SKB GC7 Sporting vs. Beretta 682 Gold E

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ArmedBear

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I may be blessed with the ability to order a Sporting Clays O/U.

The GC7 is a lot cheaper. I have a very high opinion of the SKB lockup, but I don't know if it's entirely justified. It probably can't be serviced easily like a 682, if it does wear out.

I like the 682, also, but is it worth the extra money?

Beretta's CS is notoriously bad. That bodes poorly for the serviceability of the gun -- who cares if you can replace the shoulders, if you getting them is like pulling teeth, or if you have to send the whole gun to some other state to have a gunsmith do it? I can turn screws, too, if I have the parts...

Thoughts, opinions, experiences?

I have Berettas and an SKB. I like both. Given the excellent prices of the GC7s, is the 682 really worth the premium, all things considered?
 
First off, I have never had a problem with Beretta CS - but in all fairness - I have only needed one repair part ( a 391 magazine cap retainer.)
You very well know about all the "requirements" or checklist when buying.
It doesn't sound like you are going to make a safe queen out of whatever you purchase - and since my 686 white onyx actually fit me better than I ever thought - the better fit on the budget seems in order. Save some $$ for a NICE progressive reloader.
20 years down the road - I'm pretty sure the 682 will retain more resale.
I would still most likely get the SKB, but I don't like its lockup as well as a Beretta O/U; strictly personal opinion. No facts or reason.
 
They are both good guns. SKB closed their doors so parts way down the road could be a problem if they do not start up again. The Berettas seldom need the shoulders replaced. Instead you install oversize locking pins. Parts for Berettas is now handled by Brownells so that should improve availability. My suggestion is buy what you like and enjoy yourself.
 
A Skeet shooter of my acquaintance said the rebuild point on SKB O/Us (at the time, 20+ years ago) was the trunnions. Tightening the gun was accomplished by replacing the trunnions, not the locking surfaces. His was on the third and largest set of trunnions so when it got loose again, it was done for. But that was after tens if not hundreds of thousands of targets with the hot European loads.
 
What do you mean, SKB closed their doors?

I just got a catalog I requested from them, listing their new-for-2010 lineup. Did this closure happen in the past few days or something?

I would still most likely get the SKB, but I don't like its lockup as well as a Beretta O/U
Click to expand...

May I ask why? (I have both, as I said, and I see upsides and downsides. Do you figure the SKB accumulates crud internally? Have you had experience with it galling? Something else?)

WRT SKB trunnions: how do you replace them? I didn't know they could be removed.
 
I just like the Beretta better ; it has never let me down, I trust the design, and endear my shooting ego to it. That is pretty big karma !!:rolleyes:
I guess, for me, it is all about familiarity and the content with the design.
 
Brownells

AB,
I realiize that Beretta has not had a great customer service reputation in the past, but it is getting better. I had a student return a 682 for service a couple of months ago, and it was 7 days door to door.

But, if you worry is getting parts, that is now a lot easier. Brownells is now handling parts distribution for Beretta( like the do for many other companies ). If you need something, just deal with Brownells.

BTW, the story seems to be that SKB has lost their Japanese manufacturing facility, so their fate is up in the air. I hope they find a way to keep the doors open.
 
If you need something, just deal with Brownells.
Click to expand...

Sounds like I should get a C&R FFL, since I have Berettas...:D

Interesting WRT SKB. Sad thing. Best shotguns for the money, IMO. I hope they do manage to manufacture the things again, and not in Turkey. It's strange, really, since they are introducing a whole new lineup. Must have been a surprise to them.

I might have to pick up a field gun from them, for cheap, while I can. That doesn't bode well for a gun that's intended for high-volume use, though.
 
SKB USA is still in business, as is the importer GU in Omaha. Service is being "guaranteed" for quite some time.

That being said - if you need Beretta work done, why bother with the factory folks? Any decent smith that works on doubles can fix a Beretta, as can Cole's in Maine. IMO, Cole's makes a better Beretta than Beretta
http://colegun.com/

Get the one that fits and you like
 
SKB made a nice gun. I hope they source a nice factory somewhere other than Turkey. I went looking for a skeet gun last August and it came down to the 686 WOS and the SKB GC7. Beretta wanted $200 to swap the stock to a left hander and that put it out of my price range.

I ended up buying a 30" 12ga GC7 with left handed adjustable stock on from Jaqua's. After the sale and rebate, it ended up being 1400 delivered. I like the gun and put about 4,000 rounds through it so far. I thought it was a little muzzle heavy and put a little weight in the stock to bring it up just over 9lbs and move the balance back a just a touch. About my only complaint with it is the finish on the stock. It seems to attract scratches like high polish nickel does fingerprints.

Overall, I think it's a heck of a gun for the money. If a smoking deal came my way, I would even buy another one with the manufacturing being in limbo right now. The guys in Nebraska bought all the spare parts and can service these guns for decades.
 
I have a very high opinion of the SKB lockup, but I don't know if it's entirely justified.
Click to expand...
You are not the only one with a high opinion of the SKB lockup. Beretta does too. They use the Kersten/Greener cross lock on their higher-end DT10, SO and ASE models.

Between the two guns I prefer the Beretta because they fit me better and find the SKB tend to be a little muzzle heavy. YMMV.
 
Between the two guns I prefer the Beretta because they fit me better and find the SKB tend to be a little muzzle heavy.
Click to expand...

That's my guess. SKB never really recovered from screw-in chokes. My old fixed-choke 20 Gauge SKB is quick, well-balanced, and a few ounces lighter than the current version.

I did figure the GC7 might represent a move in the right direction with the barrels. I haven't been able to get my hands on one, though. The Beretta is more of a known quantity, to me.
 
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