mikky Posted November 5, 2013 Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 will be selling my rifles soon to do more clay shooting,been looking at the berettas,but cant afford a lot,the pigeon 1 looks like an entry level,retailing about £1350 quid,its had a good review ,my lanber has 28 " barrels.......,for clays is a longer barrel better or is just down to personal preference,i have never shot with anything longer than 28...any advice appreciated cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
station Posted November 5, 2013 Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 To me it's personal preference and I prefer 28" guns. Some say longer barrels swing better, some say shorter ones are faster moving. Tried longer ones, but always end up with 28" ones again, in the end down to you. ATB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huds78 Posted November 5, 2013 Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 I`ve just had the same dilema, I narrowed it down to the Winchester select topcote with 30" barrels or the Silver Pigeon 1 with 28" barrels. I spent ages in the shop picking them and putting them down trying to work out which one felt better (the shop owner also gave me a random gun and asked how it felt, it didn`t feel right for me, turned out it was a 6k browning !). I went away and discussed with a few mates and got mixed answers as above regarding barrel lengh ! When I went back to the shop another customer there saw my dilema and offered to help and his opinion was both fitted me so go by instinct which felt nicer to me so I went for the 28" silver pigeon and I love it it turned out the other customer was an instructor from a local clay shoot with over 40yrs experiance so I got a bit of freebie expert advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikky Posted November 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 will try a few and then decide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted November 5, 2013 Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 Although the SP1 is a 'starter gun' almost, have a look at how many clay shooting schools use them. Nuff said Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted November 5, 2013 Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 Had a SP1 sold it and bought another 686sporter (older model ) far better gun in my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted November 5, 2013 Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 The older 68 series guns are better than the sp1s but for the first time buyer I get the new full warranty bit. Most gun shops don't have an instructor on hand to advise on fit my opinion don't trust salesman on fit most don't know. You can always ask a local instructor to come and help most will. APSI website holds a good list BASC and CPSA as well though most are more hobby instructors than professionals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjh Posted November 5, 2013 Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 you were shooting that Lanber fairly well last time out Mikky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikky Posted November 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 Had a SP1 sold it and bought another 686sporter (older model ) far better gun in my opinion why are they better.....,build quality....did you buy a second hand gun or a new older one/model.only just started to look at the different models,would i be better spending the same money on a second hand 68 series ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikky Posted November 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 you were shooting that Lanber fairly well last time out Mikky not too sure about that,if i sell my rifles may as well treat myself,what model was the one you were shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted November 5, 2013 Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 The older guns where better made less accountant input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cawdor118 Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Hi mikky, my father bought me a 28" 686 Silver Pigeon Special for my tenth birthday, I used it for everything and actually LOVED it! I couldn't recommend a better gun. (I would however try pick up a slightly older gun in good condition as berettas newer stuff doesn't seem to have the same attention to detail or material quality). I shot this gun for about 12 years and I can tell you it's 100% defiantly not "only for beginners" I have shot against some of Scotland's top shots with it and have beaten them with £10k kreighoffs. If it feels right for you, DO IT! I now shoot with a 30" Beretta DT10 as I was wanting a little extra weight and length for clays, however the 686 will always be my choice field gun. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 for clays is a longer barrel better or is just down to personal preference,i have never shot with anything longer than 28...any advice appreciated For sporting clays or trap longer is usually better, with the proviso that some guns are more front heavy and unwieldy than others. With the Optima bores, Beretta brought lighter barrel sets to mid range guns, so I would unhesitatingly suggest that you try the SP1 with 32" barrels and leave the 28s on the shelf for a game shooter to buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 why are they better.....,build quality....did you buy a second hand gun or a new older one/model.only just started to look at the different models,would i be better spending the same money on a second hand 68 series ? Bought the sp1 for the lad second hand at a good price , but found we both shot the older 686s sporting better . sold the sp1 and bought another 686s sporting . IMHO there a better build quality ,hate the new shiny metal work on the sp1 . so yes i would say get an old 686 , 687 and save yourself a few £££ for a better gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filzee Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Hi mikky, my father bought me a 28" 686 Silver Pigeon Special for my tenth birthday, I used it for everything and actually LOVED it! I couldn't recommend a better gun. (I would however try pick up a slightly older gun in good condition as berettas newer stuff doesn't seem to have the same attention to detail or material quality). I shot this gun for about 12 years and I can tell you it's 100% defiantly not "only for beginners" I have shot against some of Scotland's top shots with it and have beaten them with £10k kreighoffs. If it feels right for you, DO IT! I now shoot with a 30" Beretta DT10 as I was wanting a little extra weight and length for clays, however the 686 will always be my choice field gun. Cheers Im with Cawdor118. I started shooting shotguns at 14 and was given a 686s, it was like an extension of myself to shoot and put me into the Notts clay shooting team. In a moment of madness i sold it and bought an SP1 with 30" barrels. In all honesty i wish i had just kept my 686s. I know the guy that bought it from me and i know he still has it so hoepfully one day i'll have the money to buy it back from him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikky Posted November 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 cheers everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shropshire_Lad Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 In the last twelve months I have bought a couple of new Berettas. A sp1 in twenty bore and a 686 evo in 12 bore. A while back I had a sp111 sporter made in 1995. I will be the first to say it was a better finished gun, no doubt about that. However the two new ones I have are great, they fit me better than anything else out there though the twenty is a little high in the comb, nothing that can't be sorted and the twelve is about as good as it gets off the shelf for me. The newer ones are made to a price but if they fit they are not going to be shot out any time soon. There will always be horror stories with mass produced items and usually only the pi**ed off ones can be bothered to post their views. atvb Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dashman1 Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Im with Cawdor118. I started shooting shotguns at 14 and was given a 686s, it was like an extension of myself to shoot and put me into the Notts clay shooting team. In a moment of madness i sold it and bought an SP1 with 30" barrels. In all honesty i wish i had just kept my 686s. I know the guy that bought it from me and i know he still has it so hoepfully one day i'll have the money to buy it back from him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dashman1 Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Another notts shooter atb that should have gone on last post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbust Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Nothing wrong with the SP1 but get 30" tubes and multi choke if you intend on using it on the clays. I have used an SP1 game gun for the last 2 years and it has never missed a beat on the game and at the clays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 I have six Beretta guns some bought new some used the myth that is doing the rounds about older ones being better quality has never been confirmed by gunsmiths or other qualified persons I have some that are two years old and some thirty years there is no difference all are very good.i would if in your position go possibly for a used gold e with 30 or 32 inch barrels these are proven competition guns and over the years won most major competitions.i personally find the longer barrels smoother and this in turn will help you improve your scores.but try before you buy if it fits and feels right you are halfway there.good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dashman1 Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Does not matter how many major competitions they have won its who is shooting the gun and I disagree the older Berettas were better quality atb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cawdor118 Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 I have six Beretta guns some bought new some used the myth that is doing the rounds about older ones being better quality has never been confirmed by gunsmiths or other qualified persons I have some that are two years old and some thirty years there is no difference all are very good.i would if in your position go possibly for a used gold e with 30 or 32 inch barrels these are proven competition guns and over the years won most major competitions.i personally find the longer barrels smoother and this in turn will help you improve your scores.but try before you buy if it fits and feels right you are halfway there.good luck. You can call it a "Myth" bostonmick... But I have personally seen with my own eyes some problems with newer berettas, all be it, it was more on the SV10 beretta perennia range. The problem of scoring between the action and received has cropped up twice In the last 2 years resulting in both being returned. (Lubricating grease was present). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 (edited) You can call it a "Myth" bostonmick... But I have personally seen with my own eyes some problems with newer berettas, all be it, it was more on the SV10 beretta perennia range. The problem of scoring between the action and received has cropped up twice In the last 2 years resulting in both being returned. (Lubricating grease was present). Would you not expect any failures at all then as the largest volume manufacturers in the world of course there are going to be some faults slip through.that goes for all makers they outsell all the others at least three to one and if you could get figures pro rata would be the same.my first Beretta back in the early eighties cost just short of a thousand and that was about entry level then.now people want new for 13 or 14 hundred and expect perfection.if you want the absolute top then dont buy the bottom end of a range. Edited November 7, 2013 by bostonmick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 (edited) Does not matter how many major competitions they have won its who is shooting the gun and I disagree the older Berettas were better quality atb Of course the gun has to be pointed in the right place a lot is down to the shooter however having said that I can't remember the last major winner of any dicipline winning with a Baikal or lanber or other such make so the gun plays a bigger part than you might think.as for quality that has improved in the materials used maybe because the lower end of guns are machine produced the odd one slips through.they are the world leaders and have outsold all others for years they are not the cheapest so that's not the reason.i am afraid facts and figures speak for themselve and cannot be argued. Edited November 7, 2013 by bostonmick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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