I'm not looking for a Sporting Clays gun - but do you have any guidance if I was....

Rob!

Rob!

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So, I used to shoot trap ~ 35 years ago. I just got too expensive with a growing family and I had to leave it behind. Family all grown up and hair turned grey, I've returned to clays - sporting clays this time. My current shot gun is a well worn 870 express that I used to use for back country patrol. We used to do 50 round qualifications with 1 1/4 oz slugs, so I'd actually taken a coarse file to the butt pad to improve the fit into my shoulder. The gun fits me well - and it shoots where I look - even if I'm not looking where I should be. :rolleyes:

Now, I'm not really thinking of buying a new shotgun - honest hon'....

But at the club yesterday, I kinda' inquired if a guy was looking - whatcha got? I should start by declaring a bias. I've owned a lot of Brownings over the years - and really wanted to like them, but I have never had one I was satisfied with. (Well except for a BL22 that had an incredibly slick action). Citori, BPS trap, and I even spent a few hundred rounds over a friends BT99. None felt good nor did I shoot them well. Lesson learned - sort of.

I asked to see Berettas and of course, the Silver Pigeon 1 came off the rack. Length of pull was nearly 14 3/4. I'm a short guy with short arms and a big chest / belly. Between the LOP and the lack of pitch, I wouldn't have got through a rental session. Yes, could get one and head for the stock fitter, but I'm not crazy about spending that much on something I can't try out first (and be reasonably happy with the trial).

I rented a Citori CX. (Heck it's been 35 years) Spacer removed, it actually fit pretty well - but it felt like a blocky mill cut 2 x 4. 100 rounds later, I was convinced it would be more useful as a club that a shotgun. (My starting bias may have entered into this impression just a tiny bit.)

The owner - eager to weaken my resolve not to buy - pulled out the Franchis. Shouldered a few but the surprise came with the Instinct Catalyst. It's marketed as a ladies gun, and I don't think anyone would describe me as lady like - but short LOP, Positive pitch, slim grip and forend..... This gun fit like I'd hoped the Beretta would.

He says he's had Franchis in the rental rotation in the past and they survived (~10,000 rounds) and were sold used in good shape except for some dings and scratches. He'll be putting the Instinct Catalyst into the rentals shortly and it's going to go for a walkabout with me. :)

Anything I should know about these?

Not that I'm looking for a new shotgun or anything...........................

Rob!
 
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I am biased as I own them, but the Browning 725s are incredible shotguns. IMO there is not a beretta made that matches their fit and finish. I find the Berettas feel good initially, because of their thin lines, but in the long run they just don't do it for me.

I also own a Franchi, and its the gun I recommend when you are sorting out if clays are for you. The Instinct is a field gun, so its not heavy enough for repetitive shooting, and it did make it about 10k rounds before it started to make funny sounds. It points naturally and looks nice and comes in a quality case too.

The older clitoris are a bit clunkier, with taller and I believe wider receivers and the beaver tail forend. The newer ones solve all of that with sleeker design and the tulip forend, which I favor.

If you liked the CX, I would consider looking for a 3-625 sporting clays 12g. There show up on the EE periodically. I shot with a guy that picked up a 625 golden clays yesterday and it is a beautiful firearm. However, the DS chokes in the 725 are the best I have ever used.

Good luck, lots of options.
C
 
Get a gun that fits, and don't get a lightweight field gun if you intend to shoot a lot of rounds in a session. The Berettas and many other Italian guns seem to be the opposite fit to the Brownings, if Beretta fits, Browning usually doesn't. I have owned over a dozen Citri shotguns over the years, with no issues from any of them, but the 725 series definitely swing different than the previous models. There is less weight in the 725 barrels, and I find that they swing much quicker as a result. I have no experience with Franchi, as they don't fit me at all.
 
Thank guys. The Beretta was top of my list to try, but it was just so far out from fitting I couldn't even try it. I could have made furniture from the wood that would have to come off the stock.

Recoil is not a problem. I use the 870 at about 7 1/4 lbs - shoot 150 clays with full target loads and the only thing hurting is my feet. :) I recall from my days shooting trap that a heavy gun encouraged smooth follow through, but I'm thinking while follow through is still important in sporting clays, that quick responsiveness may be even more so.

The advice on getting a gun that fits is well taken. One of the nice things about buying from the club is that there is usually an option to try before you buy. Yes! Many choices.

Rob!
 
Did I mention I'm not really looking.....????

But I may have accidentally stumbled on some stats. :rolleyes:

So, the Instinct Catalyst - though designed for women - is not really a lightweight. It specs about the same as a Beretta Silver Pigeon - and probably even heavier by the time I cut a full inch off the stock of the Beretta. Similarly even the Browning 725 sporting after chopping off an inch would be only about a Big Mac heavier.

Gotta get back to the club and fondle it a bit more.

...but I'm not really looking...... :yingyang:

Rob!
 
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Cardamonfrost said:
^^ If it is made for women, as the Syrens are, then it will likely have too much cast off, and incorrect rib height.

C
Click to expand...

Well, I'm no woman - and would make an ugly one if things were different - but I am kind of strangely shaped. Short arms and trigger finger, the short LOP - 13 7/8 is exactly the same as my aging 870 - which fits me well. I have a barrel chest which will never sport a cleavage - but is not unlike a manly mono-boob. The extra pitch puts the butt in contact with my shoulder over it's full length - something that took a lot of filing with the 870. Drop at comb is 1/4" less than the 870 and it's noticeable - but not much. (Relates to rib height) Extra cast off isn't noticeable in the store, but we'll see on the course..... not that I'm looking or anything....

It does have that darn red fiber optic "bead" which may have to go. I'm just getting in the hang of ignoring the bead - and any fiber optic just screams Mattel. :p

Rob!
 
Cardamonfrost said:
The older clitoris are a bit clunkier, with taller and I believe wider receivers and the beaver tail forend. The newer ones solve all of that with sleeker design and the tulip forend, which I favor.
Click to expand...

Are we still talking shotguns, or have we moved on to other companions...?
 
Took it out for 100 - along with my instructor. It fit and when I did my part, it vaporized birds.

Of course, I'm not looking so I left there...

Today, it followed me home.

How'd that happen? :confused:
 
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