lysander Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 Hi all, I am looking to buy my first shotgun now my certificate has finally arrived (whoo!) - I am sure like many on here I was planning on attending the gamefair next weekend with a view to trying / shouldering as many makes and models as possible before making a decision but for obvious reasons that isn't going to happen now! I am going to have approx. £1700/£1800 to spend (I know it’s a lot to spend on a 1st gun but I have been well and truly bitten by the bug and have been saving hard for months)! Gun is going to be used 80% for clays and just have the odd pigeon/rough shooting session thrown into the mix (with any luck!)- In my mind its between a silver pigeon and the new B725 - I was really wondering if there were any other obvious options I had missed as am still going to look at as many as poss before making the final decision. Doesn't necessarily have to be new either! Only other really relevant thing is that I am 6ft 4 and quite long in the arms - was planning on having it fitted anyway so shouldn't be too much of an issue hopefully Thanks in advance - all advice gratefully received! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 (edited) Congrats that's a healthy budget others to consider are beretta 682 gold e, miroku MK38, browing ultra XS miroku MK70, Caesar+Guerini. zoli Kronos well worth hunting down, I shoot a 525 and if I change a 32" Kronos is on the definitely want to try list. Re fitting adding length is harder and can change the balance so try and get something longer to start with but 15"+ LOP is rare Edited July 14, 2012 by HDAV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAL S Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 TRY THE 32" 725 IS A GREAT GUN IF IT SUITS YOU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lysander Posted July 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 Thanks for the prompt replies will check them out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
station Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 TRY THE 32" 725 IS A GREAT GUN IF IT SUITS YOU Totally agree - if it fits then buy a 725 as they are stunningly good and bang on your budget Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Poon Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 Mate, my first gun purchase about just over a month ago was the 725 sporter, it's the dogs dangley bits and more, get one you won't be disoponted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 725 for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbox Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 (edited) Vote for 725 here too... Had mine a couple of months now and love it. Great balance and feel Edited July 14, 2012 by tbox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cant hit rabbits 123 Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 Many here have said buy the 725. I will say buy the 725, if it fits you! Fit is incredibly important with shotguns, and personally any Browning over and under will indeffinately not fit me. Beretta over and unders on the other hand are much better for me. So, its heavily based on personal prefference and fit. Go and try the 725, it may turn out you love it and it fits, in which case it will serve you well, on the other hand have a look at Berett's, which are very differently shaped and handle very differnetly too, plus all the other makes in between you may come across. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 And if neither fit try miroku, cg, zoli etc etc etc or just buy an adjustable and get it adjusted by a pro if your tall with a long neck or very broad shoulders it may be no fixed stock will fit, so an adjustable gives you the best chance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbox Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 (edited) Good advice above. It's easy for me and others to enthuse about a particular gun because it fits US well.. But at the end of the day you need to find the one that fits you best. Casing point, is I actually went shopping for a beretta but just didn't feel as good to me as the browning... You could just as easily go looking for a browning and walk out with something you had not considered before. The key is to go with an open mind and take your time. you're spending a chunk o' change and you will live with your decision for a long time. Handle and if possible try as many options as you can before settling. Good luck! Edited July 14, 2012 by tbox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 (edited) Also if a £500 gun fits the stick £1200 in an ISA for later (when you decide to upgrade)and get cracking once you shot the same gun for 6 months you'll notice the subtleties of others I was fortunate to handle a pair if hand built Brownings a few weeks ago and very very nice, made my 525 feel a bit like a plank! But at £40k+ the pair I would hope so! Haven't shot a 725 yet but hope to, (not till I can commit the funds if I love it tho) Edited July 14, 2012 by HDAV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lysander Posted July 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 Thanks for all the advice guys am off next week anyway so am going to visit a few of the local gun shops and see what they have in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoz82 Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 Get which ever fits best, for me it whould be a silver pigeon everytime !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlandladdie Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 (edited) Get which ever one floats your boat! There are a lot of nice guns out there for that money. If I were you I'd buy the Beretta SP1 and still have a heap of cash left over for the vest, ear defenders, cartridges etc. Dont get too hung up on fit etc esp if you are a slightly odd shape as any gun will probably have to be tweaked for you. Have a look and see which one you like the feel of most. Enjoy spending your cash! Edited July 15, 2012 by Highlandladdie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisAsh Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 As someone relitivly inexperienced you are more than likely to want to change your gun in the first two year or so Gun fit is most important to gun down shooters but the big draw back is that it takes most over a year to be able to mount the gun in the same position every time whilst gun up shooters have already mounted so fun fit is less of a problem, and whilst some will be up in arms about what i have just said go to any club and watch people try out each others guns and shoot just as well without doing anything apart from bringin it up to the shoulder. Gun fit is the finess of shooting as long as the gun as about right and not say a left hander when you shoot right hand or have LOP of 15.5" etc The shooting population seem to shoot either Browning, Miroko or Beretta in the main, but many other good makes are around both new and secondhand and lets face it nobody makes bad guns, they are all CNC machined to the same standards within reason and a sub £2000 gun from any make the main difference will be the wood and the amount spent on marketing by the builder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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