Beretta DT-11

[fabsroman]

Well, after having driven by it about 10 times, I finally got to visit the Cabela's in Christiana. Not only did it have a bunch of .22lr, but it had four Beretta 692 shotguns on display and it had four Beretta DT-11 shotguns on display. I got to handle each and every one of them, and they were all nice. However, one of the DT-11 shotguns just came up perfect when I brought it up. Price tag was $8,499. It was hard to leave the store without that shotgun, but I had not come there even expecting to see a DT-11, and I don't spend $,8499 on a whim.

Anyway, got home and started bringing up the 682, and it just did not feel the same anymore.

Decisions, decisions. Sheez.

Oh yeah, I also got to meet Gary Phillips, who happens to be a pretty good clays shooter.

 

[jimbobborg]

So, will we be seeing a 682 in the classifieds in the not too distant future?

 

[JoeRinMD]

Fabs,

I did the same with one of their 692 Sporting models and it just felt "right". I then used a back-channel to acquire one with 32" barrels...and a friend now owns my 686 White Onyx Sporting! ;-)

JoeR

 

[DanJo]

I shot a DT 11 demo gun at the Beretta shop at the World Shooting Complex in Sparta, IL last summer while my son was shooting the Scholastic Clay Target Program Nationals. I love that gun. It mounted perfectly and shot very well. The high ribbed trap model I liked was $13k which was more than I wanted to spend. Sparta is a fantastic complex with 100 trap fields (25 also have skeet) During major tournaments Most manufacturers have an on site shop with demo guns and free rounds of trap or skeet to try out their guns. Definitely worth a trip if your in the area.

 

[protegeV]

Wtf makes a shotgun worth $13k? Gold plated barrels? Gemstone studded sights?

 

[Vile Shadow]

Wtf makes a shotgun worth $13k? Gold plated barrels? Gemstone studded sights?

The privilege of laughin' at all those silly unsophisticates who have the nerve to show up at the trap range with a boom stick with only a THREE digit price tag.

(GASP)

OH, the humanity!!

 

[DanJo]

Caesar Guerini's and Kriehhoff's cost more than that $13k Beretta ,but I wouldn't buy one of those either. I'll keep my Beretta 391. Chances are are if I miss some clays the problem is the shooter, not my gun.

 

[protegeV]

Yeah, but can someone explain to me what about the gun makes it worth that much? Materials, paying for a name, etc?

 

[DanJo]

The High price on upper end shotguns is a combination of manufacturers name, materials and workmanship. The wood and engraving on these guns are an absolute work of art. I'd be worried taking that type of gun to the range and getting it dinged up.

 

[fabsroman]

Yeah, but can someone explain to me what about the gun makes it worth that much? Materials, paying for a name, etc?

Over and under guns require a lot of work to get both barrels to shoot to the same spot. So, most decent entry level o/u guns are over $1k. The competition o/u guns are made so they can be rebuilt after 100k rounds are put through them. For instance, both of my 682 shotguns can have the shoulders and hinge pins replaced.

The DT-11 has a removeable trigger and a locking mechanism between the receiver and the barrels that ensures that the barrels are held tight once the gun is closed.

The trigger on an o/u is also more complex than on a semi or pump. Mind you, the Beretta semi-auto A400 Xcel is around $1,500. The Benelli semi-auto Super Sport - Performance Shop is $2,500. Non performance shop is $2,000. My Benelli SBE, another semi-auto, cost me just north of $1,000 18 years ago and now runs about $1,500. I have fired a couple thousand rounds through that SBE just in hunting.

Think of this like why some AR's are $600 and a Larue, Daniel Defense, JP Rifles, etc. are in the $2,000+ range. They are the same exact gun, right? Not even close. Just the difference between the trigger in a cheap AR versus one of the upper end ARs is a world of difference. Then, we can get into barrel accuracy, etc.

Now, if you want to talk about some super uber expensive shotguns, then it comes down to artwork/engraving. Some of the finely engraved Krieghoff's run $100k. The Beretta S06 I really want is $40k, but my wife would wrap it around my head. With that said, a couple of months ago, right after I shot with JoeR and a couple others at PG Trap & Skeet, my wife caught me looking at $20k Krieghoffs on gunbroker. She said NO WAY. So, I brought up a DT-11 for $9,900 and she said, "Now that is a possibility." Never thought I was going to like the gun that much.

 

[fabsroman]

So, will we be seeing a 682 in the classifieds in the not too distant future?

I have yet to sell a gun of mine. I'd probably hang on to the 682 just in case one of my kids wants to shoot it.

Told my daughter the other day that I was thinking about giving my 10/22 to my son as a birthday present and getting a new one and she asked, "Daddy, does that one fire bullets?"

"Yes it does."

"Then I should get it before [son] because I am older and I only have a pellet gun."

"Good point."

"So, you need to get [son] a blue pellet gun like my pink pellet gun and then I get the rifle."

Took both of them to AGC on Father's Day to shoot the pellet gun, but never got around to it because I got pissed off at the range and we left before they had a chance.

Same goes for the Benelli SBE. I'm going to get a Super Vinci at some point and then the kids can use the SBE.

 

[El_flasko]

Nice choice Fabs. In my book if you love it and you can afford it then have at it.

 

[Vile Shadow]

Nice choice Fabs. In my book if you love it and you can afford it then have at it.

I dunno. His ol' lady caught him lookin' at porn. That might put a hurtin' on some potential purchases.

 

[rtse4me]

One thing about high end O/Us is they hold their value if taken care of and not modified. I bought a P-gun 10 years ago and I am glad I did because the prices now are really high on them. I could sell mine for more than I paid for it.
Might want to see what Mark @PG could do for you. Also, Larry's Trading Post in OC carries the Beretta Premium line.

 

[fabsroman]

One thing about high end O/Us is they hold their value if taken care of and not modified. I bought a P-gun 10 years ago and I am glad I did because the prices now are really high on them. I could sell mine for more than I paid for it.
Might want to see what Mark @PG could do for you. Also, Larry's Trading Post in OC carries the Beretta Premium line.

I have bought all my Berettas, except one, from Mark Biggins at PG Trap & Skeet. I will most definitely talk to him about a DT-11. Problem with buying a gun from Mark is that it is usually sight unseen, and out of 4 different DT-11 shotguns, only one felt really right when I brought it up. One was ridiculously low in the comb such that I could not even see the rib. Another was a little high. The third one fit just right. The fourth one was a trap gun, so it was obviously high in the comb. Now, if I can get one with an adjustable stock, then it is all good.

 

[fabsroman]

I dunno. His ol' lady caught him lookin' at porn. That might put a hurtin' on some potential purchases.

She knows what everything costs. Anything that she or I buy that is over $100 requires a discussion about the item. For the most part, she just shrugs her shoulders, asks if we have the money, knowing full well that I would never propose the purchase in the first place if we did not have the money (i.e., I keep track of our finances), and then she says OK.

Now, as far as the other "porn" goes, no comment.

 

[rtse4me]

I have bought all my Berettas, except one, from Mark Biggins at PG Trap & Skeet. I will most definitely talk to him about a DT-11. Problem with buying a gun from Mark is that it is usually sight unseen, and out of 4 different DT-11 shotguns, only one felt really right when I brought it up. .

Ask him if he can arrange a trip down to Berretta so you can go try what they have in stock. I would think they could accommodate that given you want to buy a DT11 not a A400.

 

[pbharvey]

Now, if I can get one with an adjustable stock, then it is all good.

I know jack about high end trap guns but it seems to me that an adjustable stock is a much better investment even if you end up leaving it to one of your kids. Imagine inheriting a really nice gun that didn't fit. At least with the adjustable stock you have a better chance.

 

[fabsroman]

I know jack about high end trap guns but it seems to me that an adjustable stock is a much better investment even if you end up leaving it to one of your kids. Imagine inheriting a really nice gun that didn't fit. At least with the adjustable stock you have a better chance.

The stock can be replaced on all of these high end guns and they can be custom fitted. Thing is, I have an adjustable stock on my 682 Super Trap and an adjustable stock on my 682 Gold E skeet gun. Both stocks allow me to get the gun exactly where I want it.

Stocks can also be bent to help with fit. Wood stocks can be bent on any gun, but the expense isn't justified on a less costly gun or a POS piece of wood.

If I get the DT-11, it will most likely be in a sporting configuration with 32" barrels. I don't really see me moving away from my 682 Super Trap because I don't shoot that much trap anymore. Come to think of it, I don't shoot that much anymore anyway. lol

 

[fabsroman]

Ask him if he can arrange a trip down to Berretta so you can go try what they have in stock. I would think they could accommodate that given you want to buy a DT11 not a A400.

Good suggestion, but I think I am going to try to get it with an adjustable stock. I would still like to see the gun in person to see if I can select one with a piece of wood I really like.

I am going to have to ponder over this. El Flasko brought up the "affordability" issue, which does come into play, along with the fact that I find myself shooting my Teknys way more than my 682 skeet gun. Crazy thing is, that when I picked up the 692 and decided I really liked how it felt, I was ready to spend the $4,500 for it right then. Had no idea they had a DT-11, much less 4 of them, on the rack until Gary Phillips said, "How about trying out a DT-11". Sure, why not. I'm used to paying the 682/692 price for a shotgun, have not gotten used to the DT-11 price quite yet.

"Affordability" is a pretty fluid term. Can I afford it without having to incur any debt? Yes. However, it means that I will have less money available to meet the other goals that I set for this year (i.e., neither a 692 or DT-11 was one of the goals). Completing a couple ARs with JP parts was one goal and getting tax stamps for a couple SBRs was another goal. Buying a rental property was another goal. There are several more "goals" on this year's list. So, now I have to weigh which "goal" will have to suffer at the hands of a DT-11 if I decide I really want the gun.

Sadly, I cannot stop thinking about it, and am glad that Cabela's is 90 minutes away so I cannot just jump in the car and go ogle over it some more.