The Shooter’s Companion

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An independent reference on sporting shotguns, for shooters, collectors, buyers and sellers.

Beretta
686 Onyx

A field over-and-under with a black receiver and a gold Beretta signature

686 OnyxOnyx · US

Drawing of a Beretta 686 Onyx from the right: two stacked barrels, a rib, a dark boxlock action, a single trigger, a walnut stock and a schnabel fore-end with diamond chequering.
Drawing: 12-bore field, 28 in, right side

he 686 Onyx is a field for hunters, with polished black barrels and receiver.1 A gold P. Beretta signature sits on the receiver.1 Standard field guns have a fore-end and diamond-cut .1

The US Onyx has a low-profile with a , .2 In 2003 Beretta offered it in 12, 20 and 28 , with Mobilchoke tubes.1, 3 The Onyx Pro added extended hunting , X-Tra Wood and a fluted beavertail .4

Specifications

12-bore · game

LockworkLow-profile 2
Trigger, 2
Bore12-bore
Chambers76 mm (3 in)
Barrels26, 28 in
ChokesMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes

5 Compare specifications

Specifications

ConfigurationBoreChambersBarrels, inRib, mmFore-endGradeChoke systemYearsMarketsStockFinish
Game
Game512-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 286.35OnyxMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003US fore-endPolished black action; Gold P. Beretta signature engraving
Game520-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 286.35OnyxMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003US fore-endPolished black action; Gold P. Beretta signature engraving
Game528-bore70 mm (2¾ in)26, 286.35OnyxMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003US fore-endPolished black action; Gold P. Beretta signature engraving
Game512-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 286.35White OnyxMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003US fore-endSatin nickel alloy action; Dura-Jewel pattern engraving
Game520-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 286.35White OnyxMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003US fore-endSatin nickel alloy action; Dura-Jewel pattern engraving
Game528-bore70 mm (2¾ in)26, 286.35White OnyxMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003US fore-endSatin nickel alloy action; Dura-Jewel pattern engraving
Game612-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 286.35Fluted beavertailOnyx ProMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003USFluted beavertail fore-endDura-Jewel pattern engraving
Game620-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 286.35Fluted beavertailOnyx ProMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003USFluted beavertail fore-endDura-Jewel pattern engraving
Game628-bore70 mm (2¾ in)26, 286.35Fluted beavertailOnyx ProMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003USFluted beavertail fore-endDura-Jewel pattern engraving
Game612-bore89 mm (3½ in)26, 286.35Flared beavertailOnyx Pro 3.5Mobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003USFlared beavertail fore-endMatt black action
Wildfowl
Wildfowl512-bore89 mm (3½ in)286.35Beavertail with finger wellsOnyx Waterfowler 3.5Mobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003USBeavertail with finger wells fore-endSemi-matt black action

Scroll for more columns.

Identify and date

On one restyled gun, the Beretta name and logo are inlaid in gold under the and on its side panels.7 Scroll engraving covers the same gun’s and screw.7 The and length are marked on the barrel side.8

The Italian records the year of proof.9 Beretta places it most often on the receiver or frame and on the barrel.10 From 1 June 2020, the has stamped the year as its last two digits inside a rectangle.11, 12

WhereMarkings
Under the action and on its side panelsGold-inlaid Beretta name and logo on a restyled gun7
Mobilchoke tubePB or ST, with constriction; SP on steel-compatible tubes13
Barrel side and 8
Receiver or frame and barrel14

Proof date

The stamp gives the year of proof. CZ applies up to 31 May 2020, and 20 from 1 June 2020. The later stamp encloses the year’s last two digits in a rectangle.9, 15, 12

Proof date codes

Before you buy

  1. Have a gunsmith assess a loose action; oversize U-bolts and trunnions allow the Onyx to be tightened.16
  2. Inspect the finish on an Onyx Pro; Gun Tests questioned its durability on the gun it tested.17
  3. Identify the choke family before ordering tubes, because Beretta’s systems do not interchange.18
  4. Read the chamber mark on the fitted barrels before choosing cartridges.8
  5. Check that a Waterfowler has a semi-matt black receiver, a beavertail fore-end with finger wells and a silver .2
  6. Check that all five tubes are present, and that an Onyx Pro comes with its extended hunting tubes.4

History

The original Onyx appeared in the late 1980s.19 In 2003 the US catalogue added the White Onyx and the Onyx Pro, and listed a 28-bore standard Onyx as new.20, 1

The restyled Onyx had appeared by December 2007.21, 22 Its black metalwork was confined to the barrels and action frame, and it gained decorative .22 In Beretta’s range the Onyx sat between the Essential and the Silver Pigeon.23

DateChangeObservable feature
2003White Onyx and Onyx Pro join the US catalogue24Satin nickel-alloy White Onyx receiver; X-Tra Wood on Onyx Pro
2003A 28-bore Onyx joins the US catalogue2526- or 28-inch barrels

Sources

  1. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, onyx-offers-and-finish. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  2. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, onyx-specifications. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  3. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, choke-code-chart. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  4. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, onyx-pro-offers. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  5. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, onyx-offers-and-finish; onyx-specifications; choke-code-chart. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  6. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, onyx-pro-offers; onyx-pro-specifications. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  7. Beretta 686 Onyx — Jason Harris review, marks. ShootingUK, 2016-04-20. magazine · Archive
  8. Beretta over-and-under and side-by-side manual — barrel marks, gauge-and-chamber-location. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual · Archive
  9. Beretta USA catalogue 2004: National Proof House Year Stamp Markings, proof-year. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2004. maker catalogue · Archive
  10. Beretta USA catalogue 2004: National Proof House Year Stamp Markings, position. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2004. maker catalogue · Archive
  11. Cambio marchio anno di prova, change-date. Banco Nazionale di Prova, 2020. proof house · Archive
  12. Cambio marchio anno di prova, numeric-stamp. Banco Nazionale di Prova, 2020. proof house · Archive
  13. Beretta choke-tube guide — marks and compatibility, mobil-tube-mark. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  14. Beretta USA catalogue 2004: National Proof House Year Stamp Markings, proof-year; position. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2004. maker catalogue · Archive
  15. Conarmi: Italian proof marks and year codes, code-table. Consorzio Armaioli Italiani. magazine · Archive
  16. Beretta 686 Onyx — Jason Harris review, wear-parts. ShootingUK, 2016-04-20. magazine · Archive
  17. 12-Gauge Over/Unders: Silma, Browning, Beretta Go At It, finish-concern. Gun Tests, 2004-08-17. magazine · Archive
  18. Beretta choke-tube guide — marks and compatibility, families-cannot-interchange. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  19. Beretta 686 Onyx — Jason Harris review, original-introduction. ShootingUK, 2016-04-20. magazine · Archive
  20. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, edition. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  21. Beretta 686 Onyx — Jason Harris review, test-period. ShootingUK, 2016-04-20. magazine · Archive
  22. Beretta 686 Onyx — Jason Harris review, restyled-black-finish. ShootingUK, 2016-04-20. magazine · Archive
  23. Beretta 686 Onyx — Jason Harris review, related-grades. ShootingUK, 2016-04-20. magazine · Archive
  24. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, edition; onyx-pro-offers; onyx-offers-and-finish. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  25. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, edition; onyx-offers-and-finish. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive

Revised