Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns 28g Beretta Silver Pigeon Feedback Wanted.

G'day folks, I'm considering buying the above for a walk about rabbit and small feathered game gun, anyone got one? Feed back appreciated thanks!

Cheers, Scott.

Had one and sold it. It is a 20 gauge frame I believe, so it's about the same wt. as a 20. Shells are more expensive with less payload and recoil to me was about the same as a 20. Nice guns though.But in this aprticular model I'd just as soon go with a 20 gauge which is what I did. I'd look for a gun built on a 28 gauge frame, smaller and lighter which is part of the whole purpose of owning a 28.

P.S. If the new ones are a 28 frame and I'm in error, in that case I'd get one!!

According to the Beretta website there are 3 action sizes, 12g, 20g, and 28g/410.

Cheers, Scott.

I have the Beretta 686 two barrel set , 20 & 28 ga and prefer the 28 ga barrel for most hunting

Luckily the one at the local shop sold. I think they got tired of me coming in and drooling on it.

The 686 Silver Pigeon I (and the 687 Silver Pigeon V) in 28 gauge are on the "baby" frame. I don't know which, if any, older models are on the "baby" frame, but I have both frame sizes in 28 gauge, in a "baby" frame 686 Silver Pigeon I, and a 686 Black Onyx as well as a 686 Covey, which are both on the 20 gauge frame. The difference was not obvious to me, and I had to get out a set of calipers and measure the dimensions of the frame to prove it. Oddly (to me anyway), the firing pin holes appear to be the same distance apart on both models. Beats me. I like them, either way.

Sounds good Scott, mine was an older Silver Pigeon. If it wasn't for the cost of the shells I probably would've kept it. But I do like my 20s.

Good solid gun. If you like the gun and the price I see no reason not to buy it.

I can't speak to the 28 gauge, but one of my personal favorites is the 20 gauge with 26 in. barrels. That gun makes me look QUICK...

Just priced ammo for 20g and 28g..... Probably should of done that first....

Wow. I'm buying the 20g.

Cheers, Scott.

If you don't reload, the price of 28ga shells may drive you away. If you do reload shogun shells, the 28ga is great.

I like the 28 ga enough that i will pay the price for the ammo

It isn't like you are shooting thousands of rounds a year like a clays shooter. As a hunting gun I highly doubt it will break the bank. The little 28 is my favorite for Grouse and Woodcock.

I had a Silver Pigeon 28 on a small frame about ten-twelve years ago. It was a beautiful little gun. A 28ga on a true 28 receiver with 28" barrels that balanced perfectly but it had to much drop and cast off to fit me so I couldn't hit chit with it. My buddy who's 6'5" was deadly with it though so I traded him for a Sako in 222.
I'd like to have another 28 that fit me but I'd prefer a SXS.

PS,,, Beau,,, Steve Bodio in his book "Good Guns" agrees with you that the 28 is the best gauge ever for Rabbits.

Had a bunch of Beretta's at one time several 12's a couple 20's and a nice little 28.. If you are a double gun buff, I think you would love it.. I haven't shot my current 28 for several years.. But for a couple seasons it did all of my upland shooting short of ringnecks.. My dogs are flushers, so shots tend to be longer.
It did kill two sage grouse stone dead at 40 yards or a bit more.. They aren't super tough, but can carry a lot of lead..
I didn't feel comfortable shooting the 28 on Az. quail.. I had several cripples.. So switched to a 20 or 12.. If I would have had the 1 oz. loads down there things might have gone different..
That year quail were few, and shots a bit longer than normal..

G'day mate, yeah you're right, I wouldn't be going through the same volume of shells as when I'm clay shooting. I've shopped around a bit too and found the first place thalt quoted me prices where excessively high.

The reason I'm looking at the 28g is I don't think there's enough difference between a 12g and a 20g to really warrant the purchase.

I think I'll go and have another look at the Silver Pigeon 28 on Monday....

Cheers, Scott.

Just got a 28 gauge 686 on the baby frame last year. I really like it. I hand load 3/4 oz. of #9s for skeet. This winter our club was selling Fiocchi shells by the case for $6.40 per box, as compared with $5.40 for 12 and 20 gauge.

For hunting ringnecks I buy 1 oz. loads of #6 shot.

Some of my skeet shooting friends are loading 7/8 oz. in 12 gauge.

What's not to like about the 28 gauge?

Put a deposit on it today! ;-)

If anyone is hunting for one.....I have a sp5 687 28ga that is anib....and I am getting ready to sell it.