need your help on this one: Beretta UGB25 Xcel Sporting...

S

Slugo

Moderator
breaktop 12g/30" semi-auto sporting shotgun. I have a chance of picking one of these up ($2000 NIB), but would appreciate any input from you Beretta guys. This gun really interests me. Something very different, just don't know allot about it.

BigJimP, I did read your informative post about the Beretta... :)

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I don't recall - when I made that post ( or what I said...) geez, my memory is getting bad.... But I do know that Shotgun Sports, I think Johnny Cantu did the test and wrote the article..., did a review on the gun, and as I recall, he liked it a lot.

I did a search, on Shotgun sports website - it was the Jan 2010 issue - and the UGB Trap was on the cover. I no longer have the issue ..
..some Rat Bast--- borrowed it /..don't even remember who ...

I've been able to put a few shells thru the Trap version ( parallel, adj comb with the recoil reduction system on it ) ....and I would want that version vs the sporting version / frankly I think the Trap version, since its more adjustable, is a better Sporting Clays gun than their "sporting version" of the model. But then, I like parallel comb guns...and adjustability in a "clays" gun is a really big deal to me.

Trap version lists currently for $ 4,125 / sporting version for $ 3975... and the parallel comb and the recoil reducer alone makes the extra $ 250 a deal...but then since the sporting model doesn't have it / might explain why you found one for $2,000. But then again ....maybe you're just in the right place ..at the right time ???

Beretta first started talking about this gun around 2005 ...brought some out / they performed badly ...and they took it back to the drawing board...and reintroduced it sometime in 2009. So this new version has been out for a little over 3 yrs. Both of the guns I see in my area...are being shot on sporting ...and I hear they're performing very well / they're both at least 2 yrs old now. Both shooters gave up O/U's and went to them. I know they're 2 3/4" chambers ....and I think the weight is around 9 lbs on the Trap version / which is a plus if its balanced properly - and based on my limited experience with them / the gun felt balanced.

My competition days are over...and while I still consider buying one / just because / ....but with no real purpose to it ...it makes no sense ( especially since I have over a dozen Browning Citori's I can shoot now ..)....but when I find a "lightly used one" on the market one of these days, I intend to snatch it up ....just for giggles.../ plus I have a pair of Benelli Super Sport semi-autos to shoot - when I want to shoot semi-autos ...so it isn't like I don't have a gun to shoot --- and "need one"...

I don't think the action is "gas activated" ...but I'm not sure whether its similar to Beretta's system that Benelli developed or a hybrid or whatever. They reportedly - operate just fine with good quality reloads ( shells have to be resized / but most presses do that today / or at least mine do ). The gun has a little bit of a strange look to some / ..so that - and the price keeps shooters away from them ( other Beretta semi-autos are about $ 1,500 less / or the Benelli super sport for around $2,000 ) ...

Honestly, I would say - don't buy the sporting version ...and hold out for a Trap version ( they're both 30" barrels )...the sporting version is lighter but it lacks the adjustability. Do you have a line on the Trap version ?? I looked quickly on Joel Etchen's site / and Cole Gunsmithing ...and I didn't see any listed...but they may have some ??
 
I have no choice. There is a brand new, in the box sporter for $2K waiting for me if I want it. That's 50% off retail. Hard not to jump on it, unless I find allot of negative comments by actual users...
 
TKM, yes the video can be a brain-washer! I did find out that the gun has not sold for $hit and that's why they are selling for half their retail. Designed for the Euro market, but Beretta tried schlepping them here, with little to no success.

The video is cool...
 
A Beretta Rep let me try one out at PGC. A Trap model. A couple things I recall.....

Good trigger, light recoil. It ate my 7/8 oz creampuffs perfectly and broke most of the clays solidly.

The action took maybe 10 shots to get used to. Since I reload, having all those valuable STS hulls end up in an 18" area at my feet was nice.

Balance was a bit different than what I'm used to. Maybe someone with more time in on pure D trapguns would find it easier to adjust to.

I thought the UGB was a good tool, but I didn't fall in love with it. I mentioned that to the Rep. He confided he preferred his 682.

I wouldn't pay list for the UGB, that's a big chunk of shekels. But for $2K or so I'd have to think about it.....
 
thanks Dave, much appreciated for your valuable input. I'm starting to get cold feet. $500 bucks is one thing, $2000 is another... :confused:
 
Come on, Slugo, we know you just sold a bunch of guns and have a wad of cash burning a hole in your pocket. :)
 
I just received this email message from a friend of mine from Atlanta who experienced using one for a day. Easy decision now!

The good:

Soft shooting gun.
I shot very well with it.
Easy to carry over your shoulder because it's a break open.

The bad:

It had feeding problems. A lot of feeding problems.
It was VERY awkward to use, hard to load shells.
If you break both birds with one shot, it's very hard to get the second shell out of the chamber.
Proprietary design, parts are probably impossible to find if it breaks. The gun is out of production.

It was a nice gun but I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot pole. No way!

I may buy a Beretta O/U one day, but not this thing.

Jon
 
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Well --- its certainly a unique design....but maybe the market just isn't ready for it .....

I have not heard its out of production / I might suggest talking to someone at Joel Etchen ...see if they will give you some feedback on it ...do they have one in inventory ...
 
Isn't the bizarre Beretta a solution to a problem we don't have in the US? I'm not aware of any rules that require you to have your shotgun "broken open" as a safety precaution. Like some rifle and pistol ranges, we may eventually see shotgun ranges require empty chamber indicators (flagged yellow plastic inserts) for off-line stick guns.
 
You're probably right Zippy...but personally, I never looked at the UGB ...as a solution to a potential safety issue....( because I think most shooters are careful to lock open the action on semi-autos ) ....and with or without the UGB ....there are ways to deal with offenders in the rules. You certainly don't need the UGB ...to fix anything....

I looked at the gun / as something unique...with sort of a cool factor ... / that might be more reliable than a typical semi-auto ....almost, at least in my mind, as reliable as an O/U... but maybe I just liked it because it was different.

But if its true, that it was not 100% reliable...it would be a giant pain in the butt.../ and a colossal waste of money....( but so would any gun - that isn't 100% reliable in terms of cycling ).../ maybe the Benelli Super Sport is as "unique" as I need to get with my semi-autos....(I've certainly been happy with them).
 
Klawman,

I know of one trap shooter who uses a UGB at our range... Doesn't give him any problems whatsoever and he literally doesn't miss on the 16 yard line with it... For me personally, I don't see the need and wouldn't own one... If I were to buy a dedicated trap gun it would be a Citori Trap or Beretta 682 Gold E Single/Double Trap combo...
 
Weatherby, I will have to find out who shoots that thing. I am not looking for another gun and am quite happy with the XS Skeet, but it is so unique I would like to see it shoot.
 
Thanks for that old link - from 3 yrs ago ...my memory is so bad, I couldn't find it....

my comments were made before I had a complete shoulder rebuild ... but these days the Benelli is meeting my needs for a semi-auto.
 
Yeah, that must be it ....

...or maybe its because I don't sleep well ( because when I snore, my wife smacks me )...about 8 or 10 times a nite lately for some reason....:D
 
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