Another 'help me choose' thread

[Jon_Snow]

I'm looking for a new (to me) shotgun. I currently own a pair of 870's, one set up for trap, the other for HD. I shoot trap fairly often and would like to upgrade/try something new, so I focused my search on used 12 ga. O/U. Here's what I found:

1) Browning 425, 30" barrels, adjustable comb, "used but unfired" condition, asking $899.
2) Beretta Silver Snipe 28" barrels, fixed mod/full chokes, like new condition, asking $695
And then something else caught my eye:
3) Winchester Model 12 Take-down, 12 ga, 26" barrel, looks like it was often carried but seldom shot, jeweled bolt and shell carrier (I don't care about the looks but I'm not sure if that means this is a trap/skeet version), asking $575

So here are my questions:
1) What's the difference between the 425 and the current 625's and should I care?
2) What's a good price on that model 12?
3) What are people's impressions/opinions of the Beretta's?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Virginian]

You need to decide what you want, or get a loan and get them all. Do you want an O/U or another pump? I don't do O/Us, but if that was what I wanted, I would get the one that felt best. I haven't heard of a lot of Brownings and Berettas getting kicked to the curb because they were crappy guns. I am no Browning expert, but always check to make sure you aren't looking at one of the infamous salt wood guns. Otherwise I think all that's changed are the styles. I had a Beretta O/U in the '60s and it was a beautiful well built little gun, I just couldn't shoot it.
I have never understood the fascination with Model 12s. I know tons of people wax nostalgic about how great they were, but it eludes me. I have a friend who collects them. Every time I see him another one is at the gunsmith's getting repaired, and he has had all these for years, half of them look new, and they all get babied.

 

[Jon_Snow]

I swung by the store again today and I think the model 12 is out. With fewer people in the store I took my time handling the other two. Both feel great, both fit me very well. The comb on the Browning is too shallow, but it's adjustable so that's an easy fix. The major difference is that the Browning feels heavier, slower to swing, but smoother. I'm also not sure if the mod/full chokes will be useful when I head out to the sporting clay range. Finally, I'm worried about any potential repairs I may have to make on the Beretta, since it's so old am I going to be able to find parts?

 

[Dave McCracken]

Berettas handle better for me, but YMMV. At around the 80K rounds point, some smithing may be needed to tighten things back up.

Same with Brownings.

Mod/Full is a bit tight for most Sporting layouts and shooters. My favorite SC choke is LM, and I could shoot 90% of the targets with IC and be happy if not supergood..

 

[oneounceload]

While both Beretta and Browning are great entry level guns, they are very different in handling. Usually, if one of them fits you well, the odds are the other won't - that's not a knock on one- it is what it is as far as fit goes. It would be in your best interest to try and shoot both - not just shoulder them - and see what works best for you.