Browning vs Beretta

[Donny1]

I posted here a while back about a problem with my girlfriend's Browning Citori 20 GA O/U Featherlite. It's not comfortable for her to shoot. Too much recoil. Many suggested she was not shouldering it properly and many other things.

So today we went to see the most highly recommended place around here. JS Aircushion. They build custom air cushion stocks and do custom recoil pads. He is very knowledgeable and basically puts it like this. "You can glue feathers on a rubber duck but it still won't fly". The gun is not meant for sporting clays and such and at around 5.5 lbs will never be comfortable for her. If your gonna carry it all day and shoot a few birds, that's one thing. But not for her.

So bottom line, we had the gun appraised and the value is $1200. The gun was made in around 2000 and has maybe 200 rounds. We are considering selling/trading it and the Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Synthetic With Kick Off system was suggested. The trade in deal would cost around $500. with DROS, tax, etc.

http://www.beretta.com/Long-guns/Field-guns/Semi-automatic/AL391-Urika-2-Synthetic-Kick-Off-Optima-Bore-Optima-Choke/index.aspx?m=82&f=2&idv=1&id=74

The beretta is a fair price, around $1250. I think. The are discounting our Browning 20% as a trade which I think is fair.

The problem is we cant see spending $500. for a gun of around the same value. And it's a big chunk of $$ right now. Neither one of us has tried the Beretta or used a semi-auto shotgun. Although I understand the difference in operation mechanics and the Beretta only comes in 12 GA it is said it has very manageable recoil.

So should we sell to a PP and buy cash?
Is there a market for the Browning?
What do you think about the Beretta?

I would really like to try one but I don't know if that's an option.

Please help me with some input for this decision. It's sad to see such a beautiful gun just sit around and she want's to get back to shooting.

[Thefeeder]

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PM'ed you some good info

[ROTC sniper]

Sell it on the forum here...get as much as you can for it and look for another one on here for a comparable price...that's too much to lose on a trade....now if you really want to let it go for the price that the company will give you, I'll buy it from you

[TadyMan]

JS AirCusion is the only place I take my shotguns to. He put on a air cusion a few years back on my o/u. Best investment ever. He also does great work on guns. Everytime I have a problem with a shotgun, he will fix it very quickly. His craftsmenship is top quality.

[Donny1]

JS AirCusion is the only place I take my shotguns to. He put on a air cusion a few years back on my o/u. Best investment ever. He also does great work on guns. Everytime I have a problem with a shotgun, he will fix it very quickly. His craftsmenship is top quality.

Yes, I felt he was very trustworthy and honest. He didn't want to take our money because he knew the end result would not satisfy our need.

+1

[Donny1]

Sell it on the forum here...get as much as you can for it and look for another one on here for a comparable price...that's too much to lose on a trade....now if you really want to let it go for the price that the company will give you, I'll buy it from you

That is a very generous offer but seeing as I would be helping make up the difference as a Birthday gift I will have to decline.

[Donny1]

Grading system?

I have been reading a lot and noticed people mentioning, grade 1, grade 2, etc. How is that determined? How does that determine value? Could this be worth more?

It was a gift so we don't know the original price. Has a solid leather bound custom looking box with leather straps. Was that common for this?

[bjl333]

The folks at JS Aircushion are great, Joe & Paul knows their stuff. They are right on the spot as far as the Browning goes.

The Beretta 391's DO come in a 20ga, but with the 12ga KO you shouldn't worry about the kick. The 391's are gas guns, that by itself will take recoil away. The KO system will make the gun kick alot less the Browning. You'll have to carry the gun for her a little more coz the 391 will be heavier then the Citori, but that will also take more reoil away.

Overall I think in your situation the 391 w/ KO will be a good gun. I do have a 391 tekneys and they are good. I don't think you'll find a used one w/ KO coz they only came out for a little while.

As for the extra 5 bones, you may find a buyer on here. Try posting it here for sale, if you don't get a buyer after a couple of weeks then go trade it. You can just go next store from JS to Pacific Sporting Arms. They are top notch Clays shooters there. John the owner is a top national caliber skeet shooter and a master class sporting clays shooter.

Good luck on your quest for a softer gun !!!

[faterikcartman]

Weight is great if she can handle it. Good fit will help too. Whatever direction you go in, assuming perceived recoil at the shoulder is the big issue, get a RAD system II. Fantastic for the money: http://www.hartshooting.com/radsystems.html

[Donny1]

Weight is great if she can handle it. Good fit will help too. Whatever direction you go in, assuming perceived recoil at the shoulder is the big issue, get a RAD system II. Fantastic for the money: http://www.hartshooting.com/radsystems.html

Thanks for the info.

I hope the product is great, because wow, no reflection on you but their website sucks! No information on installation, how or what if fits, what's involved AT ALL!

Does this just mount on the butt? Does the stock need to be modified?

[Donny1]

Grading system?

I have been reading a lot and noticed people mentioning, grade 1, grade 2, etc. How is that determined? How does that determine value? Could this be worth more?

It was a gift so we don't know the original price. Has a solid leather bound custom looking box with leather straps. Was that common for this?

Anyone?

[faterikcartman]

Donny, I had mine installed professionally. I "think" I paid about $150 - $175 for installation 8-10 years ago, but am not sure exactly. I had an adjustable comb put in as well, I think, at the same time.

I think the stock may need to be solid, but you may want to call or email Hart Systems. The stock needs to be bored out some as well as trimmed down a bit so you retain the correct length of pull. There is a mounting plate (aluminum) that will need to be ground down to fit flush with the stock.

Email Hart to see if they have DIY directions or if they can do it and what they'll charge. You'll only have to send the butt stock in so shipping can be done with a cheap USPS Priority box.

The RAD II allows a lot of adjustment with the butt pad going up, down, sideways, at an angle, as well as in and out. Coupled with an adjustable comb you'll be able to get the fit dialed in for your gal which will help a lot. The RAD II also ads some weight right at the shoulder which will be easier for a lady to adjust to given lesser upper body strength.

The RAD II is spring and hydraulically (I believe) loaded and basically acts as a shock absorber spreading the recoil impulse over a longer period of time lessening perceived recoil significantly. I think you would have to pay several thousands of dollars more to improve on this. I have two of these things -- one on my Beretta 682, and one on my Perazzi MX2000. On my Krieghoff I paid thousands to get even more comfortable but I doubt you want to pay that kind of money.

I also tracked Tom Larkin's number down for you. The Stock Shop, Tom Larkin, 507.789.5523 or 507.254.4694 cell. Tell him you were referred by a trapshooter for whom he installed a couple RAD 2's and you hope he give you both the referral and the recession discounts and see what he says.

I think you'll find it to be the best $450 you ever spent on shooting.

People also install mercury plugs to add weight to their gun. You can ask Larkin about that too.

Good luck.

[Donny1]

I think you'll find it to be the best $450 you ever spent on shooting.

Money is an issue but we have been advised that although the Citori is a great shotgun it just was not the right choice for her. We would invest in it if we thought it would be satisfactory. As I said, Paul at JS Airshock advised us that starting with a 5.5 lb O/U, it can only get better, not really acceptable for her.

We will be trying some other guns if we can get our hands on them to see what will be best. Once I get an honest value on the Citori it's going up for sale. First appraisal was $1200.

Thanks for the advise!

[faterikcartman]

Buy a USED Beretta 682.

[aGunForEachHand]

Anyone?

The grades are based on the level of engraving and the quality of the wood. Currently, the highest production (non-custom shop) Browning grade is grade VII. The grade VII Citori new retails at about $5K (MSRP), grade II/III at about $2K, and every other grade falls in that range. Check out the browning catalog by downloading it from here:

http://media.browning.com/pdf/catalogs/2010-browning-catalog.pdf

You will see the different Citori grades available with pics to see the differences.