BL 3 | Dogs and Doubles

Online auction alert: 20g Beretta BL-4, 28″ bbls …

April 18, 2020 by Gregg

Beretta BL-4 20 Gauge 28" Barrels — Beretta BL-4 20 Gauge 28″ Barrels

I’m always on the lookout for deals, and this 20g Beretta BL-4 looks like a good one to me. It’s on Gunbroker.com now and the online auction ends tomorrow, 4/19, @ 10:01 PM.

Upside: I think it’s in great shape, it looks like it has a nice, long LOP thanks to the professionally-installed pad. It also has 28″ barrels, 3″ chambers, and ejectors.

Downside: The opening bid is $1,295. So not a steal, but a deal.

Beretta’s BL-grade shotguns were imported from Italy by the Garcia Corp in the ’60s and through the ’70s. They feature a shallow, low profile action scaled to match the gauge and they were build to be rugged, reliable doubles that delivered a lot of quality for the money.

Beretta BL-4 20 Gauge 28″ Barrels: Choked light mod / Mod. The chokes were opened up from Mod / Full and a recoil pad installed by Briley Mfg in 2012. The LOP is 15 inches. The cast and drop were not adjusted. We do not know if the gold leaf on the action is factory original or not. It was present when the gun was purchased from an estate in 2010. The gun is in excellent condition and has been fired very little since it was acquired from the /estate. The action is tight and on the face.

Auction alert: Minty Beretta BL-3 20g, 28″ …

August 28, 2019 by Gregg

Beretta BL-3 BL3 20ga 20 Ga 28" STUNNER NEAR MINT — Beretta BL-3 BL3 20ga 20 Ga 28″ STUNNER NEAR MINT

Here’s another chance for you to get a deal on a great OUs. This Beretta BL-3 is on Gunbroker.com now and the listing ends tomorrow, Thursday, 8/29/2019, @ 8:10 PM.

Beretta’s BL OUs are solid, reliable guns, and it looks like this one is in great shape. Here’s more info about it from the seller.

Beretta BL-3 BL3 20ga 20 Ga 28″ STUNNER NEAR MINT: The gun is in excellent condition and functions perfectly. We grade this gun at a conservative 99%. Please look at the pictures and judge for yourself. The 28-inch barrels are marked ++/+++ which in Beretta signifies Improved Modified / Modified. The bores are both shiny and clean. It is equipped with a vented rib and a single brass bead front sight. The receiver is tastefully engraved on all sides. The walnut furniture is gorgeously grained with a matte finish and checkered for a secure comfortable grip. The gun has been shot very little and the mechanics are 100% and very tight as one would expect of a brand new Beretta. This is a perfect lightweight shotgun for bird hunting or a day of clay pigeons. No box is included. The following measurements were are approximate!!! 2.25″ Drop to heal. 7.75″ Drop at comb. 14″ Length of pull.

Auction alert: 20g Beretta BL-3 OU, an all around great double …

June 25, 2019 by Gregg

Beretta BL-3 20 gauge 3-inch chamber 28-inch o/u

Still kicking yourself for missing the last one of these I posted? Well, here’s another chance for you to get a deal.

This 20-gauge BL-3 is on Gunbroker.com now, and the listing ends 6/30/2019 @ 2:06 PM. Even though the starting bid is $850, if you can get this over-under for less than a grand you’ll be getting a deal.

Beretta’s BL-line of OUs were imported into the US in late ’60s and into the ’70s and marketed as solid shotguns at fair prices. They still are both those things, and with low-profile actions and modern dimensions, they’re great hunting guns.

Beretta BL-3 20 gauge 3-inch chamber 28-inch o/u

Beretta BL-3 20 gauge 3-inch chamber 28-inch o/u: Gun is in excellent condition. Bright bores choked modified and improved modified. Single selective trigger. LOP 14 1/4 inches. Extractors. Weighs 6lbs 3oz. Wood has a few light marks and scratches. No chips or cracks. Metal finish is nice-just a couple very small marks. Test fired-works as it should. Starting bid: $850

Auction alert: 28g Beretta BL-3 OU shotgun, 28″ bbls …

January 4, 2019 by Gregg

28g Beretta BL-3 OU shotgun, 28″ bbls

I’ve gushed about these Berettas many times before. Imported into the U.S. by the Garcia Corporation in the late ’60s and early ’70s, they were good deals in their day. Today, they’re one of the best buys you’ll find in a bird gun.

Simple, rugged, and well made, this 28g is a ton of gun in a sexy, lightweight package. And its 28″ barrels make it extra special.

It’s on Gunbroker.com now, and the listing ends tomorrow, 1/5/2019 @ 11:23 AM. Even though the bidding on it starts at $950, it’s still a great deal (and it looks like it might sell for close to starting-bid amount).

Beretta BL3 28 gauge. 28″ barrels choked modify and full. Toe has a small crack that has not been repaired. LOP – 14 1/8″ DROP AT COMB – 1.5″ DROP AT HEEL – 2.5″. Weight: 6.00 Pounds

Great gun alert: 28g Beretta BL-3 OU…

September 20, 2017 by Gregg

BERETTA - Model BL-3 - 28ga, 28" M/F - Single Selective Trigger - RARE - 1971 — BERETTA – Model BL-3 – 28ga, 28″ M/F – Single Selective Trigger – RARE – 1971

Here’s a great excuse to get a another double. This Beretta BL-3 is an awesome OU and just about perfect as-is for grouse and woodcock.

The Garcia Corporation imported Beretta BLs in the ’60s & ’70s. Personally, I think they’re better over-unders than the 686s and other boxlock models Beretta built afterwards.

For a long time, Beretta BLs were under appreciated. That’s not the case any longer. So if you like what you see, get on it now. This little 28 gauge won’t be on the market long.

BERETTA – Model BL-3 – 28ga, 28″ M/F – Single Selective Trigger – RARE – 1971: Vent Rib, Extractors, Single Selective Trigger, LOP 14-3/8″, Drop 1-1/2″ to 2-1/4″, Weight 5 lbs. 15 oz. Price: $1975

Auction alert: 20g Beretta Bl-3, 28″ bbls, no reserve …

October 29, 2015 by Gregg

Beretta BL-3 20 gauge O/U, 28" bbls. F & M chokes — Beretta BL-3 20 gauge O/U, 28″ bbls. F & M chokes

I know I’ve been binging on these OUs lately, but these Berettas really are nice doubles. And when I see a chance for someone to get a deal on one, I feel obligated to point it out.

This one is on Gunbroker.com now. It’s being offered at No Reserve. The listing ends 11/1/2015 9:00:00 PM ET.

Beretta BL-3 20 gauge O/U, 28″ bbls. F & M chokes. Wood has only a few marks in it and the metal has light wear. Made in 1969. S/N V015xx

Good gun alerts: Beretta BLs in grades 3, 4, & 5 …

October 22, 2015 by Gregg

If I had to name one shotgun a best buy, it would be Beretta’s BL line of OUs. These guns were imported into the US in the ’60s & ’70s by the Garcia Corporation. With various degrees of engraving and a touch better finishing, I think they’re a bit more refined the 686s Beretta offered in years later.

This first Beretta BL is a BL-3 in 28g. It’s listed on Gunbroker.com at No Reserve, and the auction ends on 10/25/2015 5:58:16 PM ET.

Rare Beretta BL-3 28 ga. O/U: Arguably the finest Box Lock Beretta ever manufactured. This rare 28 gauge is choked S/S. Barrels measure a tad over 26 in. Length of pull is about 14 inches from the pachmyer pad (done right) to the trigger. This beauty is in Excellent condition. I am including a reprint of a Garcia Imports magazine featuring the shotguns from Beretta dated from 1969-1970. A true quail destroyer!

This next one is 20g BL-4. It’s also listed on Gunbroker.com at No Reserve, and the auction ends on 11/1/2015 8:00:00 PM ET.

Beretta BL-4 O/U 20 gauge, 20 ga, 26″ bbls: Really nice Beretta BL-4 over/under 20 gauge. LOP at 14&1/8″. IC & Mod barrels. Takes 3″ shells. $45 shipping via USPS priority to FFL. Sales to California okay with prior permission from your FFL.

This last one is a BL-5 in 20g. This one is on Gunbroker.com, but it’s being offered at a fixed price: $2,475. That’s a lot, but I’ve seen very few BL-5s. If you have to have one, here it is.

BERETTA BL-5 Over Under, 20g, 27″ bbls: This is a rare, and highly sought after Beretta BL-5. Please do not confuse this with the S-57 models. Each is clearly marked on the receiver. Some individuals would have buyers believe they are the same. They are not. The BL series is the finest box lock guns that Beretta ever made. This example has a 27″ barrel, vent rib, single trigger, and gorgeous wood. The chokes are F/M.

Traveling with a travel gun…

March 27, 2012 by Gregg

Traveling with a nice double barrel is an uncomfortable experience, especially when commercial airlines are involved. I’ve heard too many horror stories about favorite guns being damaged or stolen to rest peacefully when my side-by-sides are in the sky.

Worry about the landing, not about your guns

A couple of years ago I eliminated some of this anxiety by buying a travel shotgun. I picked a 20 gauge Beretta 686 Onyx with 28″ barrels. It’s an all around over & under that handles everything I hunt and all the ammo I need to stuff into it (including steel).

Most importantly, it’s not collectible and easy to replace. So if I lose it, or if it ends up severely damaged, I won’t cry because a valuable, hard to find side-by-side has been ruined.

Here are a couple quality double barrel shotguns that I think would make great travel guns. They’re nice guns, too, and I would be proud to carry either one in the field.

An affordable, meat-and-potatoes option: 12g Beretta Bl-3 O/U, 28″ barrels

If you run with a fancier crowd, this one’s more upscale and traditional: 12g Beretta 470 SxS, 28″ barrels