jimmyb79 Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 Hi all, As the topic title says really... I own a Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon III 20bore with fixed chokes at 1/4 and 3/4. I've been invited to join a syndicate shooting mainly pheasants but also some duck over a flight pond that they have. Being a duck shoot, steel shot is a must and I was wondering if anyone knew whether my gun will take steel shot. As far as I am aware it has 3" chambers but I cannot seem to find any advice anywhere... James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonnyR Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 Check out this link; http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/ind...?showtopic=2788 I think you will be OK but would ask your local Beretta dealer or GMK just to be sure. cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastSussexLad Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 All the steel shot cartridge boxes i have, it states you must use steelshot in chokes 1/2 or under, with it being 3/4 and f/c.. i wouldnt put steel through it anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted August 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 (edited) Cheers guys, have emailed GMK just to see. The bottom barrel is 1/4 and top is 3/4 choke - so if I wanted to play it safe I guess I could load bottom barrel only! Edited August 27, 2009 by jimmyb79 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodshot Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 hi have you tried bismuth as this should fine, though a little more expensive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted August 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 Thanks Goodshot - got quite excited then until I saw that Justcartridges.com sell the Eley VIP Bismuth at £767 for 1000!!! ( and that's the cheapest!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 you could get 4 hatsan escorts as well as 1000 carts for that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 I used to run steel through an iMod choke (3/4) all the time as that was the tightest recommended choke for steel. I'd have no problems running your gun with the loads you're talking about. Thanks Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 The bottom barrel is 1/4 and top is 3/4 choke Are you sure about that? I have the same gun, and mine is 1/4 & 1/2 Just use lead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted August 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 I thought the chokes were a bit different to normal too, but my gunsmith checked and confirmed that the top barrel was 3/4. Have had a response back from GMK who have confirmed that it'll be ok but only up to 1/2 choke...so that's bottom barrel only for me for now! I think the answer will be to have the top barrel opened up to 1/2 choke as I think 3/4 is generally a bit tight for the kind of shooting I do anyway. Thanks for all the replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted August 28, 2009 Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 just curious, but now did your smith check? Did he measure the diameter or check the stamps? Thanks, Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted August 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 (edited) Funny you should mention that. He used a choke gauge - but I couldn't tell you if he accidentally may have used a 12g one. I've been speaking to GMK who have got me checking the stamps now and its now worse than I thought - the markings are: F o M ooo Which I suspect means that top barrel is full choke and bottom is 1/2. The kind of shooting I want to do has no call for a full choke, so if it is indeed a full choke I have to decide whether to take just the top barrel to 1/2 and have a 1/2 and 1/2 gun or do the bottom barrel too and have 1/2 and 1/4. I'm going to be mainly rough shooting (pigeon and rabbit) with some walked up pheasant. The reason I need the choke opened up is to enable me to use steel shot for shooting ducks over a flight pond. Any advice appreciated... Edited August 28, 2009 by jimmyb79 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted August 28, 2009 Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 hmmmm i'd get a 2nd opinion. I'm 90% sure that beretta ONLY offered this gun (in game variant) with 1/4 and 1/2 This would tend to agree - http://www.sportsmanguncentre.co.uk/produc...ed+choke+Field/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted August 28, 2009 Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 And here... http://www.nsac.co.uk/new%20beretta%20shotguns%20game.htm Are you sure its a SP3 ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted August 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 (edited) Definitely an SP3 - I was starting to think it was a bit odd until I found this: http://www.faanderson.co.uk/Shotguns/Beretta.html This particular company only stock the 30" 20b in either 1/2 and full choke or multi-choke. The 28" barrels come with 1/4 and 1/2. - There was me thinking I did my homework before I bought! I think I'll just get the top barrel opened to 1/2 choke and run with 1/2 and 1/2 to see how I get on with that. Edited August 28, 2009 by jimmyb79 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight32 Posted August 29, 2009 Report Share Posted August 29, 2009 Are you sure about that? I have the same gun, and mine is 1/4 & 1/2 Just use lead :yp: I would'nt say that even in jest- As for the Beretta 3/4 is too tight for steel, you would probably get away with it but not worth it. Just use Bismuth or Tungsten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted August 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2009 Good call - I fell in love with the gun as soon as I bought it. The last thing I want to do is wreck it with steel shot through a tight choke. I'm going to go and see the gunsmith about opening it up to 1/2 and 1/2 next week - that should be sufficient for what I'm using it for. Cheers for all your thoughts - much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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