Beretta UGB25 Xcel

[Si-Bore]

I was looking as usual at the different guns available and have been intrigued by this gun. Has anyone any feedback on it?

 

Cheers

Si

[drennan]

This is a radical step in the way shotguns are seen. I've handled this gun with much back and forth with my opinion. Its concept is new in the shotgun world, but has many characteristics of military hardware.

 

Its not an over and under, and its not an auto as we all know, but it leans more towards the auto in the following ways. Its point ability is that clearly of the auto market. Although there are many different types of auto on the shooting grounds and in the fields there are definitely certain autos that point as autos and some that are just metal tubing with bits fastened around them. If you are an auto shooter and have had many years behind good and bad makes you will know what this means, however for those of you not so learned this simply means you get what you pay for, and some manufactures do know the difference from the field to shooting grounds, where other makers seem to think there guns change there handling by giving some a dash of engraving or even a camo look. This does not and never will help the importance of guns, and that's the handling characteristics of them.

 

The o/u aspect is the radical part for me with this gun. Yes it brakes like and o/u, but it doesn't look like one when it's open. It doesn't really look like a single barrel gun either. This really is a look on it's own. My first though was, well as autos are band on most if not all pheasant shooting grounds, how would this compare with the opinions of yester year. After all it brakes and its as safe as any other gun when broken (all guns our safe, its just the operators who need the training) Its most likely to early to comment on how this would be received in this area of the shooting world, but its a point I know will raise it head.

 

For clay shooters who shoot trap, O/T, ABT and other disciplines alike it's a high level gun. It still requires the shooter to have the ability to point the thing in the right place, but it fits the bill perfectly. For in the field, well I'd be reluctant to go for a day over the decoys or a roost shoot. Its heavy, but well balanced. After spending over 30 years shooting I can see most guns whoever makes them in there best light. At the moment I would say the UGB25 is very much on the clay ground days at the moment. With that said I'm sure Beretta will be forging a head with getting this to other areas of the shooting market. Beretta are top quality goods in all areas and masters of marketing, so like any sensible firm they went to the place who has the most trigger fingers and launched this gun their..........which is the USA.

 

Nearly all Americans who say they shoot either shoot, Trap, Skeet or big game. I know this as I'm married to an American. My first though when seeing this fascinating gun was a mental picture of my Father in Law grinning from ear to ear because this gun has all the looks and moving bits that would please even John Rambo. So this gun fits perfectly in the back yard of Uncle Sam. But being serious, this is a serious piece of kit. It has that Beretta feel and quality to it. It's very obvious that Beretta have pulled out the stops on the design and getting this to the shooters.

 

As a professional shooter I'm looking forward to when the sporting variety is launched. The trap one is superb in many ways and a few negative things with this are nothing more that Psychological. For the field I would say it's a bit heavy and can be a bit of a handful when operating the braking part of the barrel. I watched a friend of mine in action with it in a science laboratory environment and he handled its braking action as though the UGB25 had turned into an eel or someone had plugged it into the mains electric. If he had been videoed I'm sure Beretta would have paid 100's to make sure the footage never got seen. However those of us with more dexterity handled it with no real problems. It is a little hard to have what looks like an auto in your hands brake open with the press of a small lever into a kind of o/u.

 

I would say its a bit of a marmite gun, you either love it or hate it.

 

You would need to try one, as those who have shot it are few, and I've heard mixed reviews myself. Remember this gun at the moment is designed for trap, so it's going to shoot different than anything in the field, well what's designed for the field. If I had to shoot 100 DTL its a no brainier, if asked to shoot 100 English Sporting, I would be hesitant, If asked to shoot it in the filed I would not bother.

 

Hope this helps.

Edited December 31, 2008 by drennan

[mudpatten]

It`s actually a practical joke by the Beretta design team.

 

Nick.

[urikastu]

I thought I'd love it as I love Urika's, but alas I'm afraid I think it's the worst gun ever made

[BlaserF3]

I picked one up at Kelbrook for a "feel" and it would seem to be a very stable gun to shoot but I think you would need a fair bit of strength to shoot it well.

 

It was too much gun for me at my age.

 

I was impressed by the adjust ability built into it though.

Edited December 31, 2008 by BlaserF3

[gunboot]

I have shot one its very heavy and akward to load I cannot see any benefits of this gun its also very expensive! compared with a O/U or a regular auto. I wonder how long before they become unreliable.

 

Just don't see the point.

 

Sid

[pair away]

i shot one at doveridge a few months back , its an out and out rip off , RRP of over £2000 ive shot well used 391s that were more smooth to shoot and in the shoulder , in short it a poor gun for the money infact it woul still be a poor gun if it cost £500 .

[6shot]

from a safty point of veiw i think the break barrels is a good idea. also the fact it spits the empty shells down instead of sideways is better for cleaning up in the field. but i think it only takes 2 shells at a time so carnt see how its better than a o/u. if they make it 3 shot i would be intested, untill then ill stick with my 303

[pat 1]

Just back from the states.Saw one used at a bunker shoot.The guy could handle it well.Got a few shots but I think it would take about 5000 shells to get used to it.bit of a mess around your feet.Lovely to shoot no recoil whatsoever.

Pat

[TheHunter]

Don't forget this a re-release for this gun, it has been withdrawn once because it didn't work.

[Chokemeister]

Mine now has around 10,000 carts through her. So I feel I can comment on shooting and living with the gun over a longer period.

 

My other gun is a regular over-and-under Beretta with 32" barrels, that cost more far more money, for my comparison.

 

The UGB shoots the long distance Trap clays better than my O/U. I think this has many reasons. The very long sight-rib picture, it helps my aiming precision. Yes I follow the school that a precision Trap gun must be 'aimed' with a ghost bead (eg always looking at the clay of course). The heaviness adds tremendous follow-through confidence for quartering shots.

 

The single barrel forces choke discipline on me of course, you only have one choke to choose. For me, this means full choke all the time, which means one is forced to be shooting in the right place, with no room for a wide choke making-up for a lousy aim-point.

 

This meant I missed a lot at first, as I felt for 'where to shoot exactly'.

 

Reliability has been excellent. It needs shells that recoil enough for the short-recoil system to work. Soft Comp-X will not work in this gun. Eley Superb, Hull Sovereign and the like are excellent and 100% reliable.

 

Recoil is low but not as low as a gas auto. Much of the recoil is taken away by a bolt return system that is inside the stock.

 

The shell-hulls are kicked forward and away, and don't hit other other shooters, this is a civilised auto.

 

Accuracy wise, the pattens with standard Optima Extended chokes are some of the best and (where needed) tightest I have seen with few fliers. I am still experimenting with others, I really do think the UGB barrel is rather special.

 

Some of the comments about this not being worth £500 are a tad silly. Some at my ranges made similar remarks at first, which tbh took advantage of my beginner status. Of course the low scores 'were the guns' fault'. If one of the DTL top-20 crew used this and put in a few 300's, of course the sun would have shone out of it's you know what and they'd all want one.

 

In summary, a good gun, possibly a great gun. I am lucky enough to have the money to have any gun I want, I would not swap this for anything for Trap.

Edited January 7, 2011 by Chokemeister

[RC45]

I have the Sporting UGB and love it. Easily as good as a DT10.

[Sonivio 6]

I recently purchased a second hand UGB25Xcell trap version without the monte carlo stock. Personally this is one hell of a gun. Greatly underestimated, a fantastic shooting tool, perfectly balanced shoots like a dream. No piston or cylinder to clean. Very easy to operate and to dissasemble and to re-assemble. Adjustable to anybody left or right handed. No recoil no noise incredible quick to re-cycle both cartridges and they exit from the bottom. Stock fully adjustable so no excuses for a perfect fit. My gun weighs in at 9lb 1/4oz and balances perfectly between the hands and doesn't feel heavy at all it feels perfect. I have achieved my highest score to date and am now in A class CPSA. life changes technology moves forward and so we have from Beretta a gun designed for the 21st century. Not everybodys cup of tea ? For me this gun is awesome ! I use it to shoot sporting and it is brilliant.

 

Great design. I think the gun is a very good buy new, however i am told Beretta having spent a fortune on bringing it to the market, because of the high production cost and in the U.K competition from all the other beretta semi autos and o/u are struggling to sell them so GMK are not importing any more and am advised the factory will not continue with production. However GMK will continue to offer a repair and service facility and perssonally they do a great job from my own experience.

 

 

 

So a few are available new and second hand my advise get in quick get the gun of the century.

[HDAV]

I recently purchased a second hand UGB25Xcell trap version without the monte carlo stock. Personally this is one hell of a gun. Greatly underestimated, a fantastic shooting tool, perfectly balanced shoots like a dream. No piston or cylinder to clean. Very easy to operate and to dissasemble and to re-assemble. Adjustable to anybody left or right handed. No recoil no noise incredible quick to re-cycle both cartridges and they exit from the bottom. Stock fully adjustable so no excuses for a perfect fit. My gun weighs in at 9lb 1/4oz and balances perfectly between the hands and doesn't feel heavy at all it feels perfect. I have achieved my highest score to date and am now in A class CPSA. life changes technology moves forward and so we have from Beretta a gun designed for the 21st century. Not everybodys cup of tea ? For me this gun is awesome ! I use it to shoot sporting and it is brilliant.

Great design. I think the gun is a very good buy new, however i am told Beretta having spent a fortune on bringing it to the market, because of the high production cost and in the U.K competition from all the other beretta semi autos and o/u are struggling to sell them so GMK are not importing any more and am advised the factory will not continue with production. However GMK will continue to offer a repair and service facility and perssonally they do a great job from my own experience.

 

 

 

So a few are available new and second hand my advise get in quick get the gun of the century.

Interesting first post, I believe George Digweed MBE won one recently, There is one going throuh an upcoming Holts Auction.

 

Seems odd that the MANUFACTURER would cease production of a unit that it designed when it's main competition is its own products? Also is the UK market that critical to Beretta that they do what GMK tell them? There are lots of Beretta family guns GMK dont import Franchi for example, does that mean Franchi are about to be closed?

 

Or are you trying to shift a stock of brandnew UGB25's your sat on?