The Used B Gun?

[JIMMY 808]

Should it really be considered that a Browning Citori series 725 ect and the Beretta 680 series and 690 series be considered the same quality gun?

Both reliable performers no doubt but personally IMO the Beretta the clear winner in parts availability alone, fit being left out but still considered for aftermarket stocks.

 

[Falconflyer]

Generally speaking, most gun smiths and high volume shooters seem to agree that the Citori and Beretta 680 series guns are equal in terms of quality and reliability. Both makes have had their fair share of problems over the years but when you consider how many are out there getting used every day, they both represent very good value for the money. Mostly the differences comes down to ergonomics and personal preference.

 

[Suther]

From what I've heard it all comes down to which fits you best between these two options. One day I'll be able to afford one...

 

[Rman]

From what I've heard it all comes down to which fits you best between these two options. One day I'll be able to afford one...

One thing that almost never gets mentioned, especially here for some reason... is that any gun can be made to fit any one. If it came down to a lesser quality gun that fit better than the higher quality gun, then wouldn't it make sense to make the higher quality gun fit? Fit, while it should be considered, certainly shouldn't be the deciding factor in a purchase, as it can easily be altered.

Browning certainly seems to have to market cornered...in sticker and hat production.

R.

 

[Suther]

Easily altered? I'm not so sure about that?

Yeah, you can buy an adjustable stock, or get your measurements done and have a custom stock made, but those are expensive options that can also take significant time to deal with (plus I don't know of anyone in Canada offering proper fitting services, might have to go down south or overseas for that?) and for most it's too expensive. Why spend more time and money on getting it to fit you if something else fits right off the shelf?

 

[BJP]

I'm sure someone who feels the same way about Brownings as you do about Beretta will be along shortly to tell you how you are wrong ............................ (I like them both !!!)

 

[cosmic]

Easily altered? I'm not so sure about that?

Yeah, you can buy an adjustable stock, or get your measurements done and have a custom stock made, but those are expensive options that can also take significant time to deal with (plus I don't know of anyone in Canada offering proper fitting services, might have to go down south or overseas for that?) and for most it's too expensive. Why spend more time and money on getting it to fit you if something else fits right off the shelf?

There are several folks in Canada that do "old school" stock bending...

 

[Suther]

There are several folks in Canada that do "old school" stock bending...

Really? Who? Where? How much? I couldn't get an answer last time I asked about this. I don't need the service now but as a lefty I might in the future, cast is always wrong with used guns...

 

[Ashcroft]

Many trap guns are personalized (fitted) by installing an adjustable recoil pad that allows alteration of length of pull, pitch and cast. Sometimes this is combined with a recoil reducer of some type. This type of modification is cost effective and easily sourced, even in Canada. In some areas it is unusual to find an older well used trap gun that is still 100% original, especially if it has been used by a woman. There are several people in most provinces who bend stocks, inquire at any gun shop that stocks and sells higher end shotguns or gunsmiths that specialize in shotgun work. This is usually seasonal work (summer) in Canada due to smoke, smell and fumes. Cost will usually be about $250-300 and no guarantees against breakage or regarding total success, so this is not a casual undertaking. Also, Berettas and Brownings fit differently because of the deeper action of the Browning, generally slimmer gripping areas of the Beretta and other model specific features, stock adjustments don't address these points.

 

[Rman]

Easily altered? I'm not so sure about that?

Yeah, you can buy an adjustable stock, or get your measurements done and have a custom stock made, but those are expensive options that can also take significant time to deal with (plus I don't know of anyone in Canada offering proper fitting services, might have to go down south or overseas for that?) and for most it's too expensive. Why spend more time and money on getting it to fit you if something else fits right off the shelf?

There are at least two that do that work here in Calgary.
Another thing that most don't seem to mention, is pricing. You will spend far more in ammo, than what you paid for the gun, over it's life. Everyone has a different perspective of exactly what "expensive" is, but stock fitting is well worth the price, at say less than $500...

R.

 

[Kenny]

B guns hold value .I bought my first used B gun for $1800. It was hard to come up with that cash, when kids were young and mortgage was high. I shot that gun five years or so, worked flawlessly. When I decided to up grade I got $1600 out of it. Hard to beat

 

[Suther]

There are at least two that do that work here in Calgary.
Another thing that most don't seem to mention, is pricing. You will spend far more in ammo, than what you paid for the gun, over it's life. Everyone has a different perspective of exactly what "expensive" is, but stock fitting is well worth the price, at say less than $500...

R.

$2000 is a lot of ammo. That'll get you what, 6000+ rounds of 12ga target loads? Sure that's not a lot to some people, but to many of that's 10 to 20 years worth.

 

[saskbooknut]

Saw a used Browning Citori at the Edmonton gun show- not one box of shells thru it - looked new, fixed Mod and Full - $950 - it sold to a nice young guy . A lifetime gun for cheap.

 

[Falconflyer]

Saw a used Browning Citori at the Edmonton gun show- not one box of shells thru it - looked new, fixed Mod and Full - $950 - it sold to a nice young guy . A lifetime gun for cheap.

Not having changeable choke tubes seriously decreases the value but still, a lot of gun for the money for sure! Mostly worn out fixed choke Supers bring more money than that.

 

[Al Bear]

Should it really be considered that a Browning Citori series 725 ect and the Beretta 680 series and 690 series be considered the same quality gun?

Both reliable performers no doubt but personally IMO the Beretta the clear winner in parts availability alone, fit being left out but still considered for aftermarket stocks.

I hear anecdotally that one local gunsmith has never been asked to repair a Beretta. His shop just never sees them. (Just like the Maytag repairman in the old commercials.)

 

[Falconflyer]

I'm a big Beretta fan and a good friend of mine who's a gunsmith says that the only thing that ever breaks on Beretta's that he see's is hammers. Fortunately they are easy to change and not expensive.

 

[saskbooknut]

I can tell you that Berettas encounter problems too. Not overwhelming problems, just problems needing repairs.
The Beretta 68x series ejectors are a collection of small parts that, when a set screw works loose, the ejectors become unreliable.
Trap and Skeet shooters encounter repair issues with the best of Beretta and Browning because of the high volume of shells they shoot.
Casual users are unlikely to shoot as much in their lifetime, as a really competitive Skeet shooter in one year.

 

[Falconflyer]

Anything mechanical will eventually have problems and the internet is one of the worst and best places to learn about them.
Back when chevy brought out the 6 liter engine, the internet was all abuzz about how these engines blew up every time the sun went behind a cloud but history proved these horror stories to be untrue. The same happened with the Ford 3.5 when it came out and there were problems the first year but they got the problems sorted out and the engines are great now, at least the ones I've had have been.
I read stories about how the Beretta 692's were having ejector problems and splitting stocks and there seemed to be some truth to the ejector thing but I think the stock splitting thing was just loose stock bolts and for the most part self inflicted damage. I just sold the one I've been shooting for the last 3 years and I never had a problem with it whatsoever. There's still guys out there who think these guns are bad news but all of the ones I've come into contact with have been fine and the owners really like them. I've had lots of 68X series guns over the years and haven't had any problems to speak of with any of them.
I have seen quite a few older citori's that had poor barrel regulation but that isn't anything to do with reliability. The ones that I've owned have been very reliable.
Overall, the B gun track record is really hard to beat!

 

[JIMMY 808]

I find new shooters who buy Browning’s shoot them well but after a while they move on.



They have a club like feel, even if the club fits.

 

[stubblejumper]

I find new shooters who buy Browning’s shoot them well but after a while they move on.



They have a club like feel, even if the club fits.

And I know many shooters, that still shoot Brownings twenty or thirty years later. They are the most commonly used brand at the clubs that I shoot at, with Beretta second.