The Shooter’s Companion

Shotguns·makers·models·history

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

Beretta
S680

An over-and-under in Trap, Skeet and Sporting versions

S680 · OtherBeretta 680 · Other

Drawing of a Beretta S680 from the right: two stacked barrels, an action and an anatomically shaped fore-end with fine chequering.
Drawing: Competition over-and-under, right side

Beretta made the S680 in , and Sporting versions.1, 2 A silver inscription on the guard names the discipline.3 The fore-end is finely chequered and anatomically shaped.4

The barrels join at a single-piece breech sleeve, or monobloc.5 The locks with Beretta’s self-compensating double bolt.6 On the competition barrels, replaceable hardened shoulders are dovetailed into the monobloc.7

Specifications

12-bore · skeet

HingeReplaceable 8
LockingSelf-compensating double bolt8
Introduced19799, 10
Bore12-bore
Chambers70 mm (2¾ in)

11 Compare specifications

Specifications

ConfigurationBoreChambers
Skeet
Skeet1112-bore70 mm (2¾ in)
Sporting
Sporting1112-bore70 mm (2¾ in)

Skeet11. Sporting11.

Identify and date

The inscription on the trigger guard gives the version: Trap, Skeet or Sporting.3 The barrel side carries the gauge and chamber length.12 The Italian proof stamp records the year of proof.13 Its code AE stands for 1979, and AF for 1980.14

WhereMarkings
Trigger guardTrap, Skeet or Sporting in silver3
Barrel side and 12
Receiver or frame and barrel15

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.13, 14, 16

Proof date codes

Before you buy

  1. If the sits left of centre, have a gunsmith look at the gun; ClayShootingUSA treats this as a sign of worn locking bolts and recesses on the 680 series.17, 18
  2. Ask the gunsmith to check the hinge pins, which can be replaced after prolonged use.19
  3. On a competition gun, have the hardened shoulder pieces checked too; they are dovetailed into the monobloc.7
  4. Check that the trigger-guard inscription matches the gun as described: Trap, Skeet or Sporting.3
  5. Read the gauge and chamber marks on the fitted barrels before choosing cartridges.12

History

Beretta dates the S680 series to 1979.9 According to Shooting Times, the first 680 guns were Trap and Skeet models.20 The range soon grew to include the 686 Field gun.21 The later Silver Pigeon receiver derives from the 680 series.22

Related models

Sources

  1. S680 family — reproduced Beretta brochure text, family-name. BerettaWeb; reproduced Beretta brochure text. maker catalogue · Archive
  2. Beretta S680 brochure — special features, variants. Beretta; brochure image hosted by BerettaWeb. maker catalogue · Archive
  3. Beretta S680 brochure — special features, visible-labels-and-shoulders. Beretta; brochure image hosted by BerettaWeb. maker catalogue · Archive
  4. S680 family — reproduced Beretta brochure text, fore-end. BerettaWeb; reproduced Beretta brochure text. maker catalogue · Archive
  5. S680 family — reproduced Beretta brochure text, monobloc. BerettaWeb; reproduced Beretta brochure text. maker catalogue · Archive
  6. S680 family — reproduced Beretta brochure text, double-bolt. BerettaWeb; reproduced Beretta brochure text. maker catalogue · Archive
  7. S680 family — reproduced Beretta brochure text, competition-shoulders. BerettaWeb; reproduced Beretta brochure text. maker catalogue · Archive
  8. S680 family — reproduced Beretta brochure text, hinge-and-locking; double-bolt. BerettaWeb; reproduced Beretta brochure text. maker catalogue · Archive
  9. Sustainability Report 2021, 680-series. Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta. maker website · Archive
  10. 5 Guns That Made a Difference, origin. Shooting Times, 2010-09-23. magazine · Archive
  11. Beretta S680 brochure specifications, competition-specifications. Beretta; brochure image hosted by BerettaWeb. maker catalogue · Archive
  12. Beretta over-and-under and side-by-side manual — barrel marks, gauge-and-chamber-location. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual · Archive
  13. Beretta USA catalogue 2004: National Proof House Year Stamp Markings, proof-year. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2004. maker catalogue · Archive
  14. Conarmi: Italian proof marks and year codes, code-table. Consorzio Armaioli Italiani. magazine · Archive
  15. Beretta USA catalogue 2004: National Proof House Year Stamp Markings, proof-year; position. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2004. maker catalogue · Archive
  16. Cambio marchio anno di prova, numeric-stamp. Banco Nazionale di Prova, 2020. proof house · Archive
  17. Rich Cole puts a loose gun back on face, warning-sign. ClayShootingUSA. magazine · Archive
  18. Rich Cole puts a loose gun back on face — 680-series context, model-context. ClayShootingUSA. magazine · Archive
  19. S680 family — reproduced Beretta brochure text, hinge-and-locking. BerettaWeb; reproduced Beretta brochure text. maker catalogue · Archive
  20. 5 Guns That Made a Difference, first-uses. Shooting Times, 2010-09-23. magazine · Archive
  21. 5 Guns That Made a Difference, later-field-model. Shooting Times, 2010-09-23. magazine · Archive
  22. Beretta UK Silver Pigeon family page, action. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  23. Beretta UK Silver Pigeon family page, action; names. Beretta. maker website · Archive

Revised