Beretta 690 Field 1 20-bore reviewed by Shooting Times
For an entry-level gun, Beretta’s neat little over-and-under offers all the design features you’d expect and won’t let you down, says Roger Glover
I have become somewhat blasé regarding the various models produced by Beretta. To the uninitiated, the dealer’s rack appears to have an array of products from Beretta that look the same. They share similar lines in style, they have ranges based upon the same action and different actions are similar in design. It is all very confusing if you are not aware of the differences. But therein lies the strength of the basic Beretta design, the key points that it holds on to and carries forward with every revision of its range.
The Beretta 690 Field 1 is one of those revisions. The success of the 692 Competition gun led to the natural conclusion that a field or game gun based upon it would be well placed within the Beretta line-up. Beretta produced two models, the 690 I and 690 III, the first being entry level and the second presenting a higher-grade gun in terms of engraving and stock grade.
The 690 1 is available in both 12- and 20-bore with a choice of 28in or 30in barrels; the version on test is the 20-bore with 28in barrels.
Verdict
An absolute gem of a gun to use
