doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Beretta 424

Well, for reasons unbeknownst to me, someone has asked me for an opinion of said model Beretta. Now, I've had just a bit of experience with the O/Us, but, would consider myself a rookie with said SXS, since, if I ever held one, I can't remember it.
Gun is a non ejector 12 with double triggers, and plain wood. Individual will use the hell out of it, this guy shoots 5 times a week, and hunts from north of Hudson bay to South America, just looking at having a double to bring along. I doubt gun will get a bunch of cleaning, just enough to keep it from being called neglected. Appears to be a monoblock design, matte chrome on the action. It will have to eat any 2 3/4 12 load he feeds it, might be able to talk him into a more evolved non toxic than steel, but, maybe that, too. Gun has been used, but everything is OK mechanically.
I'm guessing it'll be fine. What say thee?
Best,
Ted

An Englishman would call it "cheap and cheerful". It's equal to old BL3 O/U.
PS. Yesterday I went for my usual 4 mile walk wearing PB 'Woodcock' jacket (rain was in the forecast). The tag said 'Tessuto Anitrovo idrorepellente'. Why do you suppose my "a$$ got wet to the bone? No more Beretta products for me, .... them!

"Water REPELLANT" ("idrorepellente", I'm assuming) is NOT the same as "water PROOF", not by a long shot. PB isn't the only company pulling that fast one.

In this country the plain jane 424 only came with extractors in 12ga and either 26" or 28" barrels. It is for all intents and purposes the blue collar hunter's version of the current silver hawk, until Beretta abandoned offering that market a sxs.

This model was intended to be a hunter, nothing more. So it should be just the ticket for this person's intended use. They seem to go for about $1400 in average condition. The only caveat is parts may be hard to find, but what else is new.

Perhaps you can talk him into one final cleaning before it lives in the trunk?

Pete

Plain, durable guns that are not particular about diet. 1 1/8 oz promos are punishing after about ten and I'm recoil indifferent for the most part. I saw a '64 Silver Hawk 28" m/f sell for $850 on GB last week. Beretta makes excellent guns. My gunner's jacket has never failed to keep me dry, either. Your experience might be different, contact Beretta and see what they say.

I think Rich Cole can fix pretty much all of the old Berettas. But they don't break often anyhow.

Ted,
The 424 is an excellent hunter. I have had one for many years. The action size is 16g. It is the lightest of the 20, 16, and 12g offerings in the 424 mod.. The 28" is my preference and it will handle all but the steel,HV or tungston iron ammo. It is a more modern coil spring arangement for what its worth. In good shape anything under a $1000. is good deal (IMHO).
Best,
Ron

I have a Beretta 425 in 12 gauge, 28" barrels, DT. Very nice gun for the money (under $1K about 5 years ago). Same chambers, chokes, dimensions, weight and wood as my GR3 with ST. For some reason, the 425 kicks a lot harder than my GR3. I like both, and shoot the GR3 a lot. Tell your friend to be sure the drawbolt in the stock is tight.