Gun Trade News Issue 82

Beretta Silver Pigeon V Sporter

Matt Clarke finds a gun for all seasons in the new posh Silver Pigeon

"This gun is designed for the shooter who is attached to the Silver Pigeon but wants a bit of an upgrade, without spending EELL money. At around £4,000 you get a good-looking gun that will stand the test of time.

"Sporters are clay busters, but I wouldn’t hesitate to use this one on driven game. If you are knocking down most of the birds you put your gun up to, then no one is going to mock you for using a Silver Pigeon.

"It has earned its place in shooting folklore for a reason, and gets the respect of even the most discerning shooter. The great handling, combined with the crisp, predictable trigger pulls made this gun a joy to shoot."

"Over the years, the Silver Pigeon has won a place in the hearts of many shooters because of its faultless reliability, and it has been the first serious shotgun for many.

"The gun comes in many forms. I own a Field I version, which is entry level, but for this article I am testing the new Silver Pigeon V Sporter. It has the same guts as my version, but has been upgraded in terms of wood, engraving and finish.

"I often use car analogies to explain the position of different types of shotgun in the market to those new to shooting. For me, the Silver Pigeon and Browning’s 525 are the Ford Mondeo of the shooting world. They are unpretentious, have great handling, are well made, affordable and do the job. They also come in different levels of finish, so the Silver Pigeon V would be the equivalent of a Titanium version of the Mondeo."