You just noticed this?

 

No, not really. I found myself looking for another 682 to buy as a sub gauge project gun. In the process, I came across a newish SP and was disappointed in the build quality.

 

It's kind of difficult to find 682's, especially ones you can find and handle in person and evaluate yourself, but you are correct. The 686 is a cheap entry level gun. The only real advantage being that you would have some warranty coverage if you needed it.

682's on the other hand are awesome. The only shortcoming - in my opinion - is that very very few were made with longer barrels. Most are 28" or 30", so if you want a longer barrel you usually have to buy and fit a new barrel (as I have done myself for a gun I own), which will cost you another ~$1,000.

Nonetheless, 682 >>>>>>>> 686.

 

I’ve got and shoot both models, for different clay disciplines and love ‘em both. Both are from the early 2000’s. My 682 is hands down a joy to shoot. I’m guessing new shooters are overlooking them simply because they’re no longer on the radar with so many other models being advertised to choose from.

I purchased mine from a fellow shooter when I first started, didn’t know a Gold E from a brown cow. Point being, no exposure, at least for the 682 model. I’m also guessing a newer shooter might not recognize the difference between the quality of a new vs old 687.
My two pennies.
Bob

 

The pre 1994 680 series Berettas are a well-kept secret both price and quality wise. Shoot ten's of thousand's of rounds, rebuild for a fraction of the cost of a new gun, repeat until you take a dirt nap. I've been shooting skeet since the mid 70's and have yet to drink the longer is better KoolAid.

 

The pre 1994 680 series Berettas are a well-kept secret both price and quality wise. Shoot ten's of thousand's of rounds, rebuild for a fraction of the cost of a new gun, repeat until you take a dirt nap. I've been shooting skeet since the mid 70's and have yet to drink the longer is better KoolAid.

That's why I have 5 pre94 682's, all fitted with Optima barrels(28" Skeet, 30" Sporting, and a 34" Unisingle)

 

I have a 1993 682 SuperSporting that has been refitted with 32" Optima barrels from Coles. I adore that gun.

 

I have a very similar setup: 1993 S686 Special with 32" X-Trap Optima barrels that I believe are from a Gold E.

 

I have a 686 Silver Pigeon. I bought it at Jaqua's when I started shooting trap about 20 years ago. I bought a voucher with it for $500.00 to take to the Grand American in Vandalia and had a set of over under barrels fitted to the gun by Beretta. I has been a fantastic gun. It might not be top of the line, but it has served me well. I could never complain about its quality.

 

In looking at the newer production Silver Pigeon shotguns it is apparent to me that the current base Beretta is now a mass produced gun. The SP has straight lifeless wood and cheap laser engraving.

Meanwhile superior older 682 shotguns can be had for well under $1,800 and some all the way down to $1,200 in good to excellent condition.

Full disclosure, I own two 682s and a 687EELL.
Bring this up in hopes that some newer shooters visit the 682.

The 686 SP is an entry level O/U. Most 682's are shot to death. Some 682 models have been out of production for a long time. The Gold E was last made in 2014. The 682 Gold Sporting was last made 2000.

 

In looking at the newer production Silver Pigeon shotguns it is apparent to me that the current base Beretta is now a mass produced gun. The SP has straight lifeless wood and cheap laser engraving.

Meanwhile superior older 682 shotguns can be had for well under $1,800 and some all the way down to $1,200 in good to excellent condition.

Full disclosure, I own two 682s and a 687EELL.
Bring this up in hopes that some newer shooters visit the 682.

Yesterday i drove 2 hours to look at a 682 Skeet with Briley tubes. 1993 manufacture. Surprised that it was in a NASCO case and the tubes had screw in chokes. I'll have to invest in a LH stock but for $1,100 I brought it home. These older Beretta's are well made, rebuildable and a super value.

 

She is a beautiful gun! What a great buy at $1,100! I am sure that you have a few extra bucks for a left hand stock!

 

This thread makes me smile. The 682 Greystone I had was bought new and was a steaming pile. Beautiful gun but plagued with problems. So much so I've never touched another Beretta O/U. There is SO much better out there.... THAT's the hidden secret.

 

The old 682 has a great reputation for good reason. You can take ANY gun maker and come up with stories like yours.

 

Yet, here you are hanging out in a Beretta forum.

 

Yeah, a thread waxing on about 682's telling newer shooters they are missing something??? Lol... too much.

I have numerous Beretta auto loaders... best ever.

 

I really don't think so. I've never had any quality issues with a gun before or after that Beretta. I talked with Rich Cole about the work it needed back then. Just know there were PLENTY of issues with them before you all break into song. I'm glad you have had good luck with yours.

 

Please fill us in on the details of "PLENTY" of issues. I've shot mine (greystone - trap combo) competitively in trap for 10 yrs and have close to 100,000 rds thru it. No issues and lever still to the right.

 

Please fill us in on the details of "PLENTY" of issues.

The gun was bought new in 1999 (the 682 Gold E had just come out) by my father ($3300). He passed months later and really never fired it. A year or so later (2001?) my mother gave it to me. I am NOT the original buyer so no warranty... no issues with that.

The gun seemed to fit me fairly well but I didn't shoot good scores with it (sporting). A shooting buddy shot it and suggested we go to the pattern board. BTW- it started to ftf: after approximately 25 shots and getting warm, the top barrel would fail to fire.

At the club house, they brought 2 chamber lasers out. Shooters starting inserting into their guns. As you'd expect they all converged at 25yds or so. This 682 converged at 10ft!!! Unbelievable. Trying to understand what is going on, somebody laid a sheet of paper over the muzzles: the dots were off-center 1/16" each! The barrels were pulled into bananas at regulation. At the pattern board, the top barrel shot high, bottom low: 25" apart at 30yds with various chokes. Horrible.

I never put many rounds through it of course. My brother tried shooting a round with it but top barrel ftf halfway through the round. He mentioned face slapping though... it face slapped me too but that was the least of the issues. My wife and I went down to Florda's TM Ranch for a shooting vacation. The 682 was left home of course. I took a lesson from Steve Middleditch. During the lesson he mentioned he was shooting a 682 but got rid of it. I mentioned I have one. "Does it face slap you too?" he asked. Lol. He went on "Do you know why?" He said "lay a straightedge on the 11:00 position of the comb (where your cheek rides)"... "it will rock". It is not a straight taper. That "knob" is smacking your cheek. Once home I checked: it rocked just as he described. Geez!

A call to Rich Cole ensued. He sighed... yes, he has seen some hideous regulation. Would require new barrels: $1300. The ftf- he knew what it was but didn't detail: $400. The stock work- he said others had had the 'knob' removed and adj comb installed: $400. The gun sat with barely 300 rds through it; it was a family gun though and I desperately wanted it to work! My mom visited and asked if "I'm enjoying dad's gun?" Ha... I just told her "It has some issues." She said "Well, if your dad ever got a lemon... he'd get rid of it!" With that... I traded it!

I'm a retired engineer who worked a whole career on a premium dealer product that many of you own. Manufacturers set internal goals on products then create processes to make that product in control.... 24/7 regardless who comes to work. It is obvious to me that Beretta isn't doing this. Sorry for the long response.

 

Every manufacturing company out there has at some pt had product go out the door with issues. Some like to drive it home more than others.

 

First, you say "they're the greatest". Then its "well sure... that's post '94" Now its "others suck too!"... 3rd grader stuff.

Watch a video how Beretta assembles barrels! They wire them together with solder/flux in the stack and run through a furnace. Parts move, they get starved joints, and flux corrosion. Its mentioned here alot. FAR CRY from paying someone to solder the parts correctly in a fixture as other makers do. You're too busy singing your stupid 682 song to pay attention.

 

First, you say "they're the greatest". Then its "well sure... that's post '94" Now its "others suck too!"... 3rd grader stuff.

Watch a video how Beretta assembles barrels! They wire them together with solder/flux in the stack and run through a furnace. Parts move, they get starved joints, and flux corrosion. Its mentioned here alot. FAR CRY from paying someone to solder the parts correctly in a fixture as other makers do. You're too busy singing your stupid 682 song to pay attention.

Why don't you get on the Perrazi forum, You'll have a large audience with that statement.

 

I am cheap. I did look at several used 682's when I wanted to change guns. Maybe looking for a 682 at the trap shoot vendors just produces well worn ones>? I went with a new 686 SP1 instead. I got it for a really good price. Then I bought a used stock and fore end with real checkering from Coles and had Tron add an adjustable comb. I like the lightweight Optima HP barrels. The metal work on the SP1 seems just fine to very good. The stock is pretty poor looking. The laser substitute for checkering does grip well if you are not fussy about looks. I am pretty old and like a fairly light gun (8lbs 3 oz) with light barrels. If you are a 682 guy from the past I see no reason to think that a new SP1 would be any where near that level of gun in terms of wood and fit and finish. The 682 was a premium gun at the time it was made. Maybe compare it to the 694 now. But certainly not a SP1.