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Beretta SV10 Perennia Ft. Kick-Off Anti Recoil Device

Beretta SV10 Perennia Ft. Kick-Off Anti Recoil Device

I tested an early sample Perennia in Gunmart previously. Indeed, I first handled one at last year’s CLA Game Fair. But, the Perennia first seen in Gunmart had a conventional stock (save for the new ‘Q-stock’ butt removal system, of which more shortly). I was genuinely impressed with the new gun. It shot and looked well.

It might be noted in passing that we have tested a great many Beretta stack barrels at Gunmart during the last twenty odd years. Save for the new Perennia just mentioned, they have all been 600 hundred series guns (with the odd SO and ASE/DT10 upmarket exception). Now Beretta have a completely new model series based around the redesigned SV10 action. The idea is that these new guns will co-exist with the 600 series initially, though one can see which way the future is going, I suspect.

How is the SV10 Different?

First off, the action body has been reshaped. The hinge pins upon which the barrels pivot are bigger, as are the barrel shoulders. There is scalloping to the back of the action body which is asymmetric. The walls of the action have been restyled continuing with a modernistic asymmetric look. The decoration to action body is new as well (but typical of Beretta). The trigger blade is now made of titanium and the shape of the trigger guard has been streamlined.

The Perennia retains a clear Beretta family resemblance, the decorative styling, form and finish are all typical of this great gunmakers products, but, when you look at the mechanics of the new gun, one sees that the design team have been burning the midnight oil in various departments. A few parts remain common with the 600 guns – the sears, the hammers and the inertia block of the single-trigger mechanism – but most are not. I have mentioned the action changes, and the Q stock system, there is also a new forend iron, a different ejector system, and ejectors that may be switched on and off (by means of a screw in the forend). The new design, usefully, also allows one to tighten the forend when required without major gunsmithing.

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The Perennia/SV10 is much more than a cosmetic/styling exercise. It has been re-engineered to increase its strength significantly. The handling qualities have also been carefully considered. It is notable, for example, that the Perennia has been equipped with re-profiled barrels with altered weight distribution. They make it feel livelier than the majority of 600 series Berettas. This has not been over-done, though. The gun still feels controllable. [Lest you might already be considering barrel swaps, let me note that the new type barrels will not fit on 600 series actions. The SV10 design retains bifurcated lumps and conical locking bolts, but the barrel shoulders are not only bigger as noted, but a slightly different shape.]

Considering the stock, the Q stock system mentioned is a new way of attaching the wood to the action. It utilises a much shorter bolt than usually seen in mass produced over and unders (which has the advantage that vibration may be reduced). The stock on the Perennia – as on the equally new Prevail (its sporting stablemate soon to grace these pages) may be removed by means of a torque key inserted via a trap door in the bottom of the grip. With the wood removed, moreover, one may, use the same tool, to take out the trigger mechanism as well. 

My reactions on the engineering are generally very positive. I really liked the new barrel profile – it gives the gun more life – the quick detachable stock and trigger lock feature is good news (I have always found it useful on Perazzis and Kemens and the like) and the fact that there is no long, old-fashioned, stock bolt can only be good too. A small but important feature that appealed, and which I have not mentioned yet, was the new larger and more positive, barrel selector/safety thumb-piece. It was much better than the old style seen on the 600 (one of my very few criticisms of what might otherwise qualify as a work of genius).

The 28” hammer-forged tri-alloy steel barrels on the test gun are monobloc – what else? – long chambered for 3” (76mm) cartridges, and hard chromed internally. They bear Italian Fleurs de Lys superior proof marks applied in the Beretta factory’s own branch of the Italian proof house. They are Opti-bored (in other words, modestly back-bored and equipped with longer than average forcing cones). The longer and thinner than average Opti-chokes are flush fitting at the muzzles (the sporting version will have extended chokes). I have found that this Beretta Optibore system really does work in the field providing forgiving patterns that are more efficient than you would expect for any given constriction (probably because the travel of the shot has been smoothed out down the bore).

Shooting Impressions

I shot the kick-off Perennia at the West London Shooting ground with several members of their enthusiastic and very professional team. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed. This is a beautifully designed, well styled gun and it is offered at a fair price. But I did not really like the way it shot with the Kick-Off hydraulic dampening anti-recoil device. For me, it gave the gun a curious, almost bouncing, quality in the shoulder on firing. It put me off. I really like the SV10 concept, though. With a more normal stock, it is a first class gun - a potential world beater. It shoots naturally, and felt recoil is light. It is a quantum leap forward. I would seriously consider buying one myself, but it would have a conventional stock and 30” barrels. In fairness, I should conclude by noting that some people have tried the Kick-off system and liked it. Guns, and the way we interact with them, are personal! Still, I like to tell you what I really think. The Perennia’s a great gun, but the Kick-off is not for me.

PRICE:
£2950 with Kick-Off recoil system, £2740 with standard stock

  • Beretta SV10 Perennia Ft. Kick-Off Anti Recoil Device - image {image:count}

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  • Beretta SV10 Perennia Ft. Kick-Off Anti Recoil Device - image {image:count}

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  • Beretta SV10 Perennia Ft. Kick-Off Anti Recoil Device - image {image:count}

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  • Beretta SV10 Perennia Ft. Kick-Off Anti Recoil Device - image {image:count}

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  • Beretta SV10 Perennia Ft. Kick-Off Anti Recoil Device - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Beretta SV10 Perennia Ft. Kick-Off Anti Recoil Device - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Beretta SV10 Perennia Ft. Kick-Off Anti Recoil Device - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Beretta SV10 Perennia Ft. Kick-Off Anti Recoil Device - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

gun
features

  • Model: Beretta Perennia Kick-off
  • Bore: 12
  • Action type: SV10
  • Barrels: 28” (Optibore – 30” option)
  • Chambers: 3” (76mm - superior proof)
  • Rib: 6mm
  • Weight: about 7.25lbs.
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