While not as elaborately decorated as our premium shotguns, the Silver Pigeon I Sporting has all the elegance that you can expect from a Beretta. The oil-finished stock sports a beautiful and crisp checkering pattern, and the schnabel fore-end adds to the classic flavor of this over-under. I have a field model Beretta Silver Pigeon in 28g with an automatic safety, and a Browning Cynergy Field Synthetic in 12g with a non-automatic safety. I shoot sporting clays and skeet with both, and many times I forget to take the safety off on the Beretta.
Description
- The Beretta Silver Pigeon is primarily a sporter, and there is a game model. For anyone looking for an all-round, adaptable gun the sporter is probably the best choice.
- Shop Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I Sporting Vittoria/Compact 20 Gauge Over/Under Shotgun 30' Barrels Walnut Stock Engraved Silver Receiver and more from Cheaper Than Dirt! Most orders ship within 24 hours (excludes firearms). For the fastest delivery, select Express Shipping at checkout.
- Mar 15, 2019 I'm interested in the weight of the 686 Silver Pigeon #410 Sporting with 30' and 28' barrels. There are none in the greater Seattle area, and, -when was the last time you performed a dial-a-thon to Beretta dealers, and, yeh, -they're going to say sure, give me a minute and I'll go weigh her for you!!!
| Barrel length (cm) | 71/76/81 | 76 | 76 | 76 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrel length (in) | 28/30/32 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Chamber (mm) | 70, 76 | 70 | 70, 76 | 70, 76 |
| Chamber (in) | 2 3/4″, 3″ | 2 3/4″ | 2 3/4″, 3″ | 2 3/4″, 3″ |
| Choke | OC | MC | MC | MC |
| Gauge | 12 | 28 | 20 | .410 |
| Lylium | N | N | N | N |
| Rib | 10×8 | 8×8 | 8×8 | 8×8 |
Silver Pigeon I Sporting: Best Price-Quality, Value in a Competition Over-Under
The Silver Pigeon I Sporting offers all the functional features of our premium over-under competition shotguns at a particularly attractive price. It is built around the best-in-class 686 action, which is compact and low-profile while being extremely strong. The Optima-Bore, Optima-Choke barrels are light-weight and place the shotgun’s point of balance right at the hinge-pin, meaning lively feel in the hands and natural pointability. And with its select-walnut stock and tasteful scroll engraving, the Silver Pigeon I Sporting won’t fail to turn heads at the range, also thanks to its unmistakeable Beretta looks.
Natural Pointability, Swing
At the heart of the Silver Pigeon I Sporting is the legendary 686 action, a long-standing favorite among competition shooters and hunters. Over-under actions must have a strong locking mechanism, because the stress of every shot causes the action to “want” to open. For this reason, most manufacturers place the locking lug(s) at the top of the receiver, making it strong but also taller and bulkier than it needs be. Thanks to its long experience, Beretta uses instead two conical locking lugs at mid-action, right between the barrels. This gives the 686 receiver vault-like locking strength while keeping the profile considerably lower. The advantage is that the eye of the shooter is a lot closer to the plane of his supporting hand: considerably better swing and hand-eye coordination, more targets shattered.
Extreme Durability
Pigeon Game 3d
Another advantage of the Silver Pigeon action is the fact that the locking lugs are conical. As the number of shots fired goes into the five digits, the receiver will still lock up positively: the conical lugs merely “self-adjust” by setting themselves sligtly deeper into the barrel unit, without any compromise on strength. This means that the Silver Pigeon Sporting is a shotgun that will stand up to years of enjoyment and can be passed down from generation to generation.
Flawless Fit and Finish
While not as elaborately decorated as our premium shotguns, the Silver Pigeon I Sporting has all the elegance that you can expect from a Beretta. The oil-finished stock sports a beautiful and crisp checkering pattern, and the schnabel fore-end adds to the classic flavor of this over-under. The scroll-engraved receiver is a functional work of art in itself, with its interesting geometry blending perfectly with the stock and contributing to the gun’s graceful lines. This is a shotgun that has all the elements of a treasured heirloom, without the price-tag to match.
If you are a true shotgun enthusiast, then you probably know that Beretta is one of the best manufacturers of quality shotguns.
Whether you prefer well-designed pieces with incredible detail or budget guns that offer you the best value for your money, Beretta has got you covered with their wide selection of shotguns.
They have a full catalog of guns for every purpose including waterfowl hunting, personal defense, clay target shooting, and law enforcement. Since there are so many Beretta shotguns out there that look the same, you might mistake one for another.
But don’t worry, we’ve gone through them and picked out the top five for you. All you have to do is read and pick your favorite.
Top 5 Beretta Shotguns
With all Beretta has to offer, it was hard to whittle it down to five, but we did it, and here they are, in no particular order.
1. Beretta A400 Xplor Unico
The Beretta A400 Xplor Unico is a gas operated semi-automatic shotgun appeared on the market in 2009. It uses a unique operating system known as the Blink, which features a small, gas-efficient piston.
The A400 Xplor Unico boasts the ability to shoot any shell, including the ultra-heavy 3.5-inch magnums. Even better, you don’t need to adjust it every time you want to shoot a different shell.
Regarding appearance, the A400 Xplor Unico sports a laser checkered exterior that’s enforced by a very strong aluminum alloy. It comes in blue, green, camo-clad, black, or bronze colors. It’s price between $1,450 and $1,550.
2. Silver Pigeon I Sporting
Image via Beretta
Like a true Beretta gun, the Silver Pigeon I Sporting comes with perfect trim lines and outstanding pointing qualities. Compared to other more expensive offerings in Beretta’s 680 series, the Silver Pigeon I is more reasonably priced and only lacks a few decorative features.
It delivers a solid action that locks up nicely even after hundreds of rounds, and this is probably why it’s so popular with target shooters and hunters.
It also has great looks, courtesy of the engraved scroll and the American walnut-like wood that complements its silver receiver. The Silver Pigeon costs between $2,100 and $2,200.
3. Beretta DT 11
The Beretta DT 11 is a clay target shooting shotgun that has won numerous world titles.
It features a heavier and more rugged action than its predecessor, the Beretta DT 10. The DT 11’s barrels are Beretta’s patented “steelium” alloy that is very durable.
Thanks to its persistently tapering bore, shooters can now use less choke without experiencing any changes in their results.
To make maintenance and replacement of worn out parts easier, Beretta designed the DT 11 with rugged crossbolt lock-ups, detachable trunnion barrel pivots, and a replaceable trigger.
The price for a DT 11 runs higher than the other shotguns on our list, priced between $8,600 and $11,000.
4. Beretta A400 Xcel
Clay Pigeon Game
Image via Beretta
Famously dubbed “the Blue Gun,” the Beretta A400 Xcel is a popular choice among staunch clay sporting shooters who prefer semi-automatic shotguns. This masterpiece is easy to maintain and can serve you for a long time before it needs cleaning.
Generally, in the world of semi-auto shotguns, no piece is malfunction-free. However, the A400 Xcel is darned close to perfection because it rarely fails to fire.
Moreover, its recoil is as soft as it can get, thanks to the perfect combination of a gas-operated feature and the voluntary “Kick-Off” recoil reducer.
Beretta Silver Pigeon Sporting 12ga
The A400 Xcel comes with a balance magazine cap, which allows you to add or reduce the shotgun’s weight for a more balanced shooting experience. It’s also fitted with stock shims that allow you to adjust the stock fit of your gun to your liking.
The A400 Xcel costs around $1,600 to $2,700.
5. A400 Xtreme Max 5
Beretta Silver Pigeon 20 Gauge For Sale
The A400 Xtreme Max 5 is a well-rounded shotgun that can be for multiple challenges. It’s powerful, comfortable, compact, and reliability. The Max 5 can also shoot any 12-gauge ammo, from 24 to 64-gram rounds.
Fly Pigeon Game
For durability, all the internal parts of the A400 Xtreme Max 5 come with various rust-proof coatings. The trigger, slide, and carrier are coated with anti-glare treatment, while the barrel bore has a chrome coating. The receiver is also anodized aluminum for maximum corrosion resistance.
In terms of performance, the Max 5 doesn’t disappoint. It features a micro-core for a smooth and soft shooting experience. It’s also light and easy to carry around and has the Berretta’s Blink technology for its gas-operated mechanism. And, the gun’s B-lock cap system offers an instant lock — you only need to rotate the cap 60-degrees.
The A400 Xtreme Max 5 will cost you between $1,900 and $2,000.
Beretta Silver Pigeon Game Or Sports
There You Have the Best Beretta Shotguns
As with most guns, different shotguns suit different people and purposes. As a rule of thumb, always consider what you intend to use the shotgun for before buying it. That will help you choose what to prioritize concerning gauge, action, balance, weight, and finish.
Beretta Silver Pigeon Game Or Sport Car
If you are not well versed with what terms like action and gauge, have an expert explain them to you before you whip out your wallet. And take care in handling your newly found favorite shotgun.