Beretta Silver Sable II opinions?

[Longwalker]

I have found an interesting used double rifle that could suit me well for local hunting of moose, elk and bears, and, I think, serve pretty well for my next trip to Africa. The cartridge seems like a versatile fit for me and my interests. I like the idea of a double rifle, don't need a true big bore, and like over and unders. I already shoot Beretta O/U shotguns. But I don't know anything about this rifle.
Beretta Silver Sable II 9.3x74R with a S&B 1.5-6 scope in Recknagel QD mounts and with illuminated reticle. It is regulated with 286 gr. bullets.
Your opinions / cautions / praise / scorn - please? It is priced at Canadian $7000, about $5600 US. A decent value or not?

 

[Bullthrower338]

Beautiful rifle at what seems like a fair price in an excellent chambering!

 

[008]

I love them, tried to convince Beretta to build me a new one unsuccessfully. Ended up ordering a Rizzini 92S same caliber. Get it and post a report!

 

[Longwalker]

Anyone here actually shoot one or know someone who has one? I have to be sure it's a keeper before I buy, the resale market for something like that around here is nil.

 

[PaulT]

Longwalker.

If I were you I would request, from the dealer, that you be able to purchase a box of factory ammo for which they suggest to you that the rifle was regulated with at the factory and that you fire THE FULL BOX in order to get an average for 20 shots to check regulation.

I urge you to check regulation BEFORE dumping that kind of coin on a double.

 

[Longwalker]

Good suggestion PaulT. The shooting test may be tricky, since it is a private sale of a used rifle and no Canadian dealer imports the particular Sako ammunition that it is regulated with. If the seller will not allow a refund & return after firing I know my answer.

 

[fsrmg1]

I have one of these and she shoots any ammo that I've loaded up with projectiles from 270-300 grain in the 2200-2350 range. It throws them all into the same place and is the only double rifle I've owned that will shoot both barrels into a 1" - 1 1/2 " group at 100m and worthy of a scope.

 

[cem rona ergin]

my brother has one in beretta London shop .. chambered in 30 06 . he bought it and never picked it up .
if anybody is interested ..

 

[dwboso]

Buy it!!!!!

 

[cem rona ergin]

i cant not in england ..thats why i posted here

 

[CAustin]

Nice engraving!

 

[Longwalker]

The seller agreed to send it to me with one week approval period with return privileges and some ammo to shoot. Will report back later!

 

[Red Leg]

I owned one for a couple of years in 30 '06. Ended up trading it against something I wanted more (story of my gun owning life). Nice little rifle. Recoil is noticeable. This essentially a 20 bore shotgun used as the basis of a rifle. Mine seemed very solid and the Beretta 686 action is very stout. I think the 9.3 makes far more sense in a double rifle. Be careful with the little S&B scope. That particular model has fairly short eye relief. Don't bury it in your forehead first time you shoot it off the bench!

 

[008]

very nice! post some pics when you take it out.

 

[Velo Dog]

Hello Longwalker,

One of my friends here bought one in 9.3x74R that, included 20 gauge shotgun barrels.
I fired it as a rifle and found it to be extremely well regulated with 286 grain bullets.
I think we were shooting Nosler Partitions (285 grains ?).
They were definitely his hand loads, with heavy for caliber bullets but, I'm not positive the bullet brand any more, as this has been perhaps 14 or 15 years ago.
Personally, I liked the rifle / shotgun idea and I like that caliber specifically.

However, as he needed to drift the rear sight just a fraction to the left and tapped it a couple times with his little brass head / plastic faced Gunsmithing hammer, the entire rib fell off.
The fail bonding material (looked like solder) looked "foamy', in that it was riddled with thousands of tiny bubbles.
Obviously, when the solder was applied, they let it become contaminated, either with fast moving air (as from a fan on high speed) or maybe, tried to apply it in a very dusty environment ?

Beretta USA told him to send it to some choke tube maker (Briley ?).
He sent a complaint to Beretta but was not satisfied with their response if any.
He concluded that Beretta was generally unconcerned with his "flying rib" complaint.
I do not recall if he sent it to the not-Beretta choke tube company or not but, I do recall that someone re-attached the rib and he sold it.
To this day, he will not even examine any Beretta product in sporting goods stores, etc.

Hopefully that was not indicative of Beretta as a whole and only reflects directly on whomever the two "shruggers" were (the one in The USA who told him to send it to some other company and whomever read his complaint in Italy).

For myself, If I wanted it, I'd buy it.
If the rib flew off from drifting the rear sight, I'd just bite the bullet and have a Professional Gunsmith here, silver solder it on properly.
I have owned two Beretta firearms and recall them being of very high quality.

Best regards,
Velo Dog.

 

[Longwalker]

Well, the flying rib has me a bit nervous, but I sent my money away this afternoon. Wish me luck!

 

[Longwalker]

A bit more background on this purchase, as a warning to be sure you are dealing with an honest person over the internet. I answered the ad placed on the Canadian Gun Nutz site, but saw the exact same rifle advertised on Armslist in the USA. Seller said he didn't advertise on Armslist. So I verified this deal by having the seller send me his business card and call me using FaceTime while showing me the rifle in a video call. I'm confident in this seller after all that, but buyer beware!
our typed conversation below....


On Nov 3, 2017, at 2:54 PM, Gxx Pxxxxxxxxxxxxx <g.pxxxxxxxxxxxx@sasktel.net> wrote:

Paul, it seems that the identical rifle in all respects was advertised for sale on a USA site? but it’s not yours? Has a scammer been using your information? Makes me nervous.
http://www.armslist.com/posts/57351...x74r-with-schmidt-and-bender-stratos-1-5-8x42

"Wow, that is my gun! With the same photos with the carpet ripped out of my basement. And my exact words in the ad. How it got here, I have no idea. I’ve only advertised on CGN and AO before.

Funny, cause I was looking to buy another firearm and called the number listed and the lady said she never posted it.

That’s spooky. And for what purpose I have no idea. "

Sent from my iPhone

 

[Velo Dog]

Well, the flying rib has me a bit nervous, but I sent my money away this afternoon. Wish me luck!

I presume the weak / tainted solder work was discovered before many rifles left the factory.
So hopefully the loose rib was a freak.
The devil-may-care response my friend received from Betetta was however alarming, to say the least.
However, I repeat that if I wanted it, I'd buy it and if the rib falls off, I'd pay a professional local Gunsmith to properly silver solder it on.
Likewise, currently I have heard there are industrial adhesives that are less labor intensive to apply, than soldering is and yet more than strong enough to withstand for example, milling machine work.
So, it'd be very maddening to get the cold shoulder treatment from Betetta if it needs work but, at least it would be fixable.

 

[sierraone]

A bit more background on this purchase, as a warning to be sure you are dealing with an honest person over the internet. I answered the ad placed on the Canadian Gun Nutz site, but saw the exact same rifle advertised on Armslist in the USA. Seller said he didn't advertise on Armslist. So I verified this deal by having the seller send me his business card and call me using FaceTime while showing me the rifle in a video call. I'm confident in this seller after all that, but buyer beware!
our typed conversation below....


On Nov 3, 2017, at 2:54 PM, Gxx Pxxxxxxxxxxxxx <g.pxxxxxxxxxxxx@sasktel.net> wrote:
half of the guns listed on Armslist are scams from other sites. I tried to used them twice back 2-3 years ago. Both times what I was responding to were POS scammers!

Paul, it seems that the identical rifle in all respects was advertised for sale on a USA site? but it’s not yours? Has a scammer been using your information? Makes me nervous.
http://www.armslist.com/posts/57351...x74r-with-schmidt-and-bender-stratos-1-5-8x42

"Wow, that is my gun! With the same photos with the carpet ripped out of my basement. And my exact words in the ad. How it got here, I have no idea. I’ve only advertised on CGN and AO before.

Funny, cause I was looking to buy another firearm and called the number listed and the lady said she never posted it.

That’s spooky. And for what purpose I have no idea. "

Sent from my iPhone

 

[Longwalker]

Siarraone it took while to see your message within the quote - ( perhaps it would be better to type a comment outside the quotation?) "half of the guns listed on Armslist are scams from other sites. I tried to used them twice back 2-3 years ago. Both times what I was responding to were POS scammers! "

I have made over 100 transactions on Canadian Gun Nutz and have never experienced a dishonest deal. Returned two items for flaws that were not disclosed, accepted one item that was not properly described, and that is the worst of it. Armslist should be avoided it seems. Perhaps there is a difference in the online buy-sell culture between the USA and Canada, but in any case I'm going to be somewhat more cautious in the future.