Ready to buy a Citori White Lightning or a Beretta Silver Pigeon... new or used???

[crash32]

Hey guys, I usually spend 98% of my time on THR on the handgun and rifle section, but as of lately my interest in skeet and upland bird hunting has increased quite a bit! For about a month, I have done some research and have narrowed it down to the Citori White Lightning or the Beretta Silver Pigeon... both in 28". I am torn on whether I should buy new or not.
I searched the WTS Citori and Silver Pigeons and all of the posts are over a year old! The cheapest I have found the Citori new is $1680 and the Silver Pigeon is $1800. They both feel good to me when I shoulder it so no real preference there except I think that the Silver Pigeon might look a wee bit better.
I am aware that I can buy a used one for up to $800 less with it being in great condition. Any one have any suggestions or is there a website that sells the Browning or Beretta that I want for less than I have found it listed for?

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[oneounceload]

You really should try to shoot both if you can at your local club - the standard rule of thumb is that if one fits you the other most likely won't (Browning vs Beretta) because of the differing stock dimensions used by those makers
If you can't shoot them, do the eyes closed test in the store - pic a point where you can safely point the gun (like at a security camera), close your eyes, mount the gun, open your eyes and see where you are looking - you should see NO rib and be pointing the gun exactly at your target

Whichever one you can do that the best with, buy it

 

[crash32]

Hope no one calls BS, but I have honestly spent about 30 minutes with each gun shouldering it and looking through it. Both of them feel great to me..... sorry but one of them does NOT jump out at me. I can and will shoot both guns well because I'm just a great shooter like that Just kidding

 

[Gordon]

From guys that shoot the snot out of them ; the Silver Pigeon is mechanically more rugged and a little less slab sided. I have earlier Citoris with no complaints other than they feel a bit boxy to me but I heard the newer Lightnings are better in that respect..

 

[CTPistol]

Def go with the Beretta.

Try Joel Etchen guns. He's pretty much the Beretta guru online.

I have owned both and the Beretta is a nicer gun to shoot all day....IMO. The SP will also hold value a bit better if you decide to trade up.

Good luck!

 

[crash32]

What website do you guys go to to find the best prices on new shotguns?

 

[wolfe]

You can't go wrong itch either in my opinion. You'll enjoy shooting skeet all day with either. Have fun and break 'Em all.

 

[crash32]

I was set on a 28", but could have possibly found a deal on a used 32" Silver Pigeon. I feel as if 4 extra inches might be a bit too much. I could maybe see myself going up to a 30 at the most, but feel as if 32" would be too long. What do you guys think?
At the store I was handling a 32" Silver Pigeon and it felt almost the same as the 28" Citori White Lightning since it was lighter.

 

[clang]

I've owned both Citories and 686s, I still own 686s. Both are good guns, but I shoot the Berettas better and they tend to be lighter (I hunt, so this is very important to me).

Longer barrels are in vogue right now. Trap shooters like the 32" barrels. I think the Sporting Clays guys are using 30" barrels. 26" barrels and to a lesser extent 28" barrels are not as desirable as longer barrels with a most people right now.

If I was you, I would look for a good used Beretta 686 (Onyx, Silver Pigeon, etc.). You should be able to get a 28" 12 ga for under $1k. If the 32" gun is a good deal, I would seriously consider it.

Barrel length does matter when pricing used guns. I bought a 26" Onyx last year for $700. Shorter barrels should be cheaper.

Time of year also matters - hunting season is coming up, so prices tend to go up.

 

[Gordon]

For pheasant late seasons,passing doves and pigeons, waterfowl and all clay games once you use a longer barreled (30-32") you will think you died and went to heaven. The longer barrel really helps the swing thing and the muting of the noise , as most of us don't hunt with ear protection, is really nice. However it is not a good choice for quail or most grouse ect. close in or brushy hunting and not a great help at skeet. I'd buy it if it was a good deal.

 

[crash32]

Clang..... a used Silver Pigeon for under $1,000!!! Is this in good condition? If so, then you MUST help me find one
I am willing to purchase a brand new Silver Pigeon I for under $1,800 or a brand new Citori White Lightning for under $1600 (that would be a great deal that I would automatically go for).
On the flip side when purchasing a used one... I will only purchase one that is in great condition. If I go the "used" route I would like to pay no more than $1300 for either one. Can anyone be of any help?
I have looked at gunsamerica, gun broker, etc and have not had any luck finding one at the right price (new or used).

 

[oneounceload]

NEW guns - Able Ammo, Gamaliel, Cole's and Etchen for Beretta. otherwise look on GunsInternational.com

Great choices

IF you have a Gander/Cabelas/BASS near you -go there for trying/shouldering, but buy elsewhere

 

[crash32]

I went to Gander Mountain to handle the Citori White Lightning once again and they wanted $2,230 which I think is even higher than the MSRP on Browning's website!!!!!!

Thanks a ton for the suggestions! By the way, Able Ammo was a bit high compared to the local stores I went to.

 

[tarheel]

PM Sent

 

[ATLDave]

I originally planned to get a 28" barrel, but the manager of the local skeet range convinced me I'd do better with a 32" barrel. Went with it, and I've been happy with it shooting at clays. I was a little worried about how it would transition to the field, but I just shot a half dozen doves with it 3 days ago - I never felt that I was horsing around too much barrel. Maybe I would've mounted a little faster and gotten and extra hit with a shorter barrel, but maybe I would've failed to swing through and missed with a shorter barrel, too. If you can get a notably better deal on a 32", don't fear it. (For reference, I'm 5'9", so it's not that I'm Paul Bunyan and can wave a kentucky long rifle around like a carbine.)

 

[PJR]

How much upland shooting do you plan to do? I own a couple of 32" o/u for target shooting and like them very much. I have used one of them for upland and concluded that I prefer a shorter barrel. My regular upland guns are a 12 gauge sxs with and a 20 gauge semi-auto both with 28" barrels.

 

[clang]

It was a 686 Onyx with 26" barrels for $700 (barrels are actually about 26.5" - they are metric). Some blueing wear on one side of the receiver, but everything else is in great shape. I bought it last Spring.

I would have preferred longer barrels, but I shoot short barreled guns OK too and it was a good price. My regular hunting gun is a Beretta 685 with 26" barrels, fixed chokes (imp Cyl/Mod) and extracters instead of ejectors. It weighs 6 lb 10 oz, so it carries easy all day in the field and it just fits me well.

Again - this is the wrong time of year to get the best deals on shotguns, but if I was you, I would check out local gun shows and bulletin boards at the local ranges and Sportsmans clubs.

 

[tarheel]

Another PM Sent...

 

[7thGenAustinite]

couldn't be happier with my citori. i will never sell/trade this gun