Description
There's a reason the Silver Pigeon keeps coming up whenever someone asks for an over/under recommendation, and it has for more than 35 years. The 686 action is compact, low-profile, and built around dual conical locking lugs seated mid-action between the barrels rather than stacked on top of the receiver. That design keeps your lead hand closer to the bore line, which means a flatter, more connected swing and the kind of pointability that makes crossing targets feel easier than they should.
What the Sporting Version of the Silver Pigeon I Brings
This is the Sporting configuration, so you get the details that matter on the clays course: 30 inch barrels for a smooth, deliberate swing, a wider rib with a mid bead for a cleaner sight picture, and a manual safety that stays where you put it between stations. The star of the show is the B-Fast adjustable comb, Beretta's system that lets you tweak height, drop, cast, and rotation until your eye lines up dead center down the rib every single mount. Getting proper fit without a trip to the stock fitter is a big deal, especially if you shoot skeet one weekend and sporting clays the next.
Steelium Barrels and Real-World Versatility
The barrels are Beretta's Steelium tubes, deep drilled and cold hammer forged from the company's tri-alloy steel with a lengthened forcing cone that smooths out recoil and tightens patterns. The Optimabore HP profile handles lead, steel, and high-performance steel loads without fuss, and five flush-mount Optima HP choke tubes let you set up for anything from close incomers to long crossers. Chambers are 3 inch, so light target loads and stouter field loads are both on the menu.
A 20 Gauge 686 You Will Not Outgrow
Oil-finished walnut, refined floral engraving that now wraps the receiver tail and hinge pins, a polished stainless steel trigger, and a redesigned top lever that opens with noticeably less effort round out the package. A 20 gauge sporting gun like this carries light, hits soft, and breaks clays with authority. It arrives cased and ready for the range, and it's the kind of gun that ends up getting handed down rather than traded in.
Key Specifications
- Manufacturer: Beretta
- Model: 686 Silver Pigeon I Sporting
- Manufacturer Part Number: J686S2030BF
- UPC: 082442070209
- Gauge: 20 Gauge
- Action: Break Action Over/Under
- Barrel Length: 30 in
- Chamber: 3 in
- Capacity: 2 Rounds
- Barrels: Steelium, Optimabore HP profile
- Choke System: Optima HP, 5 flush tubes included
- Stock: Oil-Finished Walnut with B-Fast Adjustable Comb
- Trigger: Single Selective, Polished Stainless Steel
- Safety: Manual
- Rib: Vented Sporting Rib with Mid Bead
- Recoil Pad: Beretta Extralight
What’s Included
- Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I Sporting shotgun
- 5 flush-mount Optima HP choke tubes
- Hard case
- Owner's manual
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the B-Fast stock on this 686 Silver Pigeon I Sporting adjust?
The B-Fast system is Beretta's adjustable comb, and it lets you fine-tune comb height, drop, cast, and even rotation. That means you can line your eye up perfectly down the rib without sanding wood or paying a stock fitter. It's a genuinely useful feature if you shoot registered targets or just want a repeatable mount.
Is the 20 gauge Silver Pigeon I Sporting good for sporting clays and hunting?
Yes, and that crossover ability is a big part of its reputation. The 30 inch barrels and wider rib with mid bead are set up for clays, but the 3 inch chambers and light-carrying 20 gauge frame make it a very capable upland gun too. Swap chokes and you're ready for either job.
What choke tubes come with the Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I Sporting?
It ships with five flush-mount Optima HP choke tubes, giving you a spread of constrictions right out of the case. The Optimabore HP barrel profile is designed to pattern well with lead, steel, and high-performance steel loads, so you're covered for target work and field use alike.
Does this Sporting model have a manual or automatic safety?
The Sporting version uses a manual safety, which is what most clay target competitors prefer since it stays off between shots at a station. Beretta's field versions of the Silver Pigeon typically use an automatic safety instead, so this is one of the details that sets the Sporting model apart.





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