BERETTA VS BROWNING – WHICH IS THE BETTER?
In the world of “pteryplegia” (or “shooting flying”) and in the context of over/under shotguns, the gunmakers Beretta and Browning immediately come to mind if for nothing else than the range of choice they offer the ordinary shotgunner. The American term “superposed” is far more concise than the laborious “over/ under” and we should preferably all use this term.
Our editor tells me he is constantly asked which is the better gun of the two and suggested that I enter the lists armed with some foresight and experience. I cannot be accused of partiality since I currently own two Brownings, two Berettas, a Miroku and a Fausti. Over the years, I have had more of all four brands.
AT FIRST GLANCE
Visually, externally and from a distance, most superposed guns look much alike, and only a couple really stick out. Our pair of makers’ products are not much different – until you examine the breech-locking systems. The Brownings all use the Purdey bolt – a full-width, slightly wedge-shaped bolt on the bottom of the action and peeping out of the joint between that and the vertical wall of the standing breech. As the action wears and loosens, the wedge inches further into the notches in the barrel lugs, and the top lever moves from its neutral position on the centreline further to the left, thus keeping it tight while indicating that a bit of gunsmithing would not go astray. A tried, tested and reliable bit of kit.
