I am looking at buying a new clay gun for mainly skeet and sporting.
Options are the various Brownings (GTS, 525,etc.) and the Beretta Silver Pigeon.
An experienced gunsmith has advised that within that price range the Beretta is far more funcitonally reliable as Brownings have firing pin weaknesses among other ailments.
If you can, please comment on that as well as any other opinions and preferences between the two types.
Thanks

You really need to shoot the various models that interest you. Personal taste can vary greatly.

Over the years I've owned more Beretta's than anything else and consider myself a big fan of their guns. But I wouldn't necessarily say that they are more reliable than Brownings. I've seen many of my friends and fellow competitors shoot Brownings with far fewer issues than I had with Berettas.

To me the Beretta's move to the targets much better, but there are lots of people who think the Brownings are the smoothest in that price range. Brownings have always felt awkward when I swing them so I never wanted one, but that's just me.

Probably some of the reliability issues I had were related to large volume shooting that very few guns are subject to. If you're shooting a moderate amount (say 1,000 to 5,000 rounds per year) you'll probably not have significant reliability issues with either brand. (If you're planning to shoot something like 20,000 to 50,000 round per year you'll need to spend more on your base model gun if you want it to be reliable).

The important part is for the gun to feel good to you. See which you break the most targets with. What felt good to me and what I broke the most targets with were NOT always the same gun. When using identical ammo see if you perceive less recoil with one gun over the other. Those are the real issues you should focus on.

If you hang around a skeet or 5-Stand field and ask politely I'll bet several people will gladly let you shoot their guns. Make sure you are carrying only quality factory loads and most likely a few guys will be flattered that you're interested in their guns.

I dunno how common they are over there, or how much they cost used, but you might consider looking at a good used Perazzi, such as an MX-8 or Mirage with tubes. In the states, with careful shopping their used prices are close to the new prices for several of the guns you mentioned. In general, Perazzis are built to withstand the rigors of competitive shooting and have some features, such as easily removeable trigger assemblys and which can come in handy.

As mentioned above, unless they do it, most people don't understand how tough volume shooting is on shotguns. Many common (and highly regarded by hunters and casual users) shotguns will literally start to fall apart when shot 50,000 rounds or more a year.

Again, as mentioned above, fit and feel means a lot, so it is an individual thing, but personally I'd slightly lean towards the Berettas over the Brownings.

PS: and I just thought of this and it may not be workable over there at all, but over here, because of steel shot, you can buy very decent used 3 inch Browning Superposed for less than new Citoris. Their extra weight and barrel length could possibly make for a very fine clays gun. I've got one that I haven't gotten around to shooting that I bought used with a cosmetic forend stock problem for well under $1000. They are a better and tougher, albeit more complicated, gun than a Citori IMO.

The two gentleman that have so far responded have given very sound advice. The biggie for me is feel/fit I am a Beretta fancier because they point the best for me. I have no idea of availability but I would look for a used Beretta 680 or 682 these guns will take a fair amount of punishment and are very easily brought back to peak shape without much fuss by any competent gunsmith. Also they can usually be found on the second hand market for what a new 686 Pigeon goes for and fitting up additional barrels are usually very simple.
Point-ability would be my first consideration always.

Thanks for the advice and I will try and get a feel for the different options.
Unfortunately availibility is always an issue in our rural areas but one can make a plan.
Used guns are rather rare but good to know what to look out for.

Great ideas about looking for used. Just be careful of heavily used guns, sometimes (at least on the lower end guns) they can be past the point where they can be rebuilt.

The Krieghoff I currently shoot was used when I got it. The seller claimed it had 200 rounds through it. I couldn't see any visable wear and it's worked out very well.

But a friend bought a used a 682 and it was beyond hope. He still thinks he got a good deal (and I don't have the heart to tell him otherwise), but it is completely worn out and can't be rebuilt to be tight again. He shoots maybe 100 rounds per year so it will probably last him for his lifetime.