Mightymariner Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 I have a Beretta Silver Pigeon with 30" barrels, it's a couple of years old and weighs in at 7lbs 8oz. Anyway, I am finding it quite heavy and unwieldy to shoot. I do love the Silver Pigeon though but could do with something about a pound lighter. Would the same gun with 28" barrels be much lighter? Or is there an alternative Silver Pigeon that would fit the bill? If anyone has an ideas, I would be grateful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 There will be a slight difference. If you have shorter barrels the balance point will be different. The balance of a gun is more important than the overall weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 The game versions are usually lighter and of course there's always the Ultralight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Hello, go on Berettas web site and check out the game and ultralight 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 16 minutes ago, Mightymariner said: though but could do with something about a pound lighter. 6 1/2 pounds for a 12 o/u will I think only be found in the 'Ultralight' category. 6 1/2 id more s/s territory, and probably lighter than average even there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Just my opinion, but I much prefer light guns and find anything over 6 1/2 lb to feel too heavy. I like a short, fast handling gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 1 minute ago, London Best said: Just my opinion, but I much prefer light guns and find anything over 6 1/2 lb to feel too heavy. I like a short, fast handling gun. Do you often shoot a couple of 100 bird registered competitions in a day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Just now, TIGHTCHOKE said: Do you often shoot a couple of 100 bird registered competitions in a day? Don’t be silly, I wouldn’t go near one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 6 minutes ago, London Best said: Don’t be silly, I wouldn’t go near one. Fair enough, I have O/U's, SxS's Semi-Auto's and Pumps. Correct tool for the job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Foster Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 A very rough guide is that each "inch of barrels" is about 35g so a 28 inch set would be 70g lighter at the end and you could remove 100g of wood from the stock to balance it out. Overall that might save you about 5% of the overall weight. Getting a field gun would be better, perhaps 15% lighter. Your better option would be look at something like an Ultralight which is designed ground up to be low weight whilst maintaining balance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 8 minutes ago, London Best said: Don’t be silly, I wouldn’t go near one. HORSES for ETC., ETC 1 minute ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Fair enough, I have O/U's, SxS's Semi-Auto's and Pumps. Correct tool for the job EXACTLY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mightymariner Posted December 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Thanks for the advice. I will have a look at the Ultralight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 1 minute ago, Mightymariner said: Thanks for the advice. I will have a look at the Ultralight. Make sure you can try one. The reason I say this is that lighter guns recoil more ....... and unless it really fits properly, recoil may be troublesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 (edited) 48 minutes ago, Mightymariner said: I have a Beretta Silver Pigeon with 30" barrels, it's a couple of years old and weighs in at 7lbs 8oz. Anyway, I am finding it quite heavy and unwieldy to shoot. I do love the Silver Pigeon though but could do with something about a pound lighter. Would the same gun with 28" barrels be much lighter? Or is there an alternative Silver Pigeon that would fit the bill? If anyone has an ideas, I would be grateful. Do you know the balance point on the gun ?? I shot a a DT11, 30" Sporter on Saturday. I estimated it's weight to be around 8lbs., in fact it's weight is a shade over 9lbs. It was all down to the balance of the gun, which was about 3/4" behind the trunnions. A friend with a Browning 525 Sporter with 30" barrels was suffering the same symptoms as yourself, 3 ozs. of lead in the stock sorted the problem. A lighter gun is NOT always the best solution. Edited December 7, 2020 by Westley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Or a 20 bore? Built on a smaller action, smaller scales, a lot lighter, and you can shoot 30/32g cartridges through them, although don't see that you would need to to be honest. I shoot 25g 6's recently with very good effect. Isn't that the point of the smaller bore's? smaller size and weight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 An 8 or 9 pound gun would be no use to me. The wife would struggle to carry it to the peg, what with all the cartridges as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin55 Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 13 minutes ago, London Best said: An 8 or 9 pound gun would be no use to me. The wife would struggle to carry it to the peg, what with all the cartridges as well. Likewise and she struggles with more than a brace picking-up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 If I ever have to trade her in for a new one I’m not having one of those skinny dolly birds next time. I want a big strong one who can carry a pair of guns in a double bridle leather slip, together with a 250 bag of cartridges, and can chuck bags of dog food in the car all day. I’ll wake up in a minute! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 4 minutes ago, London Best said: If I ever have to trade her in for a new one I’m not having one of those skinny dolly birds next time. I want a big strong one who can carry a pair of guns in a double bridle leather slip, together with a 250 bag of cartridges, and can chuck bags of dog food in the car all day. I’ll wake up in a minute! ... I hear those Eastern European ones you get online have a good work ethic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Just now, Lloyd90 said: ... I hear those Eastern European ones you get online have a good work ethic. Yeah, but I swear I saw one with a moustache! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Chapuis OU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 My guns both weigh 8lbs. I have one or other in my hands so often that I never feel their weight. I suggest enrollment in the gym section at Kenwick Park to build up muscles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 I am a long way from being a six stone weakling myself, but I have preferred light guns since I first tried one about 1967. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldfish Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 I love my SP 30" in 12b but for a 6lb carry I take my 20b SP 30" simple 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 I was introduced to shooting by my godfather - who was an exceptional shot (mind you he got a LOT of practice) - and always used very light guns. He had a trio of 'featherweights', a true pair and a slightly later single matched as no 3. He had been taught by Percy Stanbury (and was a similar build being fairly tall and 'stringy') and shot a very 'classic' style with virtually straight left arm and hand well down the (I think 28") barrels. He gave me my first gun, which is a 12 and weighs 6 1/4 lbs for 28" barrels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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