Silver Pigeon questions

[Milkmaster]

I saw a used Beretta Silver Pigeon O/U yesterday that Im am interested in enough to find out more about before making an offer. I have more questinos than answers at this point. I need help on the answers if possible...

Reading about these guns tells me there are different models of the Silver Pigeon O/U. I can get the serial number off it to acquire a manufacture date. That still may not tell me if it has the overbored barrels or enlongated choke system etc. Seems like the Berreta website claims some of the Silver Pigeon models are back bored while others are not. There is not a whole lot of info on the outside of a Beretta O/U other than the S/N and Silver Pigeon stamped on it.

The seller is a pawn shop that has nice guns, but doesn't usually have a complete knowledgeable person to give me the skinny on different models lke the 686 etc.

Any info is appreciated. How about you Armed Bear? What info do you have to offer that might help?

 

[bobelk99]

SP guns go back a long way. The guns Garcia imported in the 60s and 70s are in some cases far different than those brought in later.

You need input from a competent (and old) gunsmith.

 

[Milkmaster]

This SP model is a fairly recent model 686 O/U. I figure someone out there hopefully knows when the options might have started on them. I don't think model is before 2000.

 

[Milkmaster]

sorry...double post...server was slow!

 

[oneounceload]

Do you know if it is a field version or the sporting version?

 

[Milkmaster]

I can just tell you what I am seeing Oneounce. It has the glossy finished stock. Nice engraving as the SP would have,has 28" barrels, and has 686 on the bottom.

Like I said...it is hard to tell with the Beretta's because not much info is written on the gun. I don't get a chance to see a rack of these guns at the same time in a store to study the differences like you would say a Remington line of guns.

 

[conhntr]

686/682/687 et al are pretty much the same guns... good!
the different models are mostly just cosmetics/engraving and beretta changed chokes/bore profile from mobil/optima/optima plus. and honestly the main difference is handling the optima barrels are considerably lighter (only you can decide if that is a positive or negative).

as a whole they are ok for about 150,000 or so before they need rebuilt (locking lugs/recesses) and they can only be rebuilt once so if you plan on shooting over 300,000 might not be the best idea

 

[ArmedBear]

server ate my posts 3 times...

Field: narrower rib, mobil chokes/barrels, auto safety
Sporting: wider rib with twin beads, optima chokes/barrels on recent guns, manual safety

How much?