Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 10:50 pm

One of my friends just bought a beretta silver pigeon s thinking it was a sporting model but I've looked online and cant seem to find out much about this. One person says its sporting another says it's something else. Anyone know for sure? It is supposed to be a new unfired gun. It has 28' barrel, 3' chamber, screw in chokes, no mid bead, and included swing swivels in the case.

Post subject: Re: Beretta Silver Pigeon S??

Beretta lists the 686 Silver Pigeon as a 'field gun' on their web site. I think the inclusion of the sling swivels in the box pretty well cofirms that. Now, that doesn't mean your buddy can't shoot clay targets with it and do well.

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:12 am

Probably not a sporting. Sportings have mid beads and 30' or longer barrels and extended Optima chokes for 12 gauge (assume by screw in you mean flush). You can check the safety too, if it's a auto safety then it's definitely a field.

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 10:07 am

The 686 Silver Pigeon S is a discontinued field gun no longer listed on the Beretta site. It was replaced by the 686 Silver Pigeon1 field version over a year ago.

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 9:42 pm

I can't help but reply about this topic even though it's from 4 years ago
I own a Beretta Silver Pigeon S 20 gauge used mainly for skeet shooting. I have been shooting it for about 6 mos. now and I can say it's a reliable skeet gun even if it's a field gun.
I had to adjust to it's lightweight compared to my previous skeet guns in 12 gauges. I thought of making a lot of modifications to make it more of a sporting over under but after a while I just shoot it as it is. Started shooting perfect 25 everytime so I guess I don't need to fix anything about it!:))) I ordered a Beretta Victory Extended skeet chokes and Briley Extended skeet chokes which I use interchangeably during practice and competition. In my humble opinion they both pattern good equally the same

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 9:56 pm

It seems like a field gun to me as well. But the previous owner of the gun says its an older gun that was the previous sporting model.

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 10:39 pm

Does your friend's 686 Silver Pigeon S have an auto safety; one that resets to Safe when the gun is opened and closed? If so, it is definitely a field model. Even if it doesn't, that still doesn't make it a 'Sporting' model, as the auto-safety feature on field guns is frequently disabled by the owner.
Lack of a middle bead is also a sign that it is a field gun. And, the fact that a pretty thorough search of Beretta literature fails to turn up a 686 Silver Pigeon S with the 'sporting' designation is pretty convincing. There was a 'Silver Pigeon Sporting,' but not a 'Silver Pigeon S Sporting.'
The seller may have thought he had a 'sporting' gun because of the 'S' in the model designation, but that is Beretta's designation for 'Standard.' Or, the seller may have figured he could up the price a bit by calling it a 'sporting' model. Either way, it is still a nice gun and nothing will prevent your friend from using it for 'sporting.'

Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 12:10 pm

I have a 686 Silver Pigeon Sporting. The sporting guns actually say Sporting on the barrel. The sporting stock is heavier and fuller than the field stock. The Silver Pigeon S is a different gun.

Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 3:28 pm

I sold tons of the 686 Silver Pigeon S. It is a field gun in any gauge. Take it to the bank.

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 9:34 am

Greetings from Greece! I own a Silver Pigeon S for the past nine years. Its a field model of a 686 series the basic model actually.Its a great gun which i like to shoot and its built like a tank. You will apreciate it gradually as the years go by because of its flaulessly and unproblematic behavior whatever you put infront of it (rain,snow,dirt e.t.c).Aside from the simple scroling on the receiver and the basic wood grade stock ,mechanicaly the gun is the same as the Silver pigeon V which cost 3 times more!! I dont think that you cant
use the gun at a sporting range,but iam sure that you will love it. Besides that ....its a Beretta!!!

Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:29 pm

if i am not mistaken, the stocks on Beretta field guns use the shorter 5' long recoil pad.. and the others use the longer 5' & 3/8' length pads.
But then that might only apply if its the stock it left the factory with?

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 12:02 pm

The above posters are correct...
A 5 3/8' stock, mid beads, and a 3/8' Strada (not a 1/4') rib is what makes a sporter a sporter.