northernneil

I'm happy to take photos for you..... (Of the gun!)

Give Dartford a go too, not too far away. Staff are REALLY helpful there's many different disciplines to try.

So, I'm assuming that my 2001 evo is called as an early original then? You have my attention now lol, other than a few small 'dinks' in the stock it's very good condition. (I'm looking to see if it can be steamed without the wood being sanded back) So, what would be a price for it? I know it's difficult to say without seeing it, but a ball park figure? I'm trying to get to a 682 Gold E....

That fits in with what I've got then, the date code on the barrels dates to 2001, and I was wondering the difference in the S and normal E. That there, is fantastic info, thank you! :-) I have to admit, it feels totally different to my normal 686S.

Thanks for the reply Kes, but in not sure that thread has explained any more, it was more of a "which one out of the two" kinda thing.

I've come across a Beretta S686E (pretty cheap actually!) and was wondering more about it. Now, obviously I know about the 686 but was wondering the difference in the normal E and the S686E? Pictures I have seen indicate the should be 686 Evo written near the muzzle but mine doesn't, however all the numbers seem to match up. It's a very clean gun which looks as though it hasn't been used much, still tight etc, and unmarked barrels (refer to my other thread for that! Lol) There just doesn't seem to be much info on the "S686E"

Well, that's certainly interesting! I didn't know such a process existed to be honest. GMK have had a bore scope down it and have assured me it is a scratch. To be fair, I think I'm going to have to take them at their word, I'm quite sure they ain't in the game if letting people fire things that are not safe? It's a back up gun anyway and a few people who have seen it (the gun shop I went to in order to RFD it to GMK) have said they're also certain it is, in fact they offered me a trade in for it when they could see I wasn't too sure. The barrels on these are chrome lined, I know there's no removing it so I'm left with 2 choices, buy another set of barrels (difficult ult without putting them on a card as she's just bought a Caribbean holiday for next year :-/) or live with it for now providing it is safe. I will buy another set of barrels just as soon as I can, or chop both this one and my 686 Gold E for a 682 Gold E at some point!

The thing is, even if it does pass proof, it's still gonna look rubbish. I dunno, if I send it off to Italy, is it likely to start getting expensive for me? I'm unsure that they're going to agree to a proofing at their risk... Then where do I go from there? Lol

Another update. GMK have the barrels and have inspected them. They're saying it's a scratch that's possibly been caused by a foreign object in the cartridge, or a cleaning brush! (Not sure on that myself as it's a perfectly straight line, I'd be working hard to clean it so straight!) They say it's safe to fire so I ask if they'd put a report together saying so..... "Erm, I'd have to ask my manager but he's not in till next week" These barrels are chrome lined and shouldn't scratch, they have 300 bits of lead going down them every few seconds in use! They also say there's nothing they can do with it to try and make it better. To be honest, I'm not confident of firing it with whatever it is remaining there, and I've no chance of selling it. Beretta via Facebook are saying if I'm not happy with the response to get GMK to ship them to beretta in Italy. Really, I'm after opinions, what would you do? I don't believe these barrels should've scratched so badly to begin with?

I used a soft bit of solder wire to have a feel and could feel a lip on it, but I'm (as you can tell!) no way an expert on guns. It's going back now so at least I'll know one way or another and I'll post up any further info I get. Many thanks all. :-)

Just a quick update, I took the barrels over to my local ground which also has a shop and gunsmith on site. They were of the opinion that it's a scratch caused by lead fouling (one or the other!) They reckon it can be fixed however the barrels on currently on their way to GMK so they can have a look (and repair) and feedback and defects etc to beretta direct. Greenfields did offer to send it to Birmingham for repair but said Andy at GMK really wanted to look at it. If this turns out to be a scratch I'm going to feel an idiot, on the same hand, I've no idea how it could've happened.

Well this has escalated quicky! Lol. WW, hopefully I'll be I touch tomorrow, I think I've nearly sweet talked her round. :-) And for the record gents, I know I'm not going to get anywhere with either GMK or Beretta, however I can promise you that since I've had it, the gun has had nothing bigger than 7.5 28g put through it. Anyway, onwards and upwards!

This is getting hard work lol! I'm guessing the only way of contact them is via phone and hoping someone speaks English as the website asks what country I'm in, it'll just bounce the email to GMK surely? They reckon they'll fit them barrels for me Dafydd, for the standard cost! Lol

There is no other way of contacting Beretta in the Uk? It looks like it's GMK or nothing?

I keep looking for the like button on these posts haha! Right, Andy from GMK workshop has just called me and basically said I'm weeing in the wind as if he returned it to beretta they'd just say it was out of warranty. He also admits he's never seen it before either and wants me to RFD it to them (at my cost) so they can have a look and try and sell me new barrels. While he was trying to be helpful, I also got the impression of 'tough luck matey' from him. I'm off to find beretta on Facebook, I've already tweeted them but could only find the USA account.