686 - Why so hard?

M

Merck

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Hey all,

I'm wondering why it is so hard to get what you want in the world of shotguns. I'm considering upgrading from my BPS trap as I'd like to get an O/U. I think a 686 Sporting would be nice but as I shoot left I was interested in seeing if you can actually get one. Why can't you order things in the world of shotguns? It seems to me I should be able to say, "Hey Mr. Beretta, I'd like a 686 SPI Sporting for LH (or even neutral), can you whip me up one?"

I'm not actually bothered much by a gun with a right-hand swell or slight cast, but why isn't the industry responsive at all? I've seen a few outdated threads while googling that suggested perhaps you can get a LH configuration, but hard to find anything concrete. Any thoughts?
 
There are left handed Berettas around, but you have to look for them. A couple of friends of mine have one or two each. You can order one, just be prepared to wait a few years. You can likely find one, but it will take some effort on your behalf. You can also buy a stock separate from the gun and have it fitted.
 
I agree - not enough demand. Especially now that many quality semis come with stock shims for DIY stock casting and the increasing popularity of synthetic guns. I have two Beretta OUs that are cast left-hand. In fact, the stocks are completely customized to me - drop/cast/LOP. Steam bending the stocks to my exact specifications cost only 150$, including measuring me (LOP change cost more because I had a particular recoil pad installed - not sure how much it would be to just cut/shim and re-attach the existing pad, but it would not be cost-prohibitive). Alain Combes Gunsmith north of Montreal did the work for me and I could not be happier. The pheasants - they're not so happy about it...
-Dave
 
Ordering from the factory is possible but as with a custom order for anything expect to wait.

A better option might be buying the 686 off the shelf and either having the stock modified or order a replacement left-handed stock from Coles. They currently list plain 68x series stocks for as lows as $400USD. You could then sell the right-handed stock to help offset the cost.
 
If you haven't already done so, another alternative may be to try a Browning Citori for fit......those shotguns are cast neutral.
 
Try Prophet River Firearms, Lloydminster, Alberta (check top of this page). Talk to Clayton. Great guy!

I just received a LEFT HANDED Beretta 686 Sporting, with 32" barrels a couple of weeks ago. I had ordered it in lefty (with a 30") back in Mid-March, last year. Gun had to go back to Italy to get a cast-on buttstock refitted. Last month the Clayton told me that although my gun isn't in yet, he has a couple of LH 32" barrel guns that just arrived. I took one, and I believe he still has one, or more. Check his website at the top of this page.
 
Urbansherpa said:
Try Prophet River Firearms, Lloydminster, Alberta (check top of this page). Talk to Clayton. Great guy!

I just received a LEFT HANDED Beretta 686 Sporting, with 32" barrels a couple of weeks ago. I had ordered it in lefty (with a 30") back in Mid-March, last year. Gun had to go back to Italy to get a cast-on buttstock refitted. Last month the Clayton told me that although my gun isn't in yet, he has a couple of LH 32" barrel guns that just arrived. I took one, and I believe he still has one, or more. Check his website at the top of this page.
Click to expand...

Thanks Urbansherpa; just want to make a note that he is about the easiest customer we've ever had to deal with. We were told, IIRC, 30-60 days for the LH stocks to be fitted and it took months. He had paid in full upfront and really should have been upset with the whole deal. Never a critical word and we sure appreciate that and his continued recommendation of our business even though things certainly didn't go the way we intended. :)
 
Prophet River said:
Thanks Urbansherpa; just want to make a note that he is about the easiest customer we've ever had to deal with. We were told, IIRC, 30-60 days for the LH stocks to be fitted and it took months. He had paid in full upfront and really should have been upset with the whole deal. Never a critical word and we sure appreciate that and his continued recommendation of our business even though things certainly didn't go the way we intended. :)
Click to expand...

We only have one 692 LH in stock but just contacted beretta and they have a LH 686 32" sporting sitting there. We have it coming; it will be 2549 and can ship from here in 8 days. :)
 
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