Bemington 870 or Beretta A390 ST

[ema357]

I am new to shotguns,I have fired them but this will be my first to own. I have been looking at a Remington 870 Combo, which has a synthetic stock, 18.5 and 26 or 28 inch barrel for $500. I came across a Beretta A 390 ST synthetic stock, 26 inch barrel black matt finish for $450 new in box. I will be using the gun for Deer and Pheasant hunting and some target shooting. I like the Beretta for $450, but I need more information.
Thanks

 

[rule303]

Buy the Beretta and don't look back.

 

[oneounceload]

Grab that Beretta for that price

 

[Teachu2]

Beretta!

 

[AI&P Tactical]

The 870 combo is your best value of the two. You have two barrels for very different shooting and hunting. Have you priced the Barretta barrels? Do that and you will agree with the 870 being the best option.

Also, there are over 100 barrels made for the 12ga 870 so that one weapon can become many. No other maufacturer or model has this kind of versitility. None.

 

[oneounceload]

Sorry, but the pump doesn't come close, and for what the OP wants it for - hunting and targets, the 28" barrel will work just fine

 

[JAshley73]

Um, buy both, and send that Beretta my way!

 

[pesty3782]

shotgun

I have two 870's and 2 beretta's....Beretta's for hunting 870's to play with fix up and beat up

tony P.

 

[AI&P Tactical]

There is no benifit of a 28" barrel in deer hunting. If fact it makes things worse as getting around in the woods with that thing is difficult. A 20" smooth bore rifle sight barrel for an 870 is $145 and there are factory new 20" fully rifled barrels to be found for the 870 for around $175. As I stated there are over 110 barrels made for the 12ga 870 so the OP has versitility that he will not find with that other model.

I am not aware of an 870 combo that comes with an 18.5" and he may be mistaken and the 870 has the 20" rifle sight barrel. So he has a perfect barrel for slugs or buck shot when deer hunting and a longer Vent Rib barrel for the field shooting or sport shooting.

His desire to have a versitile shotgun makes the 870 a better value for him as it has for the other over 10 Million people who own them.

 

[Fastcast]

Beretta, even if the 870 has 3 barrels.

Pheasants and targets, I'd take the Beretta hands down and I'd just make due with the 26" barrel & I/C choke for deer....A 26" 390 isn't that long.

390 is in another league for 2 out of the 3 things you want to do.....870 (even with 2 barrels) is only better at 1 of those 3 things....your choice.

 

[rbernie]

The Beretta is by far the better choice from most any perspective other than parts-swap-ability.

I have more 870s than 390s, but I value the 390s far more than any 870.

 

[Uniquedot]

The 870 is more versatile and the 870 will never jam, but for that price i would have to say get the beretta. You can buy a used wingmaster for $250 when and if you want to add the versatility of the 870 pump.

 

[DaleCooper51]

Just make sure that you are legally allowed to hunt with a semiauto before dropping the cash. For example, PA requires a manually operated firearm for deer.

 

[Milkmaster]

Either choice will work. The gas operated Beretta will have less felt recoil. I would buy the Beretta for that good price. 870's willl be around for a long time to buy later.

 

[gpb]

I assume the 870 is an Express. In that case get the Beretta.

 

[ema357]

I went to look at the guns today, correction the Rem has a 23" and a 28", Combo package.
The Beretta has a 28" barrel made by Stoeger in Turkey (does Beretta own Stoeger). I can not do anything untill Monday. I am leaning toword the Beretta, based on the the info I received thank you all. Also customers that were in the store while I was there. Again thanks. I can see a remington in the future.

 

[oneounceload]

Beretta owns Benelli, Stoeger, SAKO, Tikka and several others as independent companies

 

[tazbigdog]

You have more barrel options with the 870. But I'd buy a Beretta!

 

[back40]

the beretta sounds like an awesome deal. however, if it were me i'd decide whether i wanted a pump or a semi and go from there. if you want the reliability and versatility of an 870 pump, the beretta may not be what you want. regardless of how good the deal is.

 

[LeonCarr]

Call me old skool...870.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[ErieLurker]

AI&P's advice is certainly more practical - for the same money, an 870 can be fitted out to do just about everything, more or less optimally.

But since I've shot both, I do have to say that shooting the Beretta was more fun!

Your money...

 

[rbernie]

In the FWIW department - I've bought my last three Beretta 390 barrels for less than $150 each. That's not bad for chrome lined barrels - something that the 870 doesn't offer.

Each of my 390s has a 24" and 28" barrel, and I'm well less than six Franklins into each package. They have no peer for highly reliable and flexible semiauto utility shotguns.