Needed a shotgun for .....

[MOUNTAINORACLE]

I will be retiring within the next month or two will be taking up one of the new shooting games, sporting clays or five stand and will need a shotgun to compete with. I have narrowed down the field of shotguns I would consider using to the following:


BERETTA:
AL391 URIKA GOLD SPORTING SILVER RECEIVER
686 White Silver Onyx

WEATHERBY:
Orion® Super Sporting Clays

BROWNING:
Gold Sporting Clays
Citori XS Sporting

I would be interested in any comments on the shotguns and their suitability for use in the games listed above. I want a good shotgun that will hold up to sending a lot of shot down range with a minimum of breakage.

I have shot trap for years and have been using a BT99 for more years than I care to remember, shame this isn't the right shotgun for the games listed above. My field shotguns (read hunting) are all SxS and I don't think they will be up to the task.

Thanks

oracle

[JIMMYC308]

I can't speak for the Weatherby but I have owned Beretta and Browning shotguns and neither brand has let me down. I would choose the 686 onyx Just my 2 cents. Good luck with your purchase and have fun Shooting it!!

[Bib]

I think any of the above would serve you well (I assume they all have interchangable chokes). I'd suggest handling them and choose the one that fits you the best.

[BUCKMARK]

I have been shooting serious sporting clays for around 10 years now. I will give you my $.02 on this subject.

As you know, you must have a gun that you like, and that fits you like a glove. Almost any shotgun can be fitted, but it's nice to start with a gun you like, and fits close from the factory.

As much as I like the two gas guns you listed, I would stay away from both if you intend on shooting a lot. Even the best gas systems will fail from time to time, and I consider the Beretta to be the best on the current market. The 391 is not known for jamming, but it still can. Any semi also has more moving parts that can fail compared to a stack-barrel gun. If you intend to shoot 1000 rounds or less per year over a five year span...and then look into a new gun...any decent semi will be fine. If you intend to shoot 2,000 rounds or more per year for the long haul...I would buy a O/U.

The Weatherby is made by SKB Japan, and they are solid guns. I dont own one, and have shot very few of them, but I know people that own them and the true SKB's and they like them.

I would chose between the Beretta 686 and the Browning XS O/U.

I chose to go with Browning years ago after having both types of guns apart. Both are of great quality, but the Browning is a strong simple design that tends to have fewer problems in the long run.

With the user name BUCKMARK, it would seem that I would lean towards the Browning...and I do. But because of the quality and durability, not the marketing and company logo.

I would rate them like this:

1. Browning Citori XS Sporting
2. Beretta 686
3. Orion
4. 391
5. Browning Gold

Enjoy whatever gun you decide to go with. Sporting and 5-stand are both a real riot. I'm hooked!

[normanvin]

i have a beretta. i got it for christmas one year. it was a used gun exalent shape. it was ported. shoots great.

[CZJedi]

Benelli Cordoba! I use it for sporting clays, skeet, hunting, and just about everything else with the exception of trap (BT-99 for that). You can adjust the cast, drop, l.o.p., and even the comb hight (for the last two, you will have to buy optional parts). It is smooth shooting, most reliable cycling system, and cleans in a snap.

I've had a Browning Gold Sporting Clays, and it does not compare to the Cordoba.