doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Thoughts on 28ga Beretta 687 EELL with 28" barrels

I do have a 687L. It's the first generation Silver Pigeon. It dates from about 1993 or so. I selected it over the 686 at the time. Guess why? I thought the roll engraving and the better wood were worth the couple hundred dollar difference.

"Remember, I'm pulling for you. We're all in this together." - Red Green

The most fun I have had shooting dove in the US was with a Parker Repro 28 gauge with 28" barrels. Over decoys. When I hunt with a gun in high condition I spend some time worrying about scratching it up.

I tend to avoid brand new guns because of the depreciation. Usually a gun can be had for much less once a flat of shells has been run through it.

I love the quality of Beretta's guns.

I have been shooting a 687EELL 12 ga. Sporting at skeet and clays for about 15 years. It is a great gun and handles well for me.

The "engraving" on these guns is not hand engraved but rather impressed with roll dies. My Diamond Pigeon is a very early one and the scenes on the sideplates are hand engraved. The more recent ones that I have examined are impressed. All of these guns are signed Bottega C. Giovanelli. The Bottega Cesere Giovanelli in Gardone, V.T. is both a school for hand engravers and a design studio that does contract work for Beretta and other Italian makers. Beretta guns that are embellished are decorated with the most sophisticated die work that I have ever examined. In many cases, if I were not an engraver, I could not tell the difference between their die work and hand engraving (especially with the really small scroll) except that you can see several on a sale rack and they are identical.

I mention all of this, not to dissuade your purchase but so that you have a full understanding of the gun's decoration.

Regards,
Roger

"Any thoughts as to the practicality for doves or sporting clays? "

Your gun will be a little over 6#'s and not suitable for extensive Sporting Clays use because of the recoil even with 28 gauge loads unless you are very recoil tolerant. Low volume dove shooting would be ideal but for high volume you want more weight.
These are very nice guns but as pointed out, not hand engraved.
If you want engraving then look elsewhere and be prepared for the cost but if it's an attractive package for hunting, then it would be nice.-Dick

Talk to Rich Cole - he may be able put together a custom 28 ga with 30" barrels in your price range. It won't have sideplates or the 687EELL engraving but may have some custom engraving.

More importantly, the stock would be custom-fitted and if you want something a little heavier for higher-volume shooting, I would expect him to be able to match your weight requirement.

Most importantly, you will end up with a very nice and more unique gun.

I should have added to my post above that all Beretta shotguns do not have die impressed decoration. That is true for the 687 range but when you get to the SO range, they are hand engraved and cost accordingly. If a Beretta is signed by an engraver other than Bottega Giovanelli, it is hand engraved. My apologies to Julio Timpini and his colleagues.

RB

I second the Rich Cole recommendation. He's the go to man for Beretta USA.
http://www.colegun.com/