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Beretta 686
Silver Pigeon I

A 680-series over-and-under for game and sporting clays

686 Silver Pigeon I · UK686 Silver Pigeon I Sporting · UK686 Silver Pigeon I Sporting · US

Drawing of a Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I from the right: two stacked barrels with solid side ribs, a ventilated top rib, a pale floral-engraved action, a single trigger, a pistol-grip walnut stock and a schnabel fore-end.
Drawing: 12-bore field, 28 in, right side

he Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I is a 680-series for game and .1, 2, 3 The UK 2024 version has a polished stainless-steel and floral that reaches the receiver tail and hinge pins.3 The hunting gun pairs a with a 6 mm .1 The Sporting has a 10 × 8 mm rib and five extended Optima- HP tubes.2

The barrels pivot on two studs that engage housings in the monoblock.3 Two pins project from the into housings beside the breech.3 Because it is a , the receiver stays low.4 The sits on top of the safety tang.3

Specifications

12-bore · game

HingeTwo studs in the action engage housings in the barrel monoblock5, 6, 7
LockingTwo pins protrude from the breech face into housings beside the breech5, 6, 7
LockworkTrigger-plate action with coil springs5, 6, 7
TriggerSingle selective; selector above the safety tang5, 6, 7
Made inGardone Val Trompia, Italy8, 9, 10
Introduced201011, 12
Bore12-bore
Chambers76 mm (3 in)
Barrels26, 28, 30 in
ChokesOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes
Weight3.3 kg (7 lb 4 oz; catalogue, 28 in)

6, 13 Compare specifications

Specifications

ConfigurationBoreChambersBarrels, inRib, mmFore-endGradeChoke systemYearsWeightMarketsStockFinish
Refreshed field1728-boreRefreshed field2026US
Refreshed field17.410Refreshed field2026US
Field18, 1912-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 28, 306FieldMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes fore-end
Field20, 1920-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 28, 306FieldMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes fore-end
Field21, 1928-bore70 mm (2¾ in)26, 28, 306Half beavertailFieldMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubesHalf beavertail fore-end
Field22, 19.41076 mm (3 in)26, 286Half beavertailFieldMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubesHalf beavertail fore-end
Game
Game6, 1312-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 28, 306HuntingOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes20243.3 kg (7 lb 4 oz; catalogue, 28 in)UKPistol grip; fore-end; 375 mm pullNistan action; Floral laser engraving engraving; wood grade 2
Game2312-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 28, 306HuntingOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024
Game2412-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 28, 306Hunting VittoriaOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024
Game2512-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 28, 306Hunting B-FastOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024adjustable comb
Game2612-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 28, 306Hunting Vittoria B-FastOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024adjustable comb
Game2720-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 28, 306HuntingOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024
Game2820-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 28, 306Hunting VittoriaOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024
Game2928-bore70 mm (2¾ in)286HuntingOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024
Game30, 19.41076 mm (3 in)286HuntingMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2024
Game31, 1920-bore76 mm (3 in)286Combo 20/28: 20-bore barrelsMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2024
Game31, 1928-bore70 mm (2¾ in)286Combo 20/28: 28-bore barrelsMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2024
Game32, 1928-bore286Combo 28/.410: 28-bore barrelsMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2024
Game32, 19.410286Combo 28/.410: .410 barrelsMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2024
Sporting
Sporting3312-bore76 mm (3 in)28, 30, 32SportingOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024 fore-end
Sporting3412-bore76 mm (3 in)28, 30, 32Sporting VittoriaOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024 fore-end
Sporting3512-bore76 mm (3 in)30Sporting B-FastOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024 fore-end; adjustable comb
Sporting3612-bore76 mm (3 in)30Sporting Vittoria B-FastOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024 fore-end; adjustable comb
Sporting3720-bore76 mm (3 in)308Sporting B-FastOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024 fore-end; adjustable comb
Sporting3820-bore76 mm (3 in)308Sporting VittoriaOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024 fore-end
Sporting3928-bore70 mm (2¾ in)308Half beavertailSporting B-FastOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024Half beavertail fore-end; adjustable comb
Sporting40, 19.41076 mm (3 in)308Half beavertailSporting B-FastMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2024Half beavertail fore-end; adjustable comb
Sporting, left-handed4112-bore76 mm (3 in)30Sporting Left HandOptima-Choke HP; removableUSleft-handed; 365.25 mm pullwood grade 2
Sporting4212-bore76 mm (3 in)30SportingOptima-Choke HP; removableUS365.25 mm pullwood grade 2
Sporting4312-bore76 mm (3 in)30SportingOptima-Choke HP; removableUS365.25 mm pullwood grade 2
Sporting4412-bore76 mm (3 in)30SportingOptima-Choke HP; removableUS365.25 mm pullwood grade 2
Sporting4520-bore76 mm (3 in)30SportingOptima-Choke HP; removableUS365.25 mm pullwood grade 2
Sporting4612-bore76 mm (3 in)30Sporting VittoriaOptima-Choke HP; removableUS339.85 mm pullwood grade 2
Sporting4720-bore76 mm (3 in)30Sporting VittoriaOptima-Choke HP; removableUS365.25 mm pullwood grade 2
Sporting48, 1312-bore76 mm (3 in)28, 30, 32SportingOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes20243.3 kg (7 lb 4 oz; catalogue, 28 in)UKPistol grip; fore-end; 375 mm pullNistan action; Floral laser engraving engraving; wood grade 2

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Identify and date

The barrel side carries the and length.49 Italian proof stamps sit on the rear underside of the barrels and on the action.50 Optima-Choke HP barrels carry OB HP beside the gauge.51 Mobilchoke tubes are marked PB or ST, and HP tubes Optima-Choke-HP.52, 53

The Italian year stamp dates the proof test.54 In the letter code, CF stands for 2010 and CU for 2019.55 From June 2020, the replaced the letter code with the year’s final two digits in a rectangle.56, 57

WhereMarkings
Barrel sideGauge and chamber length58
Rear underside of barrels and actionItalian proof stamps59
Barrel beside the gauge markOB HP on an Optima-Choke HP barrel60
bodyPB or ST on Mobilchoke tubes; Optima-Choke-HP on HP tubes61, 62

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.54, 55, 57

Proof date codes

Before you buy

  1. Read the barrel and tube markings before matching replacements: Beretta’s choke families do not interchange.63
  2. Have a gunsmith assess any movement between the barrels and action. Oversize bolts and hinge discs must be fitted by a gunsmith.4
  3. Check that the second barrel selects with the loads you intend to use; the gun tested in 2017 occasionally failed to select it with light subsonic loads.64
  4. With a B-Fast , check that the adjustment key and washers supplied with it are present.2
  5. Match length to the chambers; the UK 2024 hunting gun has 76 mm chambers.1
  6. Check which stock is fitted; the UK range offers standard, B-Fast and Vittoria stocks.2

History

Shooting Times dates the UK introduction to 2010.65 Beretta offered field versions with Mobilchoke in 12, 20, 28 and .410 .66, 67, 68, 69 In 2019 an Italian report described new Steelium Optima-Bore HP barrels and vine-and-grape engraving.70, 71 The UK 2024 version has a revised and a new polished stainless-steel trigger.13, 3

Beretta USA dates its refresh of the platform to 2025.72 The refresh changed the top lever and the receiver engraving.72 In May 2026 Beretta USA extended the design to 28-gauge and .410 field guns and added sub-gauge Sporting versions.73

2024 version

2024. Polished stainless-steel trigger and floral engraving on the receiver tail and hinge pins.5

DateChangeObservable feature
2024Beretta revises the top lever and release-pin position15, 5Polished stainless-steel trigger; engraving extends to the receiver tail and hinge pins
2026Beretta USA extends the refresh to 28-gauge and .410 field guns17Updated top lever and floral receiver engraving

Compare

12-bore · game · 30 in · UK

GunBarrels, inRib, mmChokesChambersActionYears
Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I6, 13306Optima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes76 mm (3 in)Trigger-plate action with coil springs5, 6, 72024
ATA SP74, 7530removable76 mm (3 in)2022
Browning 72576306Invector-DS; removable; 5 tubes76 mm (3 in)2016

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Related models

Sources

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  2. Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I 2024 brochure, sporting-specifications. Beretta / GMK, 2024. maker catalogue · Archive
  3. Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I 2024 brochure, 2024-version. Beretta / GMK, 2024. maker catalogue · Archive
  4. Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I Sport test — wear and redesign, wear-and-parts. The Field; Michael Yardley. magazine · Archive
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Revised