SV10 Beretta Perennia Review

SV10 Beretta Perennia Review. This month’s test gun is a 20 bore, 28”, SV10 Beretta Perennia 3 (the 3 designates game scene engraving - a Perennia 1, with scroll, is due shortly). When the model was first launched in 12 bore form it caused quite a stir.

This month’s test gun is a 20 bore, 28”, SV10 Beretta Perennia 3 (the 3 designates game scene engraving - a Perennia 1, with scroll, is due shortly). When the model was first launched in 12 bore form it caused quite a stir. Beretta have had a phenomenal success with their 600 series/Silver Pigeon type guns (themselves evolved from the models 55 and 56). Arguably the most successful over and under of all time, the Silver Pigeon is a hard act to follow. Nevertheless, the new gun managed to impress. One friend, another shooting scribe, noted he shot better with the 12 bore Perennia than with any previous Beretta. I was not quite sure about its modernistic styling, but thought it well engineered, and was very pleasantly surprised by its excellent shooting qualities.

Built on the new SV10 ‘chassis’ (which is also the basis of the Prevail clay guns), the Perennia has some intriguing features. A family resemblance with the 600 series remains, but it is a very different gun. There are still classic Beretta conical locking bolts and bites and barrel shoulders of trapezoidal shape, but the Perennia’s shoulders are asymmetrically shaped and larger than those on the 600 (so you can’t swap barrels).

The action may look quite like other Berettas with its proportions and silver, but look a little deeper and the changes become apparent. The body of the action has been reshaped. The engraving is generically familiar but of a new pattern. There are asymmetrically shaped panels on the action walls and asymmetric scalloping to the rear of the action. You might swap a few parts with a 600 style gun – sears, hammers and inertia block for example. But, that’s about it. This no cosmetic exercise – its a completely new gun. Beretta make clear moreover that the SV10 is the basis for a new generation.

Although the 600 series guns are legendarily tough, the SV10 has been re-engineered to make it even stronger. If the 600s had any issue, it was that they might not be quite as lively as other guns. The Perennia designers have put a ot of thought into handling, the profile of the barrels has been changed and the weight changed to improve dynamics (something Browning have also been addressing recently in their updated 525s). The 12 bore version of the Perennia gun comes to face and shoulder well. It feels pointable and steady. The 20 bore version, which is built on a scaled down action, is an absolute delight! Pointable and steady too - notably so for a 20 - yet lively aswell.

The test gun had good stock shapes, and, the wood itself was excellent with pleasing figure and good density. I liked the plain field style forend (so much better than a Schnabel), the grip was fairly open radiused and quite small (typical Beretta, but comfortable) and the comb was well proportioned. The Length of Pull was 14 5/8” – a bit short perhaps. The drop measurements were 1 3/8” at the front of the comb and 2 ¼” at the rear – a little low. Nevertheless, the gun came up well as noted save for the stickyness of the pad on its (optional) Kick-Off gizmo which caused the odd mounting glitch. This was quickly solved, however, with a little black vinyl electrician’s tape on the heel (something always kept in the Yardley pocket).

Don’t get the wrong impression, I thought the stock generally good. It certainly suited me, and I did not notice that it was a little shorter and a smidgen lower than my preference. I might also mention that the stock is attaching to the action in a new way on these SV10 guns. It involves a stock bolt much shorter than the average. The 'Q-stock' system as Beretta calls it uses a torque key inserted through a hinged trap in the grip base for rapid removal. When the stock is off, moreover, one can use the same tool to take out the trigger mechanism.

Shooting Impressions

Well, sometimes I find a gun that really suits. This was one of them. I do not normally opt for 28” barrels in a 20, but these felt fine (though the gun might be even better with 30” tubes). I shot some quite testing long (35-40 yard) clay crossers with our little Perennia, and whacked them all. I had three other guns out on test the day I shot it – all twelves – and this was by far the best (and the most fun) to shoot. It was also interesting in that the Kick-Off anti-recoil device seemed to be more effective on this model than other Berettas I have shot. Bluntly, I have not always liked the Kick-Off, on some guns, it seems to create a bouncing effect at the shoulder, but on this 20 bore it really seemed to do its job. I have put a lot of cartridges through the gun, including by favourite 20 bore fodder – 32 gram Express 5s (which are usually reserved for a 7 pound plus 32” ‘super-twenty’). I can honestly say that I noticed no excess recoil. I took the gun out on a wonderful end of season walk-up with my son and old friend Andy Riva. Shooting near the coast at Walton-on-the-Naze, I accounted for 4 woodcock, two cock pheasant, and a wood pigeon. The Perennia SV10 gets my vote. I would like to try one with 30” barrels now, but I doubt if it could get much better.

New Beretta Silver Pigeon 1 32” Review by Michael Yardley

Guns find their way into these pages by different means. Sometimes, one hears of something new from a distributor, or, sees something that especially appeals on visiting a show, or, gun shop. Occasionally, a friend or acquaintance will mention a new gun is especially worthy of consideration. The PR people who work for the big importers are often active in promoting their own product too (as you would expect them to be). Generally, though, I prefer to choose things for myself and by dint of own research and jungle telegraph. Guns are particularly likely to gain my attention if they are the sort of kit that I might use myself. That may not sound very objective – it isn’t, and, there are exceptions – but it is truthful. I think you can always make the best job of reviewing a product that really interests you.

This month’s gun certainly ticks all my boxes. We recently tested the new Browning 525 30” which was a genuinely outstanding Sporter. Back-bored, with reduced barrel weight, it was clearly a winner, and marketed at an excellent price as well. Well, throwing caution to the winds once again this month, we have another simply stomping gun – a new 32” Opti-bored Beretta Silver Pigeon Sporter.

I break with precedent again, giving my verdict early, because it is such a remarkably good gun for the money. Why hold you in suspense unnecessarily? Arguably, moreover, I would say this is probably the best Beretta that I have ever tested when you consider it in a cost:quality context. A big claim. Why am I raving so much about it? Because I shot it! It did the biz.

It all happened by accident too. I stopped in at West London on the way to the Barbour Linhope Challenge the other day which was happening a little way down the M40 at West Wycombe (and which my some small fluke my team managed to bag). I had some time in hand, and started chatting to friends in the shop. “You should have a look at this new Beretta” “What new Beretta?” “The Silver Pigeon 1” “I’ve already tested it” “The 32 Sporter?...” “A 32” Sporter?” “Yup, and Opti-bored too” “Show me!”

West London must have had one of the first of these Long Tom Silver Pigeon 1s in the country. In standard form it is an impressive gun offering great value for money, but this 32” Opti-bored, Opti-choked gun is outstanding (like the new and similarly priced Browning 525 as noted). It was immediately evident when I picked the new Beretta clay buster that it was a winner as well. The gun is extremely pointable with light – 1430 gram – tubes and a well proportioned, taper, rib.

This is the lightest set of standard barrels that I have seen on a 32” Beretta. And, to put that into some sort of comparative context, let me note that Kemens – guns which I have a lot of time for when they are good – typically have barrels in 32” configuration weighing about 1550-80 grams, Perazzi, another brilliant competition tool, tend to be around 1600 grams, even 682 Beretta Gold Es usually tip the barrel scales at about 1450 grams. I am great believer in relatively light-for-length barrels as a means to achieve the apparent paradox of pointability combined with swingability.

So, our Silver Pigeon has notably light barrels, but they are not too light. Nor is the gun especially light overall. It weighs in at 8lbs 1oz. I would say this was about right for a serious sporter. The barrels weigh 3.2 pounds in ‘real money,’ minus the forend. They are distinguished not only by a full Opti package – larger bore, long chokes, long forcing cones etc. – but by an excellent 10-7mm taper rip which is as good as anything that you will come across. There are solid joining ribs which extend just beyond the forend tip (they are absent beneath as is the modern Beretta and Perazzi norm).

The sighting rib itself is vented and equipped with a relatively large white bead (my one point of criticism, for the sole reason that this design of bead seems prone to coming loose. The gun has 3” (76mm) chambers and is proof tested at the branch of the Italian proof house within the Beretta 1 factory in Gardonne. Chokes are flush fitting (though you could easily add some extended tubes without over-stretching yourself). The barrels, of course, are monobloc, well up to the usual Beretta standard and have engine turning on the side of the monobloc which always looks good.

Beretta Silver Pigeon I Review

The rest of the gun looks, well, like a Beretta, but there are some subtle differences if you look hard. The action design is classic Beretta 600 series – trunnion hinging on stud pins, conical locking bolts, and, (solid) barrel shoulders which engage in the action walls as per usual. There is a slightly different finish on the receiver compared to Silver Pigeon S model. Older Berettas had a high nickel content on the plating which could make them look a little yellow, this is more steel coloured with a slightly different scroll pattern. It looks as if the engraving may been applied by a new process, moreover. Aesthetically, it works.

The stock does not present any unpleasant surprises either. Not much new to report - but nothing bad. The grip is fairly open, the comb, showing some taper, comfortable without being too thick, and there was quite a deep, heel and toe radiused, pad fitted, for a length of pull of 15”. One could lose ½” of that without gunsmithing with a thinner pad. Drop is a standard 1 3/8' and 2 1/8' at heel. The Schnabel is the familiar Beretta snabel.

Shooting Impressions

I don’t think these could be much better. It was a superb gun to shoot regardless of the price tag. Forgiving and fun. It points well as discussed, felt recoil with 24 gram cartridges was low. It was natural to use and, though quite large, moved well with less weight forward than is the norm in most modern sporters. Trigger pulls were pretty good too (better than a more expensive Beretta I tested recently). Here's the bottom line. For the money, it is probably the best gun that I have yet tested! Taking money out of the equation, you know what? It is still one of the best clay guns tested here in recent years (well, the Kemen Titanium might just pip it – but, it is 40 or 50 times the price). If you need a new clay gun and don’t want to take out a mortgage – buy one. There is a 30” version (also Opti-bored) if 32” sounds a bit too much gun, but I would go with the 32, it's outstanding.

Technical Specifications

Make: Beretta

Model: Silver Pigeon 1

Bore: 12 (Opti-bore)

Beretta Silver Pigeon Ii Price

Chamber: 3” (76mm)

Beretta Silver Pigeon 1 Game Reviews

Rib: 10-7mm

Beretta Silver Pigeon 1 Specifications

Chokes: flush fitting Opti

Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon For Sale

Weight: 8lbs 1oz.

RRP: from £1495