Beretta O/U....worth it?

In a word, Yes the Beretta will be worth it. Previous posters have pretty much covered most of the reasons.

I own a 682 Gold L that has worked flawlessly for years. My wife has a Silver Pigeon that she loves.

I cannot think of one good reason to buy a cheap gun and then go to a range, or to a driven shoot and then have a malfunction because the gun isn't reliable.

As Dad always said, " Buy Once, not Twice".

That said there are many other very good makes in Europe from Spain, Germany, France, and England as well as Italy to look at. I would avoid Turkey though, they make guns there that even make some American guns look good.

Best

RSF
 
Will agree with 682. The action on 682 is tougher than on 686 silver pigeon.

As to Turkish guns are concerned, I wouldn't agree. Owned Stoeger that functioned well with hunting loads. They implement Benelli / Franchi action now under the contract from Benelli.
Also other turkish guns are worth taking a look at. Some of Huglus are imported in the U.S. under CZ brand. And of course there are your Yildiz and the rest of them. The wood you see on many Berettas by the way is Turkish wood.

rsf said:
In a word, Yes the Beretta will be worth it. Previous posters have pretty much covered most of the reasons.

I own a 682 Gold L that has worked flawlessly for years. My wife has a Silver Pigeon that she loves.

I cannot think of one good reason to buy a cheap gun and then go to a range, or to a driven shoot and then have a malfunction because the gun isn't reliable.

As Dad always said, " Buy Once, not Twice".

That said there are many other very good makes in Europe from Spain, Germany, France, and England as well as Italy to look at. I would avoid Turkey though, they make guns there that even make some American guns look good.

Best

RSF
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Look at the Joel Etchen custom Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon III trap guns. Uses the receiver from a 687 i.e. nice engraving, all the internals + barrels of a 682 along with upgraded wood. Great value for the money!
 
SS,

Good point, some of the Turkish guns are worth a look.

As for the Walnut, France is running low on decent mature trees, and so the Market has moved on to Turkey. Although it appears that even Turkey is finding it hard to find the higher grades needed for the bespoke market here in the UK, (not that I'm looking to buy a Purdey or Boss anytime soon)

RSF
 
Definitely worth it. I have two. A 687 Silver Pigeon II that I use for pheasant. For me, this is as nice a gun as I would go for a field gun. Moving on up the line of the 687s I think it would start to get TOO pretty and stressful to use in the field.
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My first one was this 686 Ultralight. It's 5.7 lbs. Super light, kicks like a mule, and is very fast-handling. I found it too light to shoot practice a lot with, and that I didn't swing/follow-through well with it, which is why I got the 687 above. I kept this one to use for woodcock and grouse, or for guests pheasant hunting. I did have a bit of trouble with this one - the barrel selector got a bit loose and would sometimes get stuck halfway between barrels and cause the safety to jam. Gunsmith put a new spring under it and it works beautifully now.
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Purdey would be nice :) Or at least Holland and Holland. Touched one. Magic!

rsf said:
SS,

Good point, some of the Turkish guns are worth a look.

As for the Walnut, France is running low on decent mature trees, and so the Market has moved on to Turkey. Although it appears that even Turkey is finding it hard to find the higher grades needed for the bespoke market here in the UK, (not that I'm looking to buy a Purdey or Boss anytime soon)

RSF
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I worked in Mayfair for years and at lunch would walk around to Purdey's, Holland and Holland, Ray Ward, William Evans , Beretta, and even Boss when it was still there, and many other smaller shops as well.

It was a great way to kill an hour or two looking at and holding those guns. It truly made you appreciate the artistry that goes into making a London "Best" gun.

RSF
 
I agree its getting harder and more expensive to find nice walnut. But one company that I am impressed with is Caesar guerini they seem to but the nicest wood on there guns for the price range. They must of got a good deal on a supply and stocked up when that first opened up.
 
Caesar holds a stockpile of old wood and because they're not a volume seller (compared to other bigger companies), the stockpile lasts a little longer :)

fishslinger said:
I agree its getting harder and more expensive to find nice walnut. But one company that I am impressed with is Caesar guerini they seem to but the nicest wood on there guns for the price range. They must of got a good deal on a supply and stocked up when that first opened up.
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ss1980 said:
Will agree with 682. The action on 682 is tougher than on 686 silver pigeon.
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I have never compared the internals (I only own a 686 SP) but, as far as I know, all Beretta 68x actions are the same. I have read that when you move up the line in the 68x series, it's primarily the cosmetic features that change. There is quite a few threads on Shotgunworld regarding this. I am curious now, as to the differences in the action you've noticed. Do you have any links or pics?

Thanks.
 
Thank you for your interest. With Beretta, when you move from model to model, you buy into different action as well as wood furniture. 682s are believed to have stronger action than 686s. With Brownings though, you get pretty much the same action (with the exception of the latest 7 series and up) but different wood furniture.

Shooter_01 said:
I have never compared the internals (I only own a 686 SP) but, as far as I know, all Beretta 68x actions are the same. I have read that when you move up the line in the 68x series, it's primarily the cosmetic features that change. There is quite a few threads on Shotgunworld regarding this. I am curious now, as to the differences in the action you've noticed. Do you have any links or pics?

Thanks.
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Shooter_01 said:
I have never compared the internals (I only own a 686 SP) but, as far as I know, all Beretta 68x actions are the same. I have read that when you move up the line in the 68x series, it's primarily the cosmetic features that change. There is quite a few threads on Shotgunworld regarding this. I am curious now, as to the differences in the action you've noticed. Do you have any links or pics?

Thanks.
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I've owned both and the internals are the same. Earlier 682s did have a slightly wider frame than the 687/6 which might lead some to assume the 682 was "stronger." When Beretta introduced the 682 Gold (pre E) they transitioned to the same frame as the rest of the 68x models. Also, the 682 has removable barrel shoulders. I've owned 682s that were well over the 100k round mark and neither needed the barrel shoulders replaced.
 
Claybuster said:
I've owned both and the internals are the same. Earlier 682s did have a slightly wider frame than the 687/6 which might lead some to assume the 682 was "stronger." When Beretta introduced the 682 Gold (pre E) they transitioned to the same frame as the rest of the 68x models. Also, the 682 has removable barrel shoulders. I've owned 682s that were well over the 100k round mark and neither needed the barrel shoulders replaced.
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Thanks for chiming in, Claybuster. I've read exactly what you've described, on various forums, etc.
 
To clarify the issue once and for all about then difference in Beretta actions, I went to the source and wrote Beretta a letter asking them to explain the differences in action between 682, 686 and DT10. Waiting for response.
 
To clarify the issue once and for all about then difference in Beretta actions, I went to the source and wrote Beretta a letter asking them to explain the differences in action between 682, 686 and DT10. Waiting for response.
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Do you rember posting this?

Maxus and SX3 share identical actions.
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How about posting about the Investor choke tubes?

Your "Imperial" data hasn't been the most reliable information.:rolleyes:
 
ss1980 said:
To clarify the issue once and for all about then difference in Beretta actions, I went to the source and wrote Beretta a letter asking them to explain the differences in action between 682, 686 and DT10. Waiting for response.
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There are significant differences between the 680 series actions and the DT10 including different locking systems and the DT 10's removable trigger. The DT10 is not part of the 680 series but is based on the discontinued ASE90.

Among the currently-produced 680 series (682, 686 and 687) the actions are same, internal parts interchange among them and the main differences are cosmetic and on some a trigger that is adjustable for length and automatic safety.

Here are two links from Midwest Gun Works, a Beretta authorized factory service centre, which shows that most internal action parts are common among the series. What parts are model specific are usually on the outside and the differences are cosmetic.

http://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/ctgy/beretta-680-series-parts

The spares kit for the 680 guns covers all of them.

http://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/beretta-680-series-parts/EK68612

Beretta may argue the higher grades are somewhat better fitted and finished internally but the basic action is the same whether it's a White Wing or a EELL.
 
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