The worst gun beretta has made is still better than most of the franchi line up, let alone all the turkish junk.
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First O/U Franchi or CZ
- Thread starter Brutis
- Start date
The worst gun beretta has made is still better than most of the franchi line up, let alone all the turkish junk.
Lots of good advice here, buy quality. You can probably land a used citori with interchangable chokes for close to your budget. Get to some ranges and mention you are shopping and would like to try some guns for fit. Better selection then nearly any gun store for mid to high end shotguns, and you might just find a deal on a used one at the range too.
Both quality and fit are important, get either one wrong and your gun either won't shoot, or won't hit.
Both quality and fit are important, get either one wrong and your gun either won't shoot, or won't hit.
- Location
- Barrie, Ontario
EDIT, I noticed you already purchased a gun, but I will leave this for future people who are interested.
C
Hey, when you say sporting clay, I am going to assume skeet because you are looking for OUs. I was in the same situation before the summer skeet season started and had exact budget limits that you have. The only difference is that I wanted a gun that would be 90% clays 10% field.
I started looking at all of the entry level guns like Condors, 555s, silver reserve and a few others. Of these the stoeger condor competition was in the lead based on internet research. However, when I actually found these guns and played around with them, I couldn't in good conscience buy one. The fit/finish and most importantly, perceived value, was much lower than I would have imagined. I wanted something that I thought, as a rational and very technical person, could hold up to a lot of hobby shooting, not hundreds of flats a year, but certainly 1000+ rounds a year. As it turns out, I am going to hit that number pretty easily only having owned the gun since fathers day.
This took me to guns made in Italy and a few that were European. I looked at the Bettinsoli, CZ, Franchi and a couple other OUs that don't come to me right now. Also because of what I had seen people using on the skeet range, this 'next level' let me look at a couple of semis as well.
I checked out all of the used boards, guntrader, firearms Canada, etc,etc. Went to look at a few decent priced OUs from the Bs and a few ruger red labels. Side note, I would say that 20% of the ads I replied to were scams.
Long story short, I ended up with a Franchi Instinct L. It had all of the features I wanted (single select trigger, mechanical triggers, 3" chamber, 28" barrels, 7 year warranty and it was a decent weight). The CZ has double triggers, which are not for me, the Bettinsoli was too slender. I actually would have bought a used Beretta Urika 2 if I could have found one in mint condition at the time - and I am glad I didn't. The visible safety factor of the OU, being broken when not shooting certainly makes everyone a lot calmer, and you know, it looks cool too. However, breaking a OU in a duck blind or canoe is going to suck...
Everyone was 'save more, spend more', buy a B gun. 'Buy once, cry once', etc. Hard to argue, but unless you really know your stuff, you could end up with a really old one that has been modified or worse. I saw a lot of guns that were fixed choke at one time but had been bored for removable, and the amount of remaining metal was scary to say the least. Actually there is an used beretta in a store right now (BIG chain store) that is just like that, I certainly wouldn't trust it. A lot of guns become 30+ year safe queens and its tough to figure out the history. Your gut feeling can save you a lot of grief.
Buyer beware, so I bought new, stayed in my budget and happy to say that nearly 40 rounds of skeet later, and many pasture clay sessions, it is just getting better.
Don't cave to pressure and buy a gun you don't like because it is supposed to be better. Go to a knowledgeable store, and find someone who can tell you if it fits properly or what would need to be done to make it fit properly. I will say that I am 6'3 with long arms and big, but slender hands and the Franchi fit me better than almost all of the more expensive guns that people let me try on the field.
You had mentioned the Instinct SL, I personally would say that it is far too light for any amount of clays.
C
C
Hey, when you say sporting clay, I am going to assume skeet because you are looking for OUs. I was in the same situation before the summer skeet season started and had exact budget limits that you have. The only difference is that I wanted a gun that would be 90% clays 10% field.
I started looking at all of the entry level guns like Condors, 555s, silver reserve and a few others. Of these the stoeger condor competition was in the lead based on internet research. However, when I actually found these guns and played around with them, I couldn't in good conscience buy one. The fit/finish and most importantly, perceived value, was much lower than I would have imagined. I wanted something that I thought, as a rational and very technical person, could hold up to a lot of hobby shooting, not hundreds of flats a year, but certainly 1000+ rounds a year. As it turns out, I am going to hit that number pretty easily only having owned the gun since fathers day.
This took me to guns made in Italy and a few that were European. I looked at the Bettinsoli, CZ, Franchi and a couple other OUs that don't come to me right now. Also because of what I had seen people using on the skeet range, this 'next level' let me look at a couple of semis as well.
I checked out all of the used boards, guntrader, firearms Canada, etc,etc. Went to look at a few decent priced OUs from the Bs and a few ruger red labels. Side note, I would say that 20% of the ads I replied to were scams.
Long story short, I ended up with a Franchi Instinct L. It had all of the features I wanted (single select trigger, mechanical triggers, 3" chamber, 28" barrels, 7 year warranty and it was a decent weight). The CZ has double triggers, which are not for me, the Bettinsoli was too slender. I actually would have bought a used Beretta Urika 2 if I could have found one in mint condition at the time - and I am glad I didn't. The visible safety factor of the OU, being broken when not shooting certainly makes everyone a lot calmer, and you know, it looks cool too. However, breaking a OU in a duck blind or canoe is going to suck...
Everyone was 'save more, spend more', buy a B gun. 'Buy once, cry once', etc. Hard to argue, but unless you really know your stuff, you could end up with a really old one that has been modified or worse. I saw a lot of guns that were fixed choke at one time but had been bored for removable, and the amount of remaining metal was scary to say the least. Actually there is an used beretta in a store right now (BIG chain store) that is just like that, I certainly wouldn't trust it. A lot of guns become 30+ year safe queens and its tough to figure out the history. Your gut feeling can save you a lot of grief.
Buyer beware, so I bought new, stayed in my budget and happy to say that nearly 40 rounds of skeet later, and many pasture clay sessions, it is just getting better.
Don't cave to pressure and buy a gun you don't like because it is supposed to be better. Go to a knowledgeable store, and find someone who can tell you if it fits properly or what would need to be done to make it fit properly. I will say that I am 6'3 with long arms and big, but slender hands and the Franchi fit me better than almost all of the more expensive guns that people let me try on the field.
You had mentioned the Instinct SL, I personally would say that it is far too light for any amount of clays.
C
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As for the mechanical workings and reputation, either CZ or Franchi work.
I have the same opinion on an expensive O/U as I do any firearm: go to the store and try shouldering them and swinging them. I wanted a good O/U shotgun so I went to a firearm store for 3 hours: my mission was to get the one that fit me the best, regardless of the money. I tried everything from $500 IGA to insane money, and if they had fit I would had paid it. In the end I got a 12ga/20ga set on sale that fits me so well I can pick the gun up off the table blindfolded and put it on my shoulder, take the blindfold off and my cheek weld and sighting down the barrels is flawless every time.
That gun could be the CZ or the Franchi: try them and don't be afraid to tell the salesperson who is spending the $1500.
For me, it ended up being Franchi... I respect you opinion, but with the thousands of rounds I have put through my Franchi and how well it fits me you'd have to give me a free the most expensive custom Berretta made to pay me to get rid of it.
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- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
I've had and seen issues with all brands from Berreta to the finest American made guns
They're all a POS when they are broke!
buy what fits you, your budget, and enjoy it is what I say and tell anybody that says you made the wrong choice that if they want you will gladly accept their choice -if they buy it for you!
Cat
They're all a POS when they are broke!
buy what fits you, your budget, and enjoy it is what I say and tell anybody that says you made the wrong choice that if they want you will gladly accept their choice -if they buy it for you!
Cat
