Caesar Guerini or Beretta?
 

I’m really liking sporting clays, even tho I suck at it so far. And I know it’s not because of my 20 guage Citori. But that doesn’t mean I don’t plan to buy a dedicated sporting model.

So far I’ve checked out the Beretta’s and the Guerini’s. I’m looking for what I guess is considered a mid range gun. I know the onyx pro is the same as the silver pigeon, except the pro runs about a grand more due to the wood. But I like the fancy wood. The Guerini summit runs about the same as the onyx pro. I’m not sure I liked the palm swell.

I’m not opposed to a lightly used model either, if it gets me a model up or just less money.

So does anyone have any experience with these two brands?

I am meeting a instructor, who also works for the gun shop tommorow for a lesson and to demo a few.

Gee, replace the shotgun names with high end pool cue names, and you could post this on AZ Billiards. And...the same logical answer would be in the majority of responses...buy the one that works best for you.

But be ready to have you ass kicked by some kid with a beat up old Winchester scatter gun...

It’s kind of hard to know what works best for me unless I’ve owned both of them for awhile. I am not familiar with the Guerini , but they look nice. And I know the gun is not going to help me, but I do like nice things.

CG is new to the market (relatively) but has been well accepted by the shotgunning community. I think you're in good shape with either. Both have a non gloss finish which I think is vastly preferable to gloss.

Onyx pro has stunning wood. Absolutely check out Joel Etchen guns if you want to pick a particular gun.

Mechanically the 686 series is all the same. your differences among these guns will be fit AND sporting vs field models. The onyx pro sporting, for example, has the palm swell, wider rib, mid rib bead and likely uses a white bead at the muzzle end vs silver bead on field models.

The 686 action is a lifetime gun. I would guess the CG to be similarly built but time will tell.

On used models: with O/U guns the gun will eventually 'flop' open. it is very difficult to tell from pictures whether this is the case. I handled an onyx pro locally that looked nearly mint but upon opening the gun I discovered it had some miles on it. still perfectly fine but I opted to go new SP1 sporting instead. happy I did as I think I prefer the silver finish to the black.

Interesting Fact: The onyx pro was originally a Cabelas exclusive. it was quite popular and Beretta released them to other dealers.

Again, for nicer wood Beretta guns check out Joel Etchen. Best pricing AND you pick your specific gun.

one other point on Beretta guns. I have found the mobil choke system to be as good as or superior to any aftermarket brand. particularly in smaller gauges. don't feel you have to spring for high dollar extended chokes or buy a newer style B gun to get their latest choke system.

one of my recent SP1 28ga purchases.....(sorry to flood the thread, I LOVE this subject!)http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515703257.jpg

Same problem with pool cues. I also like nice things, but with a top line custom cue costing thousands, you can't buy 'em all. Your coming trap range time will help. Other advice given on pool forums is it's not the arrow, it's the Indian. In other words, there is no real equipment substitute for table time and practice. Seems to me that both Trap and pool demand a lot of time spent in order to get proficient. Progress can be maddeningly slow...baby steps forward with giant steps back when you mess up on one part of technique.

I love my Keith Josey custom cue...but I also know that Shane Van Boening with his cheap cuetec production cue would kick my ass because he's currently ranked as #1 in the world. By golly, if I was paid as much as Shane is to do so, I'd play with a cuetec too.

So, I do believe the same advice applies here...buy one that feels good to you, then invest in time at the trap range.

One of the stories I always loved was Lee Trevino in his early days would look for player with top of the line expensive clubs. Lee would walk up with a single coke bottle and ask if he can play them for money. He would leave with all their money just using a coke bottle.

OK back to nice shotguns and pool cues.......

What about semi auto trap/skeet guns?

This is the shop I went to.
https://www.colegun.com

It’s about a hour drive, but they have both in stock and we’re helpful. They cost a little more than online, but I don’t mind paying a little more for the help and ability to actually see the gun I’m buying. And again, they would help me with fit and spent a little time with me.

I would rather have a O/U.

Cole is the other big Beretta dealer. You will surely be in good hands.

Reminded of a long ago pheasant hunt with dad. We had our Brittney spanial with us, so a friend of Dad's joined us. He had a lovely over/under, loaned it to me for a few fence row walks. Never had a chance to shoot it, but just carrying it, feeling the balance had me not ever looking at my old Remington Wingmaster pump the same again.

The golf course hustle? Hell a golf course is just a big beautiful outdoor pool hall. I'd imagine hustlers can be found at a trap range as well. So, beware of the guy with the beat up old Remington or Winchester...;)

I know there are finely tuned custom cues out there that look like a cheap "Budweiser" logo cue....

I have had the pleasure of shooting both- comes down to fit and Beretta just seated better on the shoulder without having to go down a custom route. Sold my CG to a friend a few years back and it is serving him without issue.

Second thumbs up to Joel Etchen Guns. I worked with Rebecca Etchen to design shooting vests and upland hunting gear. They are great!

Everyone talks about fit, I couldn’t tell much difference with the ones I shouldered at the store. I have noticed several had adjustable stocks and buttplates. I assume this is to make the guns fit someone outside the norm, or allow someone to fiddle with it.

The option cost a few hundred for the stock. They had one and moved it around a bit, but did say they could also bend a stock if needed. Hopefully I’ll be able to tell a difference tommorow.

After shooting the Browning, Beretta, And Guerini today, I have to say I liked the Guerini the best, but it was a 20 guage. The instructor said he will get me a 12 to try out next time.

I missed an opportunity to grab a Winchester 101. If I could I would look at a variation of that thing.

My brothers gun fits me very well. He won’t let it go.

That’s pretty cool you can try such a gun before buying.


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My older son and I decided to get into trap shooting a few years ago. I obsessed on the subject, which is what I do when I decide to get into something. I read everything I could about all the guns commonly used. From what I gathered, and now seen a bit from hanging out at the club, a Browning Citori of any grade is an excellent gun that any shooter can wield with pride. The CG has the reputation for providing a premium product at a relatively value price. Beretta has good, better and best guns, at all price ranges. My understanding is that the Beretta DT range would compete with CG's product. Both are professional grade.

I ended up with a Winchester 101 pigeon grade from Dave of this board that the shop he gunsmiths at got in on trade. I bought a Browning Maxus, which was a brand new model for my son, thinking that he would appreciate the lower recoil of an auto loader as a teen and would want it to hunt upland game. Both were good choices for us. Frankly, club members often stop us and compliment both of us on our guns. But if price were no object, I've always lusted for a Beretta DT,

The instructor will know more about fit than the rest of us put together. It's all about fit and he is the guy to choose the gun with you.

The CG had a adjustable comb that was raised a bit, and a slightly longer LOP. To make the berettas fit me better he taped on a riser and added a butt plate, on the other Beretta I tryed it had a Monty Carlo stock . He also added these to my Citori to see what the difference was like.

I liked the 32” barrels and the added weight of the sporting guns. I also liked the palm swell on the CG, which surprised me as I wasn’t crazy about it in the store.

If I like the 12 guage CG as much as the 20 guage I’ll probably buy it. He said I need to get the adjustable comb as I need a taller height stock.

But the 12 guage beretta was also nice and I can get one with a nice piece of wood on it for less than the CG.

Or maybe I’ll just get a 20 guage, i asked if he would sell the demo gun. But he said they weren’t for sale at this time. They would just have to replace it with a new gun.

Trap Shooters Forum. Good place to hang out; not just trap.

I’ve come close to buying three barrel set CGs a couple times.... I have 12,28, and 410 reloaders.

I always thought— buy a good skeet or trap gun and it will work for sporting clays. Adjust the comb a bit etc. ( CG offers artistic engraving). You drive a P-car why not try a P-gun used? http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515809354.jpghttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515809621.jpg

Went back out today. He also brought out some more guns for me to try. These were all 12 guage guns, and he also had the 20 guage that I liked. The main difference between these were the height of the rib. These were all Guerini’s a Magnus Sporting that had a normal rib, the ascent that had a mid high rib, and the impact that had a very high, but adjustable rib.

I definatly didn’t like the very high rib, the other two were fine. I’m not sure I want to pay extra for even the mid high rib. I shot the lower rib gun fine.

So I’m probably going with the standard height rib, and adjustable comb. I just need to decide on the grade. Then he said we will shoot at a pattern board and make further adjustments as needed.

I’m leaning toward the summit limited, it’s $700 bucks more than the base. But I like the looks of the case hardening.

Agree on case coloring. Beautiful.


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I frequent the shotgunworld forums and I guess CG sponsors as there are pics of case colored CG guns as a border. Look so nice.


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Buy something nice. Once you buy it you're stuck with that gun as it is unless you sell it. For a few dollars more you can buy a work of art that's a pleasure to hold and look at for the rest of your life. I don't think you'll ever regret getting the nicest one you can purchase comfortably.

I have a Beretta 686 Onyx in 12ga. The finish is matte which is great for not having to worry about scratches when out walking.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1516403001.jpg

Some say its better to shoot what you have and spend the money you were going to use for a new shotgun on shells, lessons, and trap fees. I heard that several times then bought a Citori.

Decided to go with this one. I’m wireing the money tomorrow.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1516753487.jpg

That's Puuuuurdy!!!http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/clap.gif

No I think it’s a CG.

;)


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