It's a fact. 500 years of gun guild culture vs a hundred years of questionable quality in a culture of copying everyone else's sh*t.

In the sporting world, Beretta dominates because people who actually shoot, shoot alot and care about quality and handling characteristics choose them. When I was competing Beretta dominated, followed by CG, then your K and P guns and lastly the sprinkling of citori/skb other stuff.

The beretta/Italian style action is hands down a better design than the mirkuro/Browning. It's more refined, more reliable and doesn't feel like your holding a 2x4.

The boss action is even nicer.

Very few people who shoot them side by side would pick the Browning. Even fewer when looking at heavy use. I've had citoris go down in competition, never had a berretta o/u force me to run to the car to grab a backup gun to finish the day. The proof is in the pudding, people spending thousands or tens of thousands a year aren't going to use sh*t that doesn't work. And trap shooting is like watching paint dry with zero real wingshooting skill required making the gun almost irrelevent so after you take them out of your "millions" you are left with a very small minority.

A book could be written detailing the minutia but bottom line, Beretta makes a superior product and it's not close.

The numbers don't lie, go look at a regional or national sporting event and see who is shooting what.

Take a look at high volume outfitters and see what guns they use. Don't see too many brownings in argentina.

japanese guns are built for a price point by companies that don't have the capability to build their own guns. I'm going to take the 10th generation builder from brecia over the button pusher from Japan 8 days a week.

$1500 is just not a good price point for a new gun. If you go to around $2000 and buy at the online prices you can get a very nice Browning or Beretta. At $1500 you can get a nice one of either of those used. One advantage of the B guns is that if you do not get exactly the right one for you on the first purchase they are fairly easy to sell when you decide to change. Not as much so for some of the cheaper guns that you might pick up for under $1500.

This spring, I picked up a previously-owned but still new in the box, unfired, Beretta Silver Pigeon I for $1400.

Deals on nice guns are out there. It is very unlikely that you will regret purchasing a Beretta or Browning. I have a really hard time being patient and looking for good deals when I want to buy a gun, but as I get older, I realize it's a good thing to do.

Regarding patience it helps to already have a gun to shoot.

The OP said he was already shooting a 12ga. Remington 1100...

Yep. Just think how impatient he would be without it.

This spring, I picked up a previously-owned but still new in the box, unfired, Beretta Silver Pigeon I for $1400.

Deals on nice guns are out there. It is very unlikely that you will regret purchasing a Beretta or Browning. I have a really hard time being patient and looking for good deals when I want to buy a gun, but as I get older, I realize it's a good thing to do.

As a cyclist I am surprised to not see the term n+1 used for guns as it is for bikes. It represents the number everyone needs to have. In a way it is similar to that joke sign outside a bar in Truckee, CA: “Free Beer Tomorrow.”

I only have two bicycles. But firearms, fly rods, camera lenses, knives, etc.? How many do I need? "Just one more..." Thanks for introducing me to the "n+1" term.

I only have two bicycles. But firearms, fly rods, camera lenses, knives, etc.? How many do I need? "Just one more..." Thanks for introducing me to the "n+1" term.

Im glad the “best gun under...” question has finally been settled. Now all anyone has to do is search “new gun advice“ in the forum and they’ll know what to buy.