Beretta 686 silver pigeon

The 686 Beretta is a solid go to O/U for a lot of folks including me. I have the sporting models in 12,20, & 28ga. That price is about normal. Sometimes the sporting models cost about $100 more. Can't go wrong IMO if the gun fits the need the shooter.

Those guns in 12 ga are pretty soft shooting already with the loads they are typically shot with.

in the end it will be personal preference as opposed to anything technical or physical when it comes to the bore of the barrels.

I love my SP and it has become my favorite hunting shotgun. If she likes it and it fits her then go for it!

kudu said:

Be a nice gun that would last for a high volume shooter. Get some superlite loads for it and it will fell like a 20 gauge.

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Except for waterfowl I prefer to hunt with a 20 gauge. My experience echoes kudu. There are many 20 gauges that will kick the snot out of you due to weight(lack there of), fit(bad), heavy load or any combination of the three. If your wife’s main purpose with a shotgun is clay sports, I’d lean toward 12 gauge and 1 ounce or lighter loads. And above all I’d let the final decision be hers on what to get, even if she states it doesn’t matter to her.

You could buy a 12 gauge O/U and purchase 20 gauge tubes for it too.

One of my preferred O/U but if recoil is even a question, I wouldn’t buy one then see if she could handle it. I would do what it takes to find some way for her to try them out vs other choices.

Once I did that, my wife still enjoys looking at fine shotguns but grabs a 1100 LT-20. I understand the choice too, huge difference between the two, when shot side by side.

I shoot a fairly new 686. Love the gun. Yes, you could add a 20 gauge barrel. But it costs about the same as just buying another gun. I shoot mostly 1 oz and 7/8 oz loads in my 686 because I do not like the recoil from the full 1 1/8 loads. I also load some 3/4 oz loads. The 686 with the Optima HP barrels is a pretty light gun. If you are going to shoot factory bulk pack loads it is going to beat her up a bit, I think. There are some really soft 12 gauge factory loads available in normal times at a relatively high price but now I doubt if they are available at all now.

What does she want to use it for - hunting, sporting,. skeet, trap, something else? If she is a smaller stature, then the 28s are a good choice IF the gun fits her. There are a few Brownings in that price range as well, so if the Beretta doesn't fit well, she might want to look at those as well. If she is shooting targets, get the 12 and shoot light loads.

One thing you could consider is to get the 12 gauge gun you are looking at and then add a set of the short Briley side kicks in 20 gauge. That would make a really versatile setup. The side kicks add about 12 ounces but it is between the hands and does not affect balance much and should make the gun shoot really soft with the 20 gauge and you still have all the power of the 12 available when needed. Expensive at about $350 but a lot cheaper than another barrel or gun and a lot cheaper than a reloading setup.

Chicago suburbs - you have one of the best sporting clubs in the country not too far away - Northbrook; while private, they are open to the public during tournaments and they throw some of the best!

https://www.northbrooksportsclub.org/club-info

I am very fond of my 686 Onyx.12 guage. I hit better with that than any other shotgun. I wish I had never sold my LT20 1100. For upland a 20 guage is nice.

I have several SPs- the 20s are very light and are a dream to carry in the field- however, with heavy 3" field loads the 20 gauge felt recoil is more than the heaver 12-gauge.

I will agree with the above post...are you shooting clays or hunting? ...and how much of each? .......also is there anyway she can shoot some side by side and try before you buy? .....that's the best if you can get someone to let you try them first....