Browning Gold 3.5 Or Beretta Xtrema 3.5

[brew_sard1]

hello, i have an old browing belgum a5 that is full choke and shoots only 2 3/4. it was for my grandfather. i love it, but want a new 12 guage for life. i want maximum reach, as i shoot geese flying over my porch. i shoot more dove and snipe than geese and i like shooting skeet, so i don't want shell ejection issues. i walk through crawfish ponds with my gun, so weather resistance is important. i do like a blued shotgun, but i guess i'll try the camo thing. i am looking at the new browning gold 3.5 shadowgrass. there is a 6 month old beretta xtrema for sale $900 with a 26" barrell that i'm also considering. i think i need the 28. i grew up with pretty much all browning, and i think my dad would be less than happy if i didn't go with browning. would anyone offer advise for me? thanks very much, shane

 

[wildcat91]

I have a 3.5 gold and love it also have some buddies with the beretta and they love them. They are both good choices and are both very reliable. I will be proud to say that my browning 3.5 on a duck hunting trip to Tennessee was the only gun to not jam in a four day hunt in foul weather of both kinds while four sbe and one beretta did. In those four days we put about 7 boxes of 3in. and 3 1/2in.. With the light loads in the browning you just have to keep the piston clean and is probably the easiest to take apart and keep clean. I use 1 1/8 oz. loads for sporting clays with very few problems. I would also go with the 28in barrel for the longer shots on the geese the 28 just seems to give a better sight plain.

 

[brew_sard1]

thanks for the input

i really appreciate your reply. i have decided to go with the beretta, as i have made a very good deal on it. i may get the browning in the future. i will try out the beretta, and if i don't like it, i can sell it for at least what i am paying for it. thanks again, shane

 

[Tahoe]

Re

I have the Xtrema. I had a couple of jams when new and shooting light stuff a but haven't had any except when new.

Here's a solution...buy them both!

Edit...

To clarify...It was the first couple of boxes I shot through the gun and and the shell didn't eject a couple of times. It wasn't really a jam by my definition, just a non-ejected shell.

 

[bgoldhunter]

I have the Gold, and really like it. However, it is a tough decision between the two. Both are good guns, and will last a long time. Both of them do fit differently, so you should get the one that fits you best and is the most comfortable.