Browning owners...I apologize

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skeeterC

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Hi, guys. I have been a Beretta guy forever because they fit me off the shelf. Of course when we're in the clubhouse, I'm one of the guys who poopoos Browning. WELL...
My buddy just bought a B Citori 725 sporting 30" 12 ga. Of course I was happy for him. He let me fondle it awhile, so I closed it up empty and shouldered it, thinking there's no way it will fit me. Whoa! Fit me like a glove! We go to the skeet field and he asks if I'd like to shoot it...duh, ya. So, two shells, pull a double, crush both and.....NO recoil! I couldn't believe how comfy this thing was to shoot. If the clays hadn't broken I would have been lookin' down the barrels for a stuck wad! Really nice wood too.
So, you Browning guys, I will never again poopoo (tech term) your guns...at least the 725. Maybe those extra holes in the barrel actually do something! Also, there is something about the butt pad channeling the force down or something. For anyone looking to buy a good quality gun, do yourself a favor and try one of these before buying.....C.
 
When I first tried skeet, several club members let me shoot their shotguns, and it didn't take long to figure out that the Citori skeet guns fit me extremely well, and Beretta guns fit me very poorly. As a result, I have owned many Citori models over the years, and the Citori parallel comb target guns have always fit perfectly. I purchased a 725 Sporting with 32" barrels two years ago, and it fit quite well, but not perfect, but it still shot fairly well for me. I purchased a 20 gauge 725 Sporting with 30" barrels last fall, and I shoot it even better, although it could use just a touch more drop at comb. I just received both stocks back from Victor Tomlinson, who installed adjustable combs on both, and now I have them fitting me just as I like them. The recoil on the 12 gauge isn't objectionable, but the 20 gauge seems much softer, almost like shooting my 28 gauge Citori, which has been my favorite skeet gun for years.

Over the last two years, the 725s have really been catching on, and we usually have more 725s on the rack at the club, than any other model of shotgun.
 
I have heard it said that if a Beretta fits you, a Browning probably won't. That has been the case with me...up until now. If I'm ever in the market again (not likely, but never say never) I will definitely look at the 725...C.
 
skeeterC said:
I have heard it said that if a Beretta fits you, a Browning probably won't. That has been the case with me...up until now. If I'm ever in the market again (not likely, but never say never) I will definitely look at the 725...C.
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That was often true. The reason was Berettas almost always come with a little cast for a right handed shooter while the Browning stocks were often dead straight until recently. Lately however Browning has incorporated a little right hand cast in many of its shotguns and they are fitting shooters better. Every 725 I've seen has had at least some right-hand cast
 
The reason that Brownings fit me better than Beretta, has nothing to do with cast, it's that Browning generally has more drop at comb, so I am looking down the rib, not at it.
 
I have never had a Beretta in hand I could shoot well? They just never worked for me. Too bad because they are a quality firearm for sure. Browning on the other hand? No issues whatsoever, seems I can shoot almost any of them with the exception of the old Superposed Traps, combs are a tad high for me. As well I prefer the larger pistol grip and forends of the Brownings. I have big hands and the Berettas feel way too small in my hands. Now I would never poopoo the Beretta's. I save that for Remington's and Ljutics!! ;) Exception being the Remington 90T but then that's a Kolar anyways!! :)
 
I'm a Browning guy (shotguns only)... my son is a Beretta guy... they are both good guns... I am equally comfortable with either gun and shoot the same scores (equally bad)...
 
Don't know too much about those Crossovers. Is the idea that they're good for everything? Have another buddy that bought one... not workin' too good for him. I would happily trade one of my Berettas for the 725 Citori.... wouldn't trade for the Crossover. Just my preference... C.
 
skeeterC said:
Don't know too much about those Crossovers. Is the idea that they're good for everything? Have another buddy that bought one... not workin' too good for him. I would happily trade one of my Berettas for the 725 Citori.... wouldn't trade for the Crossover. Just my preference... C.
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How is it not working too good for him? Are there mechanical issues, or does he just not shoot well with the gun
 
Both Browning & Beretta are quality firearms. I've owned several of each and find that NONE really fit me off the shelf ... but have found a few of each that were
close. My difficulty is opposite of stubblejumpers in that most shotguns are too low in the comb and do not have any or sufficient cast-off. I like a good
bit of cast-off at the comb and even more at the toe, with negative pitch.

Fortunately I have a good gunsmith who can make the adjustments I need without having to go to an adjustable comb. I don't dislike them, just would
rather not have one despoiling an otherwise nice piece of wood. Resultantly, I don't change guns too often. I've also had a SxS bent and reworked to fit
me for field shooting. Not inexpensive, but certainly worth it, and much less than having a bespoke gun made.

I quite liked a Browning 325 I had, and at the time found the regular 6xx series of Beretta's a little unwieldy. Along the way I found a 682 Gold that worked well for
me and fell in love with a buddy's ASE90-Gold... that he wouldn't sell. After looking high & low for one, I opted for the then new DT-10 Sporter, which I had my gunsmith
work over to fit me. Been shooting it since 2000, together with a couple of 391 Parallel Targets. Tried the new DT-11's but found they didn't balance or move to my
liking. Haven't yet had the opportunity to try a 725 Sporter, but look forward to the opportunity.

So I make no apologies to either Browning or Beretta, or to Kreighoff, Perazzi or Kolar ... use whatever fits, balances and moves the way you like it !
After literally hundreds of pattern sheets and a number of fitting adjustments, not to mention flats & flats of shells, I KNOW IT'S ME and not the gun, make of gun or cartridge
when the enevitable miss(es) happen.
 
skeeterC said:
Don't know too much about those Crossovers. Is the idea that they're good for everything? Have another buddy that bought one... not workin' too good for him. I would happily trade one of my Berettas for the 725 Citori.... wouldn't trade for the Crossover. Just my preference... C.
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The "Crossover" is NOTHING like the 725 Citori. Its an entry level O/U by Browning to intrigue new shooters on a budget. (although a nice gun) The Winchester 101 is the exact same gun. Both made in the same plant but labelled differently (now that Winchester is made in Belgium and Browning in Japan)....They are both owned by FN.
 
stubblejumper said:
How is it not working too good for him? Are there mechanical issues, or does he just not shoot well with the gun
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I think it must be him. I mean, if a gun goes bang, and it can hit a pattern paper, there aren't too many excuses left in yer pocket! It is still quite new to him. When I picked the gun up I just didn't like the balance and swing characteristics. Felt a little clunky. The Citori, on the other hand, just felt like a part of me. Do those extra holes in the barrel really do something?? Very, very little recoil. I hate 'em, but maybe they work? HA.... C.
 
skeeterC said:
I think it must be him. I mean, if a gun goes bang, and it can hit a pattern paper, there aren't too many excuses left in yer pocket! It is still quite new to him. When I picked the gun up I just didn't like the balance and swing characteristics. Felt a little clunky. The Citori, on the other hand, just felt like a part of me. Do those extra holes in the barrel really do something?? Very, very little recoil. I hate 'em, but maybe they work? HA.... C.
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Exactly, if the gun functions properly, and patterns well, it isn't the fault of the gun that one person can't shoot it well. The Crossover and 725 are both Citori shotguns, but the Crossover balances like the older series of Citori shotguns, in that there is more weight in the barrels than with the 725 series. I actually prefer slightly longer barrels on the 725 series guns for this reason.
 
deckerhead said:
The "Crossover" is NOTHING like the 725 Citori. Its an entry level O/U by Browning to intrigue new shooters on a budget. (although a nice gun) The Winchester 101 is the exact same gun. Both made in the same plant but labelled differently (now that Winchester is made in Belgium and Browning in Japan)....They are both owned by FN.
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You might want to take a closer look at the 101. Ever see a Citori with locking lugs on the face of the receiver.

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=020C&mid=513054#center

As far as the "new shooters" goes. You can add smart to the new part. If I was looking for a Browning Sporter it would be the one I chose.
 
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deckerhead said:
The "Crossover" is NOTHING like the 725 Citori. Its an entry level O/U by Browning to intrigue new shooters on a budget. (although a nice gun) The Winchester 101 is the exact same gun. Both made in the same plant but labelled differently (now that Winchester is made in Belgium and Browning in Japan)....They are both owned by FN.
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At $2000.00 or more, depending on the retailer, how does the Crossover fit into the entry level O/U category? Perhaps Mossberg, Baikal, CZ and a few others can meet the criteria, but I humbly beg to differ with your assessment...
 
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