doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com O/U for Sporting Clays

Ed and jOe are siding on an issue. What does that tell you?

We report, you decide.

You're the only person I know that's saw Brownings Citoris held together with rubber bands...

Well, take you a deep drink of water. It helps when you've had too much salt.

I'm gonna report what I believe to be so, based on my experience, anytime I think it applies to someone's question.

Bye, now.

Could you post pictures of these banded Brownings ?

Stan, I�m not going to disagree with you because I don�t know for sure. I have a 20 ga superposed that I�ve killed at least 2 pick -up beds full of birds. I don�t shoot clays with it but I�ve shot tons of Rem express through that gun at Ruffed Grouse (I use a lighter load on quail). It�s about ready for a new locking bolt....not flying open but top lever is getting close to 6:00 o�clock. I�m not surprised after years of shooting (�73 gun) and shooting boomers through it. BTW, Do you know who Robert Harford is? He�s one of the best sporting guys around and still shoots a Browning Citori. He went to Krieghoff I heard for a short while, but ultimately went back to Browning. My point is, guys who love Browning shotguns love them despite their shortcomings, if they really have any. I agree with Ed, Browning shotguns are a best bet for the money. But, nothing wrong with Beretta either (some of their combs are pretty thick though).

I don't know Harford, buzz. But, occasionally I still see a really serious Browning shooter. They have a strong belief in their guns. What I mean is, they believe they can shoot their Brownings better than another brand. Belief in your gun, at the competitive level, is important. That's exactly the reason the men I mentioned are still shooting theirs. They accept that they will spend more money on maintenance than with brand X, Y or Z, but they feel it's worth it to shoot their best. Our beliefs are not always grounded in fact, but that doesn't lessen the importance of them when competing. I have no beef with that mindset. Confidence in your gun is huge when competing.

I don't belittle or look down on anybody for the brand of gun they shoot. Truth is, I admire someone who "goes against the grain" and bests the field with a gun that may not be "accepted". I have a good friend who once beat me in a shootoff for HOA in 20 ga. at a major sporting event. He shoots nothing but 870 pumps. When he beat me I shook his hand and told him there was not another person on the grounds that I'd rather have been beaten by. And I was shooting a Beretta 687 SPII Sporting.

Best, SRH

Remember, hunting guns get shot hundreds of times a year, clays guns get shot thousands.

I suspect one of the shooters Stan is referring to is Todd Simmons of Georgia. He's had his 425's rebuilt several times. But he has probably shot half a million rounds over the last 20 years. I hope he has backed off the Red Bull and cigarettes, but I doubt it.
JR

Todd is a force to be reckoned with at any shoot he attends, 'eh John? Actually I was referring to other shooters that have put far less rounds through their guns than Todd, but he can be added to the list.

My 20 ga. Beretta has gone through in excess of 1300 rounds a day without cleaning anything but the chamber, for four straight days .......on two different occasions. It's shot many sporting sub-gauge tournaments, untold GA dove shoots, and quail, without ever needing to have a part replaced, or repaired in any way. Never a failure, for 16 years.

All I can do is report my experiences, and those I have witnessed, anecdotal tho' they may be. Understand that I am not bashing Brownings, or saying they're junk. Please understand, all I am saying is that, IMO, they won't last as long as a Beretta 680 series, with the same use, care and maintenance.

SRH

1300 rds a day...you must have started shooting awful early.

Well, you all are extremely knowledgeable and thanks a bunch. And you guys use your trap guns more than a hobbiest would.

Believe it or not, I'm going to take Ed's advice. Bull Run has both a Citori and a Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon, both with 28" barrels, that can be rented. Next time we're out there together, we'll rent the two and trade half way through the round.

Personally, I prefer 30" barrels for clays but he's used to shooting the 28" 870 (and he shoots that pump really well...sort of a natural). He will not be putting hundreds of rounds a week through this gun though....probably gets out there once or twice a week max.