New Beretta Silver Pigeon 1 32” Review by Michael Yardley
Beretta’s 686 Silver Pigeon I hunting shotgun offers the aesthetics and materials of the premium over-unders. At its heart, it has the best-in-class 686 action, which is compact and low-profile while being extremely strong. It features two conical locking lugs at mid-action, right between the barrels, giving it great locking strength and durability while keeping.
- Beretta’s Silver Pigeon retail cost ranges from $2,245 to $4,075. It’s available in 410, 28, 20 and 12 gauges, and 26-, 28- and 30-inch barrel lengths. Visit Beretta for more information. Thanks to Mia and the team at Women’s Outdoor News – visit them by clicking here.
- Beretta New Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon III over/under shotgun, for hunters in search of the perfect shot With an online event and the slogan 'the beauty of the perfect shot', Beretta introduced the new 687 Silver Pigeon III over/under to the international hunting audience.
- The new Beretta Silver Pigeon 1 reviewed by Shooting Times The Silver Pigeon has been around since the 1950s but there's a reason for that - it's one of the most reliable guns built, says Mark Heath Silver Pigeons at the West London Shooting School have thousands of rounds put through them.
- THE SYSTEM At the heart of the Beretta Silver Pigeon I is the renowned 686 action, a long-standing favorite among hunters and competitive shooters, which is compact and low-profile while maintaining strength and durability.
- In the Beretta 686 silver pigeon, I have not heard of any complaints from its users regarding its trigger. A load of positive reviews regarding the gun relates to the crisp trigger of the gun. The smooth trigger offers no creep and releases at a considerable weight allowing for smooth auctioning and cycling of.
- Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Beretta Men's Silver Pigeon Shooting Vest, Black/Gold, Small at Amazon.com. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users.
Guns find their way into these pages by different means. Sometimes, one hears of something new from a distributor, or, sees something that especially appeals on visiting a show, or, gun shop. Occasionally, a friend or acquaintance will mention a new gun is especially worthy of consideration. The PR people who work for the big importers are often active in promoting their own product too (as you would expect them to be). Generally, though, I prefer to choose things for myself and by dint of own research and jungle telegraph. Guns are particularly likely to gain my attention if they are the sort of kit that I might use myself. That may not sound very objective – it isn’t, and, there are exceptions – but it is truthful. I think you can always make the best job of reviewing a product that really interests you.
This month’s gun certainly ticks all my boxes. We recently tested the new Browning 525 30” which was a genuinely outstanding Sporter. Back-bored, with reduced barrel weight, it was clearly a winner, and marketed at an excellent price as well. Well, throwing caution to the winds once again this month, we have another simply stomping gun – a new 32” Opti-bored Beretta Silver Pigeon Sporter.
I break with precedent again, giving my verdict early, because it is such a remarkably good gun for the money. Why hold you in suspense unnecessarily? Arguably, moreover, I would say this is probably the best Beretta that I have ever tested when you consider it in a cost:quality context. A big claim. Why am I raving so much about it? Because I shot it! It did the biz.
It all happened by accident too. I stopped in at West London on the way to the Barbour Linhope Challenge the other day which was happening a little way down the M40 at West Wycombe (and which my some small fluke my team managed to bag). I had some time in hand, and started chatting to friends in the shop. “You should have a look at this new Beretta” “What new Beretta?” “The Silver Pigeon 1” “I’ve already tested it” “The 32 Sporter?...” “A 32” Sporter?” “Yup, and Opti-bored too” “Show me!”
West London must have had one of the first of these Long Tom Silver Pigeon 1s in the country. In standard form it is an impressive gun offering great value for money, but this 32” Opti-bored, Opti-choked gun is outstanding (like the new and similarly priced Browning 525 as noted). It was immediately evident when I picked the new Beretta clay buster that it was a winner as well. The gun is extremely pointable with light – 1430 gram – tubes and a well proportioned, taper, rib.
This is the lightest set of standard barrels that I have seen on a 32” Beretta. And, to put that into some sort of comparative context, let me note that Kemens – guns which I have a lot of time for when they are good – typically have barrels in 32” configuration weighing about 1550-80 grams, Perazzi, another brilliant competition tool, tend to be around 1600 grams, even 682 Beretta Gold Es usually tip the barrel scales at about 1450 grams. I am great believer in relatively light-for-length barrels as a means to achieve the apparent paradox of pointability combined with swingability.
So, our Silver Pigeon has notably light barrels, but they are not too light. Nor is the gun especially light overall. It weighs in at 8lbs 1oz. I would say this was about right for a serious sporter. The barrels weigh 3.2 pounds in ‘real money,’ minus the forend. They are distinguished not only by a full Opti package – larger bore, long chokes, long forcing cones etc. – but by an excellent 10-7mm taper rip which is as good as anything that you will come across. There are solid joining ribs which extend just beyond the forend tip (they are absent beneath as is the modern Beretta and Perazzi norm).
The sighting rib itself is vented and equipped with a relatively large white bead (my one point of criticism, for the sole reason that this design of bead seems prone to coming loose. The gun has 3” (76mm) chambers and is proof tested at the branch of the Italian proof house within the Beretta 1 factory in Gardonne. Chokes are flush fitting (though you could easily add some extended tubes without over-stretching yourself). The barrels, of course, are monobloc, well up to the usual Beretta standard and have engine turning on the side of the monobloc which always looks good.
The rest of the gun looks, well, like a Beretta, but there are some subtle differences if you look hard. The action design is classic Beretta 600 series – trunnion hinging on stud pins, conical locking bolts, and, (solid) barrel shoulders which engage in the action walls as per usual. There is a slightly different finish on the receiver compared to Silver Pigeon S model. Older Berettas had a high nickel content on the plating which could make them look a little yellow, this is more steel coloured with a slightly different scroll pattern. It looks as if the engraving may been applied by a new process, moreover. Aesthetically, it works.
The stock does not present any unpleasant surprises either. Not much new to report - but nothing bad. The grip is fairly open, the comb, showing some taper, comfortable without being too thick, and there was quite a deep, heel and toe radiused, pad fitted, for a length of pull of 15”. One could lose ½” of that without gunsmithing with a thinner pad. Drop is a standard 1 3/8' and 2 1/8' at heel. The Schnabel is the familiar Beretta snabel.
Shooting Impressions
I don’t think these could be much better. It was a superb gun to shoot regardless of the price tag. Forgiving and fun. It points well as discussed, felt recoil with 24 gram cartridges was low. It was natural to use and, though quite large, moved well with less weight forward than is the norm in most modern sporters. Trigger pulls were pretty good too (better than a more expensive Beretta I tested recently). Here's the bottom line. For the money, it is probably the best gun that I have yet tested! Taking money out of the equation, you know what? It is still one of the best clay guns tested here in recent years (well, the Kemen Titanium might just pip it – but, it is 40 or 50 times the price). If you need a new clay gun and don’t want to take out a mortgage – buy one. There is a 30” version (also Opti-bored) if 32” sounds a bit too much gun, but I would go with the 32, it's outstanding.
Technical Specifications
Make: Beretta
Model: Silver Pigeon 1
Bore: 12 (Opti-bore)
Chamber: 3” (76mm)
Rib: 10-7mm
Chokes: flush fitting Opti
Weight: 8lbs 1oz.
RRP: from £1495
Stunning, low-profile, and durable, the Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I is one of the finest over and under shotguns at an affordable price.
RELATED: Beretta A400 Xcel | Gun Carrier Shotgun Reviews
In this article:
Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I: The Low-Profile Shotgun
Beretta Silver Pigeon Review
Beretta Silver Pigeon 1 Specifications
The Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I Over and Under Shotgun provides you the features you’ll be needing for your upland bird hunting, sporting clays, or any of the shooting sports you enjoy. It gives you smooth swings and hits quick moving targets from afar.
This classic beauty is designed to maintain its low-profile line of sight. Its features have no gaps or spaces for dirt to stick to, and the sturdy materials used to make this shotgun solid and durable.
Gun Info
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Since the early ’50s up until today, Beretta has been producing firearms in Venice built from decades of experience and has adapted well to the needs of the global community.
The Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I is a low-profile yet compact shotgun well-suited to sporting shooters and hunters. This beauty has durable materials enabling it to withstand a long period of time.
Gun Specs
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Flexibility is provided by the 686 Silver Pigeon I shotgun, giving you choices of barrel length, gauge, and choke tubes depending on what gives you the better chance of hitting your targets.
- Barrel Length: 26”, 28”, 30”
- Chamber Length: 3”
- Gauge: 12”, 20”, 28”, .410”
- Overall Weight: 6.2 – 6.8 lbs
- Stock: Select Walnut Oil Finish
- Finish: Matte-blued
- Capacity: 2
- Choke Tubes: C, IC, M, IM, and F
- Trigger: Single-selective
RELATED: Beretta 690 Field III | Gun Carrier Shotgun Reviews
Ease of Use and Performance
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This classic Beretta over and under shotgun will last from generation to generation. The Beretta has proven its durability from years of quality products and experience.
Aiming and hitting the target is not a problem for anyone using this beauty because the plane of the shooting hand is close to the eye. The flawless finish and graceful lines contribute to its classic but artistic look.
It gives an advantage to upland bird hunters and long-range shooters.
Pros and Cons
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Pros:
- Durable – Beretta has proved its quality products through the years of improvement and learning as time passed by.
- Balanced – This beauty has perfect balance, providing you fast-handling in your hunting periods.
- Lightweight – Its lightness contributes to the smooth-swinging of your shotgun and ease of use.
Cons:
- Availability of choke tubes – In some areas, it’s hard to find Optima HP choke tubes.
What is a choke tube? The part of a shotgun’s muzzle that shapes how a shot is spread for accuracy and range.
Overall Verdict and Beretta Silver Pigeon Price
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This excellent gun is priced ranging from $2,200 – $2,400. The Beretta 686 Sporting shotgun is great for some upland bird hunting as well for sporting clays.
Take a closer look at the Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I in this video by Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A.:
Are you ready for the action that awaits you along with your new shotgun partner? Pro or not, the Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I is your new best friend in upland bird hunting, sporting clays and shooting hobbies.
I ordered one a few weeks ago and I’m pretty excited to try it out in the field!
Do you own a Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I? What features do you love about this shotgun? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
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Beretta Silver Pigeon Ii Review
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in March 2017 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.