Beretta 690 Field I shotgun reviewed by Shooting Times

When a gunmaker is established with a strong following, there still arises from time to time the need to bring something new to the market. There are three possible routes. First, something new and revolutionary that could be a great success or could offend previously loyal customers, for shooters are ever conservative and sometimes fickle.

Another relatively safe option is a quick dressing-up of an existing model — perhaps an eye-catching chequering pattern, a brighter finish around the action and a bit more decoration. This worked well for years in the UK — think of all those Anson & Deeley boxlocks made in the Birmingham trade where the main differences were the finish and the name.

The third route is one of subtle improvement, building on an existing design — evolution rather than revolution. This is the philosophy that Beretta has followed with the 690 Field I. It is, of course, related to the 692, the competition gun that preceded it, and is a variant on the slightly more expensive 690 Field III.

The Beretta 690 Field I shotgun is still a Beretta

First impressions on liberating the 690 Field I from its sturdy case were very much that a Beretta is still a Beretta with the familiar shape and basic style one expects. The distinctive screw-in hinge discs (or trunnions) are still there, as are the shoulders projecting from either side of the top barrel that the twin-tapered locking bolts engage.

Having said that, the action body appears a little sturdier than the old 680 series and has a very clean-cut look. This is in part due to the decoration around the fences and the crisp shaping of the decorative side panels.

Another eye-catching feature is the neat top rib having full-length contact with the barrel and quite delicate ventilated cut-outs. Narrow, “file cut” and topped with a traditional foresight bead, it is very much what most customers would expect on a game gun. What many aficionados might not expect is a shiny, silver- coloured plated trigger so there is no chance of wearing the more common gold plating away until the trigger looks shabby.

Leaving the technical detail aside for a moment, much of the design will be comfortably familiar to Beretta users, including the shaping of the raised panels at the head of the stock, the size and curve of the pistol grip and the laser-cut chequering pattern. The fore-end has what is often called an English-style rounded end, though the drop from the front of the knuckle produces a slightly sow-bellied look. However, it has a practical and comfortable feel in the hand, which is important.