We could appeal to the courses and appeals of history to propose yet another interesting study by the Beretta for its hunting over-under: we are deeply pleased that the Italian manufacturer, whose magnificent peculiarities it is superfluous to underline, also maintains and develops this gun sector. for which, here in Italy, too many are rowing against and with not disinterested vigor. Well: Anno Domini 2021 Beretta proposes an over-and-under perfectly aligned with the current feeling, that of lightness, and decidedly out of the box with respect to current executions for this specific purpose. The following is the sum of the peculiar characteristics of the over-and-under called Ultraleggero: we are pleased to underline how the new product has been given an Italian name.
The most followed way to lighten a rifle is the adoption of a receiver in Ergal, the aeronautical aluminum alloy with many beautiful characteristics of resistance, workability and more: it lacks that appearance and that sound that many will say little, but that to a circle of passionate lovers of harquebusery they still say a lot in terms of pleasant handling, sight and use. The use of weapons, especially hunting ones, is often linked to a romantic vein and a hint of poetry: it is true that many will think that these considerations are related to fried air, but so much so they still say a lot to us and in the possible choice of a rifle, the solution of steel always makes a premium over the other. Starting from the classic action frame of the Mod. 690 with half-pins and trunnions seal, lateral shoulders with contrasting inclined planes and closing with two truncated cone pins, the problem is how to act to maintain the use of the iron-carbon alloy plus other components without weighing on the weight : the technology and the computer intervene by indicating where and how much to remove the superfluous, maintaining the necessary robustness.
Thus we observe the skeletonized sides and back of the receiver, a not very nice term, but which is commonly used in mechanics when excavating or even creating trabeations by removing from a whole those portions not directly involved due to the solidity of the structure: a time and before the advent of carbon achievements, many racing car and motorcycle frames were beautifully perforated, as had the 6-cylinder front-facing engine of the Honda CX 1050 cc in which the gearbox axles were hollow and the relative gears lightened with this system, very brisk and very practical.
Now lightening the action of a rifle requires a combination of gunsmithing art and calculator to identify the points where to operate and this is how we acted in the new Ultralight: the game does not end in taking up, but continues in adding. In fact, the perforation would not be aesthetically pleasing and in Beretta it was decided to exploit it to set technopolymer inserts where innovative floral motifs with inclined surfaces reflect the light in a very particular way. All the prerogatives of steel therefore remain together with lightness and this revitalizing embellishment.
Other peculiarities
There is no shortage of accessory parts in which the aluminum alloy can provide its right support such as the underguard and the new cross system derived from that of the Mod. 694, an example of reduction in the masses with a different system of release of the rod from the rod group. The self-regulation of the system over time is also appreciable. It should be noted that the concave surface retains a steel thickness: the draft of the rifle is based precisely on the contrast between this part and the action hinge, so it would be technically improper to contrast two metals with a marked differential in mechanical strength.
Likewise, in the choice of woods, the pre-eminence is given to the lower specific weight, identifying in the walnut grade 2,5 the balanced sum of the factors of strength, workability and performance: in addition, the increased internal excavations subtract other grams and also the butt plate Extralight® with closed cells, to avoid absorption of liquids, it is designed to soften the recoil sensation with a weight reduced by 30% compared to a classic counterpart.
The trigger is entrusted to a traditional single trigger system with a button selector inserted in the slide of the safety to which is added the option of double single trigger: a rediscovery of the not forgotten monobigillo of the 70s, basically two triggers that each act as a single trigger: the first gives priority to the lower barrel, the second to the upper one. This device is also offered as a separate system and can be mounted by a gunsmith on the over / under of the 680 and 690 Series. The extractors are similar in construction and operation to those of the Mod. 694 with springs placed behind the extraction slide and tablet stop.
Barrels and chokes
The Ultraleggero mounts the rods Steelium Optima Bore HP in Beretta tri-alloy steel, offered in lengths of 61 - 66 - 71 - 76 cm, equipped with deep drilling, cold hammering and vacuum stretching. The junction of the barrels sees minimal portions of the two lateral ribs in the breech and in the muzzle while the sight rib is solid with dimensions of 6 × 6 mm. The double 80mm connection cone offers excellent shot patterns with any type of ammunition, reducing wheelie and recoil.
The chokes Optima Choke HP internal, 70 mm long, are designed for the use of any shot, including steel. In addition, therefore to be purchased separately, the choke tube is proposed Paradox OCHP with a radial core therefore excellent in arranging perfectly garnished rosettes at very short distances between 10 and 15 meters: a solution that woodcock-makers should try to fully appreciate it. To conclude, we would like to point out that the Ultraleggero is supplied in an ABS case with a bottle of lubricating oil and a group of 5 chokes with key and electronic card for accessing the instruction manual on the web.
We conclude with the most evident note: the overall weight of the speargun, with 61 cm barrels, is equal to 2800 grams, about 404 g less than the classic Mod. 690. We add nothing but the curiosity of a test of shooting tickles us a lot both with the loads of shot from 24 g from clay pigeon and with those from 56 g of 12/76 from anatidae.
Data Sheet
Builder: Pietro Beretta SPA Arms Factory - via Pietro Beretta, 18 - 25063 Gardone VT (BS) - Tel. 030 83411 - Fax 030 8341399 - www.beretta.com
Model: Ultralight
Type: shotgun with two smooth overlapping barrels
Caliber: 12/76
Operation: tilting barrels
Body: in alloy steel machined on the tool with lightening trabeations
Batteries: short
Rods: 61 cm long (alternatively 66, 71, 76 cm) Steelium OptimaBore HP - junction with breech monobloc - lateral ribs limited to the apical portions of breech and muzzle
Chokes: interchangeable (5)
Triggering device: direct clicks with single trigger and selector on safe slide - offered separately from the new one double single trigger
Extractors / ejectors: automatic
Line of sight: 6 × 6 mm solid rib - spherical front sight in nickel silver
Safe: with button on the upper side of the receiver with firing selector
Stock: two-piece - class 2,5 walnut woods with oil finish - pistol grip and shaped temple - black rubber buttplate Extralight® with closed cells
Finishes: special finish on the receiver with technopolymer inserts with differentiated refraction of light - burnished barrels
Weight: 2800 g with 61 cm barrels
ABS case with 5 chokes, wrench, oil bottle, and electronic card to view the instruction booklet on the web