns are relatively new. I purchased one about six months ago. The quality is outstanding (they are made in Belgium). Mine has had about 2000 rounds through it with no malfunctions.

The gun lists for $2600, but they can be found much cheaper. The receiver is similiar to a Beretta, and the Sporting model has all the whistle and bells (Backbored, extended chokes, porting, and interchangeable front sights.)

I really like mine.

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I've sold a few of these. I agree 100%, solid, well balanced and excellent lock up. They are not big sellers, but IMO not because of the gun. You should be able to find them for alot less than $2600.

The machining is as fine as I have seen. The feedback I get on these is much the same as above.

If you can stretch your budget just a bit, you would do very well to consider a Caesar Guerini Summit Sporting. Do some searching and read what people have to say...these are excellent guns. If you don't mind buying slightly used, you should have no problem finding one within your price range. Many feel they are far superior to Browning and Beretta. They are even available with left handed wood.

http://www.gueriniusa.com/gun_models/summit_sp/SummitSporting.shtml

bmars,

Your wife wants to buy you a nice gun for Christmas and you have been wanting an O/U to pass down to your children/grandchildren. For these reasons, you should get a new gun........ and it should be an O/U. Sometimes the occasion is not just about getting the best bargain or even what gun you may shoot the best. Sometimes it's just best to get what you want, and what your wife wants to buy for you.

For $2,500 you should be able to choose among most, if not all, the O/U's made by Browning and Beretta. Both are good choices.

The Browning Citori's are a bit heavier than the Berettas and soak up recoil better. Their triggers/action are also a bit simpler and easier to work on if necessary to replace parts or repair.

The Berettas, OTOH, are a bit more sleek and lighter than the Brownings. Both are good guns. Both companies offer a wide variety of models to choose from. Research them thoroughly before making your decision.

Personally, I tend to favor the Brownings, but have no complaints about the Beretta O/U's. O/U shotguns do tend to kick a bit more than semi-autos, so if you plan to do much target shooting with it, you might take that into consideration.

Extra weight in a gun definitely helps soak up recoil. It's probably no coincidence that two of the best and most durable high cost shotguns (Krieghoff and Kolar) are also fairly heavy guns weighing in excess of 9 pounds in most models.

Check out the Brownings and Berettas and get the one you like best. I don't think you can make a wrong decision with either.

Merry Christmas

Yes, however, there are many more gun manufacturers than Browning and Beretta. I would even add that some of those are better made.

Wouldn't you want the gun that you shot best?

Whatever you do make sure you handle it first. Shoulder it, shoulder it and shoulder it again with your eyes closed.

I would venture to guess that alot of the B & B crowd wouldn't even consider another gun even if it shot better for them.

My White Onyx Sporter is the entry level Beretta O/U. Great shotgun.

I would venture to guess that alot of the B & B crowd wouldn't even consider another gun even if it shot better for them.

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Beretta and Browning are known for making guns that offer good value.

I like SKB's also, myself, but SKB's are no secret to a lot of shotgunners.

Winchester is about the only good brand that I think doesn't get much recognition these days. Browning should have branded the Select, IMO.

But seriously, hags, Guerinis are great, but a lot more expensive than a B-gun. Ljutic makes a great trap gun, and Perazzi's quality and performance aren't questioned. Blaser, Kolar, Krieghoff, they're great, too. None of them are near the price of a Browning or Beretta unless you insist on getting one of the silly overadorned B-guns.

Now I'm no fan of the Citori's geometry, nor of the Superposed it imitates, but they do start to come alive when the barrels get long enough. And the beasts do soak up a lot of recoil simply by being heavy as hell. I just can't get used to their height in 12. Maybe I was really meant to shoot a SxS or something, but I don't much like my front hand so far below the barrels.

I think it's a fair bet, though, that someone who really likes a Beretta won't like a Browning all that much, or vice versa.

WRT a semiauto, they're dirty contraptions, no matter how nice they are. I'm tempted to get a little one now that I live in a state that doesn't require a plug for upland hunting, but that's about it. My only semi shotgun sits in the safe. If I ever get real rich, I'm going to hire a gun cleaner. As it stands, I get tired of that particular chore, except with a break-action, which makes it almost a pleasure.

All of that is personal preference. But this much I can say: my choices have nothing to do with what someone else is shooting. Lately, I've mostly been using an ancient 16 Gauge SxS I picked up just over a couple hundred bucks.

bmars, congratulations on your good fortune! My you choose what you enjoy, and enjoy what you choose!

I haven't seen the new Beretta in person, but I just read this review.

www.shootinguk.co.uk/guns/281356/Beretta_Sv10_Perennia_shotgun_review.html

My first reaction was - nice looking gun. My second reaction was - only 7.25# for a clays guns? (And I'd avoid the Kick-Off recoil reducer like the plague. I tried it on one of their autoloading duck guns and it throws the balance waaaay off. Too much added weight in the butt.)

I like the feel of Berettas more than I like the Citoris, but the only O/U I own is a 28 ga. Guerini Woodlander - their entry level hunting gun @ $2500 with a wooden recoil pad

I vote for whatever you think shoulders the best and looks good to you. I'd stick to Browning or Beretta for a $2k gun. A new Guerini sporting gun will run another grand or two more.

I have quite a few autoloaders, but none of them are worth more than a grand. Okay, $750.

John

the SKB is a fine gun for the money. they handle & shoot well & are built on the proven Greener action. you & many generations after you will not wear it out. worth a look.

The SV10 Perennia is put forth as an upland field gun. It will have sightly different cast and drop and pattern than a sporting/skeet/trap clays gun. The SV10 still makes me drool however, and I would gladly kick my old (very loved) Browning Lightning to the curb if my wife was thinking about buying me one...

You are one lucky guy!!!

i too have been wanting a o/u , i found a used silver snipe , if i was going to buy a new one it would be a browning or a ruger red label, or 686 beretta, they all make fine guns, you should go look at them and see what you like best and what fits you, and i think you better be doing some shopping for your wife shes a keeper! csa

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