Beretta Silver Pigeon 686 20 guage

machete96 · April 21, 2010, 09:26 PM

This gun might become available to me and it will be the first Beretta O/U in my house.The gun is in good shape ( a good 85 % at least) and is rock solid.Was built in 1994 and has 26" barrels.Anybody wants to take a shot as of to the value.thanks

oneounceload · April 21, 2010, 09:33 PM

look at CLOSED auctions on one of the various sites to see what they sold for.

BigJimP · April 22, 2010, 02:20 PM

In 1994 --- I think they sold new for $ 1,000 - $ 1,250 range.

26" barrels are a little short for what shooters are commonly looking for these days.

I'm assuming it has screw in chokes / but I don't know for sure what year Beretta started using screw in chokes ( Browning started in the mid 80's on their O/U's ) - a Beretta expert may stop in and share his knowledge.

At 85% / 20ga / 26" barrels ... I'd say around $ 750 is a fair price.

NoSecondBest · April 22, 2010, 10:53 PM

I bought one new in 2005 and I think I paid around $1700 for it. I'd say based on the age and condition you are describing $750 would be about right. The 26" barrels are going to be a drawback. Mine had 30" which seems to be the way people are buying these now. Everyone wants longer barrels for clay shooting. They are excellent shotguns and if someone was looking for a good bird gun they couldn't go wrong buying it. Good luck.

zippy13 · April 22, 2010, 11:30 PM

Quote:

BigJimP
26" barrels are a little short for what shooters are commonly looking for these days.

NoSecondBest
The 26" barrels are going to be a drawback.

In all reality, 26-inch barrels were out of favor before the gun was made. There were some old school types who thought you had to have short barrels for Skeet or upland birds, the belief continues in some small circles. So, 26s were offered to meet the demand, and still are. Hey, Ford made the Edsel for TWO model years… explain that. For most shooters, 28s had replaced comp 26s a decade, or more, earlier. I got my first 28-inch Skeet barrels in the early '70s and 30s in the early '90s.

oneounceload · April 22, 2010, 11:34 PM

While Zippymakes excellent points, I would mention EJ Churchill who favored 25 inch barrels as the be-all, end-all for the superlative field gun. Many an Eastern grouse hunter seems to prefer them as well.

It comes down to the handling characteristics of short versus long and which one you prefer.

Personally, I am in the long barrel camp. For the targets I shoot, birds I hunt, etc., I prefer those.

JMO, YMMV

rbernie · April 23, 2010, 07:41 AM

Most quality 20ga O/Us seem to be very valued and retain far more value than their 12ga counterparts, at least in my neck of the woods. I'd be surprised if you got it for under $1K.

zippy13 · April 23, 2010, 11:01 AM

rbernie, quality is relative. Let's not forget, the 686 is at the bottom of Beretta's O/U line. I suspect BigJimP's estimate of $750 for an 85% 20-ga 26" is probably closer to the mark.

BigJimP · April 23, 2010, 11:07 AM

I knew we'd get a rise out of our friend Zippy ...when I made a remark about the 26" barrels ...

....

and he's right .....( sort of ...) ....but I still abuse my shooting buddy with his K-80 and his 26" barrels ... "its a little girls sized gun" ...

..and he whips my butt on the skeet field on a regular basis with it anyway ..

Personally, I favor a 30" barrel even in my .410 O/U ...and the 20 and 28ga's as well ...all 3 built on the same style and sized 20ga receiver / and 32" or 34" barrels on my dedicated Trap guns.

PetahW · April 23, 2010, 02:26 PM

$1K is easily correct, for an 85% 686 PIGEON grade in 20ga. - In fact, I've gotten as much for a plain-jane 686 Black Onyx.

.

zippy13 · April 23, 2010, 02:52 PM

PetahW, you may be correct, I was thinking of a Plain-Jane 686 White Onyx. It's the 85% that concerns me -- one man's "good" may be another man's "nasty" -- a 28" barrel with 4-inches of rust on one end is better than 85%! Of course, a gun is worth what someone will pay for it.

BigJimP · April 23, 2010, 03:15 PM

85% is what scares me too ... but I'll still stand behind my estimate of $ 750 on this gun, in that condition, in 20ga, with 26" barrels - that is now 16 yrs old...

I'm no Beretta expert ...and I realize the word silver pigeon is in the name ...but I wouldn't consider it a "Pigeon" grade gun. I still see some 686 Silver Pigeons for sale new in box - on internet sites for about $ 1,400 today.
Its only my opinion, but I think Beretta marketing is using the term pigeon fairly liberally in their marketing -- because I would expect a lot more in terms of engraving or upgraded wood in a "pigeon" grade gun.

Firepower! · April 25, 2010, 12:37 PM

I have seen some of the Beretta shotguns that were just out class and expensive. However, Silver is entry in to the pigeon series. Take the gun to a gunsmith and have him take a look at the barrels before you fork over the cash.

olddrum1 · April 29, 2010, 11:51 PM

The price of shot and the state of the economy has taken a toll on these entry level guns. I agree with BJP on an 85% gun. He may have been a little generous at $750.

April 21, 2010, 09:26 PM	#1
machete96 Junior Member Join Date: April 18, 2010 Posts: 10	Beretta Silver Pigeon 686 20 guage This gun might become available to me and it will be the first Beretta O/U in my house.The gun is in good shape ( a good 85 % at least) and is rock solid.Was built in 1994 and has 26" barrels.Anybody wants to take a shot as of to the value.thanks

April 23, 2010, 07:41 AM	#7
rbernie Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2004 Location: Plain Ol', TX Posts: 713	Most quality 20ga O/Us seem to be very valued and retain far more value than their 12ga counterparts, at least in my neck of the woods. I'd be surprised if you got it for under $1K. __________________ -A conclusion is not a destination, it's simply a convenient place to stop thinking.- -Reading a thing doesn't automatically make it so; repeating it doesn't necessarily make it any truer.- -Every Texan should be a member of the Texas State Rifle Association.

April 21, 2010, 09:33 PM	#2
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	look at CLOSED auctions on one of the various sites to see what they sold for.

April 22, 2010, 02:20 PM	#3
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	In 1994 --- I think they sold new for $ 1,000 - $ 1,250 range. 26" barrels are a little short for what shooters are commonly looking for these days. I'm assuming it has screw in chokes / but I don't know for sure what year Beretta started using screw in chokes ( Browning started in the mid 80's on their O/U's ) - a Beretta expert may stop in and share his knowledge. At 85% / 20ga / 26" barrels ... I'd say around $ 750 is a fair price.

April 22, 2010, 10:53 PM	#4
NoSecondBest Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Western New York Posts: 2,736	I bought one new in 2005 and I think I paid around $1700 for it. I'd say based on the age and condition you are describing $750 would be about right. The 26" barrels are going to be a drawback. Mine had 30" which seems to be the way people are buying these now. Everyone wants longer barrels for clay shooting. They are excellent shotguns and if someone was looking for a good bird gun they couldn't go wrong buying it. Good luck.

April 22, 2010, 11:34 PM	#6
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	While Zippymakes excellent points, I would mention EJ Churchill who favored 25 inch barrels as the be-all, end-all for the superlative field gun. Many an Eastern grouse hunter seems to prefer them as well. It comes down to the handling characteristics of short versus long and which one you prefer. Personally, I am in the long barrel camp. For the targets I shoot, birds I hunt, etc., I prefer those. JMO, YMMV

April 23, 2010, 11:01 AM	#8
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	rbernie, quality is relative. Let's not forget, the 686 is at the bottom of Beretta's O/U line. I suspect BigJimP's estimate of $750 for an 85% 20-ga 26" is probably closer to the mark.

April 23, 2010, 11:07 AM	#9
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I knew we'd get a rise out of our friend Zippy ...when I made a remark about the 26" barrels ... .... and he's right .....( sort of ...) ....but I still abuse my shooting buddy with his K-80 and his 26" barrels ... "its a little girls sized gun" ... ..and he whips my butt on the skeet field on a regular basis with it anyway .. Personally, I favor a 30" barrel even in my .410 O/U ...and the 20 and 28ga's as well ...all 3 built on the same style and sized 20ga receiver / and 32" or 34" barrels on my dedicated Trap guns.

April 23, 2010, 02:26 PM	#10
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	$1K is easily correct, for an 85% 686 *PIGEON* grade in 20ga. - In fact, I've gotten as much for a plain-jane 686 Black Onyx. .

April 23, 2010, 02:52 PM	#11
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	PetahW, you may be correct, I was thinking of a Plain-Jane 686 White Onyx. It's the 85% that concerns me -- one man's "good" may be another man's "nasty" -- a 28" barrel with 4-inches of rust on one end is better than 85%! Of course, a gun is worth what someone will pay for it.

April 23, 2010, 03:15 PM	#12
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	85% is what scares me too ... but I'll still stand behind my estimate of $ 750 on this gun, in that condition, in 20ga, with 26" barrels - that is now 16 yrs old... I'm no Beretta expert ...and I realize the word silver pigeon is in the name ...but I wouldn't consider it a "Pigeon" grade gun. I still see some 686 Silver Pigeons for sale new in box - on internet sites for about $ 1,400 today. Its only my opinion, but I think Beretta marketing is using the term pigeon fairly liberally in their marketing -- because I would expect a lot more in terms of engraving or upgraded wood in a "pigeon" grade gun.

April 25, 2010, 12:37 PM	#13
Firepower! Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2008 Posts: 2,109	I have seen some of the Beretta shotguns that were just out class and expensive. However, Silver is entry in to the pigeon series. Take the gun to a gunsmith and have him take a look at the barrels before you fork over the cash.

April 29, 2010, 11:51 PM	#14
olddrum1 Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Mid Missouri Posts: 807	The price of shot and the state of the economy has taken a toll on these entry level guns. I agree with BJP on an 85% gun. He may have been a little generous at $750.