All things lead Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Well here we go, Will be expecting my SGC soon but which gun do i buy? Have been to several different RFD's and they have all suggested different things but they all agree on one thing, fit. So now understanding that aspect of buying a gun which make, model and barell lenghth should i go for? After some research I quite like the Silver Pigeon and or the Browning 525. I have handled both and both seem to fit well after a little shuffling and manipulation of my stance. After shooting a Silver Pigeon for an afternoon at a local club i got on with it quite well i think. After talking to the guys at the club they suggested i give another local RFD Who agreed the guns i am interested are good guns but i should look at one of the new Fabarm guns he has in stock. Appatently for around £1750 its all singing and all dancing with an adjustable stock and if the fit is right i should go for it. Could some one please give an independant view of the dilema i face. All comments would be appreciated as a newbie to shotguns i would hate to spend tnat type of money and later regret it. Cheers and happy hunting ATL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAL S Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 both the 525 and the SP are good guns its down to witch you like and fit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
working dog Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 I tried the Silver Pigeon and 525 and got on better with the 525 which I bought and am very happy with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 A secondhand Beretta or Browning is in a different league to Fabarm. Either would be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12borejimbo Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Have you considered a miroku? Still nice guns, defo the browning, beretta, or miroku, good solid reliable guns that hold the money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJMcamo Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Best advice is try shoot with them both. Go to your local clay shoot and see if they have one. I have a silver pigeon and have owned a Browning and as others have said very much a better quality gun. It also depends on budget. I take my semi-auto when hitting pigeons so prob use that the most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peathag Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Well here we go, Will be expecting my SGC soon but which gun do i buy? Have been to several different RFD's and they have all suggested different things but they all agree on one thing, fit. So now understanding that aspect of buying a gun which make, model and barell lenghth should i go for? After some research I quite like the Silver Pigeon and or the Browning 525. I have handled both and both seem to fit well after a little shuffling and manipulation of my stance. After shooting a Silver Pigeon for an afternoon at a local club i got on with it quite well i think. After talking to the guys at the club they suggested i give another local RFD Who agreed the guns i am interested are good guns but i should look at one of the new Fabarm guns he has in stock. Appatently for around £1750 its all singing and all dancing with an adjustable stock and if the fit is right i should go for it. Could some one please give an independant view of the dilema i face. All comments would be appreciated as a newbie to shotguns i would hate to spend tnat type of money and later regret it. Cheers and happy hunting ATL Both Beretta and Browning are great guns - Fabarm are ok but I wouldn't bother with one as they havent broke into the over and under mainstream market. Stick to the big 3 - Beretta, Browning and Miroku for starters and see how you go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon123 Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 I'd suggest that you should go for whichever sun fees right, and it's totally up to you on which barrel length you go for. For instance i've shot a SP and a 525 (both with 28" barrels) and i much rather the SP as it fits me better than the 525 and i find it handles better than the 525 also, but this is my preference and every one has their own opinion :yes: Also, i would buy second hand as you'd save you self a bundle of cash and get one in the same condition as it left the factory ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveG Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 You cant go wrong with a Beretta, Browning or Miroku best thing to do is find a shooting ground with a gunshop on site and they will let you try a few, at the end of the day if you know your budget it is what fits you the best. It is worth spending a bit of your budget in having your gun fitted any good gunshop can help you with this. I have had Berettas for years one of my current ones I have had for 34 years and used it for everything it has never let me down but I do have it serviced every couple of years. Good luck with your choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 I tried the Silver Pigeon and 525 and got on better with the 525 which I bought and am very happy with. Same here they hold money better and parts very easy to get if you ever need them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 All good guns I would look for someone independent who understands gunfit properly to go with you advise you. Lots of good coaches offer this service and will give impartial advice. RFD always have a gun that fits like a glove for every customer normally a little bit over what they wanted to spend but it would be perfect for them. They are salemen after all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All things lead Posted September 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Well gents, Thanks for all the advice much appreciated. I think i will shop around and as many of you have suggested tryn few more guns. I think i will stick with the big 3 but have a look at Fabarm just to compare. As for having a proper gun fitting i am going to book a lesson or two with a independant local shooting coach who i have been told will give sound impartial advice. Once again guys thanks for the advice Regards ATL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Beretta, browning, Miroku agreed, cant go wrong. Choose the one that fits and feels nicest. Dont worry about 30 inch barrels, if you are of average height you will be better suited to 28 inchers. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All things lead Posted September 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Cheers for that Alycidon, You now mention 28 inch barrels??....... I thought i had this one sorted in my head 3 out of the 4 RFD's suggested 30 inch barrels would be better for distance accuracy and from a re sale point of view. Only 1 of the RFD's suggested the 28 inch would be more suitable as it was a quicker gun to point and shoot with and that it would suite me better as a newbie?? 28 or 30 Which should i go for? Thanks again ATL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharf Rat Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Again, go for what you yourself prefer. Two friends of mine shoot the same private clay ground. One uses a 32" clay gun, the other a 26" sporter with tighter chokes. They both hit the same(ish) number of clays. I am a worse shot with my 28" O/U than the 28" sxs I stupidly sold. My 30" single never seemed to miss and my 26" 4.10 is very pointable too. Try as much as you can - you will know when you find what you want as you will hit more things with it. A good coach will give you the impartial advice you want, but it is only advice. You will find out for yourself, and if a £200 Baikal feels best then buy that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timps Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Barrel length is a personal choice, you will get used to which ever size you choose. The most common sizes on the clay sporting layout are 30” and 32”, quite a few years back 28” was in vogue and I learnt to shoot with my dad’s Browning Citori 28” which he eventually gave me and there is nothing wrong with 28” barrels. Even so unless the 28” feels a lot better than the 30” or is a lot better deal I would go for the 30”. It’s a more common size and will have more potential customers if you wish to sell. Remember you are not going to be a newbie forever so you are buying a gun that you will keep & use when you are a more advanced shooter or will sell to upgrade, the 30” suits both of those options better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chr15j Posted September 17, 2011 Report Share Posted September 17, 2011 I have a Beretta 686 S I am about to put on GT. Pm me if you are interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 I have a Beretta 686 S I am about to put on GT. Pm me if you are interested. Why not put it on gunwatch, it's free if your not a trader...http://www.gunwatch.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lambhat Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 About barrel length, I went with 30" when I was in your position: on the basis it seemed the most popular, and I couldn't really tell a difference between it and 28". Since then I've got a 28", and I find it miles better. If you're average size, I'd say you're likely to better with 28". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 For that money you could get a brand new cynergy, the build quality on a fabarm isnt that good and they kick like a mule............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chr15j Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 Why not put it on gunwatch, it's free if your not a trader...http://www.gunwatch.co.uk/ I will, but thought I would give the guy a head start, and anyone else contributing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canis Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 (edited) Whatever you do don't spend £1750 on a new fabarm! In fact, i wouldn't advise buying a new shotgun as your first gun full stop! you need to get a gun to get you started. As you gain experience you will get a better idea of what you actually want from a gun and your second gun will be more likely to suit you. if you can afford to spend £1500 on a gun spend £800ish on a secondhand Browning or Beretta and the rest on lessons and shooting. when time comes that you are ready for your second gun that Browning or Beretta will still be worth £800ish as a private sale , where a gun that you bought new will be only worth 65%ish of what you paid ( or 17 pence and a button in the case of the fabarm ) Edited September 20, 2011 by Canis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Albert Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 I was in a similar position a few years back. I found that the two that seemed to fit me better were the Beretta and the Miroku. After deciding on the Beretta I found that it had a 10 year guarantee. A little bit more than the Miroku but well worth it. It may seem of little importance, coming from such an established company but it does give that little bit of confidence knowing that you've got that backup. Not decrying the Miroku but that is how it transpired, both lovely guns. As far as buying secondhand is concerned, if it's your first gun then buy all means go for it but bear in mind, you won't know how well it was looked after or the history of the gun. Once you have got into shooting and been bitten by the bug then you can upgrade to a better gun. Enjoy your shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 You have to shoulder and preferably shoot both, I bought a new SP years back and changed to a 525. When I bought the SP the guy at the shop stood in front of me and asked me to point the gun directly at him.....then said, 'yep, that fits you ok' I liked the look and feel of it but didn't shoot very well with it at all. After about a year I decided to have another look at the Browning and realised it was much more suited to me and shot better straight away. For what it's worth I thought the finish and wood of the Beretta was nicer than the Browning, ie: my 525's stock 'looks' great since Straightshooter on here fettled it but it's nowhere near as dense as the walnut on Beretta's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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