Manufacture Ranking - O/U

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lemonsorbie

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Greetings,

I am trying to relate (in the Sporting Clay World) Shotgun Manufacturing Rank/Quality for my $

If I may start with an analogy outside of this topic. Mostly we all know a Kia vs a Jaguar are on a scale of low to higher end products. Influences such as grade of steel & parts to manufacture a vehicle that essentially does its job, gets oneself from point A to point B. Perhaps this comparison is a little unfair bases of a small day to day vehicle vs a high end sports car.

My my point is (and this is where you kind folks come in) how does someone “decide” on weather a Browning 725 is better that a Beretta 692. Who in ranking terms is at the bottom of the class and who is at the top & why?

Here are my 4 choices I am looking at to purchase a Sprorting Clay 12g. Feel and fit are another subject, I am just concentrating on the manufacturing aspect, engineering, design and mainly quality of steel/material. Resale is another consideration.

Low to High Ranking/Choice for next purchase:

1. Browning - 725 Sporting Pro W/Adj Comb (Concers about # on the market both new and used, biggest concern is Japanese steel quality on the barrels)

2. Beretta - 692 Sproting

3. Blaser - F3 (Like the chrome lined barrels idea)

4. Beretta - DT11 (Have had less success/hit ratio with ANY Beretta I have had the opportunity to play with on the range)

TIA


Steve
 
All four are quality shotguns, and Japanese steel is as good as Italian or German steel. The fit is likely why you don't hit well with the DT-11. I really like my Kreighoff, and it will lkely be the last shotgun that I shoot for skeet and sporting clays, but to be honest, I shot just as well with my Brownings.
 
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You're comparing the top brands. Between all of these, worry more about which one fits and Japanese steel is just fine, they know what they're doing. Also, the Kia's of today are much more reliable than Indian owned Jaguar.

Patrick
 
Fit determines hits more than sticker price. All those guns are high quality but each will act differently in your hands. I would love a Blaser but I’ve never shot one, so I have no idea if it would agree with me or not.
 
The DT-11 and Blazer are in a higher price bracket than the 692 and Browning. The problems Ive seen lately with Beretta 690 series guns would certainly prevent me from buying one.
I believe the best quality for your buck in sporting shotguns is Caesar Guerini,I love my Summit Impact.
 
I love browning auto-5’s (old) and new BPS, there are the best on the market... IMO. I have to be honest the Citori 725 kinda sucks, it’s price tag of <3600$ to get a adjustable sporting clays model isn’t justified at all. Just google “citori stock crack” it’s a huge problem. The mechanical triggers they moved too vs the inertia is not a step forwards but a wierd stumble sideways.

Best bang for your Buck, is the 692 Beretta. Find a LGS and try all the O/U berettas they have, and pick the one model that fits the best. My favourite O/U model for looks is the 692 Black Oynx.
 
Ilove12gshotguns said:
I love browning auto-5’s (old) and new BPS, there are the best on the market... IMO. I have to be honest the Citori 725 kinda sucks, it’s price tag of <3600$ to get a adjustable sporting clays model isn’t justified at all. Just google “citori stock crack” it’s a huge problem. The mechanical triggers they moved too vs the inertia is not a step forwards but a wierd stumble sideways.

Best bang for your Buck, is the 692 Beretta. Find a LGS and try all the O/U berettas they have, and pick the one model that fits the best. My favourite O/U model for looks is the 692 Black Oynx.
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You may want to google the the same problem with the 692 .know a couple people who bought the 692 and are not impressed with the gun.
 
Mx-8 or hi Tec and be done with it if it is mostly about the gun it’s self.

Fit also sort of moot a point on the upper end of things.

No matter how much someone stomps there feet a 725 or 690 what ever isn’t hi end at all.

Shooting with guys that have lots of money to little money it’s all about the same, not very many competitors change guns that often.

When the smoke clears the only thing of value is the gun.
 
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Ilove12gshotguns said:
I love browning auto-5’s (old) and new BPS, there are the best on the market... IMO. I have to be honest the Citori 725 kinda sucks, it’s price tag of <3600$ to get a adjustable sporting clays model isn’t justified at all. Just google “citori stock crack” it’s a huge problem. The mechanical triggers they moved too vs the inertia is not a step forwards but a wierd stumble sideways.

Best bang for your Buck, is the 692 Beretta. Find a LGS and try all the O/U berettas they have, and pick the one model that fits the best. My favourite O/U model for looks is the 692 Black Oynx.
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Oddly enough, I owned five 725 shotguns, and I still own one, and no issues with any of them.
 
Don't know where you get the idea that 'Japanese' steel is problematic. Miroku has been making quality shotguns for years - in fact, they impressed Browning so much with their imitation of the Superposed, that Browning decided to subcontract the Citori to them. And, most shotgun manufacturers chrome plate their bores these days - including Beretta and Browning does (at least) the chambers...
As far as engineering goes, the Beretta locking pin arrgt offers the prospect of a lighter, and shallower receiver - the feel is noticeable. However, the massive lug on the Citori would seem to offer more wear resistance. Whether you would ever shoot enough volume to notice the difference is another story.
In the end, when you spend several thousand dollars on a shotgun, aesthetics and fit will likely trump any engineering considerations. Personally, I'm not a fan of the 725 styling, so the door is closed for that option.
 
One of they guys at our club had his 692 fall apart,the whole receiver separated from the stock after he fired the bottom barrel. The barrels and receiver,with a loaded top barrel and an exposed firing pin flipped over and hit the ground with the barrel pointing at him. That was it for Berettas for him. Another club member that just bought a new 692 won't shoot it anymore,and is waiting on delivery of a new Blazer. I haven't personally,but they tell me the internet is full of serious problem stories of the Beretta 690 series,and Beretta,at least to my friend,has been less than helpful.

Ill tell you,a good gun DOES make a difference to your score in the clay games,my shooting has improved a bunch since I got my Caesar.
 
roblack said:
One of they guys at our club had his 692 fall apart,the whole receiver separated from the stock after he fired the bottom barrel. The barrels and receiver,with a loaded top barrel and an exposed firing pin flipped over and hit the ground with the barrel pointing at him. That was it for Berettas for him. Another club member that just bought a new 692 won't shoot it anymore,and is waiting on delivery of a new Blazer. I haven't personally,but they tell me the internet is full of serious problem stories of the Beretta 690 series,and Beretta,at least to my friend,has been less than helpful.

Ill tell you,a good gun DOES make a difference to your score in the clay games,my shooting has improved a bunch since I got my Caesar.
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If your improved shooting is gun related, then it's because your new gun fit's better, or balances better for you, not some magic in the gun. I replaced three 725s with a K-20 three barrel set, not because I thought that the more expensive gun would improve my shooting, but rather because I wanted to do all of my skeet/ sporting clays shooting with one gun, that would last me the rest of my life, hopefully a few hundred thousand rounds.
 
As mentioned by roblack, take a look at the Caesar Guerini line, although fairly new to the market when compared to the likes of the Browning and Beretta names I feel they represent great value for the fit and finish they offer. David.
 
roblack said:
Ill tell you,a good gun DOES make a difference to your score in the clay games,my shooting has improved a bunch since I got my Caesar.
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I don't know if my Perazzi has improved my shooting but I can hang out with all the Perazzi guys at the big trap shoots now. :d The Ceasar Guerinnis are nice guns but I wonder about their resale. They don't seem to resell as fast as Brownings or Berettas. Of course, if you are going to shoot the same gun for a long time then that doesn't matter.
 
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