Beretta Silver Snipe

sonora · Feb 18, 2017

I would like to know what THR members opinions are the Beretta Silver Snipe. I have an interest in acquiring a shotgun forhunting Dove, Quail and some Trap shooting. The only shotgun I have previously owned was a 870 Trap grade in 12 gauge. I did pretty well on the Trapshooting range. The Beretta I have an interest in is a 20 gauge. It's light, sleek and points very well. It feels very good. The wood is not fancy, but nice. It hasn't been shot much and appears well cared for. I was looking at a new Silver Pidgeon at almost three times the price and the wood was awful. This would be used for hunting birds, rabbits and fun on the Trap range. So what do you knowledgeable forum members think?

PapaG · Feb 18, 2017

20 gauge will be a bit of an additional handicap for trap. Funny thing, same weight shot charge normally patterns better in a bigger bore. I'd go with a lighter twelve, shoot 7/8 or one ounce loads and if the recoil bothers you get a PAST shoulder pad. Be sure the gun fits you first.

entropy · Feb 18, 2017

Like PapaG said, it depends on how serious you are about the Trap shooting. A twenty gauge will easily meet all your game requirements. Silver Snipe is a good gun, I like the 686 Onyx better though.

Virginian · Feb 18, 2017

I had a Golden Snipe. Beautiful, well made gun. Worked perfectly. I could not hit a barn standing inside it with the gun and sold it. As far as i know the guy I sold it to still has it and still loves it. That was the last O/U I ever bought.

paulsj · Feb 19, 2017

There is one downside and possible second one. It is fixed choke gun and inertia trigger may not reset to fire top barrel if extra light loads like those from RST are used. Other thant it is ok.

entropy · Feb 19, 2017

paulsj said:
There is one downside and possible second one. It is fixed choke gun and inertia trigger may not reset to fire top barrel if extra light loads like those from RST are used. Other thant it is ok.

Or it might double on you like an A. Zoli O/U did to me when I was shooting it in the test tube. The shot from the second round hit the collar of the test tube, tore the earmuffs off my head, and some of it embedded itself in the plywood wall 20 ft. behind me.

kudu · Feb 19, 2017

Beretta's are solid shooters, I myself prefer shooting 20ga for most of my shooting, 28 is my favorite, but my stockpile of ammo is getting low in that gauge. It should be a quick, light gun that you can hunt with all day, you may get a bit shoulder weary if you shoot a bunch of shells on the target range though. Check to make sure the opening lever is right of center, if centered or worse left of center, the gun is very worn and has been shot a lot.

paulsj said:
It is fixed choke gun and inertia trigger may not reset to fire top barrel if extra light loads like those from RST are used.

I am not real familiar with the older Beretta's, but I was under the impression that they used mechanical triggers, at least every one I have ever used had mechanical triggers, the oldest ones I have ever shot were from the early 80''s and newer.

mudstud · Feb 19, 2017

kudu said:
Beretta's are solid shooters, I myself prefer shooting 20ga for most of my shooting, 28 is my favorite, but my stockpile of ammo is getting low in that gauge. It should be a quick, light gun that you can hunt with all day, you may get a bit shoulder weary if you shoot a bunch of shells on the target range though. Check to make sure the opening lever is right of center, if centered or worse left of center, the gun is very worn and has been shot a lot.

I am not real familiar with the older Beretta's, but I was under the impression that they used mechanical triggers, at least every one I have ever used had mechanical triggers, the oldest ones I have ever shot were from the early 80''s and newer.

Far as I know, Beretta O/U's recently and currently manufactured have inertia triggers on the 12 and 20, with mechanical triggers on the 28 and 410. Don't know about older guns. I have Beretta O/U's in all gauges, with both types of triggers and I have never had any problems with them either way. If the inertia trigger offends a shooters delicate sensibilities, it can be converted to a mechanical trigger. Field grade Beretta O/U's have an auto safety, while target grade guns have a manual safety. Since I don't do much hunting anymore, and do most of my shooting at the skeet range, I prefer the manual safety. But, the auto safety is easily converted to a manual safety, if the shooter desires.

bannockburn · Feb 19, 2017

sonora

My first O/U shotgun was a 12 gauge Beretta Model 680 with 26" barrels. After trying a Browning Citori and Ruger Red Label I found the Beretta had the best balance and handling qualities that I was looking for in a field gun. I got it mainly for upland game and rabbits. The gun itself was 100% reliable and was very high quality in it's construction and overall fit and finish. If I were in the market for another O/U I would look at either a Franchi or a Beretta.

sonora · Feb 19, 2017

kudu said:
Beretta's are solid shooters, I myself prefer shooting 20ga for most of my shooting, 28 is my favorite, but my stockpile of ammo is getting low in that gauge. It should be a quick, light gun that you can hunt with all day, you may get a bit shoulder weary if you shoot a bunch of shells on the target range though. Check to make sure the opening lever is right of center, if centered or worse left of center, the gun is very worn and has been shot a lot.

I am not real familiar with the older Beretta's, but I was under the impression that they used mechanical triggers, at least every one I have ever used had mechanical triggers, the oldest ones I have ever shot were from the early 80''s and newer.

Opening lever is far right of center. Thank you for your response. This Slver Snipe will be a reintroduction to the world of shotguns.

sonora · Feb 19, 2017

entropy said:
Or it might double on you like an A. Zoli O/U did to me when I was shooting it in the test tube. The shot from the second round hit the collar of the test tube, tore the earmuffs off my head, and some of it embedded itself in the plywood wall 20 ft. behind me.

sonora · Feb 19, 2017

Wow! I certainly hope that is an extremely rare event. Could this have been prevented?

sonora · Feb 19, 2017

bannockburn said:
sonora

My first O/U shotgun was a 12 gauge Beretta Model 680 with 26" barrels. After trying a Browning Citori and Ruger Red Label I found the Beretta had the best balance and handling qualities that I was looking for in a field gun. I got it mainly for upland game and rabbits. The gun itself was 100% reliable and was very high quality in it's construction and overall fit and finish. If I were in the market for another O/U I would look at either a Franchi or a Beretta.

sonora · Feb 19, 2017

Thanks for the positive feedback. The Snipe may be just the beginning and could lead to another o/u. Maybe an Onyx? Depends on much I like shotgunning.

entropy · Feb 20, 2017

sonora said:
Wow! I certainly hope that is an extremely rare event. Could this have been prevented?

Yes, it was a gun the shop I was working at was considering buying. The price dropped considerably after that happened. It could have been prevented by the owner, who knew about it by his demeanor, if he would have have fessed up before I shot it that it had doubled on him. We ended up buying it at a price that we could still make money on after repairs were done. I've never seen a Beretta shotgun malfunction, in any action type, so I think you are OK.

Acera · Feb 20, 2017

sonora said:
. I was looking at a new Silver Pidgeon at almost three times the price ..........................

Since Beretta Silver Pigeons are about $2K, I make the assumption that the gun you are looking at is in the $700 range. I think that is a pretty good price for a well taken care of, good condition gun with good wood.

Like others have said, trap could be a bit more challenging, however, you should be fine with it on a skeet field if you decide to change your game. Nothing wrong taking that gun to the field either, that is where she belongs.

Good luck, and if you decide to go for it, post up some pictures.

.

sonora · Feb 20, 2017

Acera said:
Since Beretta Silver Pigeons are about $2K, I make the assumption that the gun you are looking at is in the $700 range. I think that is a pretty good price for a well taken care of, good condition gun with good wood.

Like others have said, trap could be a bit more challenging, however, you should be fine with it on a skeet field if you decide to change your game. Nothing wrong taking that gun to the field either, that is where she belongs.

Good luck, and if you decide to go for it, post up some pictures.

.

sonora · Feb 20, 2017

I don't have it yet, but when I do I will post a picture. I forgot to mention that the Snip has sling swivels, that I'm told are factory installed. Thank for the positive feed back.

Captcurt · Feb 21, 2017

Before I got my FFL I had 7 O/U's, a SKB 600 12ga., CZ Redhead 28, (2) 20ga Winchester 101's, Ruger Red Label 20, a 20ga.Beretta BL-3, and a Verona 501 with 410 and 28ga barrels. I kept the Verona and the Beretta although I did have custom choke tubes put in the BL-3. Beretta's have their own feel. I don't know if it is the narrow pistol grip or the balance but that gun will go with me to the grave. Even though the Silver Snipe is the entry level Beretta, it is still a Beretta.

sonora · Feb 21, 2017

Thank you for your positive and informative response. I've learned alot of valuable and interesting facts about o/I shotguns. I'm very appreciative.

Beretta Silver Snipe

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