[fabsroman]

I bought my Citori back about 1990 and used it only a little bit for hunting at first. When I graduated from undergrad, I started shooting a lot of trap and I was doing pretty well with the gun. However, the one night I didn't have time to clean out the barrels, they rusted up pretty good and ended up pitting. The difference between the Citori and the identically priced Beretta was that the Beretta had chrome lined barrels, or barrels made out of something that doesn't rust as easily and looks more polished. The Citori also started to experience a significant amount of gouging between the forearm and receiver. So, about 6 months into my trap shooting career, I was able to save up enough money to buy a Beretta 682 Super Trap Combo. Berettas and Benellis have been all that I have bought since then and I have been extremely happy with them.

Don't get me wrong, I have had some issues with Beretta guns in the recent past. About 3 years ago I bought a new 682 Gold Skeet with the adjustable comb and the plating started to come off the receiver where the forearm contacts it. I also bought a 391 Teknys that had the finish coming off the stock. I brought both guns to the Beretta factory here in Maryland and they gave me a new 682 and a new stock for the 391, and the wood grain on that new stock is definitely a nice upgrade from the old one. The two 391 Teknys that I bought, one in 12 and the other in 20, both had small machining marks on the receiver, but Beretta said they couldn't do anything about that. I am fine with that.

In the end, it isn't about the guns, because I think that all companies will have some bad products over time. It is more about how the company backs its product and its customer service. I will continue to buy Beretta guns and Ruger rifles because my experience with both companies has been pleasant.