Chris1314 Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 Hi all. I'm new to the forum and to shooting in general. Had an experience day brought for me by the other half and we were hooked. Since then we have both had a couple of lessons while we wait for the licences to come through. we are both looking at gun write ups and reviews and I think I have my selection down to 3; Bettinsoli diamond, Webley 2500 or Winchester select energy. From what the instructors said to look for in terms of fit they all felt right. The guy in the shop also showed me a yildiz which didn't feel as tho it fit as well and felt light. I liked the weight of the others. My question is about the build of the 3 guns. Are they safe choices in terms of reliability? Also are there any recommendations on a 20g for the Mrs? She will buy a gun that fits of course but any guns to go on the test list would be a help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 Winchester would be the pick - by a mile. Not sure of their price, but if they were anything above £500, I would buy none of them. For that money, you can get a Browning / Miroku or Beretta - different league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 Welcome to the forum, Out of the 3 you have listed the Winchester would be my choice, 1st - Winchester 2nd - Bettinsoli 3rd - Webley BUT....it's all down to personal choice, Whats your budget? also how much for the wifes? A new Winchester should be around £1000, the other 2 quite a bit cheaper As stated for that price a Miroku creeps in around that, but it may not fit as well, they are all different. What area are you from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 welcome to the best sport around.my own opinion is I would give the bettinsoli a very wide berth.webley have some issues also.and there is nothing worse than a gun that you cannot rely on.use the time you have waiting for your certificates to actually try some guns and talk to a few people around the grounds.my own opinion is stick to the big three if possible,beretta.browning and miroku.as for the 20 bore I have only ever had one and that was a Lincoln that I bought for my grandson when he was learning never had any problems with it.as for the reviews don't waste your time reading them I have yet to see a report on any gun where it was not the best gun they have ever used and it smashed everything to pieces.the magazines pander to the brands to gain the revenue from advertising so will not upset any of them by being truthfull.atb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris1314 Posted June 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 Hi, thanks for the reply, I'm in Birmingham. The budget is about £1500 for each gun. I tried quite a few, silver pigeon 1, Browning 525 and the likes and the 3 I mentioned were the ones I liked the feel and fit of. It's just a reliability thing. No point buying a gun if it's going to be with the gunsmith and not in my hands missing clays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 (edited) From those three I`d also go for the Winchester. edit: Just seen your budget and that opens up a huge range of options. Sticking with Winchester you could easily pick up a second hand Diamond Grade sporter and have quite a bit of change. There are loads of Brownings and Mirokus that you could buy new or second hand and if you went used you could pick up something in a very nice high grade that won`t depreciate significantly in value. My vote would be something second hand that holds it`s value as you may well find that after a year or so you`ll want to change your gun. Edited June 15, 2015 by Danger-Mouse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 (edited) You can get a lot of gun for well short of £1000. Don't buy new - you lose a wedge the minute you buy it. Guns are not like cars - they are built to outlast their owners. With the money cited - I wouldn't buy any on your list. There are many different models of Beretta, Browning/ Miroku. Get down to a large gun shop and try a few models of each make. Neville's in Alfreton have a mega stock. Premier Guns near Derby - many guns and you can try them on their ground. Edited June 15, 2015 by Gordon R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 Go for the one your happiest with, For your budget, leave out the Bettinsoli/Webley and go for the Winchester, As an aside have you looked at the Browning 725? Very Winchester like in feel and handling, 20 bore wise I would be looking at a Beretta, I've always thought of them as women's guns ... lol I will get grief for that Reliability wise Browning/Beretta/Miroku/Winchester are normally fine but you will always get the occasional bad one, its the same with anything, As someone above has said, use the time waiting for your certificates to try as many guns as you can. Oh......and the most important thing is to enjoy it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sishyplops Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 Used browning 325/425/525/725, miroku mk70/38, beretta anything Don't bother with anything else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 one other thing I will say is when you do buy your guns try and get them from dealers who have a in house gunsmith a salesman is fine but their priority is getting your cash in the till. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinchesterDave Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 Get the Winchester, but I'm biased... They're all good but the winchester will be the best, I want to add the select energy to my collection funnily enough lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisAsh Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 By far the majority of shotguns on the market these days are built to a very high standard by computer controlled machinery to very fine tolerances; and whilst the big three were easily the best guns say 10 years ago, now days the sub £2000 big 3, offer very little extra except a much higher price than the top sub £1000 guns, all are massed produced and many companies make components for other companies Guns are so reliable now that failures are very rare with any gun, which anyway is such a simple piece of equipment, and most offer long term guarantees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 There are numerous reports of Bettinsoli problems, particularly double firing. They seem to be lottery guns; i.e. you might be lucky or you might not! W & S seem to be pretty rare at clay shoots - I've seen about 1 in the last year - but I believe they're made in Turkey and spares backup could be tricky. The Winchester is always going to be the best pick out of the three on your list although they are quite light guns and that means more recoil. With a £1500 budget you have Miroku, Browning and Beretta models all available new, and their entry level guns are mechanically the same as the higher grades so therefore significantly more robust and reliable than any sub £1000 gun. But are you really sure about buying new? Chances are that within a year or so you'll be looking to replace the guns you buy now, so the advice to pick a pre-loved mid range gun from one of the respected big makers means you will save money and worry down the road and get you better guns to start out with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris1314 Posted June 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Well I think a trip out on Saturday is called for. Start at Nevilles then on the way back down head to premier guns as recommended above. Any other shops in the area I could pop into? I can make a day of it. How much are we looking at for gunsmithing if I were to have a fault with a gun? Do they work on hourly rates or set prices for certain jobs? As always thanks for the advice chaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 If i had a buget of £1000 i would be looking at a beretta 682 sporting NOT THE NEWER 682 GOLD E but the older 682 for that kind of money you will get a mint condition one . You can get parts all day long . Not that you will need them . They are rock solid and prob one of the most iconic sporters there is . And from a time when berettas where there best . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooterluke Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 (edited) If it was my money i would so what gordan says .if it suits you a second hand miruko mk38 sporter Theres also country man of derby not to far from premier guns as above if it was me i would go premier guns an try before you buy. Ive never been nevilles but seen that they do try before you buy . The plus sides to premier an nevilles theres gunsmiths at these 2 the down side to countryman of derby theres no try before you buy an no gunsmith service (nice freindley shop though ) .if i remeber right i think the countryman is half way between the other 2 shops Edited June 16, 2015 by Shooterluke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningB525 Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Hi, thanks for the reply, I'm in Birmingham. The budget is about £1500 for each gun. I tried quite a few, silver pigeon 1, Browning 525 and the likes and the 3 I mentioned were the ones I liked the feel and fit of. It's just a reliability thing. No point buying a gun if it's going to be with the gunsmith and not in my hands missing clays. With that budget, I'd go for a new browning B525 or Beretta. You may be able to go for a second hand higher model (725) with your budget. The others are more budget guns. I have heard a lot of horror stories about Bettinsolis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Please don't start factoring in repair costs, Most of the guns suggested should see you out barring the odd firing pin/ejector part, We all get them. My Browning is now some 14 years old and up to now has cost me an ejector guide pin (don't know it's real name) but was about £15-£20 if I recall, Parts are readily available from most shops/smiths Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromwell7 Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 I would definitely go for one of the bigger brands with that budget, the resale is also a lot better when the time comes to trade in. Also if in a years time you decide it's not for you it will be far easier to get money back on a premium brand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 If i had a buget of £1000 i would be looking at a beretta 682 sporting NOT THE NEWER 682 GOLD E but the older 682 for that kind of money you will get a mint condition one . You can get parts all day long . Not that you will need them . They are rock solid and prob one of the most iconic sporters there is . And from a time when berettas where there best . Yep, good advice. Despite not being a Beretta fan, I am always on the lookout for that perfect 682 Supersport. Don't overlook the Winchester 101. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zetter Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Another vote for the Winchester select energy if you like a meaty gun you cant far wrong. Also if its the same as mine the adjustable stock is nice as well to get that perfect fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris1314 Posted June 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2015 Yeah, it is the one with the adjustable stock. All 3 I mentioned have adjustable stocks. I think I need a gun with it as my weight is up and down throughout the year. No sport in the winter means man boobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted June 17, 2015 Report Share Posted June 17, 2015 If i had a buget of £1000 i would be looking at a beretta 682 sporting NOT THE NEWER 682 GOLD E but the older 682 for that kind of money you will get a mint condition one . You can get parts all day long . Not that you will need them . They are rock solid and prob one of the most iconic sporters there is . And from a time when berettas where there best . There is nothing wrong with the gold e models in fact they are extremely reliable and have been used to great success in competition. I have owned one and friends I shoot with also have them and have not found them anything but extremely good guns.What is your evidence to the contrary as you post implied. Atb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Posted June 17, 2015 Report Share Posted June 17, 2015 Be patient and save your money for a little while. Once you shoot more you will learn that different makes/models will fit you differently. You can't check a gun's fit until you have a consistent gun mount and that takes time to get. If you can find a friendly club where members are willing to let you try their guns it can be beneficial. Whatever you choose to do, good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted June 17, 2015 Report Share Posted June 17, 2015 There is nothing wrong with the gold e models in fact they are extremely reliable and have been used to great success in competition. I have owned one and friends I shoot with also have them and have not found them anything but extremely good guns.What is your evidence to the contrary as you post implied. Atb My post has not implied anytying ? I dont belive i slagged off the 682 good E . My post was for the OP and his buget . Your NOT going to get a newer 682 gold E for a grand . Well not a good one . Where he can get the older one with ease and a mint contidtion one at that and still have change ! So back off and read it again ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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