Hey Fabs!!!! What's your opinion on this?

[6.5s4ever]

Hi Fabrizio!, Its been a while since I posted on here, but I just got a used Beretta 687 EL Gold Pigeon Sporting O/U its a sweet looking O/U made in 1999 its near mint condition and I am using it for 5 stand. Have you ever seen one of these? Also I see Beretta is starting to use a new type of wood called Xtra wood from what I see it looks like a photo finish laminate and it looks like plastic to me! Whats your take on this ? I prefer real walnut myself! Regards Roy

[fabsroman]

Roy,

It is good to see you back on here posting. I have seen almost every Beretta made since 1990. However, with there being so many different models and game scenes, it is hard to keep everything straight. I thought about buying the 687 EL Gold Pigeon sporting when I bought my 682 Gold sporting. If I am not mistaken, it has an engraved plate kind of like the 687 EELL, but the engraving is of game scenes and there are highlights in gold in the engraving. For instance, either the game or the dogs are in gold. Am I right about this? How about posting a pic or two of the gun, or e-mailing them to me so that I can post them for you. Either that gun or a 687EELL will be my next o/u purchase, but that will not be for a couple more years because I am trying to buy an AR-10 and AR-15 in the near future.

I am not a big fan of Xtra wood on any competition gun or show gun, but can see its use for hunting guns. My dad uses a 686 Onyx for hunting that is 11 years old and it has a wood stock and forearm. I cannot tell you how many scratches and dents are in that gun because there are a heck of a lot of them. I love having a synthetic stock on my SBE because it allows me to be a little rougher with the gun than if it had a wood stock. For instance, I can push it through corn stalks or brush and not have to worry about scratching the stock. The thing about Xtra wood is that after you beat the crap out of it, you can get the stock redone with more Xtra wood. This screening service is offered by several places and it is done exactly like camoflauging a gun. I am actually thinking about sending my SBE out to have it done in waterfowling camo at the end of the season. I believe it costs $150.

Once the weather warms up and hunting season and tax season is over, I'll have to come up there one weekend to shoot your 5 stand course.