Big Al Posted April 19, 2014 Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 I was wondering if the RFD members could enlighten me about something I have puzzled by. The latest Japanese Browning, the 725, was launched with great ceremony and publicity a year or two ago. The new slimline Browning was meant to be a nod towards Italian (Beretta) design. Why then is there now an apparent relaunch of the 525? Are Browning trying to get rid of surplus 525 stock or has the 725 not been as good a seller than hoped. I am a Browning / Miroku man through and through, but I can't figure out what they are at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bornfree Posted April 19, 2014 Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 Maybe browning shooters still want Brownings not Beretta copies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted April 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 Maybe browning shooters still want Brownings not Beretta copies. Could be true. I had one 525 and went to look at the 725 with a view to buying. I ended up buying another 525. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted April 19, 2014 Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 Perhaps they decided to expand the range afterall miroku have MK38/60/70 browning has 525 & 725 & ........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted April 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 (edited) Perhaps they decided to expand the range afterall miroku have MK38/60/70 browning has 525 & 725 & ........ Yes but there are field, trap and sporter 525s and 725s. Product diversification within the number. The b525 / mk38/60/70 are all built on the same action. Browning have moved in logical sequence up until now ( 325 - 425 - 525 - 625 (in the US) and then 725 - the change now makes it look like the the 725 flopped. Why? Or maybe I am reading too much into it (and need to get a life!) Edited April 19, 2014 by Big Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted April 19, 2014 Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 There is/was the cynergy and there is an MK10 (not in uk but may be a miroku 725) The 525 seems to sit at a lower price point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted April 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 The 525 seems to sit at a lower price point That is true. The 725 is silly overpriced. Perhaps the reason is as simple as that ... a cheaper alternative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 525 is their entry gun and that deep action has a following, don't blame them for doing both still covers both option well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeatheredFriend Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 I've been saving with the intention of buying a B525. My SGC took ages to come in so I accidentally saved a bit more than I had hoped and the B725 came into being a possibility. After trying both, I loved them. I definitely felt a difference with the B725 (both 30") and ended up with a B725 Black. It definitely feels thinner than the B525 although not as thin as the Barettas. I won't be changing anytime soon, I know I have made the right choice. Also the other half will be using it so something thinner, slightly better balanced and with a decent recoil pad all works in our favour. Guns are subjective things, it has to be right for you, but the rate the B725s were selling (particularly the Black), I wouldn't necessarily call the launch a flop. Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted April 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 Guns are subjective things, it has to be right for you, but the rate the B725s were selling (particularly the Black), I wouldn't necessarily call the launch a flop. Craig Thanks for the reply. You are absolutely right about gun choice being a very personal thing! I am very guilty of that. I think Welshwarrior has hit the nail on the head. Beretta did something similar when they launched the A400 semi auto family and then released the Outlander A300. Thanks for the replies - it's amazing what thoughts enter my wee head! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derfley Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 The 725 seems to be a designed too appeal to Browning traditionalists in so much as they have a full width hinge pin and yet have a slimmer/lower action and mechanical triggers. I held a couple and them seem nicely balanced and swing well, I've yet to fire one though so can't comment on recoil compared to a 525 based action (my Ultra XS), but hopefully there will be someone with one at the charity shoot I can persuade to let me fire a couple of carts through one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 I have seen very, very few B725s at any clay shoot. If they are selling in numbers, it is a well kept secret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamch Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 Tried a b525 last summer and found it a horrible lumpy gun with over size grip and fore end. May trythe 725 but will probably end up with a geurini ir beretta game gum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derfley Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 Tried a b525 last summer and found it a horrible lumpy gun with over size grip and fore end. May trythe 725 but will probably end up with a geurini ir beretta game gum If you found a 525 too 'big' it's worth having a look at a 725 as they are a lot slimmer, at least to my frying pan sized hands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 Tried a b525 last summer and found it a horrible lumpy gun with over size grip and fore end. May trythe 725 but will probably end up with a geurini ir beretta game gum Horses for courses mate. I went out to buy a Silver Pigeon and came back with a 525. I have big hands so the grips suit me and it came into the shoulder better for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted April 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 If you found a 525 too 'big' it's worth having a look at a 725 as they are a lot slimmer, at least to my frying pan sized hands I used to shoot Berettas but once I tried Browning / Miroku there was no going back. I have hands like shovels though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 What a strange company Browning is; they just never learn. Twice now they've tried to emulate the Italian guns, first the dismal and unloved Cynergy and now the 725. What they don't get is that people such as myself who like the feel and dynamics of Italian guns are going to buy Italian guns - not Brownings in any form - and people who like Brownings want to buy 'proper' house brick style Brownings - not imitation Italian guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Poon Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 I had the cynergy and 725 both very good guns IMO . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning 425 clay hunter Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 I'm not sure where all this 'there trying to copy beretta' has come from. In the shooting times I've got in Brownings own ad it says it's based on the B25. I looked at one and put 25 rounds through it and thought it was brilliant. Nice wood, lovely balance and was really impressed with the swelled palm grip it slotted into my hand perfectly I also think the fact there only £200/£300 cheaper second hand also tells you there not a sales flop, if they were their value wouldn't hold so well. ATB 425 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich_morris Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 I do not think the 725 is trying to mimic a beretta. I think it is more of an evolution of the 525, but different enough to warrant keeping both on the market. The 725 has a lower profile action, but is very similar in it overall design. I think the way second barrel is a mechanical device on the 725, and inertia based on the 525. The barrels are bored differently, and the chokes are DS on the 725. There may be other differences too. I recently moved from a Beretta 687 to a B725, and tried B525, B725 and MK38. Not much in it, but I felt the B725 felt nicer to me. Others may have their own, equally vaild opinion. To be honest, I am not a fan of the action 'engraving' on the 725, but have seen worse, but really do like the look of the B725 gade 5 sporter... Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 I'm not sure where all this 'there trying to copy beretta' has come from. In the shooting times I've got in Brownings own ad it says it's based on the B25. I don't think anyone suggested it's a copy of Beretta but Browning does seem to have tried to emulate the Italian balance and feel by lightening the barrels and improving the trigger pull, which are exactly the things they got so wrong with the Cynergy. This isn't meant as a criticism of the 725, it's a nice gun, but it's overpriced so isn't exactly flying off the shelves. TBH they're as rare as hen's teeth at the registered shoots around here and I've yet to meet anyone who likes the engraving and orange writing on the GD 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 and I've yet to meet anyone who likes the engraving and orange writing on the GD 1. That may well be deliberate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich_morris Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 ...... This isn't meant as a criticism of the 725, it's a nice gun, but it's overpriced so isn't exactly flying off the shelves. ..... I have seen that a couple of times written. Why do you say that, what do you compare them against? It compares price wise with similar offerings (686 evo) from Beretta? What is its direct competition? Is it the 686/7 series, or SV10, or 692? I assumed Browning were pitching the B525 against the SP1, and aiming slightly higher with the B725? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich_morris Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 ...... I've yet to meet anyone who likes the engraving and orange writing on the GD 1. I think there are a few other sporters that fall into that category too.... The B725 is not alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.