Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon 500 Year Limited Edition: Expert Review, Specs & Performance

Table of Contents

• History and Heritage of the 500-Year Edition
• Construction, Mechanisms, and Engineering
• Calibers, Chokes, and Ballistic Characteristics
• Field Performance: Hunting and Clay Shooting
• Pricing, Pros, Cons, and Expert Verdict

History and Heritage of the 500-Year Edition

Founded in 1526, Beretta is the oldest active firearms manufacturer in the world. To commemorate its monumental 500th anniversary in 2015, Beretta unveiled the Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon 500 Year Limited Edition. This is not merely a standard over-under; it is a collector’s masterpiece built on the legendary 687 platform. Distinguished by a deeply engraved receiver featuring a commemorative "500" medallion and subtle gold-inlaid accents, this limited run celebrates half a millennium of gunsmithing supremacy. The engraving style pays homage to classical Brescian scrollwork. Each shotgun is paired with exhibition-grade, hand-oiled European or Turkish walnut, showcasing deep, vibrant figuring and precise 24-lines-per-inch checkering. It arrives in a bespoke, velvet-lined commemorative wooden case with a numbered certificate of authenticity, cementing its status as a generational heirloom.

Construction, Mechanisms, and Engineering

The core of the Silver Pigeon’s legendary reliability lies in its robust, low-profile boxlock action. The 500-Year Edition retains the proven steel monobloc barrel assembly, ensuring perfect alignment and enduring strength under heavy field use. The barrels are deep-drilled, hammer-forged, and chrome-lined to resist corrosion, reduce fouling, and ease cleaning after harsh waterfowl hunts.

A defining feature is Beretta’s mechanical trigger system. Unlike inertia-based systems, this guarantees the firing of both barrels even if the primary trigger mechanism is compromised—a critical reliability feature for waterfowlers in freezing, muddy conditions. The single selective trigger is paired with an automatic, mechanical tang safety that engages seamlessly upon opening the breech. The action is secured by a robust underlug extension with dual locking lugs, providing a tight, rattle-free lockup that enhances longevity. Vector balancing ensures the gun swings smoothly, making it a natural extension of the shooter’s body.

Calibers, Chokes, and Ballistic Characteristics

While the 12-gauge is the most sought-after configuration, the 500-Year Limited Edition was produced in 20-gauge, 28-gauge, and .410 bore to cater to diverse shooting disciplines and regulatory environments. The 12-gauge models typically feature 28-inch or 30-inch barrels, chambered for 3-inch magnum shells, offering versatile payload options.

The shotgun utilizes Beretta’s Optima-Choke HP (High Performance) system. These extended, conical chokes are engineered with a specific taper to reduce shot deformation as it exits the muzzle, yielding denser, more uniform patterns. Ballistically, a 12-gauge loaded with 1 1/8 oz of #7.5 shot at 1200 fps delivers lethal energy and tight patterning out to 40 yards. The effective hunting range is consistently 35–45 yards. Clay shooters benefit from predictable, flat trajectories and a minimal recoil impulse, thanks to the gun’s exceptional weight distribution (typically hovering around 7.5 to 7.9 lbs depending on barrel length).

Field Performance: Hunting and Clay Shooting

In the field, the Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon 500-Year Edition excels as a versatile upland and waterfowl companion. Its lively balance makes mounting instinctive, allowing hunters to track fast-moving pheasants, grouse, or flushing woodcock with effortless precision. The chrome-lined chambers handle modern steel and bismuth shot without issue, making it a highly reliable choice for duck and goose hunting.

For clay target enthusiasts, this over-under is a formidable competitor in sporting clays, skeet, and trap. The low bore axis minimizes muzzle flip, enabling rapid, accurate follow-up shots. The crisp, predictable break of the mechanical trigger allows shooters to maintain focus entirely on the target rather than fighting the gun. Whether navigating dense woodland or standing at a demanding, crossing sporting clays station, the pointability of the Silver Pigeon is widely regarded by instructors as industry-leading.

Pricing, Pros, Cons, and Expert Verdict

Price: At launch, the 500-Year Limited Edition retailed between $3,800 and $4,500, depending on the gauge and specific wood grade. Today, due to its strictly limited production run, it commands a premium on the secondary market, often appreciating in value as a collectible asset.

Pros:

• Unmatched historical significance and high collector appeal.
• Exceptional build quality featuring chrome-lined barrels and fail-safe mechanical triggers.
• Superior balance and pointability for both dynamic hunting and clay sports.
• Optima-Choke HP system delivers elite-level, consistent patterning.
• Includes premium accessories: matching wooden forend iron, custom Beretta choke wrench, and a numbered presentation case.

Cons:

• Premium pricing compared to the highly capable standard Silver Pigeon I.
• The ornate, high-relief engraving, while beautiful, may show handling wear faster in harsh, brush-heavy upland environments.
• Limited availability; finding one in unfired, new condition requires patience or premium aftermarket pricing.

Expert Verdict: The Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon 500 Year Limited Edition is not just a tool; it is a tangible tribute to 500 years of firearms evolution. It offers the rugged, absolute reliability demanded by serious hunters, perfectly paired with the refined elegance sought by collectors and competitive clay shooters. If you seek a definitive, heirloom-quality over-under that performs flawlessly in the field and looks magnificent in the cabinet, this limited edition remains an absolute pinnacle of modern gunmake