MrShirley

Our club have bought both electric and manual GDK traps and they are both utter tosh! You spend more time adjusting the automatic ones and the manual ones are so flimsy we have had to weld extra bits of steel on them to secure them. As previously said.... what customer service!

Well the gun is back in my possession. I was more happy with the service from the shop (Melbourne Gun). Apparently, all Browning have done is carry out a full service! I'm not 100% convinced, they seem to have been very liberal with the oil. The barrels came back in bubble wrap inside the ABS case. There was that much oil smeared over them the barrels had little oil circles all the way down them. It took me a little while to polish them off. I'm more than happy to oil/grease the gun in the right places, but these guys seem to have gone to town. I used to gun this weekend and it gun feel better, time i suppose will tell. Thanks Ash

I might be being blind, but I cannot find the transfer form on their website to download. Does anyone have the link or they could email me the form please? Also, does Leciestershire Accept transfers being sent via email? Sorry, but i'm used to dealing with South Yorks. Thanks Ash

I agree, I think the bite is a little out and a quick polish or removing a few microns will solve the issue. However, given how much the gun cost new, i'm not willing to take this on myself. :-)

Thanks for the replies guys, I took the gun back yesterday. No real issues, the shop owner agreed with me. He closed it several times and the issue happend. The gun is now in its way back to Browning to be looked at. Thanks for the advise a303, I have taken lots of photographs and the shop know this too. When I get the gun back, it will be inspected within an inch of its life.

Hi. I purchased my 725 2015 model brand new about 6 month back. Never owning a brand new gun before, I expected a level tightness that would gradually bed in over the next few months. The main area that was actually tighter that I would have liked was the top lever. Opening the gun after dis-charging two shells, took a very positive thumb. As before I put this down to engineering tolerances and it would bed in. In fact the opposite has happened. The top leaver is no longer smooth and there is a definite stop on 50% on the travel, to which more pressure needs to be applied to over come this stop and open the gun. I'm off back to the gun shop this afternoon as they are the Browning dealers and browning have told me to return it there. Before I do, I thought I would ask what are peoples thoughts on what could be causing this and what would you expect to be done given the gun is still well within warranty? I'm a fairly amateur shooter and i don't know the full ins and outs of the workings of shotguns, so ideally I would like to know a little so i don't get fobbed off. The gun shop does have a very good reputation, so hopefully this will get sorted very quickly. Cheers Ash

Hi. I'm a fairly new shooter and needed some coaching to get my into the right discipline for clay shooting. On a normal shoots my scores were between 40% to 50% of the presented clays, so there was room for improvement. I decided to book myself a lesson with John Needham (South Yorkshire BASC Coach). John is very friendly and his coaching skills are great. He explains where you are going wrong and what you need to do to improve. We spent to a good few hours going over different types of presentation and the techniques required to make it easier to break the clay. The lesson was shared with another guy, so there was time to practice and watch. On a side note, the guy who I shared the lesson with happens to live around the corner from me, so another person to shoot with! I would honestly recommend John. The morning spent with him has improved my shooting, I now have more confidence in my shooting and able to understand where i was going wrong and the tips required to shoot more consistently. There is still room for improvement but things are going in the right direction. Practice makes perfect. All the best Ash

John Needham is very good. I really enjoyed my lesson with him on Satuday. I will be going back after I have put some practice in.

I have one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tally-Counter-Hand-Held-Clicker-4-Digit-Chrome-Palm-Golf-Club-People-Counting/291339765244?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D30257%26meid%3Db09ce1109d8040539eb069c7d68c7aa3%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D281667382829&rt=nc

Hi. My IZH-28 was very stiff when new and was still stiff after a few 1000 shells. It tended to get looser after a few shots has been fired and the gun had warmed up. Once it cooled, it went tight again. Mine never let me down and was a reliable workhorse while i had it. I sold it to my brother-in-law and continues to give him great service.

Gents, Many thanks for your replies and assistance. John Needham contacted me after I emailed him. We had a good chat and I liked his approach and the service he was offering. He felt like a genuine bloke. I have my first lesson and gun fit session on Saturday the 2nd I will let you know how i get on. Regards. Ash

Thanks for this Danger Mouse. If you can get me Chris's details that would be appreciated. I have just got my new 725, which has the adjustable stock and several butt pads and the adjustable trigger, so ideally I would like the first lesson to be fitting session and shooting at the pattern plate etc. Thanks to everyone for the replies. Also, has anyone used Fox House Clay Sports, they advertise lessons with Ray Carnall?

I have been shooting clays for just over a year now. Having invested a significant amount in a new gun, I would like to get some proper lessons. Ideally I would like someone who is a qualified coach, but open to suggestions. Sheffield area but willing to travel. Thanks

Decision Made. Browning 725, deposit left. I shot both the 686 and the 725 in 30" barrels, also took my 28" Miroku for barrel length comparison. The 725 felt a much better gun, the 686 felt a little slim and skinny for my liking. The mount on the 725 felt better and mounted well, the palm swell give me a good contact with the gun. I have opted for the 725 with the adjustable stock as the price was right. I'm going to book a few lessons and get the gun tuned for me and get into good habits before its too late.

Thanks for all the comments, I will let you know how I get on tomorrow.

Good call on Amazon, I never thought to read the reviews there. Thanks. Appreciated.

I'm thinking of treating myself to the Napier ultra clean jag and cleaning clothes. Are they any good or just a marketing gimmick. Cheers Ash

Does the new 525 have an upgraded trigger mechanism? I have seen a few reviews saying the trigger mechanism is not very clever.

Apologies. Yes I meant the 725, I will also looking more into the 525. But I did not like the initial feel.

Sorry, I have shortened the names as a matter of habit. B725 is the Browning 725, the marketing from Browning refers to it is a B725. The second is the 686 Silver Pigeon 1. I was not really asking which gun is better, more how people have got on with these guns. Also more the process of what people go through when choosing their new gun.

I have decided to upgrade my gun. I want to buy new as the idea is this gun is a keeper, or at least for the foreseeable future. 90% of my time is spent shooting sporting clays, so the two guns I have narrowed my choice down to is the 686 SP1 30" and the B725 Sporter 30". I have not shot either gun yet, so I have a session booked at Doveridge to lend and shoot both guns. After shouldering both guns in the shop i'm leaning towards the B725, but the shooting will decide I'm sure. I like the palm swell and this particular B725 gun is the adjustable comb version and the with all B725's it has the adjustable trigger for fine tuning. I think this is why I'm currently thinking the B725 is the better choice as the stock can be tuned easy with out the need for custom work unlike what would be needed on the 686 SP1. Any thoughts and tips on choosing the right gun for me? I have never shot either a Beretta or a Browning so I'm totally new to both these guns. Making the right choice is important given the price tags they carry.

Sorry, my question was a little vague. Do Beretta make two different guns called the Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon 1 and the Beretta Silver Pigeon 1. Or is the listing inaccurate and they are both the same gun?

Are these two guns the same or not: Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon 1 and the Beretta Silver Pigeon 1? Looking at this listing they look like different guns but on the Beretta website I can only find the Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon 1. Highlighted in red. Thanks

The gun is now back at John @ Hardeys. John agrees with Gunman, its the not the hinges that are the issues, its the locking bolt and its in the remit of £150 to fix. If this is the case I think the gun will be going. Cut my losses and upgrade to a Beretta or a Browning. I wanted more mileage out of the Bettinsoli more upgrading... you cannot win them all.

Guys thanks for the advise. I have taken the for-end off, with the gun closed there is no play in the action at all. The gun closes very smooth with a positive single clunk. Looking at the locking pin, there does seem to be a few scores which suggests some interference.