Heppy57 Posted October 24, 2016 Report Share Posted October 24, 2016 Hi guys, as a relative newby to the sport of clay shooting I would welcome any advice on choosing a suitable gun. My initial thought was simply to buy a Browning 525 sporter which seems to get good reviews then I noticed several older B 125's for sale for similar money but there is little information out there regarding these guns. Does anyone have experience of either and, as an afterthought, are spare parts still available for the older model? Many thanks, Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted October 24, 2016 Report Share Posted October 24, 2016 I have owned both. The B525 is a fine gun - I have owned two, but the B125 was better balanced. The B125 was made in Japan - same factory as the B525, but was hand finished in Belgium. That said, the B125 did not have chrome lined barrels - mine had minor pitting in the lower barrel and a cracked forend wood, which is why I got rid. A B125 for B525 money would ring alarm bells for me. The B525 is up to date and will outlast you. Spares are no problem for the B125. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted October 25, 2016 Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 I am sure i saw a 525 in the guns for sale and not a bad price around £900. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1440 Posted October 25, 2016 Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 (edited) The B125 was produced as a less expensive version of the B25 and share the sliding non detachable foreend. They will be better finished and have better quailty wood than the 525. As said the B125 doesn't have Chrome lined barrels(not a problem if you clean them as you should anyway). Also they won't have the 3" chambers or HP steel proofed as the 525 hunter or sporter if thats important to you. To save cost over the B25 the forgings and initial machinibg were done in the factory in japan and the parts sent to Belgium where they were finished in the same place as the B25. Nice gun if you can find an unabused example. Edited October 25, 2016 by Paul1440 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted October 25, 2016 Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 Hi guys, as a relative newby to the sport of clay shooting I would welcome any advice on choosing a suitable gun. My initial thought was simply to buy a Browning 525 sporter which seems to get good reviews then I noticed several older B 125's for sale for similar money but there is little information out there regarding these guns. Does anyone have experience of either and, as an afterthought, are spare parts still available for the older model? Many thanks, Nige you could always buy a miroku. they are great guns, near identical to the brownings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted October 25, 2016 Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 All three are made by Miroku - the Miroku MK38 being the best value for money, of the three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted October 25, 2016 Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 All three are made by Miroku - the Miroku MK38 being the best value for money, of the three. With you there Gordon, i love my MK38, best gun i have ever owned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted October 25, 2016 Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 yeah, i went and got a mk70sport, just because the mk38, was just out of of my price bracket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heppy57 Posted October 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 Thank you very much for your advice/comments. Much to think about. I recently saw a nice Miroku MK 70 grade 5 for sale privately at a decent price. A friend says that the grade 5 trappings don't make it shoot any better but it was certainly a good looking gun which I'm sure would be a good performer and hold its value pretty well. Please pardon my lack of knowledge but I've heard a lot of talk about "gun fit". How can you tell if a gun fits you or not? If buying from a gun dealer do you simply choose one and take it home or would they offer any sort of "tailoring" service to ensure a good fit? Many thanks again, Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisAsh Posted October 28, 2016 Report Share Posted October 28, 2016 Your best bet is to ask a experienced shooter to go with you and advice on gun fit. most guns are pretty standard with about 14-15 inch lop and right biased.If you can comfortably shoulder it and look straight down the barrel you are close, if you both check its unloaded and the other guy stands about 15 feet away, you mount the gun and aim at his say right eye, he can tell you if he is looking straight down the barrel. and that will do for starters, some gun shops have the ability to check your gun fit others are just salesmen who have little idea. When you start you will not have a fixed mount it only comes with practice so little point in a perfect fit, but after say 6 months you will have settled down and then maybe get a final gun fit from a expert who will make any small adjustments required or write down the measurements for a gun smith to adjust to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontbeck Posted October 28, 2016 Report Share Posted October 28, 2016 (edited) Your best bet is to ask a experienced shooter to go with you and advice on gun fit. most guns are pretty standard with about 14-15 inch lop and right biased.If you can comfortably shoulder it and look straight down the barrel you are close, if you both check its unloaded and the other guy stands about 15 feet away, you mount the gun and aim at his say right eye, he can tell you if he is looking straight down the barrel. and that will do for starters, some gun shops have the ability to check your gun fit others are just salesmen who have little idea. When you start you will not have a fixed mount it only comes with practice so little point in a perfect fit, but after say 6 months you will have settled down and then maybe get a final gun fit from a expert who will make any small adjustments required or write down the measurements for a gun smith to adjust to This is the best advice on "Gun fit", for a newcomer, I have read on the forum Edited October 28, 2016 by pontbeck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B25Modelman Posted October 28, 2016 Report Share Posted October 28, 2016 This is the best advice on "Gun fit", for a newcomer, I have read on the forum not forgetting to wear the clothes/jacket you would when either field or clay shooting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heppy57 Posted November 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 Hello again chaps. Your knowledge and advice was gratefully received. Just to conclude, have now bought a Browning 525 sporter and I'm really happy with it. The gun shop owner was able to assist with gun fit along the lines suggested by Chris and also gave me a few pointers on stance and gun mount. On the skeet layout where I've been practicing I got a score of 18. Well pleased with that and hopefully more to come. Good shooting to one and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted November 17, 2016 Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 Hello again chaps. Your knowledge and advice was gratefully received. Just to conclude, have now bought a Browning 525 sporter and I'm really happy with it. The gun shop owner was able to assist with gun fit along the lines suggested by Chris and also gave me a few pointers on stance and gun mount. On the skeet layout where I've been practicing I got a score of 18. Well pleased with that and hopefully more to come. Good shooting to one and all. A great gun. It should serve you well for years. Happy shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted November 17, 2016 Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 Hello again chaps. Your knowledge and advice was gratefully received. Just to conclude, have now bought a Browning 525 sporter and I'm really happy with it. The gun shop owner was able to assist with gun fit along the lines suggested by Chris and also gave me a few pointers on stance and gun mount. On the skeet layout where I've been practicing I got a score of 18. Well pleased with that and hopefully more to come. Good shooting to one and all. Good choice, I have a 525 game model and love it, use it, clean it, enjoy it, will serve you well. keep practising and happy shooting. Hope you have a large gun cabinet as that gun will be lonesome in there, you will need more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted November 17, 2016 Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 Love Browning guns fit me well a great choice mate enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.