mink Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 I am in the process of trying to decide on my first wildfowling gun, at the moment i seem to have come down to the Browning B425 waterfowl or the Berreta silver pigeon s 3.5". Now I know that there will be many out there screaming about semi autos but i am fundamentally bigoted against semi's and will not consider one. I have an uncle with a 10 bore sxs and if it was just for wildfowl that would be my choice but i want to be able to use it for clays as well. So if anyone owns either Browning or berreta i would be very interested in there opinion. Cheers mink A pic of my wildfowling dog(she does'nt know it yet) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 my cousin has a fabarm 3.5" 12b o/u, this is the only 3.5" o/u ive fired or seen come to that, nice gun, reasonably well made and priced, but it kicks like a mule with big steel loads, you may regret not getting an auto once you've had a couple of busy flights, he's even started to wince when he shoots it and thats not the way forward, good luck though mikee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trussman Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 (edited) I would try to overcome your dislike of semi autos. As Mikee said, a few shots using heavy loads and you'll certainly know about it. If it had to be an o/u I'd go for the Browning over the Beretta. Edited February 22, 2009 by Trussman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 3.5" chambered o/u + 3.5" cartridge = PAIN!!! I`ve used a Beretta 3.5", but not the Browning. It is an unwieldy, barrel heavy brute of a gun which, when used with 3.5" cartridges and having no recoil attenuation, kicks like a mule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mink Posted February 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 I do not expect to be using many 3.5" loads, i envisage using 3" for most wildfowling. I would not be happy to use a standard 3" chambered berreta or browning on its limit for most of its shooting. On those rare occations when i am under so many high geese that my shoulder gets painful i will stop shooting as i will already have enough for my personal use(or such a bad shot i should give up). :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mink Posted March 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 I have bought a browning b425 waterfowl, i will only be using it for clays over the summer so will post a report on recoil and various cartridge combinations next winter. And the address of the hospital that is rebuilding my shoulder so you can send flowers. Cheers Mink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommo Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Was just about to say 10 bore when l read you have already considered, I've two Kestrel/Lincoln both 32" barrels and both are nice to shoot but weigh a tonne , If you got the money mate why not a decent older gun like a Greener (l'm on the lookout for one too) 3.5" could be a prob in the older ones (but like my wildfowling mate says - you can hit anything with a 3" cart if you can shoot right!) Let us know how you get on..... T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 .......... you may regret not getting an auto once you've had a couple of busy flights, he's even started to wince when he shoots it and thats not the way forward, good luck though mikee A very important thing to note IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Sam Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 A gun proofed for 3" loads is perfectly safe to use to shoot 3" loads. You will not 'push it to the limit'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Tait Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Surely you're not a proper wildfowler until you shut both eyes and grit your teeth just before firing?? Been using 3", 50g BB this season, and have come away with one or two bruises at the start cos I wasn't thinking enough about what I was doing with the gun. I couldn't co-ordinate sliding out from the hide, keeping the geese in view, making sure the dog hadn't gone AWOL and closing the flask while I was trying to calculate height, speed, wind and numb fingers !! I'm seriously considering a 10b now, but then I'd need to start reloading??? Sorry, can't help you any Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mink Posted December 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Been using the gun for a while now and no problems with recoil. After the first busy flight i was under i did not think about recoil until driving home, so no worries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Can you still shoot lead wildfowl loads in Shetland? I'm not having a dig, just interested Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Been using the gun for a while now and no problems with recoil.After the first busy flight i was under i did not think about recoil until driving home, so no worries. Oh boy you will, I shoot an Xtrema 2 with full 2 1/4oz shells and they rattle the bonce with the recoil system so beware my friend !! Can you still shoot lead wildfowl loads in Shetland? I'm not having a dig, just interested Argyll isn`t Shetland, Scotland has the better law, you can shoot anything with lead as long as it isn`t on the foreshore/SSSI`s/rivers/frequently flooded land etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cortezarbo Posted November 7, 2010 Report Share Posted November 7, 2010 got a 425 myself. a great gun, perfect fit, nice balance, good grip. my only fault with it was the butt pad had very sharp edges on the rubber that would pinch the skin on certain shots, i shaved it down with a dremel and its alot better now. 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.