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Lanber or s/h Beretta ?


DirtyDeeds
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Went out window shopping today (again).

 

Last week I went to a gun shop in Romford - I don't think I made a good impression turning up in wet motorcycle waterproofs on my way home from work, though! :stupid:

While I was in there I tried a Lanber Sport which I quite liked - a friend at work said they're good for the money, and I quite liked it.

 

Today I went to another shop in Chigwell. The guy in there was really chatty, helpful, and we talked about shotguns, clay shooting, wildfowling, model aircraft, the meaning of life, etc. While I was in there I tried a s/h Beretta 686 which I really liked - it came into the shoulder so natrually, my cheek 'kissing' the stock, eyes barrels everything lined up nice.

 

When I started on this venture I set a budget of £500 for which I thought I'd get something s/h quite decent. Then I thought, well, the Lanber is only a little more brand new, so the Gordon Brown in me starts frowning. The Beretta is £695 - is this a good price? - it seemed in v.good condition. The friend I shoot with has a 682 which I've felt comfortable with.

 

The guy in the shop also does lessons and said he could take it along to a local shoot for me to try - a deposit will hold until my cert. and cabinet are all fixed up (what a nice guy - think I'll be going back there - I'll dry me waterproofs first!!!).

 

So, Lanby or s/h Berry?

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First gun I bought before the ink dried on my ticket was a Lanber - 28" bbl, narrow rib, etc. Cost £230, spent another £25 or so making it fit and I must have put a fair pile of carts through it by now. I have a Beretta too, and an old Lames 801 for rough shooting. Wouldn't swap the Lanber for a Silver Pigeon. Got me used to shooting, took the worry out of knocks and bangs, learned a bit of technique, etc. My daughter hits everything she shoots at with it. So do I pretty much. Only problem I've had is finding chokes to fit the Lanber, eventually gave up and learned to live with 1/2 and 1/4. Never had a misfire, never had it jam, never had sticky ejectors, it's a good solid gun, and RFD's are happy to see Lanbers when a trade in comes around.

 

What you lose in koudos from the boys down at the clays ground you make up for in pennies saved. At the end of the day it's a matter of choice. Shotguns go bang and lead flies out of the end not against your shoulder. I've seen an old boy hit everything that flies with an old bolt action .410 Webley. If it fits right, no matter what it is, you'll hit more regardless of the make, grade or fancy scrollwork. If it happens to be a Beretta, go for it. :stupid:

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First gun I bought before the ink dried on my ticket was a Lanber - 28" bbl, narrow rib, etc. Cost £230, spent another £25 or so making it fit and I must have put a fair pile of carts through it by now. I have a Beretta too, and an old Lames 801 for rough shooting. Wouldn't swap the Lanber for a Silver Pigeon. Got me used to shooting, took the worry out of knocks and bangs, learned a bit of technique, etc. My daughter hits everything she shoots at with it. So do I pretty much. Only problem I've had is finding chokes to fit the Lanber, eventually gave up and learned to live with 1/2 and 1/4. Never had a misfire, never had it jam, never had sticky ejectors, it's a good solid gun, and RFD's are happy to see Lanbers when a trade in comes around.

 

What you lose in koudos from the boys down at the clays ground you make up for in pennies saved. At the end of the day it's a matter of choice. Shotguns go bang and lead flies out of the end not against your shoulder. I've seen an old boy hit everything that flies with an old bolt action .410 Webley. If it fits right, no matter what it is, you'll hit more regardless of the make, grade or fancy scrollwork. If it happens to be a Beretta, go for it. :stupid:

I couldn't agree more as long as the gun feels comfortable and your hitting what you want to hit who cares what make of gun it is :stupid:

 

Colin

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i guess you whent to mays in Buckhurst Hill

 

for me its got to be the Beretta there lovely guns a real feel of quality about them and fitted me well..but the nicest gun in the world is no good if it dosent fit and feel right to you, go with the one that feels best.

 

 

heres mine

a1-26.jpg

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I've currently got a Lanber. It was the first gun i bought and have had it 8 years now. Excellent Fit and never had a problem with it. BUT. I am now looking into swapping it for a Beretta Silver Pigeon S which is from the 686 range. Beautiful gun and can't wait to get one. You've got to treat yourself now and again :oops:

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Depends what you are using it for...

 

Hell, if i payed over a grand for a silver pigeon and took it out in the field i would be scared to move with in in fear of scratching the hell out of it.

 

a shotgun is a shotgun, a lanber can do exactly what a beretta can do, as long as it fits you right.

 

 

 

 

If i had an exensive gun, id probably use it for clays only.

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If i had an exensive gun, id probably use it for clays only.

 

If I bought a bentley i'd only park it on the drive, that logic makes no sense at all. IMO Beretta is a far better maunfacturer, you'll get a better selection, better quality and better re-sale value....Beretta all day long :good::no:

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a shotgun is a shotgun, a lanber can do exactly what a beretta can do, as long as it fits you right.

 

 

Mmmmm, disagree a little bit, any good gunsmith worth his salt would tell you better engineered shotguns pattern better than cheaper ones, it's in the engineering tolerances of the tubes and chokes....

Personally I think Lanbers are good value for money, however I'm on my second Berretta (silver pigeon), the first one lasted me twenty five years, even then it wasn't worn out, just nicely loose! :good:

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I'm not a Berretta man, but if your choice is limited to it or a Lanber I would take the Berreta every time. One word - resale. If its comes to that you will get a far better resale value than the Lanber and a better quality gun all round.

 

I would go for the Browning over a Berreta though if your after all rounders that fit the conformist line. I like my oddball guns like my Finn or my AYA's as no-one else shoots clays with them and they are well built and long lasting. Ive always been a non conformist though.

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a shotgun is a shotgun, a lanber can do exactly what a beretta can do, as long as it fits you right.

 

 

Mmmmm, disagree a little bit, any good gunsmith worth his salt would tell you better engineered shotguns pattern better than cheaper ones, it's in the engineering tolerances of the tubes and chokes....

Personally I think Lanbers are good value for money, however I'm on my second Berretta (silver pigeon), the first one lasted me twenty five years, even then it wasn't worn out, just nicely loose! :good:

 

Never said 'a shotgun is a shotgun' - Dazzyboi did. Even a cheapskate like me can appreciate the difference between a Lanber and a Beretta. I'd agree with every point you've just made. However, to extend the driving metaphor a bit further, a choice for a first car wouldn't be a Bentley unless you could afford to write off all those bumps, dents and lack of care that happen before experience kicks in. Buy a Beretta once you know what you do and don't want in a gun. Even with all the best advice in the world that won't happen until you've been shooting for a while. I learned to shoot with a clay club's Browning, but the fit wasn't good and it wasn't until I tried a few other guns & found one that fitted better that I started hitting more. If Dirty Deeds can afford a Beretta that fits out of the shop then he should go for it. Who wouldn't? I certainly wouldn't say a Lanber was a better gun.

 

Driving a top end car can instantly allow the driver to corner faster, accelerate harder, etc. Shooting a top end shotgun won't improve your scores. Only experience will allow you to do that.

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My first gun (which I still have) was a 28" second hand multichoke silver pigeon. I bought it in April this year for £550 with a full set of chokes and a service from the gunshop. The barrel is scratched and the second ejector sticks, but, it's a lovely solid gun, the bores fine and it has never let me down - it must have had 5000 carts through it since I bought it - two of my mates (share) it when we go out at the weekend for clays and I use it for pigeons and crows. I have promised the first one to get his license the gun for the same money I paid for it, but everytime I pick it up I think better of selling it. It is built like grandpa's tool shed and the close on it is a lovely firm deep "clock" noise whereas the Bettinidoodahs and Lanbers I have picked up feel and close like the doors on a G reg Fiat Panda, "twink".

 

It's all down to personal preference though, but you pick any gun mag up (sponsored advertorials or not) the best gun taking into consideration all factors is the Beretta 686 model.

 

You pays yer money youse takes yer chances.

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At the end of the day its weather your willing to pay that sort of money for a gun..And if you are then why not? Personally im not...If someone gave me a silver pigeon i would gladely take it off his hands. But unless i had that sort of money to spend on a gun, i wouldnt bother.

 

Until someone takes me out in the field and prooves to me that a silver pigeon can do something that my "lanber" cant, id say the rest is all myth :good: its the person behind the gun that does the work. Id say the engineering maybe a little better and may "increace" performance. But id never say that a berretta can do everything a lanber cant.

 

 

Give a man a £500 gun and a £20,000 gun, the more expensive gun wont make him a better shot

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now that gets an amen from this old, Lanber toting, tea drinking, gypsy :)

 

have we done this to death yet? :good:

 

 

Yes :lol:

 

I just realised the price of the beretta stated in the OP's post...

 

£695

 

I thought he was on about a +£1100 gun

 

 

"I must read threads before i post"

"I must read threads before i post"

"I must read threads before i post"

"I must read threads before i post"

"I must read threads before i post" :/:lol:

 

 

I stand by what i say tho

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I thought this one started with the old, what's the best buy for my £695, and of course the answer is a second hand Beretta, but of course no one's going to convince two Lanber / Bettinidodah owning gypsies otherwise.

 

Agreed that £10ks worth of engraving won't down birds or break clays. Personally, I can't stand engraving on a gun, buts thats me - I just don't see the point.

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Agreed that £10ks worth of engraving won't down birds or break clays. Personally, I can't stand engraving on a gun, buts thats me - I just don't see the point.

 

 

I think they are more for show..*ehem* Willy waving *Ehem*

 

Joking aside...

 

There is a lovely pair of Browning 12bores in my local dealers, £45k for the pair, engraving is gorgous

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Well, thanks guys. I think the s/h Beretta it is, providing I dust a few clays with it Sun morning, ie. it fits OK. It seemed good in the shop but out in the real that world may be a different matter.

 

A friend supplied me with a gun cabinet so I'll be busy this weekend both shooting and drilling!

 

THanks all for your comments - it's been an interesting read.

Ta,

Steve

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