For over 35 years, the Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I has been the gun that other over-and-unders get measured against, and the newest generation gives the 20 gauge model the most meaningful update the platform has seen in years. Built on Beretta’s legendary low-profile 680-series action, this isn’t a redesign so much as a refinement: every change is aimed at making a gun that already handled beautifully feel even smoother in the hand. If you’ve shot a Beretta Silver Pigeon before, this one will feel familiar. If you haven’t, it’s an excellent place to start.
The headline change is the top lever. Beretta redesigned its geometry and repositioned the release pin, so opening and closing the action now takes noticeably less effort and feels smoother throughout the stroke. Paired with improved receiver balance and a polished stainless-steel trigger, it adds up to a gun that’s more pleasant to run all day at the club or in the field — a real plus for newer shooters, young shooters, and anyone taking lessons on the platform. The 20 gauge, already prized for its light, lively swing, benefits from this even more than its larger-bore siblings.
Beretta also gave the engraving a genuine upgrade rather than a cosmetic tweak. Using a 5-axis laser capable of engraving rounded surfaces with continuous, seamless detail, the floral pattern now extends to the receiver tail and hinge pins for the first time, with a fine micro-line background that adds real depth to the scene. It’s the kind of detail you notice every time you break the action open, and it’s a step up from the standard scroll-and-rose look Silver Pigeon owners are used to.
Under the barrels, the gun still relies on what’s made the Beretta Silver Pigeon I a go-to for so many shooters: cold hammer-forged Steelium® Optimabore® HP barrels built from Beretta’s exclusive tri-alloy steel, with deep drilling, vacuum distension, and an extended forcing cone for dense, uniform patterns with lead, steel, or high-performance steel shot. In 20 gauge, that translates to low recoil and minimal muzzle rise without giving up the pattern density serious wingshooters and clays shooters expect. Select European walnut stocks are available with a higher 35/55 drop for improved handling, offered in both right- and left-handed configurations, plus a semi-Montecarlo Vittoria option for shooters who prefer that stock profile.
Whether you’re chasing upland birds this fall or looking for a lighter-recoiling gun for the sporting clays course, the updated Beretta Silver Pigeon 20 gauge is worth handling in person. Stop by Rivers & Glen to see the new engraving and feel the redesigned action for yourself — our team can walk you through stock options and fit so you leave with a gun that shoulders right.
Rivers & Glen Trading Co. is an authorized Beretta dealer serving Charleston, SC, and customers nationwide. Shop the Beretta Silver Pigeon for sale online or visit our gun room to handle it in person.
Rivers & Glen Trading Co.
