Beretta 686E Sporting Info Requested

md519

md519

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Here's a thread for any Beretta connoisseurs. Being new to the clay-based sports I've decided to purchase my very first sporting shotgun. As you can probably tell I've selected the 686E Sporting (with adjustable comb). I did as much on-line research as possible but am still left with the following questions.

1. What's the difference between the 686E Sporting and; White Onyx, 686E Trap, 686E Skeet, Silver Pigeon series etc. (mechanics, materials used in construction, comb, rib width etc.)

2. Pros/Cons between Beretta, Browning, Franchi etc.

3. Customer Service, dealing with Beretta direct, how was it?

Anything and everything about that gun and how it compares. You handled it, shot it, seen it, let me know your thoughts. My budget was $2250 all in. So let's try to keep the shotguns mentioned in that price range.

Thanks.
 
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Whats the difference? You would do well to study the last few years of the Beretta Catalog and research the differences and similarities between sporting, trap and skeet. Pros/Cons between Beretta, Browning, Franchi? I like B and B and don't know Franchi. Same goes for service.
 
The 682E Sporting is assembled in the same building as the Premium guns. It is assembled by the gunsmiths that assemble all the competition guns. There are a few differences among the 682E and other 68X guns. Check the Beretta catalogue for all the details. But, the 682E Sporting will last a long time as a competetive gun! The other 686 etc are assembled on the regular production lines. Franchi is owned by the Beretta Group. It is a poor cousin of the Beretta O/Us.

As for Browning, well it is only a trade name built in several plants. Browning was/is a marketing name for firearms, clothing, kinves etc Browning does not make ANYTHING! It is like Tasco or World Famous!:confused: It is very similar to President Choice! It is a brand name!

Best regards,
Henry;)
 
The 68x guns all have the same mechanical system inside. I challenge anybody to tell me the 687 and 682 have a superior mechanical inside than a 686. The differences are based on the differences in quality of lipstick that are put on these pigs.
P.S. mighty fine pigs though. I own one
 
:) The 682s are assembled in the Premium gun building by the gunsmiths that build the competion guns. They are ajacent to the Premium stock makers and just before the wood warehouse. Been there, personaly viewed that!:dancingbanana:

Best regards,
Henry;)
 
hnachaj said:
:) The 682s are assembled in the Premium gun building by the gunsmiths that build the competion guns. They are ajacent to the Premium stock makers and just before the wood warehouse. Been there, personaly viewed that!:dancingbanana:

Best regards,
Henry;)
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Henry,
You had better be careful of the :dancingbanana: or you may make Win/64:puke:
 
:confused: I do own a pre 64 6.5 Swedish Winchester! BTW, hopefully the secretary will mail you your copy of ClayshootingUSA, all 160 pages worth, tomorrow!

Best regards,
Henry;)
 
Beretta 686

Before buying it, I would go and try the different guns you are interested in. Feel is everything. I went through different shotguns over the years. I owned a Browning Citori Special Sporting Clays at one point. It shot well. They are built to last. Now when I pick one up, it feels like I am swinging a 2x4. I really liked my Winchester 101, well made too. I find the Beretta to be on the light side. I find that they kick pretty good. They are also well made and easy to tighten up if you shoot them a lot. For the the last few years I have been shooting a Caesar Guerini, Summit Limited Sporting. After lots of research, I decided that it was the best gun for me. It is one the softest recoiling shotgun that I have tried. Nice handling and excellent service (lifetime warranty).

Good luck with your search
 
I shoot a Caesar Guerini, Summit Limited Sporting as well and am very pleased. However the (lifetime warranty) is only for guns sold in the States. Here it is 1 year.

Tim.
 
MD 519...

The previous responses pretty much nailed it down for you. The 686E's are introductory level, "no frills" target guns, the same basic action in all 68x series guns . The 30" Sporter is intended as just that, and makes a pretty good Skeet gun ... and will serve well-enough in the field as well. Most prefer a somewhat "higher shooting" Trap gun with a stepped rib for ATA-style Trap. It's not a great adjustment to shoot Trap well with a Sporter, however. Don't sweat it over Mobil chokes or Optima chokes ... Mobils perform just fine, and if you want colour coded extended chokes like the rest of the gang, Beretta's "Victory" series chokes are available as an aftermarket option.

The 686E is not generally available in the States from Beretta USA, but is imported into Canada directly from Beretta, by Stoeger Canada.

I've never had any "service" issues with any of my Berettas, but do have them worked on occassionaly by Steve Milton at Precision in King City. Steve keeps a good supply of parts on hand, if needed.

I've enjoyed good, prompt service from Stoeger for any of my needs, and for "certain things Beretta", I drop into Cole's in Harpswell, Maine when I'm down east each summer/fall. They have a significant supply of Beretta parts and other trinkets.

I've owned a few Brownings ... and the 325/425/525/625 series of Sporters are simialar to the Bertetta's in some respects and are also quite popular. Just happen to prefer the Beretta's !

Franchi's (particularly the auto-loaders) were at one time more visible in these parts than Beretta, and IIRC, the Franchi O/U's were imported and marketed by C.I.L. back in the late 60's/early '70's. Decent guns. Franchi, like Benelli, Sako, Tikka, Stoeger & Burris, are all now owned by Beretta.

Hope that helps. :)
 
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Well guys, took it out to the range this weekend and shot wobble, 16 yard and a round of skeet. Put around 250 rounds down and shot 21's and 22's all day long. Although the first round was a little touch and go, I started messing around with the chokes and actually shot better with IM top, and M bottom. Didn't know what it was but I tore it up with M on the lower barrel. Either way the gun was BEAUTIFUL. I found it to be really light and shot on 8 squads Sunday. Great gun, recoil is decent(find my 870 kicks harder) and had a really smooth to swing. It was FILTHY by the time the weekend was through. I didn't scrub her down Saturday night, but let it sweat out and wiped her down before putting her away. Sunday was a good cleaning. Took about an hour but it came out nice and clean. Can't wait to take it back out and obliterate some more clays. Craftsmanship is spot on too. Once I hone in the skills and get consistently better then I'll pony up the cash for one of the Premium Grade Competition guns. Might aswell start saving now.

Thanks for the help.

This gun is clutch.
 
...Beretta 68X series...

...during the 1980's I bought the 686, then the 680, then the 682....they were OK as "entry level" guns, but now I just use a Perazzi Mirage and I am so much more satisfied...I can never go back to Beretta ever again.......
 
Each to their own.

I too tried a whole pant-load of target guns, including a few different variations in the Beretta 68x series, Browning 325 & 425 (and subsequent newer models) Superposed's, Remington 3200's, Kreighoffs, a Kolar & a Kemen and Perazzi MX8's, an MT6, a Mirage and a MX2000.

The ASE90 Gold suited me nicely...but in the end, I opted for a then-new DT-10, as it had a couple of features I liked. No regrets in shooting it over the last 8 years whatsoever. Now, if the lottery comes through for me, there will be a custom SO-5 for sure. I like the Perazzis, but prefer the Berettas.
 
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Win/64 said:
Did you mean MX 2000? My dream gun.
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Yes ... sorry, one "0" missed.

Of all the Perazzi's I tried, I liked the "old" MX-8's, the one's that were around in the mid-70's for a little over $2k. They seemed better built, fitted and less prone to trigger problems than the current crop. A bud has an MT-6 that I can shoot well, and another a factory-custom Mirage he went to Italy for. They're both nice - but I'll stick with the DT-10. For the kind of coin the one dropped for the Mirage, I'd do the same, only for an SO-5. Strictly a personal choice. Nothing wrong with the "P" guns - just prefer
Beretta's!
 
The new MX 2000 have gone back to the coil springs,rather than the leaf springs. The one thing about Perazzi triggers is that they are user friendly, and can be repaired without the expense of a gunsmith.
 
I have a 682 Onyx. Went to the trap range and the guys out there had no problem letting me try their trap O/U's. My decision like yours was based on the $ sign. A deal came up on a Beretta Gold E trap I couldn't pass up on. It felt as if the company built it specifically for me and I don't regret buying it. One thing that did shock me, was the reaction by shooters as to what they thought of Browning. I mean this company has been around for a very long time and so very few shooters use this O/U. The other thing I did was look up the finishing results from Olympic trap competitions to see what winning shooters used. It was the Beretta 682 Gold E or the DT10. Your going to have to try out shotguns to see what feels right for you. And you may, like I did, have to go up in price a little. Once you find that one, you'll be glad. Good luck and I hope to see you on the range
 
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358Scout said:
I have a 682 Onyx. Went to the trap range and the guys out there had no problem letting me try their trap O/U's. My decision like yours was based on the $ sign. A deal came up on a Beretta Gold E trap I couldn't pass up on. It felt as if the company built it specifically for me and I don't regret buying it. One thing that did shock me, was the reaction by shooters as to what they thought of Browning. I mean this company has been around for a very long time and so very few shooters use this O/U. The other thing I did was look up the finishing results from Olympic trap competitions to see what winning shooters used. It was the Beretta 682 Gold E or the DT10. Your going to have to try out shotguns to see what feels right for you. And you may, like I did, have to go up in price a little. Once you find that one, you'll be glad. Good luck and I hope to see you on the range
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I think you will find with a little more research that the majority of Olympic shooters shoot Perazzi's.
 
Win/64 said:
I think you will find with a little more research that the majority of Olympic shooters shoot Perazzi's.
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In our area I have noticed that a lot of well off, but very mediocre shooters use the P gun as well. I think that Olympic gold requires a lot of natural talent and dedication. Olympic potential attracts the big $$buck$$ sponsor. Past trapshooting great, Arnold Rieger did a lot of ass kicking with a model 37 winchester, before he traded it for a used m-12.
 
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