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 shotguns 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 wont 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
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 guns graceful lines. This is a shotgun that has all the elements of a treasured heirloom, without the price-tag to match.
Specifications:
- Action: Low Profile, Improved Box Lock
- Gauge: 20
- Barrel: 30"
- Chamber: 2-3/4"
- Wood Finish: Oil
- Stock/Forend: Select Walnut – Checkered with BFAST System
- Drop at Comb: 1.5"
- Drop at Heel: 2.36"
- Butt Plate: Rubber
- Safety: Manual
- Trigger: Single Selective
- Forend: Schnabel
- Sight: White Front Bead, Steel Mid Bead
The information below comes from our Gun Caliber Dictionary and is for
general reference only. It does not describe the specifications of this
particular item.
The 20-gauge follows the 12-gauge as America's second-most popular shotgun gauge. And, with modern shotshells, continues to gain ground. The 20-gauge has a bore diameter of .615-inch, with modern shells in either 2 3/4 "standard" or 3-inch "magnum" length. Most modern shotguns are chambered to handle both. Payloads vary from light-recoiling 5/8-ounce loads all the way to heavy turkey loads carrying 1 5/16 ounces of shot. Standard 2 3/4" loads for targets and upland birds are normally 7/8 or one ounce. At its very best the 20-gauge does not have the capability of a 12-gauge...but with modern shot, wad columns, and chokes it doesn't give up much, and it can be built into a much lighter shotgun developing less recoil. Virtually all manufacturers offer 20-gauge guns, and they are available in all action types and for virtually all shotgunning sports. The 20-gauge joins the 12, 28, and .410 as one of four events in skeet competition, and is becoming increasingly popular for sporting clays.
—
Craig Boddington
