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Beretta vs Browning

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53K views 63 replies 53 participants last post by  Old_Diabetic_100  
#1 ·
When comparing the two at the same price who do you feel has the better quality gun ? Thanks, Dave
 
#5 ·
Pietro Beretta e' mio amico. la mi famiglia , well not really, but my heritage is Italian. They are really good guns, or I would not have them.

I have had Beretta guns for years, They have always served me well, same with several of my friends. I also have friends that have shot Brownings for years, I have never known them to be troublesome. Handle a few of them, maybe shoot a few, and see which feels more natural.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Both are excellent guns. I personally prefer the Beretta. For me it’s more streamlined, fit is better, and is more lively between my hands. The Browning actions have always felt too bulky for me. I have many friends who love their Browning’s. One friend inherited his father’s Browning that he used to compete with. That gun easily has over 1 million rounds through it but still runs like a champ. Try them both and see which you feel is best for you.
 
#13 · (Edited)
I'll second Tron's remark.

The entry level SP Beretta is too light, to be a good target shotgun. The 692 level is too pricey esp. since the barrel is not polished anymore (matte finish). The CG is a better gun for the same cash. The Beretta in-between model is also a bit to light.! Beretta's triggers are a bit better though. Overall I'd be shooting a Browning over the Beretta. More gun for less cost. You can always get a trigger job on a Browning if you need it. If you get a bad barrel with the Beretta they will not fix it. You've been forewarned!!! Browning will fix there's. You really need to worry about a used one year old Beretta if you want to buy used. Because of there O/U barrels not shooting in the same place at any distance. break em all Jeff
 
#16 ·
Own several of both. For clay crushing I favor my Browning's.. Simply because they fit me better and I'm much more consistent. They are chunky but pleasant to shoot. My Beretta trap gun is taller in the comb which is uncomfortable for me. I'll take my other Beretta's in the field.. Light, nimble and reliable. These are both great guns and wouldn't hesitate to buy either of them again.
 
#18 · (Edited)
These are the two best choices in the price range.

Understand the principle differences in design is something to consider too,

Browning has the big under lug requires a taller receiver to accommodate it.

Beretta has a lower profile receiver because the locking bolts are on the shoulder of the top barrel.

Image
 
#21 ·
I have owned both and enjoyed shooting each one. For me it comes down to fit and affordability. My first real trap gun was a Beretta 680 but it just did not fit me correctly. I'm currently shooting a Browning Citori XT. I feel the quality is there in both guns but for me it comes down to fit.
Good Shooting!!
 
#24 ·
I own both an XT and an etchen 687 silver pigeon II. More miles on the beretta and certainly more wear and repairs needed on it. A couple of inertia spring fails, and a break lever cam cracked (twice) and the lockup pins wore out, vs just firing pin replacement on the XT.
I did the repairs myself and the Browning is a lot easier to work on.
But I still use the beretta as my primary gun....
 
#29 ·
Real questions is does the 525 shoot high enough for American trap without adjustments?
Both your 525 and your XT have the same POI. So don't worry about that. Too many shooters get hung up on POI. Don't!!! The highest POI you will find on a fixed rib Browning or Beretta is like a 70/30. Very few of these were ever made by either company. You will likely never know or tell the difference in only 10% more shot above the rib. Your talking about a 2 to 2 1/2 inch higher 30 inch pattern @ like 40 yards . 90+% of shooters don't miss targets by a inch or two. They miss most targets by 2 to 4 feet. You can turn a 60/40 shotgun into a 100 percent shotgun easy enough if you like. Just have a aftermarket company install a clip-on rib to your existing shotgun. One that will change a 60/40 shotgun into a 70,80,90,100 percent shotgun that "Think" you want. Then adjust your adjustable comb to line up your beads into a figure 8 and your off. If you don't like your 80/20 rib and want a higher one. Simply buy a higher rib from the same aftermarket rib company and re-adjust your comb. Your off again. Now you may need to install high comb posts at some point. Another cheap fix. So you see there is no need to buy and sell shotguns to try different POI. You can also simply just add space between your existing two beads. Say you want to keep a 1/4 space between the beads. It becomes real easy to have 3/16 of a space on one gun mount then a 5/16 space on the next gun mount. If you keep the space smaller and only allow a 1/8 space it becomes easier to notice a 1/16 space on time and 3/16 space the next. Of course nothing is easier than keeping the beads tight, which also allows one to keep them lined up better for being off left and right as well. Now go find your balance. I'll keep mine tight. If you don't stop your barrels upward movement when you pull the trigger you don't need a higher POI. Trap targets don't rise nearly as fast as some Sporting Clay targets. Trap was started with hunting barrels in the 1800's. When most shotguns did not even have ribs. The game of Trap is a simple game. There are only 3 shots!!! Of course two of them are simply just reversed shots. So don't over complicate it. Trap IMO is the easiest game to over complicate. I have a nasty habit of picking up to much speed as I shoot more. At some point, I start shooting faster than my mind can work. Then a target pops in the wrong place and I hear lost!!! I have focus on slowing down on every post. You simply have to give your mind enough time to see where the target is going so it can move the correct muscle groups to get your barrel there. break em all Jeff