I shot trap with my father's Beretta circa the early 70s, and we did well with it and thought it a special gun, not washing machine or wheelbarrow material, as this disdainful Brit would have it.
Earlier ones over new for sure, beretta has become such a big marketing brand they have cut back and jacked up the name price tag, a new 686 is still a workhorse but for the price it's hard to justify
Bought my SP1 Field in Sept 2021. I shoot once a month, so only about 3000 rounds through it to date. I love it. A change I made after the first outing was to replace the stock butt-pad which was complete rubbish - it was thin and hard. I replaced it with a Limbsaver and it transformed my experience with the gun (combination of lengthening the LOP by about 1/2 inch and much less recoil feeling). After the 2nd outing, I removed the metal piece that causes the safety to auto-engage every time the action is opened. I removed the piece carefully so I can put it back if I want it...but I bet I never will. The removal makes the safety fully manual like the sporter.
I shoot with a friend to has a 1992 686S with a 28 inch carrier barrel. He has been thinking about purchasing a 30 inch barrel set for the gun and I have a 2018 686 Silver Pigeon I Sporting with a 30 inch Optima HP barrels. So we got to thinking if my 30 inch barrel would fit his much older 686S. We planned a weekend where I would make sure to bring my 12 gauge and he would bring his 686S. Took my barrel and it mounted to his receiver perfectly, face fit was perfect and it clicked in like it was hand fitted to the action. Tried his forearm and it was for a much different loop. Mounted my forearm and the fit was perfect. So, installed my 20 gauge Briley Ultralight tube set and he shot 3 rounds of Skeet with it. After the third round he said he understood why I had sold him my 410 and 28 gauge tube sets, the weight was enough it wore him out. Something to ponder is that Beretta has continued to make the 686 receiver so consistntly that a gun made in 1992 will be able to mount and use a barrel set 26 years newer. Note, I now shoot the 410 and 28 gauges with a 686 Silver Pigeon III Sporting with 30 inch barrels, this allows this older shooter to enjoy the small bores without using an 8 lbs gun with an additional 15 ounces in the barrels. As a result I now do most of my Skeet practice with the 410 and the 28 is my favorite caliber for Fun Shooting, such as Skeet, 5 Stand, and Sporting Clays. As for the 12 gauge, I refer to it as my Weight Training gun that I use to maintain the ability to shoot the 20 and 12 in competition. While heavy it's good exercise to shoot a round or two with the 20 gauge tubes fitted.
I bought a 2005 model 686 E brand new in about 2006, It's still going strong. It has been used in just about every clay discipline and would have fired around 100,000 rounds. Beautiful little gun! Love your channel! Cheers from Australia.
Yes I forgot about the Onyx range. These have been produced alongside the base model Silver Pigeons for a number of years. In the UK we first saw a black Onyx in the late 80's/early 90's and the white Onyx around 2004. Kind regards,Matt
Hi. Great piece and very informative. I am a complete novice, new subscriber and have just bought an S686 Special as my first gun here in Cyprus. I was looking at 3 secondhand guns at the time. This one, a Winchester and a Browning. The guy in the shop told me (the novice asking stupid questions) that the gun I was looking at was around 10 years old or 20 years old. It was one of the 2 figures and the Winchester was the other. Can't recall. My gun does not say "Sporting" on the trigger guard. It has an 'L.' Which having searched Google I believe stands for 'Lusso?' It also does not have the trident mark anywhere on it like the one show here on the bottom. At the top of the barrels it has AM inside a box which, again from google and finding a shooting forum, I think indicates a 1986 year of manufacture? Would that be right? It does not have ventilated barrels. I'd love to send you some pics of the gun to hear what you think it is if possible? I only got it on Saturday and haven't tried it yet :) Cheers, Geoff.
Thank you for your comment. The 'L' on the trigger guard from this period I believe denotes lightweight. In the UK we had both 686 and 687 models in F/C and M/C specification. All were game guns. I hope this helps. Kind regards, Matt
I’ve just got a 2014 686 SP 1 Game, I keep it at the local gun shop and haven’t had a chance to look at the chokes but want to order some new ones, what would they be? (Mobil, optima etc?) Thanks in advance PS. Great video 👍🏻
Hi just watched your video on beretta's i have a 686S 3.5 chambered think they were for the american market in perfect condition wondered what its worth as thinking of going to 20 bore fired no more than 3,000 cartriges thanks for any information! Bought 2006!
@@PremierGunsDoveridge Thank you for the Reply. Do you know much about these Silver Pigeon S 3.5 magnum model? Seems to be impossible to find any thing about them. Would be Grateful if you did
Thank you very much for this informative video. I've just purchased a Silver Pigeon 1 of the 2010 variety which must not have been fired a lot since the action is still rather stiff. Very much looking forward to using it as a game gun.
My 25 yr old 686 SP, bought new in 1998, is still going strong. I consider it better than new with a quarter century of patina and memories on top of a beautiful gun that generally shhots where i look
Really enjoyed this video, very informative. A few months ago a elderly friend of mine wanted me to have his 2 Beretta's as he was giving up his certificate. He had been offered £650 for them by someone and said he'd rather I had them if I paid the same money. I have no idea of values as I'm more into section 1 but they are really nice and I will keep them. Both 20 bore , one is a SBS , I believe mid 80's 626 E and the other is an OU , again I believe mid 80's 686 special. Both very good condition and tight actions.. Is there anywhere where I can go online to date them accurately?..
I want to purchase a 686 silver pigeon. I found a new one that was manufactured in 2019 for 1699.00. Should i buy it or get the new version for the 500.00 more. I am 64 and will not ever ware any of them out. Will shoot a little trap and some ducks.
I have a 686 Silver Pigeon 1 30in barrels for almost 10 years and love the gun. A few months ago I purchased a 687 Silver Pigeon 3 Joel Etchin signature sporting model 32 in barrels and love it too.
Still prefer the original. They are true work horses, very easy to fix gunsmiths tell me, spares from GMK need minimal filing and work to get them to fit, first manufacturer to chrome line the internal bores, complete god send that, simply no dramas.
Great presentation Matt, loads of in depth Beretta info, I had a late(ish) 686 Evo and it handled all aspects of sporting targets with ease. Bombproof sums them up imo.
The 686/7 series always felt good but small for me, my dad has the 682 Gold E which would be a great gun to do a video on, I know a AA skeet shooter with one, loose as anything, but done 200 rounds a week for 20 years and still going strong. Lets see if my 694 holds up to the same beating... (it hasn't lol it's already gone back to GMK for a new sear and inertia block after 1000 rounds)
@@PremierGunsDoveridge Shot it 1000 rounds, during this time it began to stop firing the 2nd barrel. Readjusted the inertai block and replaced the sear. Working fine now, shot a 97 & 95 over the last week with it, so good work from GMK, a week turn around for warranty work. Beretta 694 GMK Edition, lovely gun, these things happen. So glad GMK stepped up and sorted it quick.
Something to be aware of with the early 686 you showed is that it's got the replaceable recoil shoulders on the barrel set like the 682 competition guns. Combine that with the other parts that can be picked up oversize for rebuilding and it's a nice touch that the early guns have leading to even longer life. Thanks for sharing the video.
Thank you for the interesting video! I have a Beretta 685 that my father bought in the early 1980s. It seems nearly identical to the 686, I found an old advertisement of Beretta’s which listed both. I don’t think they made the 685 very long, and there is very little information to be found on the 685. I absolutely love the gun! It does not have ejectors, just extractors which I actually prefer, and it is just a bit plainer. It still works great though! I’d love to see more information on this seemingly forgotten model. Thanks again!
Thank you for your comment. I am glad that you enjoyed the video. Yes the 685 is a rare gun but still very well made as built on the 680 series action. If one comes in I will be sure to do a review. Kind regards, Matt
