doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Beretta S58s question

Howdy all.

I picked up this beauty Beretta S58s Trap gun in 12ga up here in Canada awhile back. All original. It cleaned up really well. Locks up tight, AA proof markings = 1975 build. Original oil finish wood which I buffed with 0000 steel wool and then added two coats of Scherell Schaftol in dark walnut. I was going to use TruOil but the original finish was in good shape. Only complaint, and it’s a small one is that the top strap is a little proud of the wood. Stock does not look refinished at all. Looks original. Was this likely just a quality control issue with the earlier guns?

If it's tightened down, with no broken tang screws, perhaps the wood dried and shrank or twisted a bit?

It’s definately tight. No broken screws. Maybe shrunk?

Stock re-headed to give more drop perhaps at some point ?

Good theory, but the bottom strap is perfect. I think maybe it was built on a Friday at 1500hrs after a lunch that included a lot of vino rosso.

Or like many things Italian, it didn't matter so no one cared

The Beretta S58 trap models I've seen all had a montecarlo stock.

I have to agree. That is a lot of exposure, even for a gun of modest grade. It looks from the top like the action is canted sideways in the stock, but the bottom doesn't indicate it. My guess is that a plain field stock was acquired and bolted on for field use and the trap stock tossed or mislaid.

So, now to find a trap stock.

I found this info. I wish we could go back in time to help solve these mysteries. My good friend thinks maybe it was refinished and some scratches sanded out but that’s a lot of wood to remove and it would have affected the checkering. It shoots well and that’s all that matters.

If you read closely the advertisement above, it plainly states "S58 Skeet are as above" and it does not show the S58 Trap. The S58 Trap will have a much straighter stock. IMHO the reason the metal is significantly proud of the wood on the OP's S58 is due to a stock change. The dimensions listed verify there was a significant difference.

You haven't said what you are going to use the gun for. I agree with NC Tarheel- And this will probably start an argument and I wouldn't want to insult someone's gun- but unless that type of gun is used for doubles trap, it is not a real trap gun that is used by 99% trap shooters. True "trap" guns have a single- not a double barrel. That is probably why the configuration is all out of whack for a trap gun. Yeah, yeah I see people shooting trap with their 390s and call them trap guns. And companies will call them trap guns. But, if I see a gun with two barrels that tells me that it is intended for two shots. And you can't load both barrels when you shoot trap. Unless you are shooting doubles trap. So, you have a nice gun that I would use for skeet or sporting clays and let it go. I wouldn't let a little proud wood bother me if you shoot the gun well the way it is. If you want to shoot trap- you can buy a nice used BT-99 for - not that much money and have a better trap gun. But that's just me. Good luck.

Ah, yup. Some prior owner did not like the Monte Carlo stock. Thanks for the insight.

If you look around, that might not be that tough a stock to come up with. I thought I saw an aftermarket supplier (Macon?) having them listed.

Or, shoot it the way it is. If you run 25 straight at something the first time out, don’t change anything.

Best,
Ted

Jimmy, you're right. I never did say what I was going to use it for. I have a dedicated Trap gun. I bought this guy from an online shop to basically hunt with. Full and IM is pretty good for the bush roads up here. Plus a pretty nice looking Beretta for just north of $1k was hard to let go.

Thanks everyone!!

Regardless, the Beretta S58s are very nice shotguns built tough to withstand the rigors of heavy shooting. They are worthy of doing the things necessary to get them in a shootable condition to fit you and your style of shooting.