Very fair report. It is the feel of a gun that gives us that little subjective significance of comfort and balance. After 30 years with a Browning I went to the Beretta. Scores went up, satisfaction increased, and endurance improved.
I purchased a 686 sporter 30" 12 bore I like it a lot. But in back of my head just wondering if Browning is better? My friend shoots a Browning sport model,we have the same avg too.
Having learnt to shoot with a 686 and struggled to be consistent but as soon as picked up my 525 it just felt right. I did leave the mid bead on to make sure I didn't cant when shouldering, I was going to remove it bit tbh I don't even see it now.
Great review, Lloyd. Really liked the way you concluded the review - shoot both, and buy the one you like better! On a separate note, I would love to hear your thoughts/review of the Rizzini round body.
There is a solidity about the Browning/Miroku guns. Recent Berettas have left me cold and a brand that was once synonymous with quality has, I feel, lost that reputation. If Browning would only fit better firing pins that don't crater so rapidly.......
I too prefer the svelte feel of the Beretta over Browning's chunky feel. In a wild bird field gun, double beads and chunky both translate into missed birds. You shouldn't have ANYTHING compromise your site plane. The focus should be on target, target and then target....not the barrels/beads etc.etc. JMO as a past member of the local skeet/trap club and now as a dedicated upland hunter of wild bird species.
How does a mid bead comprise the target? No experienced shooter is paying any attention to the bead on a flushed bird. It's there to check your mount for the pre mounted games, aside from that it does nothing, but it doesn't get in the way or distract either.
@@thephotoyak Sill, I agree with you. No experienced hunter is paying attention to the bead(s) while bird hunting. I also agree that you can use a double bead to align your barrels when trap shooting etc. If you want to multi purpose your shotgun, I think you are 100% correct. I was thinking strictly as a wild bird tool and in this arena, you don't pay attention to a mid-bead, as you stated. ...my apologies. I don't have many guns at all but I have a couple more aligned for target shooting (12 & 20) and a couple (20 & 28) strictly for bird shooting. Neither of my bird guns have a mid bead.
Personally I like the Italian guns because they are more elegant beautiful. Brownings seem utilitarian and mechanical. I shot them side by side and I just wanted to like the Beretta 686 SP but I felt like it was to lite and kicked to much. Wanted a CG, but was talked into a Browning 725. I went with the 725 Pro Sporting ( USA version, not EU version, which is better ) and it’s really grown on me. Great first O/U gun. In the future though I will go with a mid-range Italian gun!!!
look like they are made up of bits and pieces ,as Browning are one elegant one piece masterpiece of engineering ,and don't forget the war 30 CAL 50 CAL SPITFIRE B17 LANC EVERYTHIRE
This is an excellent review. Mr. Pattison offers outstanding advice for selecting a shotgun. Over the years, I have handled each model but was not able to rent for testing. I went with the 686. Where I hunt (Arizona and the mountainous western US), it is often necessary to cover miles of rough country to find birds. I hope to pass this shotgun on to my grandchildren. Subscribed to the channel.
I have both for different shooting. Browning has always made a great and reliable product. Beretta also makes a great and reliable product so you are exact;ly correct..it depends on the "feel" to you which cannot be quantified. I prefer the Beretta for field us and the Browning for skeet and trap
Shot both, liked both, so I bought the 686 SP I in 20 gauge. Loved that gun so much, I went out and bought the 687 SP III in 12 ga. Loved that gun so much, I went out and bought a 687 SP III in 28 gauge. Beretta #1!!!!!
I agree it’s a matter of preference - how the gun feels. I have shot berettas for most of the last 40 years but then l was persuaded to try a browning 525 and I now own 3 in 12g - 20g + 28g. There is no right or wrong, we are all different. Enjoy your reviews Lloyd, keep them coming.
I was recently in this situation having to choose. The 686 although nice as it is has a stigma attached as a ladies gun. Sorry I couldn't get past this so I opted for the Miroku MK70 grade 5. I wasn't disappointed
Try a Baikal then if you think that a silver pigeon has a stigma. A Baikal is chunky, strongly made, and feels like you are attempting to shoot a combine harvester! Stigma? Really?
Thanks for a great video. I am currently seeking to purchase a new sporter and have narrowed my choices down to these two. I have owned both Browning and Beretta o/u's in the past and have zero negative comments about either. My question to you is this...I have heard lately that Browning's customer service is a bit of mess with many folks having similar complaints about repair work and longer than normal turn-around times for that work. While I certainly expect repairs for either brand to be rarely necessary, I am concerned about the possibility of having to wait several weeks or months to get my gun back, should I buy the 525. Any information you could provide would be appreciated. Thanks, and keep putting out quality videos that are both helpful and informative. Brian from Georgia (USA)
Hey Brian, I'm afraid I can't comment on the warranty situation in the US other than hearsay. I've never dealt with Browning on your side of 5he pond in person. I can say that none of the Browning's I have owned have developed any faults but that doesn't really answer your question. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful. Have you spoken to your local gunstores about their experience of Browning?
Been shooting for a half century and a bit more. The most important takeaway here is the point well made about fit and feel in the hands. I have shoot Brownings ma y times in the field ( upland game) and at the range and they are well made and serviceable pieces all. On the other hand, I have #11 Berettas O/Us throughout my family. I shoot an EELL at the range and my old Silver Pigeon in the field. For me, Italian shotguns are next level over Brownings. They are quicker, swing better and produce higher scores and birds taken. I do have and love my Browning rifles though. Cheers.
Hi Lloyd, I went to buy a new silver pigeon 1 in 28 gauge but it wasn't steel proofed so I looked at the Browning 525 in 28 gauge, again not steel proofed in today's climate it would be crazy to buy a new gun that's not steel proofed. What's going on with the 28 bore ????
Ok... 1) beretta point of impact is shit(for the most guns) 2)beretta balance is better than browning. 3) beretta woods better than brownings. 4)browning lock system better than beretta (not the system of dt10-11) 5) brownings for me have better trigger. 6) beretta feels better in hands and swings very nice browning not) 7) chekerring of browning not very good, beretta better
The browning has mechanical trigger system while beretta has inertia. This means that if beretta missfire the first shot then it doesn't fire the second one. Browning all the way. It has better and more reliable mechanism.
@@lloydyp You are right. I thought that 525 has mechanical trigger too like the 725. But I was wrong. Personally as a hunter I hate inertia triggers. ................
Great video as usual, two problems for us in the states. One, 525 not available in the states, 2, you ask a gun dealer if you can shoot one of their firearms, they think your crazy. You folks in the UK get way more varity of shotguns but have to go through way more to buy one.
I had this dilemma 10 years ago and all though I'm a beretta fan I bought a browning Gp. Essentially it came down to the ventilated barrels and style. The ejectors on the Gp can also be turned off and at the time this was a bonus, but practically I've never used it.
I have owned both (725, not the 525) and I think they both have their merits. Neither has great wood and they both lack in fit and finish when compared to the higher trim models. I much prefer the way the Beretta feels and handles but if I am being honest I think I shot the Browning better. Around here the Browning costs a few hundred more surprisingly. You can't go wrong with either gun.
@@lloydyp Agreed but the 725 is a much shallower action than the 525 and therefor a better comparison to the 686 than the 525. Over here the 725 is the popular gun and has been for a long while. I have shot 325/525's many times in the field as well, they definitely have more of the traditional Citori "large frame" feel. I realize that this video compares the 525 specifically, I was just expressing my opinion on both makes at this level as a whole.
The point of the comparison between these guns is that they are similar price, the action design is of no import to a newbie buying his first gun, price is however a factor.
I wouldnt say it feels heavier, it feels more substantial. The balance on both guns is pretty neutral, with the Beretta feeling a little faster in the swing. Balance can be easily tuned with a little weight in the stock of course if your gun is a little barrel heavy, more difficult if you are barrel light.
Lloyd - Another fair and honest opinion. I admire your no nonsense and objective approach when evaluating shotguns. I have owned Browning shotguns in the past, and recently purchased a used Beretta 686 onyx. You are correct. It is the hand of the shooter that will determine the right feel. I was amazed as to how well the 686 felt and shot. To each his own. Thank you again for your time and efforts on producing quality RU-vid videos !!! JJP
I’m totally new to the sport. I’m sure I’m wrong in saying this (but please tell me why).. If someone likes the SP but it’s lower in the comb, couldn’t they just buy the adjustable comb version of the SP in order to get it fitting better or more like the browning?
I like the Browning better I looked at both and bought the browning it was more solid felt better I’ve shot both I will say the Browning was a higher grade but it just felt better
I have owned both , I feel the quality of the browning is a bit better .Of the 2 berettas I have owned the adjustable trigger fell of one and the fore sight bead fell off both , I have never had anything drop off the browning /mirokus I have owned. More importantly , as you say, for guns that are so similar they do feel different to shoot - I don't know why - they just do . Like you prefer the browning.
I have both. Preference, the 525 (better sight plane for me). However, mechanically, out of the box Beretta is better. The lower barrel on the 525 sometimes has misfire, due to poor primer strike in cold weather. That was fixed by ordering a new lower firing pin and hammer spring (even made a tool to change out!) The original lower pin mic'ed like 3/1000 shorter than the new one. Once replaced, no issues, and maybe a grillion rounds thru it!!
The shots of browning is way better than Beretta I made a lot of tests with guns of both brands in perforation and in pattern of the shards you can see the difference browning its a lot better
Browning is owned by FN Herstal, FN Herstal have a commercial partnership with Miroku of Japan, and I believe they jointly bought out Browning's stock in 1977. So yeah, Miroku make Browning shotguns. Premium Brownings are made in Belgium.
what is the winner browning or beretta؟ and what is the best shoting gun over under that can stay years with me with high quality for shoting duck and pegeons ؟
@@lloydyp i watched it but i am not excellent in english i am just good so i can not get the finish of compairison also i want your opinion because you are profissional
@@drfawzyelgaly3976 ok I understand. Both are excellent guns but I prefer the Browning due to my size and shape. I think it's the slightly better clay gun of the 2 and the Beretta is the better game gun.
I had Beretta in the 80s,Browning+ Miroku in the 90s. I have a Miroku MK38 . Still love my late dad's Miroku 800 (1972). So l prefer Browning over Beretta and am a Miroku fan 👌👍
525 is 36-56 vs 686 35-66 or thereabouts. 10mm difference at the heel is big difference but most new shooters wont know what it means and since the drop at comb is near as dammit the same I didnt feel it worth mentioning.
@@lloydyp Fair comment. My first gun was a Beretta and soon found out it was too low in the comb and spent £200 to retrofit an adjustable comb. My game gun is a 525 and that fits out of the box. It's a bit like supporting Liverpool and Everton!
Just heard back from Beretta UK, turns out the 2019 686 Sporter is 36-57 so near as dammit identical anyway on the latest guns. the field grade is 37/58, just fyi.
@@lloydyp почему ваш выбор на тяжелое оружие? Говорят у браунинга сверловка ствола 18.8 это ухудшает кучность и резкость неужели это действительно так?
@@евгенийиванов-т1г Я думаю, что скучность составляет 18,7 мм, это проблема, только если вы ограничены волокнистыми пачками. Я не видел разницы в моих тестах, чтобы показать, что скучность влияет на точность. Что касается моих предпочтений, я прежде всего глиняный стрелок, и мне нравятся тяжелые орудия. Также я считаю, что габаритные размеры пистолетов Beretta 680 слишком тонки для меня. Конечно, это личное мнение, я большой парень, многие люди любят Beretta 686, но вы спросили меня, что я выберу.
