When the oldest gun-maker in the world premiers an entirely new line of shotguns, it’s more than newsworthy—it’s a revolution in the industry. Beretta’s new SV10 Perennia is a whole new take on a long-trusted firearm.

For as long as there have been shotguns, there has been Beretta. In fact, the arms maker came into its own right around the time “fowling pieces” came into fashion in 16th century Europe. To say that munitions have come a long way since then is a massive understatement. The most recent evidence of the evolution of both shotguns and of Beretta is the company’s new 12 gauge SV10 Perennia—an entirely new take on the over-under shotgun.

“There’s only been three renditions of Beretta’s over-under,” says Mike Vrooman, Beretta USA’s Marketing Manager for shotguns. “In 500 years this is the fourth.”

Still owned by the Beretta family, arms-maker Beretta got an initial boost in 1526 when Mastro Bartolomeo Beretta of Gardone received 296 ducats as payment for 185 arquebus barrels sold to the Arsenal of Venice. Since then, the company has led in arms manufacturing, producing such guns as the venerated M9A1 and 92FS pistols, the elegant Sako rifles and, of course, a number of shotguns.

“We certainly consider shotguns our bread and butter,” says Vrooman, making the premier of a new model that much more important. In terms of why Beretta believes the SV10 Perennia to be such a step forward, there are a number of reasons.

“I think it’s the combination of all of the innovations,” says Vrooman. “This is an improvement on something that was already one of the best guns in the market.”

Among those innovations: the receiver design has been revised, the trigger assembly can now be detached, the chokes are removable and the taper has been redesigned to better optimize the shot pattern. Also, for the first time, the SV10 Perennia features a revolutionary new stock called the Q-Stock®.

Quick Takedown Q-Stock

Beretta’s new Q-Stock features a patented new system of attachment to the receiver. It allows disassembly in seconds without having to remove the recoil pad. Traditional assemblies have featured a bolt through the stock.

The Q-Stock doesn’t require that because it’s attached directly to the receiver with access through the base of the grip via an included special key. An elegant and functional coverplate protects the access point. In addition to providing easier takedown, the new stock also increases solidity of the receiver-stock assembly.

Receiver

The receiver itself is a work of art. It maintains the traditional Beretta locking system with trapezoidal shoulders and double longitudinal locking lugs, but there are a few innovative changes. The locking shoulders of the monobloc and their seats on the receiver feature a new design that improves the efficiency of the lock-up and fits well into the overall sideplate design.

The stock inletting, as well, is moved forward into the sides of the receiver, which consolidates the rigidity of the assembly. Lastly, the top lever has been redesigned with a wide surface area to ensure easier operation.

Trigger

In a fantastically inspired bit of engineering, Beretta made the trigger on the new SV10 Perennia out of solid titanium. Not only is it lightweight and elegant, but it’s incredibly durable and the shape fits in beautifully with the rest of the gun’s design. The trigger guard is machined from a single piece of steel and also blends in well, fitting into the trigger plate with two rounded reinforcement ridges. Furthermore, once the stock is off, the entire trigger group can be quickly removed (using the same tool as used for removing the stock) for cleaning or maintenance.

Barrel

The barrels of the new SV10 Perennia received new treatment as well, with a new profile that joins the tubes with the monobloc in a streamlined fashion with the profile of the receiver, simultaneously making for excellent design and ensuring top durability and strength.

The barrels are strong and light and designed with the new internal Optima Bore® High Performance profile with a longer forcing cone, which improves patterning and contributes to reduce felt recoil. Bore and chamber are lined with chrome for maximum resistance to corrosion and wear and for max velocity of the shot.

Additionally, the choke tubes have been redesigned. The new Beretta Optima-Choke® High Performance choke tubes with lengthened taper, feature an internal profile to reduce friction, and improve the density and distribution of the pattern. They’re fully interchangeable on all Beretta barrels threaded for Optima-Choke HP.

When it comes to extraction, the Perennia has a patented new system that allows the selection between automatic and simple mechanical extraction, the latter being a more environmentally friendly way to manage expended shells.

Kick-Off Recoil

As with select other models, the Perennia features the new patented Kick-Off® mechanism—“The first time we’ve offered it on a wood stock,” says Vrooman. This significantly reduces the feel of impact recoil on the shooter’s shoulder. Energy from firing is dissipated through two oil hydraulic dampeners integrated into the design, improving shooter comfort while simultaneously decreasing vibrations and muzzle rise. Additionally, the reliability and handling of the shotgun are enhanced.

Summary

The SV10 Perennia isn’t just a better shotgun, it’s a statement on the class from the world’s oldest and best arms manufacturer. If you’re a sport hunter or just a shooting aficionado, the Perennia is well worth a look. We’re sure you’ll be impressed.