02-Sep-2026
Ask a group of British clay shooters which over-and-under they would take to a big registered shoot, and you will hear two names more than any others. The Beretta DT11 and the Perazzi MX8 sit at the top of the competition market; they cost roughly the same kind of money, and they have both won at the highest level. Yet they are very different guns to own, shoot and live with.
If you are weighing up one against the other, whether new or, far more commonly in the UK, second-hand, this guide walks through the practical differences that actually matter on the line and in the gun cabinet.
The two guns in brief
The Perazzi MX8 is the older lineage by some distance. Introduced in the 1960s and refined continuously since, it built its reputation on Olympic trap and bunker layouts and remains a fixture at international level. Its defining feature is the detachable trigger group, which can be dropped out in seconds and swapped or serviced without the gun leaving your hands.
The Beretta DT11 is the current flagship of Beretta’s competition line, succeeding the long-running DT10. It arrived with a widened receiver, revised barrel profile and reworked stock geometry, and it was designed from the outset as a modern competition platform rather than an evolution of a game gun.
Both are properly built guns intended to survive tens of thousands of cartridges a year. Neither is a mistake. The question is which suits your discipline, your build and your appetite for fettling.
Handling and balance
This is where most buyers make their decision, and it is worth being honest about how personal it is.
The MX8 tends to feel lively between the hands, with mass concentrated centrally and a reputation for pointing quickly. Many trap shooters describe it as a gun that goes where you look. Perazzi’s long history of custom stock work means a great many MX8s in circulation were originally built to somebody’s specific measurements, which is both an opportunity and a caution when buying used.
The DT11 generally feels a touch more deliberate, a smooth, controlled swing that suits shooters who like to move through the bird rather than snap at it. Beretta’s wider receiver was intended to steady the gun through recoil, and it does give a settled feel on the second barrel.
Neither description is universal. Two guns of the same model with different barrel lengths, chokes and stock weights can feel like different animals. The only sensible approach is to shoot both, ideally over a few stands, before committing.
Trigger groups and servicing
The Perazzi detachable trigger is the single biggest practical difference. Drop it out, and you can clean it properly, swap it for a spare, or hand it to a gunsmith without surrendering the whole gun. Shooters who compete abroad or shoot very high volumes value this enormously. Some MX8s were built with leaf springs, others with coil springs, and this is worth establishing before you buy a used example.
The DT11 uses a fixed trigger group that is nonetheless designed for straightforward access and maintenance. For the majority of UK club shooters putting a few thousand cartridges a year through a gun, it is entirely adequate, the removable-group advantage is real but is felt most keenly at very high round counts.
Whichever way you go, service history matters more than the design in isolation. A well-documented gun that has been back to a competent gunsmith at sensible intervals will outlast a neglected one of either badge.
Stock fit, and why it dominates the decision
Competition shotguns live or die on fit. Both makers offer a range of stock configurations, and both are commonly fitted with adjustable combs on trap-specification guns.
Perazzi’s custom heritage means the used market is full of stocks cut to somebody else’s dimensions. That can be a bargain if the measurements happen to suit you, or an expensive alteration if they do not. Beretta’s more standardised approach means a used DT11 is somewhat more likely to fall within a range a fitter can adjust to.
If you are buying used and cannot try the exact gun, budget for a fitting session and possible stock work. It is almost always money better spent than on a choke set.
Running costs, spares and resale
Both marques are well supported in the UK, with established importers, gunsmiths and a healthy trade in spares. Beretta’s scale means parts and service points are widely distributed; Perazzi’s specialist network is smaller but deeply experienced.
On resale, both hold their value considerably better than mid-market guns, which is a large part of why so many shooters buy at this level second-hand in the first place. Condition, provenance, original furniture and a sensible stock specification will move the needle far more than the badge. Guns with unusual custom dimensions or heavily reworked stocks typically take longer to sell.
Which should you buy?
A rough steer, offered with the caveat that fit trumps everything:
Choose the Perazzi MX8 if you shoot high volumes, value the detachable trigger, want a gun with genuine Olympic pedigree, and are comfortable navigating the used market’s variety of custom specifications.
Choose the Beretta DT11 if you want a modern competition gun with a steady, controlled swing, broad service support, and a more predictable used-market specification.
Consider a Beretta DT10 if the DT11 is beyond budget; the outgoing model shares much of the character and represents strong value on the second-hand market.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Perazzi MX8 only a trap gun? No. It is most strongly associated with trap and bunker disciplines, but MX8s are shot successfully at sporting and skeet with appropriate barrel and choke configurations.
What is the difference between the Beretta DT10 and DT11? The DT11 succeeded the DT10 with a widened receiver, revised barrel profile, and updated stock geometry aimed at improving stability and handling. The DT10 remains a highly capable competition gun and often represents better value used.
Are these guns suitable for a beginner? They can be, but most newcomers are better served putting the money into lessons, a properly fitted mid-market gun and cartridges first. Both the DT11 and MX8 reward a shooter who already knows what they want from a gun.
Should I buy new or second-hand? The great majority of these guns change hands used in the UK. A well-kept second-hand example with known history is usually the more sensible buy, provided you have it inspected and fitted.
Browse the listings
Ready to compare what is actually available? Explore Beretta DT11 shotguns and Beretta DT10 listings on Rightgun.uk, or see the full range of Perazzi shotguns for sale, including MR57, High-Tech and MX-series guns. If you are still shortlisting, the wider competition and clay shotgun listings and Browning B725 range are worth a look too.
Further reading: Beretta DT10 vs DT11, Perazzi MX8 vs MX2000 and Browning B525 vs B725.
