Beretta 687 EL Gold Pigeon or Citori XS Sporting?

[cat_IT_guy]

I am in the market for a new clays gun. I mostly shoot trap and skeet, and having been doing pretty well with my Remington 870, but I think that its about time I move up to something more 'worthy' of the task.

I have narrowed my options to a Browning Citori XS Sporting or a Beretta 687 EL Gold Pigeon. The Citori new would cost about $2300 + tax. I was recently offered a Beretta, lightly used, for $2250.

I have handled both of the guns. They are both very nice, with a slight edge going to the beretta in balance and looks.

Is there anything that I should know about these guns that should influence my decision? I would have a gunsmith check out the Beretta before I would buy it, just to make sure. The Beretta has a much higher MSRP, but that doesnt always mean its a better gun - not to take anything away from Beretta.

Any other thoughts on the decision?

 

[ArmedBear]

The Beretta and the Browning are at two ends of the handling spectrum. The Beretta is sleek and low-profile; the Citori is notably boxy. Whichever you like best, you'll like best.

(I used to dislike the Citori, but then I started shooting a Superposed, which balances very similarly, and warmed up to it, at least with 30" barrels. I still think the shorter variants are too tall for their length.)

One showstopper for me with the Citori XS Sporting is the porting. Ineffective gimmick that makes the gun louder for bystanders and transforms cleaning an O/U from a snap to a PITA. Yuck!

For the same price, I'd get the Beretta. It balances better, it's prettier, and it's got barrels instead of elongated collanders. Furthermore, I think it'll be easier to adjust from the 870 to the Beretta.

Furthermore, if the gun has been properly maintained, the lightly-used Beretta is a much better deal. When you buy a new Citori, it will become lightly-used and go down in value in the first week. The lightly-used Beretta will likely be worth the same in a year as it is now, assuming you treat it well.