486 Parallelo

486 Parallelo: Sophisticated Round-Action 12-ga Side-by-Side

With the 486 Parallelo, Beretta has reintroduced the side by side shotgun in their lineup. But rather than giving an older model a face-lift, we have redesigned the action, springs and trigger-group–as well as the outward appearance of the shotgun. This is a shotgun designed to be as classic as possible to the outside, while incorporating materials and engineering features that make it orders of magnitude more durable than anything made 100 years ago. A true statement of classic taste, the 486 Parallelo is the perfect shotgun for the gentleman (or lady) hunter.

Round Action with Lavish Scroll Engraving

Hunters truly knowledgeable in classic shotguns immediately associate a round action with hunts in the Scottish highlands at a time when group hunts of this kind were important social occasions as well as sporting outings. Holding the 486 Parallelo and seeing its action will also evoke this association. Its round action contains only very few straight lines, and looks like it has grown organically together with the stock into something harmonious and beautiful. To the outside, the lines of the action are also complemented by English-style scroll engraving, which also extends to the top lever and trigger-guard.

New Leaf Springs, Trigger Group, Barrel Technology

No matter how beautiful, a shotgun is only as useful as how it shoots and holds up. With this in mind, Beretta has incorporated some features into the 486 Parallelo that make it as hi-tech to the inside as it is classic to the outside. New leaf springs in the action allow for faster and more precise firing pin engagement, for a super-crisp shot let-off; also, the brand new trigger guard keeps all the moving parts captive, which makes maintenance absolutely easy. The cold-hammer forged OptimaChoke barrels (3” chamber) are built to be tough and last for generations, and they are designed to take every type of shell from target to high-performance. Moreover, the Triblock barrel technology makes the barrel unit stronger while eliminating visible welding lines.

Impeccable Balance, Handling

Tipping the scales at just a touch over 7 lbs, the 486 comes up to the shoulder naturally and instinctively. Point of balance is right at the hinge-pin, while the portion of the gun forward of the supporting hand will still feel lively–the Beretta way. The wide plane of the side-by-side barrels will naturally guide the eye to the target, also aided by the fact that the action is trim and low-profile. Add to this a gravitational safety that engages if the gun is dropped and the choice between auto and manual extraction, and you truly have today’s most useful side-by-side–whether you use it on the field or at the clay range.