I'm a lefty and I shoot over unders. The 828U is a good choice for a lefty. It has adjustable drop and cast so you can set it up to be a true lefty without any added expense or searching. They are not for me though. I looked at them but just couldn't warm up to the looks. With $2,200 budgeted, I would at least take a look at beretta and browning.

If you buy a beretta you will need to either purchase one with a left hand stock or get the right handed stock bent in order to get to the center of the rib. Beretta over unders are stocked from the factory with a good bit of cast off. The beretta is going to be light and quick handling. I own a 687 with left hand wood. It is my favorite bird gun. It is a pleasure to tote and points quick.

If you buy browning 725, (you mentioned a 725), buy a 725 left hand. All the Browning 725 over unders I have shot come from the factory with a good bit of cast off. They are also available in a lefty with cast on. The 725's don't fit me very well. The Lightning models are stocked straight(neutral cast) and left hand friendly. The brownings are going to be substantially heavier, especially a 12 guage. The 12's make great waterfowl and clay guns. They are heavier than what I like for an upland gun. The 20 is a whole different animal. It is trim, great to carry, quick handling and makes a great upland or dove gun. I own two citori lightnings, a 12 and a 20. The 12 has the factory stock and I shoot it better than any other shotgun I own. It has substantially more drop than a beretta or the 20 guage browning. It's heavy. The 20 makes for a lively little upland gun. I really like the 20, but needed to have it fitted to add more drop before I was comfortable shooting it.
Good luck with your choice, pickings are slim in the way of left hand friendly over unders.

I’d stick with Beretta or Browning. The 828U’s don’t hold their value from what little I’ve seen. I’ve heard of several with loose top ribs as well, held on by an epoxy.
If you like the 828U’s modern appearance give the Browning Cynergy a look.

So I am really interested in this Benelli 828U for my next gun. I have been shooting a Reminington 1100 12 gauge since I was 13 that I bought a pawn store. I am finally starting to have issues with it ejecting the shell and my dad is having the same issue with Remington 1100 20 gauge LT. I have been hunting since I was 5 and I thought it was time to invest in a nice gun. I have been looking around and went to Bass Pro and saw the benelli 828U and it felt amazing and super light plus I am a lefty so finding left guns at the store is rough so O/U it is. I didn't get a chance to look at the Browning Citori 725 but I know these guns kinda fall on the same line and price. I am just looking for any type of knowledge or experience about the gun. I know the browning 725 has been around forever and has a huge following and benelli is rather new to the shotgun world. I am looking to spend around $2200 for the gun.

Order a couple of O rings for the 1100s and give them a good internal cleaning and I'll bet they go back to ejecting just fine...


O Rings

TDK is correct, if you go the 828, shoot the light recoil 12 ga 7/8 and 1oz loads. The Sporting Clays guys shoot these in their heavy O/U's , 200 rounds a day can get uncomfortable .

This being said, you might look at the Browning 725 Sporting and the Browning 725 Crossover, two more "affordable" O/U's.

828 Great shotguns!! Lightwieght. They are coming out with a Sporting model too.

any idea on the timeline for the sport model?

I have both a Cynergy (main hunting everything shotgun) and a 828U (pheasant, etc). I love them both. If I had to pick only one, I'd pick the Cynergy, but that shouldn't detract from the 828

Jlambe, holler when you get your 828, we can meet at Elm Fork for a couple rounds of skeet. I haven't shot my new Ethos Sport yet!!!.

I always like to start a new gun on skeet, since you know exactly what the targets are doing. We can also pattern them there after skeet for free.

The Benellis and Browning's fit me right off the shelf, the Beretta not that much

I have been shooting an 828U for the last 1.5 years. The floating breechblock greatly reduces recoil. In fact, the 828U in 12 gauge kicks much less than my Browning Superposed in 20 gauge. At this point, I have shot several thousand rounds thru mine without any issues and I enjoy it more each time I take it out.