Technical data

There are so many interesting technical features to this gun that it will be a job to get to them all in the space available. Starting with the stock: this is attached to the action in a completely new way. Gone is the long stock bolt common to 99 per cent of mass-produced over-and-unders. Instead, the Perennia has a clever and more rigid system with a short bolt. It allows for rapid stock removal by means of a key inserted through a trapdoor in the grip cap.

Once the Perennia’s stock is off, the trigger group may be quickly removed, too, for cleaning or service. Disassembly is achieved by the same tool that removes the stock. This “Q-Stock system” appears to be a significant advance. The pre-production test gun had no recoil-reduction device in the butt. The first guns to appear in the UK – early this month – will, however, be equipped with Beretta’s Kick-Off hydraulic oil-dampened recoil-reduction system.

The action of the Perennia retains replaceable stud pins for hingeing and conical locking bolts emerging from the action face and mating with matching circular bites either side of the chambers, but the barrel shoulders have been changed, which means that Perennia SV10 barrels are not interchangeable with those on Silver Pigeon 68 series guns.

The ejector system has been radically altered. The extractors are longer and guided the entire length of the barrel monobloc. One can switch the ejectors off by means of a screw in the rear part of the fore-end iron, useful for walked-up or wildfowling when one does not want to waste time searching for empties.

Shooting impressions

The Perennia shot exceptionally well, and was one of the best-shooting guns I’ve tested in these pages recently. It weighs 7lb 4oz and handles quickly with the 28in barrels fitted. Recoil was modest, trigger pulls good and patterns excellent. Berretta has got it right with the SV10; the gun should be a great success.

Suppliers

GMK
Fareham, Hants
Price from £2,305; £2,475 with Kick-Off
Tel 01489 579999, visit GMK.