Beretta 471 SxS

quail hound

quail hound

Moderator
Has anyone ever handled, shot, owned or even seen one or are they a fabled creature like the Ruger gold label or S&W SxS?
 
I have only seen a 471 in a gun store...a 12 ST, as I recall.
A stab at an improvement of the older 626 Beretta....I had one of those.
I believe one supposed improvement with the 471 was the intercepting sear arrangement...not very critical at all but....a sales point.
My 12 gauge 626EL or 627, I forget which it was now was extremely muzzle light...gun weighed 6 3/4# with trigger pulls that weight or heavier.
I had Eyster work on the triggers and comp choke the barrels...even so, I could never get with that gun and finally traded it off.
Never missed it.
The specs of that gun appeared near perfect for it's use and occassional live pigeon level loads but it was a perfect example of the best of dimensions and particulars when brought together, failing.
I'm guessing this new-er 471, late 90s or so, eh?, may have addressed some of the earlier guns issues so...maybe it is a peach.
Fwiw, my impression of the 471 remembered today from that gun store long ago is...nothing to write home about.
 
Hopefully by next season (not the one soon approaching) I will be purchasing a nice 20ga, dt, English stock SxS. Right now I'm leaning towards an AyA 4/53 or XXV but I would like to get an impression on and handle as many similar priced guns as possible. I haven't read any great reviews on the Beretta but you never know until you shoulder it. Thanks for the impression.
 
I have thought from time to time about a 471 Beretta myself but my first choice in a SxS would be a Winchester Parker Reproduction 20 or 28 English stocked single trigger ejectors. A course a 21 Winchester in 20ga would be very nice as well. If a S&W Gold elite comes along I may buy one.
 
They do exist, I own 2. I was quite particular in wanting a few "non- traditional" features not in the English pattern as I wanted hunting guns to cover a wide variety of situations and ammunition. I wnated one from the first I saw it in the Beretta catalog 20 plus years ago. It took 15 years of growing and trading before I got the 12. Mine is a single trigger English stock with 28" barrels and choke tubes with color case hardened finish.

A couple years later a 20 guage came up identical excpet for 26" barrels and even nicer wood.

I can't imagine anything better for me. Top quality, excellent balance, fantastic flexibility. I swear I can hit something blindfolded- and I'm giving the gun and fit the credit, not me. I once hit a rising pheasant at 20 yards one handed while retrieving another with my left (and no, I'm sure I could never do it again).

I'm convinced its all about fit of course so its just a matter of picking one up. If it sfits its great if it dont its not. If you werent 1500 miles off you could take them for a spin.
 
quail hound said:
Has anyone ever handled, shot, owned or even seen one or are they a fabled creature like the Ruger gold label or S&W SxS?
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The S&W sxs was quite common at one time and has been re-invented as the Dickinson--Cabela's features them. I have seen three Gold Labels in my time. There is a custom Model at Cabela's in Mitchell for $10,000 if you are looking for an investment.
 
A buddy of mine has a Gold Label, handles very nicely, very thin wrist.

However its back at the factory for the second time. Earlier in production they had "loaners" they offered to folks it was such a common occurrence.
 
berettadouble said:
A buddy of mine has a Gold Label, handles very nicely, very thin wrist.

However its back at the factory for the second time. Earlier in production they had "loaners" they offered to folks it was such a common occurrence.
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THE ONE I HELD WAS VERY THIN IN THE WRIST AND I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STRENGTH AT REAR LOCK-UP. tHE 12 GA BARRELS SEEMED OVERSIZED SITTING ON THE WATER TABLE AND SHOULDERS.
 
Uncle Buck said:
THE ONE I HELD WAS VERY THIN IN THE WRIST AND I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STRENGTH AT REAR LOCK-UP. tHE 12 GA BARRELS SEEMED OVERSIZED SITTING ON THE WATER TABLE AND SHOULDERS.
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I've read the exact opposite when someone was claiming they were thick-wristed (throughbolt?).

I don't know a lot about them, but I think they're perceived as pretty good modern SxS's.
 
I bought one of the S&W gold elte's over the winter with some of my gun money and haven't had any problems with it at all. The one I have is single trigger and 26" barrels and is choked to ic & m. You can get them with 28" barrels and double triggers as well. It comes with a lifetime warranty and it passes on with the gun to whomever you give it to when you go to the great hunting fields beyond.
 
I've casually looked at the Dickinson sxs at Cabelas, more seriously looked at the AyA 4/53, and then somebody on here mentioned a Merkel 1620 (16 guage on a 20 guage frame), my oh my, checkbook is going to hurt in the future.
 
I have one of the S&W Elite Golds. The beauty is they were available at close out prices of around $1195. A complete steal. the 4/53 wil go for about twice that and the Merkel 1620 double that. Not making any comparisons, but the S&W is one Hell of a gun for the money. Trouble is they are now getting harder and harder to find. The 26" single trigger guns are around but the 28" DT guns are hardly available. The Dickinsons at my local Cabela's are nice and also available in a 12 ga. Something the original S&W guns were not.
 
sneem said:
I have one of the S&W Elite Golds. The Dickinsons at my local Cabela's are nice and also available in a 12 ga. Something the original S&W guns were not.
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My fear on the S&W and the Dickinson is what if it breaks? Since S&W isn't marketing them anymore, will they honor the repairs on them? Is Cabela's the only importer of the Dickinson's? What happens when one of the internals breaks and nobody is around with any pull to get repaired or replacement parts? I guess you've got the same problem if you bought any of the old classic doubles anyway, but the question still goes through my head.
 
S&W has a lifetime warranty on them and will work on them like their handguns. I have one that came with paperwork stating that they would.
 
Had to drag this back up as my itch for a nice dt, english stocked sxs is really flaring up. Now I'm looking at the Merkel 1620 and 47e or old English guns. Come on guys, give me some more ideas as to what I want to drop some coin on.:D I'll probably have to buy sight unseen as nice sxs are rare around these parts but I know the dimensions that fit me so at least I have that.
 
Myself, I have a hankering for a Winchester reproduction Parker, a Grulla or AyA..Merkel's are dandy's also. I really want a nice 28ga SxS with incredible wood, case colored receiver, ejectors and single selective trigger. The Winchester reproduction Parker comes the closest to me. Might have to settle for double triggers and extractors if the gun has nice enough wood.

Oh, and straight grip English stock too.

Here's a real nice 20ga Parker Reproduction

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=319466129
 
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While I have never owned one, I have handled and examined a few 471s and I think them to be fine firearms for the money, if they fit you.

Check Gunsinternational.com, they have several 471s in twenty bore and of English style. May be something there of interest to you. There is also a very nice Merkel 1620 (in proper bore size:rolleyes:) at the 16ga.com classifieds.

Good hunting!
Bob
 
Unfortunately the S&W Gold Elite warranty is a payment of what you paid for the gun. If you have trouble and bought it at CDNN (where a lot of us did) S&W will give you your money back IF you bought it new, have the warrranty card and a receipt, that is it. They don't work on them anymore. I agree they are a very nice gun for what I paid for mine, $1199 but the ones I see on GunBroker for $1600 make me shutter.
Cabelas has brought out the Dickinson 202 SXS in 12b, 16b and 20b. They are, from what I have read and from looking at mine, are the same gun. Before I bought a S&W from GunBroker for $1600 I would buy a 20b Dickinson from Cabelas for $1599.

On a side note, I have a 1620 Merkel for sale if anyone is interested. :thumbsup:
 
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