Need Feedback on Beretta O/Us.....

Status
Not open for further replies.

Dave McCracken

Moderator In Memoriam
Joined
Dec 20, 2002
Messages
13,936
Location
MD.
Specifically, the Onyx. Here's the deal....

All this compulsory OT I'm doing has an upside. Money at Casa McC is more available despite the efforts of MD's finest colleges to keep us broke. So, it;s been a long time since I had a new toy.

I've been toying with the idea of adding a good O/U to the battery. While my 870s still fill the bill, I'd like something different. An O/U has some minor advantages for clay shooting, and that's most of my shooting these days.

These advantages include two chokes, two barrels which can be loaded for different shots, and the fact that one doesn't need to pick up hullls off the ground while shooting doubles.

Beretta owners are common around here and seem a happy lot.

And, Accokeek is about an hour away so if I get a lemon, or something needs fixing, I can drop it off in person.

The Onyx is the base model. I shot two rental 682s today and liked them.

And no, I didn't pull the forearms off trying to shuck them.

So, is there any negative input on these? I'm thinking a 32" barreled Onyx would make a fine addition here.

Thanks....
 
Last edited:
Great Guns!
I recommend these, as these just flat work!

I do not own one, I have shot one a lot for a little bit of everything. Some I have shot have seen 20k rds a year for years, so every bit of high round counts for lots of these. Best recall last one I shot ~ 125,000 rds fired through it thus far.

Oh some do get some money saved up and get a 28 ga tube...*snicker*

PM Will Fennell, get his input if you have not already. Will is a sharp and personable as you well know. He can better assist on stock numbers and dimensions.
 
Dave - I've only shot about a flat through an Onyx, but it seemed decent enough. Mrs. Trapper shoots a 682 Gold E and is very, very happy with it. Before she had the stock trimmed to her specs, I shot it some and liked it as well. In fact, I liked the balance enough that I spent some time tweaking my 425 to have a more neutral balance like hers.

My impression is that the Onyx has a more barrel-heavy feel (kind of similar to my 425), while the 682 has very light (even in the 32" length that my wife shoots) barrels which feel more lively. IIRC, Cole Gunsmithing makes some very fancy guns out of the basic Onyx model.
 
I have the 682 Supersporting model that was only out for a couple of years in the mid 90's. It has the large pistol grip palm swell that fills your hand. I shoot this gun as good as any I have ever had.... especially when it has the 28 gauge Kolar tubes in place. :evil: :D

I don't believe I have ever shot the Onyx model, but I have seen very few disappointed Beretta owners.

Happy shopping Dave. :scrutiny: ;)
 
I've only handled them at the gun store, but I really like the Onyx Sporting model with 30" barrels. Don't recall seeing a 32-incher out on the racks where I could get to it.

I don't like the balance of the White Onyx field model as much with its 28" barrels and light-ish 6.7 pounds. The Sporting model weighs about a pound more IIRC.

Like the man said, have fun shopping.

John

P.S. - Just in case anyone is interested, they make a 28 ga. White Onyx.
 
Go for it Dave, Im sure the 870 herd wont mind too much. Was going to head out to PGC today, but ended up going Christmas tree hunting with the family.
 
Excellent guns with excellent fit/finish/mechanics....

Also, if you want anything adjusted on it like comb, pad, trigger work, etc., there is a gentleman by the name of Rich Cole that is probably one of the finest Beretta gunsmiths around.
 
Oh, Beretta, very fine, can't go wrong.
Onyx are more of the hunting side, rather than the sporting. Might check to see which type of safety it has. My Silverhawk has the hunting safety, I only blow about one pair in a 100 birds off that. (teaches you if you are flinching too. :rolleyes: )

Beretta's tend to be built for right handers with a little bit of cast.
I like them better than brownings, more lithe, smoother.

Can't go wrong.
The extended chokes are sweet for sporting clays too (easy to change).
 
All Berettas use the same frame design so if you've shot one you've pretty much shot them all. I've owned a couple of Beretta o/us in the past and if I didn't have a P-gun I'd be shooting a Beretta 682E.

The White Onyx target gun comes 32" barrels and Optima Chokes which means it won't be as barrel heavy as the older guns with Mobile chokes. If you are looking at an older gun with Mobile chokes you might find them a little porky in the front end.

The only criticism I can make about the gun is one that applies to all guns with extended Optima chokes. The markings wear off quickly and unless you remember the color codes you won't know what you are shooting. The second is the crappy little little choke tool that comes with the extended Optimas. Toss it immediately and get one of these from Carlson.

Choke20Wrench-SPEED.gif
 
Recently picked up Beretta O/U myself----seriously thinking about trading off my Citori now.
 
PJR speaks truth about the choke wrenches for Optima chokes being useless. It's easily the most ill-designed and poorly executed piece of gear I've ever seen. It makes the key for a Remington J-lock look like it was made by Snap-On.
 
Gee, the worst thing I see about these is a cheesy choke wrench. Easily solved.

And I know about Rich Cole. Maybe I'll get his double trigger package to boot....

I'm convinced, now to work on WW. THAT'S gonna be the hard part....
 
Dear WW,

We the undersigned feel Dave has been a super neat hubby, super neat father, super neat family to other other family members.
Additionally Dave passes forward so much through Internet, Going to PGC and participation and support of responsible firearm ownership activities.

So we the undersigned feel Dave really really would appreciate your wonderful smile and affirmative head nod of Dave getting this gun.

That or we are going to let you :
-take Larry Correia's kids out for Mexican Food - or
-do all the kid shuffling for pax's 5 boys - or
-Larry Ashcraft's 8 grandkids need entertained, fed and want to spend the night.

We ain't bribing, or blackmailing - just sharing how we all feel Dave ought to have this shotgun...
...with 28 ga tubes...:)


Respectfully,

Steve
 
686 Silver Pidgeon

Was the base grade hunting O/U a few years ago, mine is great. Probably euivalent to the one you are looking at now. I'm shooting clays (started recently) going ok, looking forward to really getting to master the gun.

Also looking foward to getting a recoil pad fitted :eek: Bruised shoulder every Friday arvo.
 
Dave, give me a call.....

Dave,
You are finally talking about something I can help with.......its what I do for a living. I have a 686 White Onyx Sporting that I use as a teaching gun, and I have quite a bit of experience with all the Beretta O/U's. Give me a call tonite[I'll be home] sometime after dark[I might sit in a tree and snipe Bambi]. I'll discuss the various aspects of the different models mentioned with you.....

You are on the right track, as I think the 686 W.O. Sporting is the best buy in the quality O/U market....especially since the advent of the OPTIMA BORE models. I also have some recent experience with the 28 ga barrels that are avaliable for the 12 ga frames.....they really make the gun very versatile.

When you get the gun, we can talk about getting you down here for a fitting @ the Training Center.

My home number is 803-328-9321. I look forward to talking to you!
 
Thanks, folks, for the input and support.

Will, I'll call long enough after dark you'll have time to dress and drag out Bambi's Great Grandpa. And if I make it down to Carolina it'll be for lessons. How do you feel about rectifying a half century's worth of bad shooting habits?....j

I broached the subject to WW last night. She's unenthused. Not adamant, but dubious.
 
Dave, I believe the 20ga Beretta of mine that you've shot is an Onyx. If you wanted to shoot it again let me know. It's not too bad of a trip and besides I still have some tickets to use up ;)
 
Dave,

I bought a Silver Pigeon several years ago on a whim. (You see, I was told that I had a tumor on the brain, and wanted to leave my young son something nice.)
Anyway, thankfully, the doctors were WRONG! I KNEW that a tumor wouldn't grow in a vacuum!

In any event, this Silver Pigeon is a fabulous scattergun.

While it's not an 870 or 1100 (and never will be) it still holds a special place in my heart and gun safe.

I've found that it points and swings a lot better than the Citori that I've handled previously.

Get the 'B' gun. You won't regret it!
 
Anapex, don't make the trip on my part, but thanks. I'd like to see y'all if you do make it down.

Talked to Will tonight. He was very helpful. Thanks,Will.
 
The only Beretta I've ever handled and shot that I disliked was a 12ga 28" barrels, one of the silver pigeon series. For some reason that shotgun just kicked the hell out of me, and gave the owner a fat lip if he shot more than 50 rounds at a time! It hadn't been modified at all, just aparently a poor stock design. Other than that, I've loved every Beretta I've shot from semi-autos to O/Us. The owner of that SP sold it, bought a Cynergy, sold it and bought a 682 Gold E and is VERY happy with it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top