The Shooter’s Companion

Shotguns·makers·models·history

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

Beretta
SL3

A hunting over-and-under with sideplates and oil-finished Grade 4 walnut

SL3 · Other

Drawing of a Beretta SL3 from the right: two stacked barrels, a low action with scroll-engraved sideplates, a walnut pistol-grip stock and one trigger.
Drawing: 12-bore G1 field, 28 in, right side

he SL3 is Beretta’s hunting .1, 2 Its low receiver ends in a tapered tail that flows into the stock.3 The has sideplates, and the wood is Grade 4 walnut with a natural oil finish.4, 5

Hinge pins, lower lugs and locking pins lock the barrels.6 The single selective chooses which barrel fires first, and leaf springs power the lockwork.7 Depending on configuration, the barrels take Optima-Choke HP tubes or have fixed .8, 9

Specifications

12-bore · game

Hinge10, 4
LockingLower lugs and locking pins10, 4
LockworkTrigger-lock design with and leaf springs10, 4
Trigger, 10, 4
Made inGardone Val Trompia, Italy11
Introduced20182, 12
Bore12-bore
Chambers76 mm (3 in)
Barrels28, 30 in
ChokesOptima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes

13, 1 Compare specifications

Specifications

ConfigurationBoreChambersBarrels, inGradeChoke systemYearsMarketsStockFinish
Game
Game13, 112-bore76 mm (3 in)28, 30G1, G2, G3 or G4Optima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2025Other gripFine English scroll, deep floral, game scene or mirror polish engraving
Game13, 120-bore76 mm (3 in)28, 30G1, G2, G3 or G4Optima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2025Other gripFine English scroll, deep floral, game scene or mirror polish engraving
Game13, 128-bore70 mm (2¾ in)28, 30G1, G2, G3 or G4Optima-Choke HP; removable; 5 tubes2025Other gripFine English scroll, deep floral, game scene or mirror polish engraving
Game12.410
Game1620-bore20/28 combo
Game1628-bore20/28 combo
Game1628-bore28/.410 combo
Game16.41028/.410 combo
Game212-boreIWA launch configuration2018

Scroll for more columns.

Identify and date

The finishes are fine English scroll, deep floral, game scene and mirror polish.14 The standard gun has Steelium Optimabore HP barrels.8 The anniversary edition has Steelium Pro barrels and a gold 500 Years logo under the receiver.17, 15 Beretta describes the SL3 as handcrafted in Gardone Val Trompia.11

The Italian records the year of proof.18 Beretta most often places it on the receiver or frame and on the barrel.19 From 1 June 2020 the marked the year with its last two digits inside a rectangle.20, 21

WhereMarkings
Optima-Choke HP barrel, beside the gaugeOB HP22
Optima-Choke HP tubeOptima-Choke-HP23
Barrel side and 24
Receiver or frame and barrel25

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.18, 26, 21

Proof date codes

Before you buy

  1. Before buying replacement chokes, find out whether the barrels have fixed chokes or Optima-Choke HP tubes.8, 9
  2. Make sure replacement tubes match the OB HP mark on the barrel and carry the Optima-Choke-HP marking.22, 23
  3. If the action needs tightening, ask a gunsmith to assess the two replaceable lower-hook studs.27
  4. Check whether the is chequered; The Field tested an unchequered example.28
  5. Before ordering a factory stock, arrange a full fitting with a try gun, as Shooting Gazette recommends for the SL3.29

History

The 12- SL3 appeared at IWA in 2018.2 Beretta held its North American consumer launch in New York City on 8 November 2018.30, 31 By 2025 the New Zealand catalogue offered 12-, 20- and 28-bore guns.32, 14

Beretta also lists a .410 and two combinations, 20/28 and 28/.410.33, 34 Stock options are pistol, Prince of Wales and English.35 The anniversary edition shares the SL3’s design and engineering.36

DateChangeObservable feature
2018The 12-bore SL3 appears at IWA2Hunting over-and-under
by 2025A 28-bore SL3 appears in the New Zealand catalogue1328- or 30-inch barrels and 2¾-inch chambers

Related models

Sources

  1. Beretta SL3 — Pietro Beretta product page, use. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  2. Beretta SL3 over-under at IWA 2018, introduction. all4shooters, 2018-03-13. magazine · Archive
  3. Beretta SL3 — Pietro Beretta product page, profile. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  4. Beretta SL3 over and under, action-and-sideplates. The Field. magazine · Archive
  5. Beretta SL3 — Pietro Beretta product page, wood. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  6. Beretta SL3 — Pietro Beretta product page, locking. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  7. Beretta SL3 — Pietro Beretta product page, trigger-and-springs. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  8. Beretta SL3 — Pietro Beretta product page, barrels-rib-and-chokes. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  9. Beretta choke tube — OCHP abbreviation, ochp-code. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  10. Beretta SL3 — Pietro Beretta product page, trigger-and-springs; locking. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  11. Beretta New Zealand catalogue 2025 — Ultima, SL3 and V, sl3-origin. Beretta New Zealand, 2025. maker catalogue · Archive
  12. Beretta SL3 — Pietro Beretta product page, gauges-and-stocks; use. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  13. Beretta New Zealand catalogue 2025 — Ultima, SL3 and V, edition; sl3-specification; market. Beretta New Zealand, 2025. maker catalogue · Archive
  14. Beretta New Zealand catalogue 2025 — Ultima, SL3 and V, sl3-specification. Beretta New Zealand, 2025. maker catalogue · Archive
  15. Beretta SL3 500 Years Limited Edition — maker product page, marks. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  16. Beretta SL3 — Pietro Beretta product page, combos; use. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  17. Beretta SL3 500 Years Limited Edition — maker product page, barrels. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  18. Beretta USA catalogue 2004: National Proof House Year Stamp Markings, proof-year. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2004. maker catalogue · Archive
  19. Beretta USA catalogue 2004: National Proof House Year Stamp Markings, position. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2004. maker catalogue · Archive
  20. Cambio marchio anno di prova, change-date. Banco Nazionale di Prova, 2020. proof house · Archive
  21. Cambio marchio anno di prova, numeric-stamp. Banco Nazionale di Prova, 2020. proof house · Archive
  22. Beretta choke-tube guide — marks and compatibility, hp-barrel-mark. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  23. Beretta choke-tube guide — marks and compatibility, hp-tube-mark. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  24. Beretta over-and-under and side-by-side manual — barrel marks, gauge-and-chamber-location. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual · Archive
  25. Beretta USA catalogue 2004: National Proof House Year Stamp Markings, proof-year; position. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2004. maker catalogue · Archive
  26. Conarmi: Italian proof marks and year codes, code-table. Consorzio Armaioli Italiani. magazine · Archive
  27. Beretta SL3 over and under, repair-provision. The Field. magazine · Archive
  28. Beretta SL3 over and under, grip-checkering. The Field. magazine · Archive
  29. Beretta SL3 reviewed by Shooting Gazette magazine — rivals, stock-fitting. Shooting Gazette; article hosted by ShootingUK, 2019-09-30. magazine · Archive
  30. Beretta Announces SL3 Premium Shotgun, north-american-launch. American Hunter, 2018-11-09. magazine · Archive
  31. Beretta Announces SL3 Premium Shotgun, report-date. American Hunter, 2018-11-09. magazine · Archive
  32. Beretta New Zealand catalogue 2025 — Ultima, SL3 and V, edition. Beretta New Zealand, 2025. maker catalogue · Archive
  33. Beretta SL3 — Pietro Beretta product page, gauges-and-stocks. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  34. Beretta SL3 — Pietro Beretta product page, combos. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  35. Beretta SL3 — Pietro Beretta product page, stock-choices. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  36. Beretta SL3 500 Years Limited Edition — maker product page, parent. Beretta. maker website · Archive
  37. Beretta SL3 500 Years Limited Edition — maker product page, run-and-occasion; parent. Beretta. maker website · Archive

Revised