Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
First, my apologies. Work weeks here and now run 56 hours plus. Sorry to make y'all wait.
As you may know, I got my first non 870 in a long time recently. It's an O/U, a Beretta 686 White Onyx Sporter with the now popular 32" barrels.
The 680 series Berettas have been around a while now, and have garnered a good rep as high volume competition shotguns as well as fine field guns.
The Onyx is the cheapest version of the series but it has the very same action and barrels as the most costly versions, the Silver Pigeons etc. The increased cost is due to cosmetics only.
Features on this one include:
The Optima Bore barrels. These are larger diameter than the older ones but lacking a barrel reader leaves me without exact measurements. Optima chokes do not interchange with the old Mobil chokes. This set is nicely finished, no ripples in the finish, well blued and weigh enough for stability but are not ponderous at all.
A straight grain walnut stock set. The grain runs well through the wrist, promising strength and no weak spots. The checkering is probably lazer cut, no overruns or flat points, and is almost velcro like in stickiness. Better than the impressed checkering I'm used to.
As Euro guns often do, this has a bit longer wood than US brands. With the longer of the two pads supplied, LOP falls at 14 7/8". This is a trifle short on paper for me, but the stock fits me better than factory issue 870 lumber.
For shooting it in, I stuck the tightest two of the five choke tubes in after lubing lightly with anti seize compound. The five tubes start at a negative choked Skeet, then Cylinder, IC, Mod and IM. A table I read says that the IM tube has only 23 POC, but it smacks them nicely at 40 yards if I point it right.
Anti Seize compound also went on the hinge pins. These are located between the barrels, helping to give a lower profile to the receiver. A good grease or this compound is recommended to keep wear to a minimum. If despite all, the wear occurs, new pins and locking lugs can be installed to rebuild the action.
I shot about 300 rounds in three days shooting since I bought this. Trap and wobble with my usual variations saw most of the targets busting nicely. As usual, the human factor is the crucial one.
The trigger on this is worse than my 870s. A couple lbs heavier and not as clean. Usable but I may have this redone later. Or, it may smooth up from work polishing.
Surprisingly, I feel a bit more kick with this than my 870s,even though this is heavier than all except the 870TB trap deathray. The 7/8 oz loads I use in the winter are 1300 FPS in the published data. Maybe that Geltech Beretta pad is not as effective as the KickEez, Sims and Decellerator pads I use. Or maybe it's just smaller, the butt on this is trim. The extra kick is not obnoxious, just noted.
The crux of the matter comes down to performance. Can I hit with it?
Yes. the Onyx turns like a cutting horse on crossers, has enough inertia,to handle quartering targets nicely and will find the right leads when I let the shot happen instead of consciously trying to guide it.
Can't ask more of a shotgun. And this one will last longer than I will.
The White Onyx Sporter is a keeper.....
As you may know, I got my first non 870 in a long time recently. It's an O/U, a Beretta 686 White Onyx Sporter with the now popular 32" barrels.
The 680 series Berettas have been around a while now, and have garnered a good rep as high volume competition shotguns as well as fine field guns.
The Onyx is the cheapest version of the series but it has the very same action and barrels as the most costly versions, the Silver Pigeons etc. The increased cost is due to cosmetics only.
Features on this one include:
The Optima Bore barrels. These are larger diameter than the older ones but lacking a barrel reader leaves me without exact measurements. Optima chokes do not interchange with the old Mobil chokes. This set is nicely finished, no ripples in the finish, well blued and weigh enough for stability but are not ponderous at all.
A straight grain walnut stock set. The grain runs well through the wrist, promising strength and no weak spots. The checkering is probably lazer cut, no overruns or flat points, and is almost velcro like in stickiness. Better than the impressed checkering I'm used to.
As Euro guns often do, this has a bit longer wood than US brands. With the longer of the two pads supplied, LOP falls at 14 7/8". This is a trifle short on paper for me, but the stock fits me better than factory issue 870 lumber.
For shooting it in, I stuck the tightest two of the five choke tubes in after lubing lightly with anti seize compound. The five tubes start at a negative choked Skeet, then Cylinder, IC, Mod and IM. A table I read says that the IM tube has only 23 POC, but it smacks them nicely at 40 yards if I point it right.
Anti Seize compound also went on the hinge pins. These are located between the barrels, helping to give a lower profile to the receiver. A good grease or this compound is recommended to keep wear to a minimum. If despite all, the wear occurs, new pins and locking lugs can be installed to rebuild the action.
I shot about 300 rounds in three days shooting since I bought this. Trap and wobble with my usual variations saw most of the targets busting nicely. As usual, the human factor is the crucial one.
The trigger on this is worse than my 870s. A couple lbs heavier and not as clean. Usable but I may have this redone later. Or, it may smooth up from work polishing.
Surprisingly, I feel a bit more kick with this than my 870s,even though this is heavier than all except the 870TB trap deathray. The 7/8 oz loads I use in the winter are 1300 FPS in the published data. Maybe that Geltech Beretta pad is not as effective as the KickEez, Sims and Decellerator pads I use. Or maybe it's just smaller, the butt on this is trim. The extra kick is not obnoxious, just noted.
The crux of the matter comes down to performance. Can I hit with it?
Yes. the Onyx turns like a cutting horse on crossers, has enough inertia,to handle quartering targets nicely and will find the right leads when I let the shot happen instead of consciously trying to guide it.
Can't ask more of a shotgun. And this one will last longer than I will.
The White Onyx Sporter is a keeper.....
