o/u choice?

hawk-i

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I'd like to get a nice over/under shotgun. Don't think I want to pay over 3k though.
Been looking at a Citori 725 field and a Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon . Both seem to be very nice guns ... which would you choose?
 
Beretta and Browning are both top of the line but fit completely different, you must try each one and see what fits you.
 
Beretta and Browning are both top of the line but fit completely different, you must try each one and see what fits you.

The Beretta feels better to me in the store, when I shoulder it my sight picture seems to be perfect and natural. With the Browning I have to move my head around a bit. I think this might because I've shot a Beretta semi since the 80's and I'm conditioned to the beretta offset.
The Browning might feel just as natural after shooting it for a while ....can I tell in the store or would I have to shoot both for a while to really know?
 
Fit is everything when it comes to shotguns. Go to a trap and skeet field and make some friends. Most guys will let you try theirs for a round if they feel you’re competent. I can’t hit anything with a Beretta or a Ruger. A Citori fits me like a glove. I’ve owned 3 of those now.
Guns need to be test driven like cars. Problem is most dealers won’t do that.
 
Fit is everything when it comes to shotguns. Go to a trap and skeet field and make some friends. Most guys will let you try theirs for a round if they feel you’re competent. I can’t hit anything with a Beretta or a Ruger. A Citori fits me like a glove. I’ve owned 3 of those now.
Guns need to be test driven like cars. Problem is most dealers won’t do that.
I agree with this 100% go to your local and try one or two different guns. I shoot a Citori and love it. I have never tried a beretta but would consider trying one, I'm going to say there's probably only 3 berettas out of 20 guns on the rack at my local club!
 
A good friend of mine has a skeet field in his back yard down in Pennsylvania. He shoots a Beretta. I can't score any better than a 15-18 with it. He's much taller and lankier than I am so it makes sense that the same gun doesn't fit us both since I'm shorter and fatter lol.
I can't afford nor do I know any custom stock maker/fitters. A perfectly fitted stock would be the cats meow!
But try as many makes as you can. Rizzini, Perazzi, Browning, Beretta, Fair, Ruger, Winchester, Benelli, CZ, Wearherby, Ceasar Guerini, Krieghoff all make really fine O/U
 
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I have owned both and other than shorting the stock half an inch the Beretta fit me perfect. I am a great fan of Italian guns, I shoot a perazzi MX8 combo for trap shooting. But I agree 100% the gun has to fit you. Good luck and try out as many as you can.
 
Just received the tracking number on the Beretta 686....I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas morning! Lol

Thx out to Dale from shooters choice.
 
The Beretta feels better to me in the store, when I shoulder it my sight picture seems to be perfect and natural. With the Browning I have to move my head around a bit. I think this might because I've shot a Beretta semi since the 80's and I'm conditioned to the beretta offset.
The Browning might feel just as natural after shooting it for a while ....can I tell in the store or would I have to shoot both for a while to really know?

You just answered your own question and it has nothing to do with the Beretta being offset. The dimensions obviously work for you if it feels natural and gives you the sight picture you like. Having to move around to get the Browning to the sight picture you desire means the dimensions of it are not working for you and never will without customizing it to fit. The Beretta sounds like the better option for you.
 
Looked at a Benelli 828 today....any thoughts on this gun?

I have a buddy with one, it doesn't appeal to me and his has been back to Stoeger once already. I can't get used to looking at the locking lever canted to the left when the action is closed but that's the way they are. Looks like the lock up is worn out to me. As previously mentioned, they are pretty light for a high volume gun.
 
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