Jacks1342 Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 I'm looking to buy a silver pigeon as my first gun, when I had a go at the gun shop it fitted me perfectly. But whenever I ask around I seem to be met with either praise or a deep hatred for it and think it's absolute ****...? Can anybody give me any real reason why they would think that it's ****? And if you can then would there be other suggestions for me to try that would fit the same as I'm very close to buying one this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 If I had a quid for the number of times I've heard somebody say, "yeah that gun was rubbish" I'd be a richer man than I am. With notable exceptions of course, there isn't such a thing as a rubbish gun. If I gave you a hundred grand Purdey and you shot like a lemon with it, would it then be a rubbish gun? Here's what you need to do. Try thoroughly the exact gun you are thinking about buying. If you shoot to a standard that you are pleased with, then buy it. Don't listen to anyone say a gun is great or a gun is rubbish. It's a very subjective thing. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesj Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Great gun well made etc etc but not for me, couldn,t hit a barn if i was standing in it with one! just the fit and feel doesn't seem right. If it is close to fitting you great and it can be adjusted for you, it would also be worth looking at Browning, miroku and as i did fabarm or caesar guerini all good guns and all a little differant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 If they where that rubbish why are they the best selling gun in the UK and used by most shooting schools? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 I'm looking to buy a silver pigeon as my first gun, when I had a go at the gun shop it fitted me perfectly. But whenever I ask around I seem to be met with either praise or a deep hatred for it and think it's absolute ****...? Can anybody give me any real reason why they would think that it's ****? And if you can then would there be other suggestions for me to try that would fit the same as I'm very close to buying one this weekend. Not wishing to cause any bad feeling, BUT, have you been shooting long enough to tell if a certain gun fits you "PERFECTLY"? I am an out and out Beretta fan, I still have one to shoot clays with and have owned many over the years, they are wonderfully built and the older ones will last a long time. Good luck in your search, get out and shoot as many as you can before you make your decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 I've shot mine since I bought it at the Shooting Show in February and I've got on very well. The one niggle that I have encountered is that when you break the gun to load it does not clear the breach for loading the bottom barrel, you have to push the barrel down. It is ok when I have cleaned and greased it but after an hours shooting it starts to stick. I'm hoping that it will improve after I have run it in. Other than that I have found it to very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 I shot one for quite a few years, I had no real issue with it at all. I bought it off the second hand rack at one dealer used it a few years and sold it to another dealer for a small profit. Only reason I sold it was it was too light a gun to handle the heavy wildfowling loads and I was only going to spoil the finish taking it out on the marsh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Funker Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 I'd say go into a trusted gun shop with and open mind and try a few out for size.I had my heart set on a Beretta but as much as tried to deny it a 2nd hand Miroku MK38 fitted me better, that was the one I went for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbust Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Great gun, great value, I have has 2, the older SP3 Sporter which I had for 5 years and the newer SP game gun which I used for 3 years before upgrading to an other Beretta of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacks1342 Posted September 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Not wishing to cause any bad feeling, BUT, have you been shooting long enough to tell if a certain gun fits you "PERFECTLY"? I am an out and out Beretta fan, I still have one to shoot clays with and have owned many over the years, they are wonderfully built and the older ones will last a long time. Good luck in your search, get out and shoot as many as you can before you make your decision. I have been shooting for a long time but never taken the sport far enough to need to buy my own gun. I have never had a choice in what gun I have used before for any comparison. This decision was after trying a lot of guns in the shop, without any preference for any of them. I just had set out now to get one but I seem to meet a few people with big objections against them, even one very experienced and successful competitors. His opinion was the one that has had lasting impact, cheap **** in his opinion... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 There is a certain polarisation of opinion between the fans of Miroku/Browning and those of Beretta at that price level but anyone who describes a Beretta as cheap **** is talking through his ****. Beretta have had a few relatively minor QC issues with a couple of new models, recently with the 692 top lever and a few years back with the SV10 ejectors. But the Browning 725 hasn't been trouble free either and nor was the Cynergy. Sometimes mechanical things go wrong but in my experience, Berettas, and I've had 3, have been 100% reliable. In general I prefer the looks, the fit, the feel and the handling of Berettas over Miroku (for example) and if you do too then go ahead and get one. The chances of it letting you down are pretty slim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Not everybody loves everything but as a solid all round 1st gun a beretta is a great 'default' position,v unlikely to go wrong/easily sold etc...I have never heard one called **** either..for function/shootabilty/reliability/marketability there is'nt much to beat it in its price range.Have had a SP 20 gauge for 10 yrs and it is brilliant.Paid £910 and would think could get that for it tomorrow...if you like the feel and have shot it then crack on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 (edited) I have 2 SP1's, 12g and 20g. I picked them over the alternatives because: 1) They were within my budget 2) The balance and fit was above the others and felt right my hands 3) I like the style 4) The resale value, should I need to, is good. There is a churlish attitude by some to any gun they don't own, possibly envy,( Daystates get it all the time) and a loyalty to their brand that borders on the insane . In a modern double barrelled shotgun, there aren't too many parts to cause problems, springs and pins mainly. If one breaks, just pop it into the gunsmith and get it repaired, its no big deal. Edited September 12, 2014 by turbo33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Just remember the shooting community is divided into 2 groups Group 1 those with taste Group 2 those who like Browning/Mirukos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 It's all subjective. I'm mostly a Winchester/Browning/Miroku fan myself, but for anyone to suggest Beretta are rubbish is ridiculous. They wouldn't be selling in the numbers they do if that were true. If you've been shooting long enough to know which model/make fits you best, then get that model/make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSA-airgunner Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 I had a silver pigeon for a year couldn't hit a great deal with it . It was low in the comb and short in the barrel absolutely loved it for its looks and Beretta feel...I bought a Beretta xplor light semi auto higher comb and longer because of the action I'm now hitting most of what I look at.....last week I bought a Beretta evo E and love it based on the long running silver pigeon with hint of the gold e ......silver pigeon are a great gun..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 If you are happy with the gun then that is all the reason you need to get one. Pay no attention to the beretta knockers out there most have never owned one and there are just as many who knock all the other makes.it's your cash your choice. I would not say I am biased but I own nine guns and all beretta's. A fantastic brand in my opinion and that is all that matters to me.good luck in your shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Just remember the shooting community is divided into 2 groups Group 1 those with taste Group 2 those who like Browning/Mirukos. blimey i'm in 2 groups..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalahari Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 If it comes to Browning/Miroku/Beretta argument, they are all good. Just make sure you get one that fits and shoots where you look. David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beeredup Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Silver piggy1 game gun was the first gun i ever bought i tried about 7 of them for fit till one looked right according to the excellent service of Malmo guns, I've had my silver piggy for almost 3 years now never had an issue a miss fire or anything with it shot game and clays with it all great, i'd never sell it and will be shooting game with it this season too but i now shoot a Blaser F3 on the clays and i use my SX3 auto on the marsh as i'd never take my two o/u's on the salty marshes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Funker Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 (edited) Just remember the shooting community is divided into 2 groups Group 1 those with taste Group 2 those who like Browning/Mirukos. Or group 3. Those that aren't fan boys for a particular brand and pick the gun that fits best off the shelf. Edited September 12, 2014 by Muddy Funker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrBob Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 (edited) Beretta is the World's oldest maker, they have a certain experience! They are beautiful guns, well made and stylish. What it boils down to is the balance and feel in your hands. I was a Miroku fan for years, I now find that the Berettas seem better balanced to me, more pointable. I recently handled and shot a real treasure, a Boss O/U sidelock 20 bore and- honestly- didn't like the way it felt. It seemed butt heavy and too light at the barrel end. For the record, the balance was perfect , it pivoted on a credit card. My own twenty, a Beretta 687, felt instinctively better. It really is down to how a gun feels in your hands, the SP is a deservedly popular gun, but Browning/Miroku are excellenttoo. Try before you buy..... Edited September 12, 2014 by DrBob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Hi If you like the gun just buy it and enjoy and do what the rest of us do save up and get another one All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 If they where that rubbish why are they the best selling gun in the UK and used by most shooting schools? That deserves to be re-quoted. I doubt many guns get a harder life than shooting school guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootgun Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Hi If you like the gun just buy it and enjoy and do what the rest of us do save up and get another one All the best Of + 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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