The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Dave McCracken Memorial Shotgun Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old April 12, 2012, 07:52 PM   #1
chadio
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 29, 2011
Posts: 931
Beretta 686 barrel length, models, opinions...

So, considering the venerable Beretta 686 for trap (maybe skeet someday). ~I will not be hunting with this shotgun, just shooting trap for sure and maybe skeet someday. Please discuss the differences in a 26, 28, 30" barrel, diffferent models, weights, etc. As a novice am I going to notice a difference in subtle changes in weight or barrel length with the different models?
__________________
Ex - Navy, Persian Gulf Veteran. Loved shooting the M14, 1911, M60, M2
chadio is offline  
Old April 12, 2012, 08:07 PM   #2
Dave McC
Staff In Memoriam
 
Join Date: October 13, 1999
Location: Columbia, Md, USA
Posts: 8,811
My White Onyx Sporter came with 32" barrels, Optima chokes.

With aftermarket extended chokes, it's as ponderous as I'd want it to be. With the flush mount chokes, it's a little more lively.

For trap, consider either these or the 30" pipes.

If you can, try out some 686 versions first. I did, and I'm quite happy with my choice.

A good rule here is to get the longest barrels you can handle....
Dave McC is offline  
Old April 13, 2012, 12:30 AM   #3
zippy13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 23, 2008
Location: SoCal
Posts: 6,442
If you get the longer barrels, the gun will favor trap. With the shorter barrels it will favor Skeet. IMHO, 26s are way too short.

Will a novice notice the difference?… perhaps not, but you don't want to be a novice for ever. As Dave suggested, try them out before you make your selection.

Another rule of thumb: it's easier to make shorter Skeet barrels work for trap singles than it is to make long trap barrels work for Skeet.
zippy13 is offline  
Old April 13, 2012, 06:14 AM   #4
LSnSC
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 5, 2010
Posts: 514
30's will work fine for both. I dont see many 26" or 28" guns at the range any more.
LSnSC is offline  
Old April 13, 2012, 01:34 PM   #5
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
26" ...30" ....the difference is in the swing characteristics...

as my buddy says ..." at what point does it feel like you're swinging a big ole sewer pipe" ...vs a more nimble gun..

Part of the choice is personal .../ but I wouldn't go shorter than a 28" ...or over a 30" for a general purpose gun ( for skeet, sporting clays or bird hunting ) .../ but for a dedicated Trap gun I wouldn't go shorter than a 32".

In general there is less left to right barrel movement in Trap -- than Skeet or sporting or bird hunting...so the longer and heavier barrels make better Trap guns...

For a good versatile gun - I'd suggest the 30" ...and it may not be optimum for Trap ...but it'll be good for skeet and sporting - and ok for Trap.
BigJimP is offline  
Old April 13, 2012, 01:41 PM   #6
SauerGrapes
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 22, 2009
Location: S.E.PA.
Posts: 920
Obviously if your looking to shoot clays, you don't want to buy some featherlite shotgun. I like my guns to be in the 8lb range, give or take a few ounces. {7 1\2lbs minimum}
Use to be all you saw on the skeet fields were 26'' and some 28'' barrels. Now, 30'' seems to be the norm. If your primary game is trap, and your not buying a trap specific gun, you can still get 32's. More times than not, if you look for 32's, it's going to be a sporting model and will have ported barrels.

Fit of the gun is the most important thing. The sporting model tend to have longer length of pull than something in a field model.
Beretta has a ''newer" model out, the Silver Pigeon I, it is available with 28 or 30'' barrels. {non ported}It's basically the same as the rest of the 686 breed.
__________________
NRA member, DCF&S member, PAFOA member, USPSA member, NSCA member

R.I.P.____Murphy
SauerGrapes is offline  
Old April 13, 2012, 03:01 PM   #7
Dave McC
Staff In Memoriam
 
Join Date: October 13, 1999
Location: Columbia, Md, USA
Posts: 8,811
My sporter came in at just under 8 lbs when I got it. Now, a little lead weight added and extended chokes bring it to maybe 8 lbs, 5 oz. That. IMO, is about optimum for me. YMMV.

With an aftermarket Limbsaver pad, it comes to 15" or so LOP. It fits well.

Triggers are still a hair heavier than I like, but there's no one local I'd trust it to anymore.
Dave McC is offline  
Old April 14, 2012, 08:04 PM   #8
.300 Weatherby Mag
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 6, 2008
Posts: 1,777
Quote:
Beretta has a ''newer" model out, the Silver Pigeon I, it is available with 28 or 30'' barrels. {non ported}It's basically the same as the rest of the 686 breed.
I bought one of these so I would have a field gun that comes close to the feel of my 682 Beretta target gun... It works well for skeet and trap.. Based on how it fits and shoots it will tear up birds.. It has a 28" barrel...

.300 Weatherby Mag is offline  
Old April 15, 2012, 04:47 PM   #9
oneounceload
Junior member
 
Join Date: April 18, 2008
Location: N. Central Florida
Posts: 8,518
FIT is the key, and the Beretta's competition in that range - Browning - are also good guns. I say this only because if one fits you well, the odds are the other will not - and if the Beretta does not, look at the Browning.

Otherwise, the longest barrels will have the smoothest swing dynamics - important in clay games, especially trap and skeet where the target trajectory is a constant. You'll really want a gun in the 8+ pound range

My all-around O/U has 32" tubes and weighs about 8.25# - with 3/4 or 7/8oz target loads, it is fun to shoot all day - and my shoulder prefers it that way!..
oneounceload is offline  
Old April 16, 2012, 04:57 AM   #10
Anthony66
Junior member
 
Join Date: April 16, 2012
Posts: 54
a Beretta Silver Pigeon 1 12/30" would make a versatile gun. A reasonably priced gun, good for all the shooting sports.
Anthony66 is offline  
Old April 16, 2012, 07:31 PM   #11
TheKlawMan
Junior member
 
Join Date: June 23, 2009
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 2,149
Damn, Weatherby. Where you been boy, cause it looks like they will let anyone shoot where that pic was taken. As familiar as the dude seems, I just can't place the ugly cuss. Be careful around those suspicious looking guys with guns.
TheKlawMan is offline  
Old April 16, 2012, 11:50 PM   #12
.300 Weatherby Mag
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 6, 2008
Posts: 1,777
Quote:
Damn, Weatherby. Where you been boy, cause it looks like they will let anyone shoot where that pic was taken. As familiar as the dude seems, I just can't place the ugly cuss. Be careful around those suspicious looking guys with guns.
LOL
.300 Weatherby Mag is offline  
Old April 17, 2012, 02:41 AM   #13
mete
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 14, 2004
Location: NY State
Posts: 6,575
Mine is 28" and has been used for hunting and sporting clays. 7.25 lbs well balanced ,I'm very happy with it.
BTW a 28" O/U has the same OAL as a 24" auto or pump.
__________________
And Watson , bring your revolver !
mete is offline  
Old April 17, 2012, 12:03 PM   #14
chadio
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 29, 2011
Posts: 931
Quote:
..." at what point does it feel like you're swinging a big ole sewer pipe" ....
I like that comparison!

But seriously, lots of useful information here and I appreciate all the advice.
__________________
Ex - Navy, Persian Gulf Veteran. Loved shooting the M14, 1911, M60, M2
chadio is offline  
Old April 17, 2012, 12:06 PM   #15
chadio
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 29, 2011
Posts: 931
Some of you might enjoy this...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NjLIc44H_U
__________________
Ex - Navy, Persian Gulf Veteran. Loved shooting the M14, 1911, M60, M2
chadio is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:46 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.08501 seconds with 10 queries