Browning B725 vs Beretta 694: Which over-and-under should you buy?

If you are shopping for a serious sporting over-and-under in the UK at the moment, two guns dominate the conversation. The Browning B725 and the Beretta 694 are the natural rivals, similar money, similar ambitions, and both aimed at the shooter who has outgrown an entry-level gun and wants something that will hold up to real volume.

Both are also, as it happens, among the fastest-rising guns on Rightgun.uk right now. This guide sets out how they actually differ for British shooters, and who each one suits. To see what is available, browse the current Browning B725 listings and Beretta 694 listings.

The short version

The B725 is the more accessible of the two: a lower, slimmer action, a strong reputation for pointability, and a price that generally undercuts the Beretta. The 694 is the more overtly competition-focused gun, Beretta’s dedicated sporting platform, built around balance and adjustability, and priced accordingly.

Neither is a mistake. Most shooters who try both come away with a clear preference, and it is rarely about specification.

Action design and the feel in the hand

This is the heart of the difference. Browning’s over-and-unders descend from the Superposed lineage and use a full-width hinge pin and a bolt that locks into the bottom of the receiver. It is a proven, robust arrangement, and in the B725 Browning worked hard to reduce the depth of the action; the low-profile receiver is the gun’s headline feature and the reason it feels lively between the hands.

Beretta uses conical locking lugs and trunnions rather than a full-width hinge pin, which has always allowed a shallower action. The 694 builds on that with a receiver and stock geometry designed specifically for repeatable mounting on clay targets.

In practice, most shooters describe the B725 as the quicker, more instinctive gun and the 694 as the more deliberate, settled one. Which of those you want depends enormously on what you shoot.

Triggers and adjustability

The B725 uses Browning’s mechanical trigger, which resets independently of the first shot firing, worth knowing if you have ever had an inertia trigger fail to reset on a dud cartridge. Trigger shoe adjustment is available, and the pull is generally well regarded straight from the box.

The 694 is where Beretta puts its adjustability. The gun is designed around the idea that a competition shooter will want to tune balance and fit, and the range of options, including adjustable ribs and comb arrangements on certain configurations, reflects that. If you shoot registered targets seriously and want to dial the gun to you rather than adapt to the gun, this counts.

For most game and casual clay shooters, this difference matters less than it sounds. Our guide to shotgun fit is more likely to improve your scores than any adjustment mechanism.

Weight, balance and what you actually shoot

The B725 range spans genuine field configurations through to sporting builds, and the field guns are noticeably carryable, a real consideration if you walk hedgerows or shoot rough days on foot. The 694 is fundamentally a competition gun; even the lighter setups are not really intended for a long walk-up day.

So, roughly:

For mixed game and clay use, the B725 is the more versatile buy. It will do a driven day and a hundred sporting targets on the same weekend without complaint.

For dedicated clay shooting, particularly registered sporting or trap, the 694 is the more focused tool and the one you will more often see on the line at serious grounds.

For a first “proper” over-and-under, the B725 is the softer landing on price, and there is a deep used market. Our comparison of the Browning B525 and B725 is useful if you are also considering the older, cheaper Browning.

Price and the used market

Both guns hold value reasonably well, which is one of the advantages of buying into the two most established names in the category. The B725 generally sits below the 694 both new and used, and because Browning has sold a very large number of them in the UK, you will usually have more examples to choose from at any given moment.

The 694 is newer to the market and consequently thinner on the ground second-hand, but interest in it is climbing noticeably. If you want one used, be prepared to move quickly when a good example appears.

If neither quite fits the budget, the Beretta 692 sits just below the 694 in Beretta’s sporting line and is worth a look, as is the well-proven Beretta 686 for a more general-purpose gun.

What to check when buying used

On either gun, the priorities are the same. Ask about round count; a competition gun that has been through a hundred thousand cartridges is a different proposition from a lightly used field gun of the same age. Check the action is on the face by looking for movement or a visible gap when the gun is closed and gently flexed.

Confirm which chokes are included and whether they are original. Check the barrels for dents, bulges, and the condition of the ribs, particularly on any gun that has been used hard. And ask whether the stock has been altered, since a stock cut for the previous owner may not suit you at all.

Our wider guide to buying your first shotgun in the UK covers the process, and cartridge selection is worth a read once you have chosen; the load you feed a sporting gun makes more difference than most people expect.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Beretta 694 worth the extra over the Browning B725? If you shoot registered clays seriously and will use the adjustability, quite possibly. For mixed game and casual clay shooting, most shooters would struggle to justify the difference on performance alone.

Which is better for game shooting, the B725 or the 694? The B725, for most people. Its field configurations are lighter and better suited to being carried, whereas the 694 is designed around the clay ground.

Do the B725 and 694 use the same chokes? No. Each manufacturer uses its own choke system, and chokes are not interchangeable between the two. Always confirm what is included with a used gun.

How do they compare with the Beretta 686 and Browning B525? The 686 and B525 sit below both as more general-purpose guns, and both are excellent value used. The B725 and 694 offer more refined actions and, in the 694’s case, considerably more adjustment.

Compare both on Rightgun.uk

The best way to decide is to handle both. Browse current Browning B725 and Beretta 694 listings from UK dealers and private sellers, or explore the wider shotgun listings to see what else is available near you.

Further reading: Browning B725 shotgun: A modern classic for clay and game shooters, The Browning B525 & B725: Britain’s favourite game guns, Browning B25 vs B525 vs B725: Which Browning over-and-under should you buy?, Browning B525 vs B725: Which Browning should you buy?, and Best game shotguns UK by budget.