Over/under choices

Roadhawk

Roadhawk

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I know this topic has been beaten like a dead horse but I am looking for opinions on specific shotguns from more experienced shooters. I am a casual trap/skeet shooter and have always wanted an over/under. I have narrowed my choices to 4 shotguns. I will post them in order of how my decision making is heading. Any input is appreciated.
1. Browning Citori CXS
2. Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon l Sporting
3. Browning 725 Sporting
4. Winchester 101 Ultimate Sporting
I am working on a budget but may stretch that budget so I will have a reliable O/U for many years. I currently shoot more trap but want a gun that is versatile for all the clay sports. If there are some others that I am over looking, I am open to suggestions.
 
I shoot a Browning 725 Sporting with adjustable comb and love it. It fits me well. We purchase Beretta's (686's, I believe) at our club for rental guns and we have had to send two back for warranty work regarding the ejectors. Not sure on the particulars, just what some of the other board members were saying. I have handled them and I just don't like the Beretta's, they don't seem to lock up as nice as my Browning and feel cheaper. Just my .02 cents.
 
Beauty is as stubblejumper said. Handling a Beretta and a Browning will quickly see if you like one brand over the other. They feel much different.

That'll narrow your list quickly. Then consider fit. Not all fit the same so handling as many as you can.

Generally Brownings feel solid, slow, steady, big. They all close with little resistance. Have some issues, but all makes seem to.

Berettas feel lighter, quicker, less forward weighted, smaller, "aggressive" in handling. Some models ( 690/692/etc) have resistance when closing due to foregrip design and tension spring. They won't flop open or closed.

I'd also consider the Blazer F16 and the CG Summit?
 
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Thanks for all the replies. Any input on the Winchester 101 Ultimate Sporting? This model is made specifically for Bass Pro and has a price tag of less than $2000. The price alone has me interested. I haven't been able to handle one of the Winchesters yet due to the lack of inventory right now. The "B" guns are the more common choice but I don't want to eliminate the Winchester just yet.
 
I know a guy that shoots a Winchester 101 in 410 and he likes it.
I don't know how they would hold up to the thousands of rounds clay shooters do in a year.
If I were you I would first watch some YouTube videos on gun fit so you fully understand what that means and then go shoulder a bunch of shotguns. I personally shoot a late 90's browning special sporting clays. It's a citori. Beretta doesn't fit me. If you want to buy a browning or beretta figure out which one you want and then shop around for a used one. I payed 1900 for mine and a new sporting model browning is about 4K. Saves some of the hurt to your wallet.
 
The older winchester 101s tend to have a few mechanical issues, cant speak to the specific one you are taking about.

725's dont have a true mechanical triggers, the skeet guys tell me some work with 410 tubes, some need trigger work.

Citori's seem to hold up well mechanically.
 
rem74283 said:
Out of your choices I would choose the browning 725 sporting if it fits you. The mechanical triggers make it easy to shoot sub gauge tubes without the need for a trigger job.
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The 725 triggers are not truly mechanical, and there can be issues with using tubes in them, unless you do some trigger work. The 725s also have much lighter barrels than earlier Citori versions, so they swing faster.
 
Rem74283.....The Winchester Ultimate Sporting is in no way, shape or form the same gun as it's predecessor so you cannot compare the original to the newer version. The originals are known to last thousands and thousands of rounds with nary an issue. As for the OP's question Stubb gave you solid advice. Run with it and you'll never have to look back in disappointment.
 
stubblejumper said:
Choose the one that fits you best. If the Brownings fit you, the Beretta likely doesn't.
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I wholeheartedly agree with Stubb... buying a good O/U should never be a "by guess or best luck" thing. Pick them up, test them, try them and get a feel for what aligns with you the best. If you are always fighting your shoulder seating, cheek weld or grip... your targets will get re-used.

I just got to try a Mossberg O/U and find it too small: my face is too far forward and the drop at the comb is not enough. So it goes...
 
the spank said:
Rem74283.....The Winchester Ultimate Sporting is in no way, shape or form the same gun as it's predecessor so you cannot compare the original to the newer version. The originals are known to last thousands and thousands of rounds with nary an issue. As for the OP's question Stubb gave you solid advice. Run with it and you'll never have to look back in disappointment.
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I never said it was the same. I don't even think I made a comparison.
 
stubblejumper said:
The 725 triggers are not truly mechanical, and there can be issues with using tubes in them, unless you do some trigger work. The 725s also have much lighter barrels than earlier Citori versions, so they swing faster.
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I know a couple guys that use tubes with no issues. Maybe they were just lucky. I didn't know the 725 wasn't a true mechanical trigger.
 
rem74283 said:
I know a couple guys that use tubes with no issues. Maybe they were just lucky. I didn't know the 725 wasn't a true mechanical trigger.
Click to expand...

Sometimes people get lucky, but Briley has had several 725s sent to them to do trigger work on that didn't function properly with tubes.
 
Roadhawk said:
I know this topic has been beaten like a dead horse but I am looking for opinions on specific shotguns from more experienced shooters. I am a casual trap/skeet shooter and have always wanted an over/under. I have narrowed my choices to 4 shotguns. I will post them in order of how my decision making is heading. Any input is appreciated.
1. Browning Citori CXS
2. Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon l Sporting
3. Browning 725 Sporting
4. Winchester 101 Ultimate Sporting
I am working on a budget but may stretch that budget so I will have a reliable O/U for many years. I currently shoot more trap but want a gun that is versatile for all the clay sports. If there are some others that I am over looking, I am open to suggestions.
Click to expand...

Fabarm has a new o/u with adj comb and two ribs for POI change. The all clay sports design is catching on with higher ribs in sporting clay.
 
JIMMY 808 said:
Fabarm has a new o/u with adj comb and two ribs for POI change. The all clay sports design is catching on with higher ribs in sporting clay.
Click to expand...

Stubble Jumper, you seem to know everything and anything shotgun related, what's your take on these new Fabarms?
 
My advise is same as Stubble Jumper.

Go out there to all the stores and shoulder everything they have. When I was in a search for an O/U 3 years ago, I had been to all the stores that had O/U shotguns and tried everything. Cabelas in Barrie is a good spot since their gun library usually have all the odd ones like old Ruger Red Label.

If you haven't shoot enough traps yet, I'd suggest you make a friend and use their gun for about 10+ rounds. I actually got a cheap pump trap gun (Winchester SXP Trap 32") and shot with it for about 10-20 rounds and I got a good hang of it, averaging 20/25. I then go to all the stores, shoulder all the guns with my eyes closed, and then open my eyes and see where the sights are. If they line up when you open your eyes, you know you got the one. I ended up getting a used Browning XT Trap 32" with adjustable comb from Ellwood Epps. I generally preferred heavy equipment all my life, from tennis rackets to bowling balls. So I actually shot some skeet with a 32". Not terribly bad but I assume I can do better with shorter barrel.
 
Having shot everything on your list, with exception to the CXS (lots of XS/T's etc, but they are not near the same, so don't be confused, in my mind the C in CXS stands for Cost savings), the Browning 725 Sporting is way out front.

Often phrases like "Ultimate" and "Special" are big box store fodder and produced with a target market and cost in mind.

IMO.
C
 
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