Browning 425 Special Waterfowl

[Super major]

I'm on the verge of getting a 525 and have just read this review http://gunmart.net/gun_review/browning_425...ial_waterfowl1/

Hadn't been planning on doing much wildfowling as I'm not sure of the nearest place to go near me but it's something I want to try one day. As far as I can tell the 425 is a beefed up gun designed to take heavier wildfowl loads but would be fine as an all round gun.

Sorry to sound so ignorant but what size loads are you looking at for 'fowling and what's the limit for the 525? Or is the 425 just beefed up to be taking those bigger loads more often?

 

Help would be much appreciated,

 

Rob

[shakin stevens]

Hi rob

I had a special waterfowl a few years ago i bought it for an all round gun, i do all sorts of shooting from

foreshore shooting to driven game. The new waterfowl has a 3.5 chamber so it takes the full range of

loads some even over 2 oz and its also proofed for steel, i couldnt get on with it ! i went rough shooting with

it and found it way to heavy to lump round all day, i also found it to high on the stock i did think it was me

but a few pals picked it up and found they had to adjust their head to shoot too!! for wildfowling it was ok

it manages the heavy carts very well, but i found it a bit posh to get covered in mud.

regards rob.

[Super major]

Hmmm that's interesting, have you shot the 525 before because I've used a 525 and get on fine with it, is there a big difference between the two? What gun did you replace it with?

I'm not too worried about it being heavy to lug about but it'd be interesting to see how it fitted me.

 

Thanks,

 

Rob

[HDAV]

~I think the 425 and 525 are very similar the waterfowl special is as different from a standard 425 as it is from a 525, the waterfowl special is heavier and has larger chambers to the standard 425 so unless you are going to be doing a lot of wildfowling that may be that the 425 is not ideal for day to day.

[pigglet]

~I think the 425 and 525 are very similar the waterfowl special is as different from a standard 425 as it is from a 525, the waterfowl special is heavier and has larger chambers to the standard 425 so unless you are going to be doing a lot of wildfowling that may be that the 425 is not ideal for day to day.

 

 

I've used a friends 525 and found it the same interms of fit to my 425.

The 425 is generally considered to be a better made gun though so if you can find a "new, old stock" game or sporter model then they are well worth considering.

 

or alternatively

 

ahem, caugh

http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/ind...howtopic=126401

Edited June 5, 2010 by pigglet

[starlight32]

I have had one, Basically in a nutshell they are 3.5" chambered over and under. 3.5" loads were painfull shooting and I only got one because I like a flight in the morning before I go game shooting for the day during the season so it made sense at the time to take only one gun.

 

As with all of the above they are heavier, in fact the pair of them was just like putting a lump into your shoulder everytime you picked them up.

 

To be honest if you are new to wildfowling a 525 is a newer gun and will be 3" steel shot proofed, this takes care of 90% of your wildfowl shooting.

 

Try your wildfowling out first, if you like it go out for an auto

[plinker]

I've used a friends 525 and found it the same interms of fit to my 425.

The 425 is generally considered to be a better made gun though so if you can find a "new, old stock" game or sporter model then they are well worth considering.

 

or alternatively

 

ahem, caugh

http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/ind...howtopic=126401

 

425 is generally considered to be the better made gun ,by who?

the 325 was the last browning to be ' a better made gun'

they are all well made guns imo

[Super major]

Thanks for the replies.

 

Reading the replies to this I'll probably stick with the 525. Just saw the 425 waterfowl and like the idea of a 'heavy duty' gun, although I've been told if a 525 is looked after it should last a lifetime.

 

Thanks,

 

Rob

[pigglet]

425 is generally considered to be the better made gun ,by who?

the 325 was the last browning to be ' a better made gun'

they are all well made guns imo

 

 

Yes they are all well made guns and I'm not sugesting that one will out live the other but all teh people I know who have seen a comparable 425 and 525 side by side have said the 425 is a better finished gun.

The people in the trade that I know have also agreed with this.

There's not a lot in it. I can't comment personally on the 325 but have been told by some that it was better than the 425.

 

Most manufacturers try to produce a replacement model for the same or similar price as the outgoing model, this often results in cost savings having to be made on the new model.

[Windknot]

Gunmart review:

 

http://gunmart.net/gun_review/browning_425...ial_waterfowl1/

[Super major]

Gunmart review:

 

http://gunmart.net/gun_review/browning_425...ial_waterfowl1/

 

Put that link at the top of the page but never mind

 

Just read it again though and it's surprising the difference between reading that review and the ones on here. When I'd read that review before posting on here I was seriously considering one as I thought carrying the additional weight wouldn't be a problem but reading about the stock being too high and having to adjust your head has put me off a bit. I suppose the reviews on here were over a longer period of ownership so are more accurate and also I don't often read magasine reviews that have much negative to say. So will a 525 be adequete for all exept maybe geese?

 

Cheers,

 

Rob

[pigglet]

In short, yes. I know a guy who shoots canada geese with a beretta ultralight!

 

I don't know how much shooting experiance you have so if I'm teaching granny to such eggs, please ignore this!

 

The most important consideration in choosing a shotgun is whether or not it fits you correctly. It doesn't matter if you like the gun if there is a fundamental issue with it's fit which will subsequently affect your mount.

 

For most people they will probably be able to get away with either a browning or a beretta as the 2 are quite diferent in terms of gunfit and most people tend to fall into one or the other camp.

 

Trying before buying whilst having a lesson or 2 at a clayground is a good way to suss out what works and what doesn't. It sounds like an expensive way of doing things but can save you a lot of frustration and money in the long run. It's also a bit of a chicken and egg thing as it's not untill you've done fair bit of shooting and got really comfortable with your mount and style that you yourself will know exactly what you want. You can then have your gun fine tuned in terms of fit by a gunsmith if you need/desire.

 

Are you going to use it for mostly clays? mostly rough? 50/50?

 

If it's a 50 50 gun then the 525 lightweight is well worth a look. I've got a couple of frieds who have them and at least in teh 28" version that I've shot are a cracking gun. One of the guys uses his solely for clays as he can't get on with the weight of a sporter.

 

HTH

[Super major]

In short, yes. I know a guy who shoots canada geese with a beretta ultralight!

 

I don't know how much shooting experiance you have so if I'm teaching granny to such eggs, please ignore this!

 

The most important consideration in choosing a shotgun is whether or not it fits you correctly. It doesn't matter if you like the gun if there is a fundamental issue with it's fit which will subsequently affect your mount.

 

For most people they will probably be able to get away with either a browning or a beretta as the 2 are quite diferent in terms of gunfit and most people tend to fall into one or the other camp.

 

Trying before buying whilst having a lesson or 2 at a clayground is a good way to suss out what works and what doesn't. It sounds like an expensive way of doing things but can save you a lot of frustration and money in the long run. It's also a bit of a chicken and egg thing as it's not untill you've done fair bit of shooting and got really comfortable with your mount and style that you yourself will know exactly what you want. You can then have your gun fine tuned in terms of fit by a gunsmith if you need/desire.

 

Are you going to use it for mostly clays? mostly rough? 50/50?

 

If it's a 50 50 gun then the 525 lightweight is well worth a look. I've got a couple of frieds who have them and at least in teh 28" version that I've shot are a cracking gun. One of the guys uses his solely for clays as he can't get on with the weight of a sporter.

 

HTH

 

Fair to ask how much shooting experience I have. I'd say I'm fairly new but I understand how important gunfit is. Interestingly I've had a few clay lessons that have all been with a Browning/Miroku and have got on fine with the gun. The instructor reccommended the browning to me as I'm 6ft 3. Last Sunday though at the game fair at Harewood House I went to a tent that was doing gun fitting and mounting and he reckoned the Beretta fitted me quite nicely (convenient as they only had Beretta's, although he seemed to know his stuff).

 

Nearly all of my shooting will be on game rather than clays.

 

Do you know what cartridges your mate uses on canada geese?

 

Cheers,

 

Rob

[UK fowler]

I have mine for the same reason as starlight Im a left hander so had the stock cast for me plus the length of pull was 143/4"this was took down to 141/8 " which fits me nice the commo finish is not for every one but I love it had the gun 4yrs now and would not sell it the 31/2" comes in for the geese and the extra weight makes light work of heavy game shells .the best roost shooting gun Iv ever owned picked it up from york guns as a domo £720 worth every penny

cheers Nick

[onlyme]

ive got a 525 30" with the vented barrels , great at the clay ground , have run a few beasty 3" 56gram loads through it but i wouldnt want to go much more than that as it does start kicking a bit, a heavier gun would make lighter work of the heavy loads.... depends on your mix of shooting, id always a consider a semi auto first for wildfowling, and keep the o/u nice and tidy for the clays , the 525 makes light work of decoying and im always torn between that and my fac semi auto , thats how much i like using it ! i can see the advantage of the 425, but unless you are going to do a lot of wildfowling , id not bother. but if you can afford it , it make a nice addition to the cabinet no doubt.

[plinker]

Yes they are all well made guns and I'm not sugesting that one will out live the other but all teh people I know who have seen a comparable 425 and 525 side by side have said the 425 is a better finished gun.

The people in the trade that I know have also agreed with this.

There's not a lot in it. I can't comment personally on the 325 but have been told by some that it was better than the 425.

 

Most manufacturers try to produce a replacement model for the same or similar price as the outgoing model, this often results in cost savings having to be made on the new model.

 

sorry ,but the 525 is every bit as well finished as the 425 , i think you are getting all mixed up about the 325 and the chopper lump barrels,325 ,425,525 all come out of the same factory in japan and no cuts have been made to the finish as far as i can see, they are all as well finished as each other,the main difference between the 425 and 525 is drop on the stock on the sporters meaning the 525 shoots flatter the 425.maybe you could ask the people in the trade you know to expand on this.

[Gordon R]

I have owned 325 x 2, 425 x 3 and 525 x 2. The stock dimensions on the guns - was better for me on 325 and 425.

 

All are very well made guns. I have also owned Miroku MK38 x 3 - same gun - less cost.

[xav]

Unless you plan to go wildfowling a lot, the 525 will be a better all rounder: it's a 3'' 1370 bar proved for steel so you can fire high performance steel as well. The added bonus of the 425 waterfowl is that you can use magnum steel cartridges which require a 3.5'' chamber, quite a bonus if you shoot on the foreshore. I've just bought one for myself because that's why it will be used for.

[cortezarbo]

I'd never part with my 425 wildfowl, it fits perfectly, is totally reliable and i can shoot it all day long blasting clays or pigeons. A really nice solid gun. One slight alteration I made was to round off the edges of the butt pad on the right hand side to fit my shoulder better