Finally found a Beretta O/U to look at today!

[Milkmaster]

Recently I have been looking for a Beretta White Onyx or Silver Pigeon for consideration as my trap gun. Until now all the local gun stores would be glad to order that shotgun for me, but they failed to carry any in stock. I like to handle and hold anything I plan to buy at that price. I am just funny like that I guess.

Thursday the weather was sunny and the humidity was down. I headed out on my motorcycle for a nice 60 mile cruise to a gun store south of here I had been told about. The nice guys there opened the display case and brought out both the White Onyx for $2000 and the Silver Pigeon at $2800 for my consideration.

The White Onyx had the less glossy satin like finish on it with nice wood. The Silver Pigeon had really nice engraving and nicer wood with the glossy finish. Both were very stiff on lockup, much more than I expected. I suppose they will loosen a bit with use. I didn't take that kind of cash with me, nor could I bring one back on the motorcycle.

Could you guys direct me on price here? Are those prices within what is normal for these two shotguns? Some of the other shotguns I saw there I thought were a bit overpriced, but I have no comparisons around here for the Beretta shotguns I mentioned above.

Helpful comments appreciated.

 

[earlthegoat2]

All I can state is that those two guns are expensive. The silver pigeon should be the lesser of the two. 2G sounds about right.

As far as the stiffness of the action goes that is normal for Berettas. They are exceptionally tight when new.

Another thing to consider is that Beretta has some of the worst customer service in the gun industry. I was once on the phone for 2 hrs and talked to 4 different people before I could get a lousy Return Authorization number. Then it took 8 months to get the gun back after about 30 phone calls starting at the 2 month mark.

 

[ArmedBear]

White Onyx is less expensive than a Silver Pigeon.

The Onyx is the unadorned version of the 680 series. The Silver Pigeons are engraved, usually with fancier wood, oil finish, etc.

They're not too tight when greased. They're just snug.

Prices depend on the version.

White Onyx Field or Sporting?

The local Sports Authority has a White Onyx Field 12 for $1350 and a 20 for $1400, but these are clearance-sale prices. Regular prices are around $1700. $2000 is the going price for the Sporting version.

Silver Pigeons come in versions S, II, III, IV and V, in various gauges, some in Field, some in Sporting and some in both trims. Prices vary from $1950-$3800 or so, maybe a tad more, but they're a whole line of guns, not just one model.

See http://www.berettausa.com and http://www.beretta.com to see more. The web sites suck in some ways (USA version is just a bad design; the old one was a lot better, but the weights are all wrong -- the international site has correct weights, etc., but you can't tell which ones are imported to the US).

 

[Milkmaster]

Yeah I agree the Beretta website sucks. Hard to tell exactly what one is looking at on the website. That's one of the reasons I was asking for you guys to pitch in here.

 

[ArmedBear]

If the White Onyx was the oil finish, it was probably the Sporting version, heavier than the Field, with 30" or 32" barrels, a wider rib, and a manual safety.

I have the White Onyx Field in 12. I really like it. I have half a mind to buy another one, since they're on sale, but I'm not sure how to justify that...

 

[throdgrain]

All I can state is that those two guns are expensive. The silver pigeon should be the lesser of the two. 2G sounds about right.

The Silver Pigeon is the more expensive of the two guns, you got that the wrong way around.