The Shooter’s Companion

Shotguns·makers·models·history

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

Beretta
687 EELL Diamond Pigeon

A sideplated over-and-under in field and competition versions

687 EELL Diamond Pigeon · UKEELL Diamond Pigeon · US687 EELL Diamond Pigeon

Drawing of a Beretta 687 EELL Diamond Pigeon from the right: two stacked barrels, a rib, long decorative sideplates with a game scene and scroll engraving, a single trigger, a walnut stock and a schnabel fore-end.
Drawing: 12-bore field, 28 in, right side

Overview

The 687 EELL Diamond Pigeon is an offered in field and competition versions.1, 2 Its sit on a .3, 4 The international gun comes with Game Scene or Scroll , gloss walnut and hand-cut .5

The US field gun has a low-profile boxlock with a , .6 On the Sporting, the trigger adjusts to three positions and the pistol has a .1 In 2003 the US 12- Sporting had Optima-Bore barrels and flush Optima-Choke tubes.1

Specifications

12-bore

Lockwork with 7, 8
Trigger, ; Sporting trigger adjusts to three positions7, 8
Made inGardone Val Trompia, Italy5
Introducedby 20039
Bore12-bore
Chambers76 mm (3 in)
Barrels26, 28 in
ChokesMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes

10 Compare specifications

Specifications

ConfigurationBoreChambersBarrels, inRib, mmFore-endGradeChoke systemYearsMarketsStockFinish
Field1012-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 286.35FieldMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003US fore-endHand-finished hunting scenes and scroll engraving
Field1020-bore76 mm (3 in)26, 286.35FieldMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003US fore-endHand-finished hunting scenes and scroll engraving
Field1028-bore70 mm (2¾ in)26, 286.35FieldMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003US fore-endHand-finished hunting scenes and scroll engraving
Field10.41076 mm (3 in)26, 286.35FieldMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003US fore-endHand-finished hunting scenes and scroll engraving
English stock1020-bore76 mm (3 in)266.35English stockMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003US grip; fore-endHand-finished hunting scenes and scroll engraving
20/28 combo1020-bore76 mm (3 in)286.3520/28 comboMobilchoke; removable2003US fore-endHand-finished hunting scenes and scroll engraving
20/28 combo1028-bore70 mm (2¾ in)286.3520/28 comboMobilchoke; removable2003US fore-endHand-finished hunting scenes and scroll engraving
28/.410 combo1028-bore70 mm (2¾ in)286.3528/.410 comboMobilchoke; removable2003US fore-endHand-finished hunting scenes and scroll engraving
28/.410 combo10.41076 mm (3 in)286.3528/.410 comboMobilchoke; removable2003US fore-endHand-finished hunting scenes and scroll engraving
Game Scene or Scroll11, 12, 1312-bore76 mm (3 in)28, 306Game Scene or ScrollOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubesUKPremium laser game scenes or scroll engraving
Game Scene or Scroll11, 12, 1320-bore76 mm (3 in)28, 306Game Scene or ScrollOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubesUKPremium laser game scenes or scroll engraving
Game Scene or Scroll11, 12, 1328-bore70 mm (2¾ in)28, 306Game Scene or ScrollOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubesUKPremium laser game scenes or scroll engraving
Game Scene or Scroll11, 12, 13.41076 mm (3 in)286Game Scene or ScrollMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubesUKPremium laser game scenes or scroll engraving
Sporting
Sporting1412-bore76 mm (3 in)28, 30, 329.525SportingOptima-Choke; removable; 5 tubes2003US grip; palm swell
Sporting1520-bore30SportingMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003US grip; palm swellScroll engraving
Sporting1528-bore30SportingMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003US grip; palm swellScroll engraving
Sporting15.41030SportingMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2003US grip; palm swellScroll engraving
Sporting1612-bore76 mm (3 in)28, 30, 32SportingOptima-Choke; removable2007–2008 fore-endHand-chased engraving; sideplates
Sporting1620-bore76 mm (3 in)28, 30, 32SportingMobilchoke; removable2007–2008 fore-endHand-chased engraving; sideplates
Sporting1628-bore70 mm (2¾ in)28, 30Schnabel or semi-beavertailSportingMobilchoke; removable2007–2008Schnabel or semi-beavertail fore-endHand-chased engraving; sideplates
Sporting16.41076 mm (3 in)28, 30Schnabel or semi-beavertailSportingMobilchoke; removable2007–2008Schnabel or semi-beavertail fore-endHand-chased engraving; sideplates
Skeet
Skeet1412-bore76 mm (3 in)309.525BeavertailAdjustable stockMobilchoke; removable; 6 tubes2003USBeavertail fore-end; adjustable combHand-finished floral motifs engraving
Game
Game17, 12, 1312-bore76 mm (3 in)26.38, 27.95, 29.926Game Scene or ScrollOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024Premium laser game scenes or scroll engraving
Game1712-bore76 mm (3 in)27.95, 29.926Game Scene or Scroll****/***; fixed2024Premium laser game scenes or scroll engraving
Game17, 12, 1320-bore76 mm (3 in)26.38, 27.95, 29.926Game Scene or ScrollOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024Premium laser game scenes or scroll engraving
Game1720-bore76 mm (3 in)27.95, 29.926Game Scene or Scroll****/***; fixed2024Premium laser game scenes or scroll engraving
Game17, 12, 1328-bore70 mm (2¾ in)26.38, 27.95, 29.926Game Scene or ScrollOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2024Premium laser game scenes or scroll engraving
Game17, 12, 13.41076 mm (3 in)26.38, 27.956Game Scene or ScrollMobilchoke; removable; 5 tubes2024Premium laser game scenes or scroll engraving
Game1720-bore76 mm (3 in)26.38, 27.95620/28 combo; Game Scene or ScrollHP; removable2024Premium laser game scenes or scroll engraving
Game1728-bore70 mm (2¾ in)26.38, 27.95620/28 combo; Game Scene or ScrollHP; removable2024Premium laser game scenes or scroll engraving
Game1728-bore70 mm (2¾ in)26.38, 27.95628/.410 combo; Game Scene or ScrollHP; removable2024Premium laser game scenes or scroll engraving
Game17.41076 mm (3 in)26.38, 27.95628/.410 combo; Game Scene or ScrollMobilchoke; removable2024Premium laser game scenes or scroll engraving

Scroll for more columns.

Identify and date

A game-scene gun reviewed in the UK shows pheasants on its right sideplate and woodcock on its left.18 The barrel side carries the gauge and chamber length.19 An Optima-Choke HP barrel is marked OB HP beside the gauge mark.20 Beretta assembles the 687 EELL in Gardone Val Trompia.5

The Italian records the year of proof.21 Beretta places it most often on the receiver or frame and on the barrel.22 From 1 June 2020, the has stamped the year as its last two digits inside a rectangle.23, 24

WhereMarkings
Optima-Choke HP barrel, beside the gauge markOB HP20
Optima-Choke HP tubeOptima-Choke-HP25
Mobilchoke tubePB or ST; SP on steel-compatible tubes26
Barrel side and 19
Receiver or frame and barrel27

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.21, 28, 24

Proof date codes

Before you buy

  1. Identify the family of the fitted barrels before ordering tubes; the earlier US field gun used Mobilchoke.29
  2. Match tubes to their Beretta family, because the systems do not interchange.30
  3. Check that the curved trigger blade and the of the suit your handedness; the gun reviewed also takes a straight blade.31
  4. On a US Sporting, ask to see the trigger’s three-position adjustment demonstrated.1
  5. Expect a boxlock beneath the sideplates; the Diamond Pigeon reviewed is one.3, 4
  6. On a combo, identify both gauges and both barrel sets before relying on the field specifications.2

History

Beretta listed the Diamond Pigeon in its US catalogue by 2003.32, 2 That year the .410 and the 28/.410 field combo joined the range.2 The 12-bore Sporting also gained Optima-Bore and flush Optima-Choke as standard.1

The 2007–2008 Annual lists the Sporting in 12, 20 and 28 bore and .410.16 Its 12-bore has Optima-Choke and the smaller bores Mobilchoke.16 By 2024 the international gun combined premium laser engraving with Optima-Choke HP on the 12, 20 and 28 bores and Mobilchoke on the .410.5, 12

DateChangeObservable feature
2003.410 and 28/.410 field guns join the US catalogue926- or 28-inch .410 barrels; 28-inch combo barrels
2003Optima-Bore and flush Optima-Choke become standard on the US 12-bore Sporting33Flush Optima-Choke tubes
by 2024The international gun offers premium laser engraving, with Optima-Choke HP on 12, 20 and 28 bores17, 12Game Scene or Scroll engraving; Mobilchoke on .410

Sources

  1. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, diamond-pigeon-sporting-offers. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  2. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, diamond-pigeon-field-offers. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  3. Precious cargo: Beretta 687 Diamond Pigeon, boxlock. Australian Shooter; PDF hosted by Beretta Australia. magazine · Archive
  4. Precious cargo: Beretta 687 Diamond Pigeon, plates. Australian Shooter; PDF hosted by Beretta Australia. magazine · Archive
  5. Beretta Firearms Catalog 2024 — Diamond Pigeon and 694, diamond-pigeon-finishes-and-offers. Beretta, 2024. maker catalogue · Archive
  6. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, diamond-pigeon-field-specifications. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  7. Precious cargo: Beretta 687 Diamond Pigeon, plates; boxlock. Australian Shooter; PDF hosted by Beretta Australia. magazine · Archive
  8. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, diamond-pigeon-field-specifications; diamond-pigeon-sporting-offers. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  9. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, edition; diamond-pigeon-field-offers. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  10. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, diamond-pigeon-field-offers; diamond-pigeon-field-specifications; choke-code-chart. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  11. GMK UK catalogue Issue 1 — Diamond Pigeon, diamond-pigeon-uk-finishes-and-offers. GMK Ltd. maker catalogue · Archive
  12. Beretta choke tube — OCHP abbreviation, ochp-code. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  13. Beretta choke-tube guide — marks and compatibility, mobil-catalogue-code. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  14. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, choke-code-chart; diamond-pigeon-sporting-offers; diamond-pigeon-sporting-specifications. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  15. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, choke-code-chart; diamond-pigeon-sporting-offers. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  16. Beretta Annual 2007–2008 — AL391 and Gold E, pdf-page-64. Beretta, 2007–2008. maker catalogue · Archive
  17. Beretta Firearms Catalog 2024 — Diamond Pigeon and 694, edition; diamond-pigeon-finishes-and-offers. Beretta, 2024. maker catalogue · Archive
  18. Beretta 687 Diamond Pigeon shotgun review, scenes. ShootingUK. magazine · Archive
  19. Beretta over-and-under and side-by-side manual — barrel marks, gauge-and-chamber-location. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual · Archive
  20. Beretta choke-tube guide — marks and compatibility, hp-barrel-mark. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  21. Beretta USA catalogue 2004: National Proof House Year Stamp Markings, proof-year. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2004. maker catalogue · Archive
  22. Beretta USA catalogue 2004: National Proof House Year Stamp Markings, position. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2004. maker catalogue · Archive
  23. Cambio marchio anno di prova, change-date. Banco Nazionale di Prova, 2020. proof house · Archive
  24. Cambio marchio anno di prova, numeric-stamp. Banco Nazionale di Prova, 2020. proof house · Archive
  25. Beretta choke-tube guide — marks and compatibility, hp-tube-mark. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  26. Beretta choke-tube guide — marks and compatibility, mobil-tube-mark. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  27. Beretta USA catalogue 2004: National Proof House Year Stamp Markings, proof-year; position. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2004. maker catalogue · Archive
  28. Conarmi: Italian proof marks and year codes, code-table. Consorzio Armaioli Italiani. magazine · Archive
  29. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, choke-code-chart. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  30. Beretta choke-tube guide — marks and compatibility, families-cannot-interchange. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  31. Beretta 687 Diamond Pigeon shotgun review, trigger. ShootingUK. magazine · Archive
  32. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, edition. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive
  33. Beretta USA catalogue 2003 — Onyx, Diamond Pigeon, Gold E and AL391, edition; diamond-pigeon-sporting-offers. Beretta USA, 2003. maker catalogue · Archive

Revised