New O/U

[spikehunter]

I am getting a new over/under for graduation. The ones I am considering is the Beretta 686 white onyx and browning citori. Are there any others I should take a look at in this price range? Anyone have a strong opinion on either of these? (it will be used for everything)
ps I have shot a couple O/U before and love them, but just neither of these two

 

[oletymer]

You might take a look at the Browning Cynergy. I own a 686, Citori and a Cynergy and for me the Cynergy handles the best. All are good guns.

 

[oneounceload]

All are great entry-level O/Us - but you really need to fire each one to determine which one fits the best - fit is everything and typically, if the Beretta fits, then the Browning does not. Not better or worse, just different. Among those three, buy the fit, not the name

 

[KzooClaybuster]

I second the previous poster's opinion to buy the fit not the brand. I was in an identical situation when I finished college. My gift from my parents was an O/U. I did a ton of research, made a list of features, compared what was available, etc. Long story short, I ended up with what was #5 on my list because it was what fit me.

I have seen a LOT of shooters buy the latest and greatest shotguns over the years only to see them trade them off after a few months because they don't fit.

 

[chas08]

I second the previous poster's opinion to buy the fit not the brand.

I would agree with this if I never planned to spend another penney on the gun. But it's not that expensive to have a stock cut or bent to have the gun fitted to you " if it's the gun you want". Why settle for an 8lb behemoth because it fits, if what you want is a 7 1/4 lb gun that has a 1/2" length of pull to much. Buy what you want, and have it tailored to fit for a few hundred dollars more. Most times for less than a hundred dollars. I'm fortunate that a 14 inch LOP and 1 1/2" drop at comb and 2 1/2" of drop at heel fits me pretty well. but I've had my main winter hunting guns cut to 13& 3/4 to accomodate South Texas winter clothing. I wouldnt buy a Citori because it "Fit", if what I really wanted was the Onyx.....Congratulations on your Graduation....

 

[Red Cent]

"Eight to nine pounds is most popular in American skeet, in all gauges, because smoothly redundant swings are needed and hundreds of shells may be fired in one day. In the long run, it's easier to be better with a heavy gun. Since we can shoot with our shotguns pre-mounted, there is no rush getting them up to the shoulder, either."

"For dove hunting and sporting clays use, guns weighing from seven to eight pounds appear to be the most popular. Not having to walk nearly as far, the smoother swing and lower recoil of a heavier gun helps far more than it hurts. Most any weight gun can be used, but as far as I'm concerned any type of high volume shooting calls for a heavier, softer shooting gun."

"Most of the top shooters want a gun over eight pounds and a lot of winners go to ten-pound guns or even heavier. Like skeet, American trap shooting starts with the gun pre-mounted, and hundreds of shells may be fired in a day. Weight is not much of an issue, while long sighting planes (30-34 inch barrels are typical) and smooth swings rule the day."

"An easy way to test shotgun weight is just to shoot a few crossers at the local skeet field or sporting clays course. If you need to consciously force your scattergun to keep swinging, you have probably gone a bit too far in the lightweight, whippy, stutter swing direction."

I use a Remington Premier Comp gun for skeet and sporting clays(relatively light). I use a SKB Combo gun for trap (a little on the heavy side).

 

[Red Cent]

Good read.

http://www.herosarms.com/Selecting.htm

 

[scrod008]

I went through this exact same thing with the exact 2 guns you have listed. I thought at first that I really wanted the Onyx but after shouldering both of them the Citori just "felt right". You want to buy a gun that fits or have it fitted, that is more important than anything. I lucked out and ran across an used Citori in mint condition and picked it up for $800, a buddy of mine has a Berretta Silver Pigeon III that he has over 3K in and it doesn't fit him, he would rather shoot my cheap gun.

 

[45crittergitter]

Might want to check these out

http://baserrishotguns.com/

 

[tactikel]

Beretta and Browning make great guns, so to echo the above, buy the fit. I would suggest you try to wear what you are likely to wear when you shoot the gun. A gun that fits you in a T-shirt may not feel right if you wear a heavy hunting coat. I picked a hunting coat off the rack at a big box store to check the fit of: Rem 887, Moss. 500, Moss 835, BPS. Put the coat back, bought the 835. Congradulations on your graduation!

 

[Jon_Snow]

As others have said, fit is the most important, whether your get one that fits out of the box or one that can be modified to fit later. In my experience, the Brownings tend to have longer LOP's and the Citori is taller than the Cynergy. I've got a long neck, long arms and bad posture, so for me the Citori fits great with minimal use of an adjustable cheekpiece.

 

[Mr_Pale_Horse]

I will suggest SKB and Weatherby (which are sourced from SKB).

www.skbshotguns.com

www.weatherby.com

 

[ArmedBear]

I will suggest SKB and Weatherby (which are sourced from SKB).

Sadly, SKBs are out of production, but some are still in the pipeline. Weatherby has not sourced their guns from SKB for a few years now; they get them from Fausti Stefano.

A few SKB Weatherby O/Us are still at CDNN for good prices, though I don't have a use for a 26" 12 Gauge upland gun that weighs that much. The 20 might be worth grabbing, for $899 new.

 

[wgp]

I find that Berettas do not fit me properly and I have just never liked the "feel" of the Citori. I really like SKBs (you can find them new or used) and I recently traded for a Winchester 101 and really like it. I was very close to buying a new Franchi Renaissance and would have if I had not happened on the 101.

Before you buy, pick up several brands, shoulder them, see how they fit and feel in your hands. There are differences.

 

[greyling22]

ruger red label? it's worth look. it's not as popular or as sexy as some of the others, but it's worth a look. some people really like them. I personally like the beretta 686 onyx. it fit me better than the citori.

 

[Mr_Pale_Horse]

Weatherby has not sourced their guns from SKB for a few years now; they get them from Fausti Stefano.

I should have mentioned that Weatherby D'Italia (Orion and Athena) are NOT SKB. But as ArmedBear mentioned, there are many SKB Weatherby's still to be had NIB. Check Gunbroker or Hero Arms.