browning gold hunter vs. beretta A390

StevieK

StevieK

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I have been looking around for a used semi-auto and found 2 that fit into my price range. They are the browning gold hunter and the beretta A390. I have heard a lot of good things about the browning gold, but not as much about the A390. With the price being the same, which would you choose?
 
They are both good guns, but if price and condition are the same I would go with the Beretta. I think the Beretta action is better. (I have owned both, and still own the Beretta)
 
I have the gold hunter and it has allways functioned well. After a few thousand rounds I had a problem but that was because I never knew how to cleen the gas ports. A friend of mine had a beretta and he had problems when were were hunting in cold weather. It was like this for years and a gunsmith could not figure out what was happening. When he moved to another area and took it to another smith he found out it had a cracked gas tube and it most likely came like that from the factory since it did it since it was almost new. But after that was replaced it functioned flawlessley.
 
I'd choose the AL390 all other things being equal but only because I've owned one and thought highly of it. The Browning is also a very good shotgun. IMO it's the equal of the 390.
 
Fassteel, I see in your sig you make reference to Kent being back. Do you have contact info for where to get some? They were the best!
(sorry for the thread hijack)
 
After around 10 000 rounds (mostly target loads) my Browning gold is getting fussy about being clean. In its younger years it dident care how dirty or what loads you fed it, it worked great. My brother in law has a Beretta and it has never worked properly but I always assumed it was him and his total lack of maintenance so I cant give it a fare assessment. If I was in the market for a new semi, I would pick up another browning no problem.
 
Can't go wrong with either. I have owned several brownings and now shoot a beretta. If you have a chance, try to test mount both and see which one you prefer.
 
I would go with the 390. Had two of them and really regret selling my first one. I now have two 391s which I really like, but the 390 is simpler and easier to maintain. I really do not have anything bad to say about the browning. Just my choice. As much as I like m 391s they would probably go down the road if beretta would bring back the 390 with the stock and rib design of the parallel target.
 
I've had both and both are great guns. If you can, try putting each to your shoulder. While they are both adjustable using shims at the stock the grip angles and weight distribution are different.

Pick the one that feels best, keep them clean, and have some fun crushing targets and getting birds!
 
Having owned both and having put both through some extreme waterfowling conditions, hundreds of rounds at the skeet ranges and a little upland hunting I am sold on the Browning. I have owned a gold sporting golden clays, a gold 10, a browning silver(same guts) and 2 390's, a 12 and a 20. The 390 12 ga I had decided to quit cycling after the first season of goose hunting and it was cleaned meticulously. I never did find the problem but it was toatally and completely unreliable. The brownings on the other hand worked flawlessly, in fact when I bought the silver I decided to not clean it at all the first season, I put a couple hundred rounds through it on the skeet field to break it in then put two hunting seasons behind it firing 4 cases of steel through it in two seasons w/o once cleaning the action. I only ever oiled the outside. It never so much as jammed, hiccupped or gave any indication it wouldnt keep going. I have just purchased a Maxus, we'll see how it works! BROWNING ALL THE WAY FOR THIS GUY!!!!!:cool:
 
StevieK said:
For any of you that have owned both, how is the recoil? Is there any difference? Also, does one handle the cheap walmart target loads better?
Click to expand...

Recoil is more of a perceived thing and except for weight will depend on gun fit. As far as the cheap wally world stuff goes I have never had a problem with any of it in any gun. BTW most sporting stores sell bulk cheap stuff cheaper than the wally stuff.
 
A word of warning about someone who is looking for a 390. Many owners have never taken the time to understand how to reassemble after strip down. I have seen quite a few with parts missing (usually the gas vent spring and/or base) installed imcomplete, backwards or in the wrong spot. Sometimes the gun will actually function this way with certain loads and sometime the gun has been damaged. Just something to keep in mind.
Be sure to try before you buy.
 
Having owned several of each (probably more like 4-5 of each) the Browning Gold has the edge over the Beretta in my opinion.

I am currently shooting a Gold Sporting Golden Clays Edition and it's a machine... just keep on going with minimal cleaning. Over 15,000 rounds so far.

The Beretta's seem more popular, but I have seen several that have started acting up after only a few thousand rounds.

I have yet to have anyone I shoot with be disappointed with their Gold.
 
I like Browning products. I own several A-bolts and am a browning fan. I have had a few browning shotguns and I really liked them. I currently own a beretta extrema 2 and it is by far my favorite shotgun that i have owned .
 
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