Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
It's been roughly a year since my family gifted me with a White Onyx Sporter, for which I am grateful as all heck. Beretta's varied 680 series O/Us are used worldwide by lots of happy owners.
Here's my take, developed over the last year and 7K+ shells....
Initially, it opened stiffly. Now it swings down smoothly and easily. I do not let the front end BOUNCE at the end of its travel.Bouncing accelerates wear, I'm told.
The 32" barrels are not ponderous. I hit High 8 with them enough to feel they can be used anywhere,anytime and like the smoothness they contribute to my swing.
In fact, they swing like the 30" barrel on Number 6. Both guns handle very much the same, a good thing. That may explain my effectiveness with either.
The triggers are clean, but at over 5 lbs are a bit heavier than I prefer. I've added a trigger shoe and may have a smith take them down to 4 lbs or so.
Minor beef#1...
If I do, I'll also have the smith tweak the inertia blocks. With my creampuff 7/8 oz loads, they occasionally fail to set for the second shot. With more standard ammo, no probs.
I've heroically resisted the urge to get a set of extended chokes.The standard flush tubes from Beretta work for me. Most of the time the MOD (.016") and Improved MOD (.023") stay in, with the Cyl, Skt and IC tubes on call. This combo works for trap and wobble, SC sees a IC/Mod switch and Skeet sees Cyl/Skt. The one not so good dove shoot I did with this saw the tight chokes in and about a 1-3 bird/shots fired ratio.
Sometime I may pick up a second Mod tube to double them up and also a Light Full(.030"). I see little need for a choke tighter than that with modern ammo except for turkey.
Minor Beef#2....
The markings on the tubes are faint and hard for old eyes to read. There is a notch system but it's not that visible either.
The Limbsaver pad that works where the standard pads didn't brings the LOP to 15" and works well for me.Some call Beretta's clays stocks "Clubby" but to me they're generously proportioned and comfortable.
Like other barrels here, this wears a Hi Viz F/O bead. As usual, it's a 3mm Green Worm smaller than most and less distracting in my peripheral vision.
All in all, I like this shotgun a lot. IMO, it's a top line competition O/U for less than $2K.
Questions, comments?....
Here's my take, developed over the last year and 7K+ shells....
Initially, it opened stiffly. Now it swings down smoothly and easily. I do not let the front end BOUNCE at the end of its travel.Bouncing accelerates wear, I'm told.
The 32" barrels are not ponderous. I hit High 8 with them enough to feel they can be used anywhere,anytime and like the smoothness they contribute to my swing.
In fact, they swing like the 30" barrel on Number 6. Both guns handle very much the same, a good thing. That may explain my effectiveness with either.
The triggers are clean, but at over 5 lbs are a bit heavier than I prefer. I've added a trigger shoe and may have a smith take them down to 4 lbs or so.
Minor beef#1...
If I do, I'll also have the smith tweak the inertia blocks. With my creampuff 7/8 oz loads, they occasionally fail to set for the second shot. With more standard ammo, no probs.
I've heroically resisted the urge to get a set of extended chokes.The standard flush tubes from Beretta work for me. Most of the time the MOD (.016") and Improved MOD (.023") stay in, with the Cyl, Skt and IC tubes on call. This combo works for trap and wobble, SC sees a IC/Mod switch and Skeet sees Cyl/Skt. The one not so good dove shoot I did with this saw the tight chokes in and about a 1-3 bird/shots fired ratio.
Sometime I may pick up a second Mod tube to double them up and also a Light Full(.030"). I see little need for a choke tighter than that with modern ammo except for turkey.
Minor Beef#2....
The markings on the tubes are faint and hard for old eyes to read. There is a notch system but it's not that visible either.
The Limbsaver pad that works where the standard pads didn't brings the LOP to 15" and works well for me.Some call Beretta's clays stocks "Clubby" but to me they're generously proportioned and comfortable.
Like other barrels here, this wears a Hi Viz F/O bead. As usual, it's a 3mm Green Worm smaller than most and less distracting in my peripheral vision.
All in all, I like this shotgun a lot. IMO, it's a top line competition O/U for less than $2K.
Questions, comments?....