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What makes it even worse is I don't even like 20 gauges--they spend all their lives wishing they were 16's or 12's.

Stan, I hadn't thought about it, but I also have a Beretta 30" 20. It is the first 30" 680 series 20 Beretta imported, in about 1986 or 1987. It came to me directly from Beretta USA. It is a custom made large frame 682 pigeon or International Trap gun in 682X Trap configuration with black receiver, low step rib and fixed improved modified and full chokes. I have not seen another one since.

I've never seen one either, bill. Bet it would be a great gun for registered subgauge events. I shoot mine in them, and have done pretty well, but it is a little light and quick. But, for a dove gun it is just about perfect. How much do you figure it weighs?

SRH

Stan, as it was made, with a real beefy fancy English Walnut Monte Carlo stock, it was probably 8 1/2 pounds. It was a little light in the front. After 25 years of shooting, with three or four sets of extra barrels, it is now fitted with a Wenig crossover stock. It has been my NSCA competition gun with 32" low step 12 gauge barrels, my International Skeet gun with low step barrels cut to 28", and is now my NSSA four gauge skeet gun with Briley tubes. It was more than 20 years old when I had it tubed, which I did because it had the crossover stock which my Krieghoff did not have when I wanted to start shooting skeet again. It is some gun, especially with the original 20 gauge trap barrels. I can't imagine how many rounds it has through it. Murphy

The 28" low step barrels are as rare as the 30" 20 gauge barrels. Here is the story. One day, I went to the factory in Accokeek, MD to see about getting skeet barrels. I sat in the shop office with my friend, a Beretta gunsmith, and told him I wanted to have a set of skeet barrels installed on the 20 gauge 682. He said that wouldn't work because the high stock would make the rib on the skeet barrels way too low to shoot well. He picked up the gun and went into the shop, came back about 30 minutes later. The gun had a set of 28" low step trap barrels with a sight on the end. I asked where he came up with such a set of barrels and he replied that someone must have damaged the end of a set of 32" trap barrels. I had the feeling that the damage had occurred in the past 30 minutes. The bill for the damaged set of barrels was $225. Those were the days.

Very interesting, Bill. The 680 series guns have to be among the most reliable ever made. I am seriously considering getting a set of .410 barrels for mine for early season doves.

OBTW, the doves are really hitting my harvested peanut fields, now. Season doesn't come back in until Thanksgiving Day, but I think they will stay until then. Numbers seem to be building, per my scouting. Queen Jean's uncle is confined to a wheelchair, but used to be a very active hunter and fisherman. He asked me last week if I would let him come sit in a field during a shoot and watch us. I was humbled, and very happy, to tell him I would love for him to. It made me keenly aware of how blessed we are to be able to still chase these birds and enjoy our guns.

All my best, SRH

Sounds like some good shooting in the works, Stan. Love that wintertime dove hunting.

Yes, you cannot find a better gun for the money than a Beretta 686/687 in any version. I've really enjoyed my 687 SPII Gallery Special 20 ga. w/30" bbls. 6 1/4 lbs. and very smooth on the swing.

Did you buy anything at the Southern?
JR

Yep. A money clip from Galazan. I got him down to 10 dollars on it!

SRH

I ended up getting an Inverness with 30" barrels and a straight (English) grip. I'm fairly sure that a POW grip would be a better option as far as "shootability" is concerned, but I was simply seduced by how sleek it looked with the straight grip.
I made the decision to buy an Inverness after handling one. It simply felt like a well balanced wand. My guess is that the added weight of the metal ribs, or whatever they call them, on the sides of the forend help give it that, between the hands" feeling that a game gun should have.

Just called CSMC to see if they had a part for my Rizzini and happened to ask the lady who answer the phone (didn't get her name) about shipment of Inverness shotguns. She said that they are packing up the first shipment now and folks who ordered in January and February should be getting calls asking for FFL's very soon.