The Beretta Ultraleggero over-and-under has arrived to make life easier for walked-up hunting enthusiasts, especially those who carry their shotguns over long distances, often even in the mountains with their dogs, and who need to find an immediate feeling for the gun when shooting so as not to waste unrepeatable opportunities. Years of technological research at Beretta have led to the development of this over-and-under shotgun with a steel receiver capable of guaranteeing ruggedness and lightness in just 2.8 kg in 12 gauge – a unique result. Now, just a few years later, the Beretta Ultraleggero is also the first over-and-under to be equipped with the Kick-Off stock, the recoil reduction system capable of reducing the negative effects of muzzle rise and felt recoil by 40%.
Features of the Beretta Ultraleggero over-and-under
The technical features that have made the Ultraleggero so successful among hunters remain the same. The steel receiver derived from the 690 series and very slender in its lines has technopolymer inserts and floral engravings. The trigger is still single with a selector on the top tang along the safety slide, while a double trigger system is available on request, which allows the barrel firing order of the over-and-under to be selected. Very practical during hunting action and smart in its design, this system does not require the hunter to move his finger from the trigger when selecting the barrel, as the first trigger fires first from the first barrel and then from the second, while the second trigger fires first from the second barrel and then from the first, allowing the hunter to quickly decide and select the right combination of barrel, choke and cartridge according to the distance of the game.
Also unchanged are the barrels of the Ultraleggero, featuring a 76 mm magnum chamber, Steelium Optima Bore HP barrels, in Beretta trialloy steel, available in 61, 66, 71 and 76 cm lengths, characterised by deep drilling, cold hammer forging and vacuum distension. The 6x6 mm solid top rib has an anti-flare checkering and bead steel sight. The barrels are also equipped with 70-mm long Optima-Choke HP internal chokes, which can also be used with steel shot. For those hunting in the woods, the Ultraleggero can also be equipped with the Paradox OCHP choke (available aftermarket), a choke available as both an internal version or as a 20 mm extended version that features rifling in the last 50 mm, allowing wider shot patterns over short distances. In order to optimise weight, the Ultraleggero does not have side ribs and some aluminum components such as the trigger guard and the forend iron system have been included.
The Kick-Off Plus stock of the Beretta Ultraleggero over-and-under
With the Kick-Off stock so far featured by semi-automatic shotguns, Beretta borrows the hydraulic technology used in the automotive and aviation industries to reduce recoil and muzzle rise. More control and less shock: with the Kick-Off system, you will avoid bruises and chafing to your cheek and shoulder, with the shotgun being more stable without losing your line of sight. The Kick-Off system is available in three different versions, and the one used in the Ultraleggero over-and-under is the Kick-Off Plus: two elastomer shock absorbers, positioned close to the rubber insert and equipped with return springs, act effectively on the first recoil peak, reducing its perception by up to 40%. A third elastomer shock absorber absorbs the second recoil peak, reducing muzzle rise and vibrations. With the Kick-Off stock, the hunter also has the option of modifying drop and cast thanks to adjustment spacers. Obviously, this type of stock adds a few grams to the Ultraleggero over-and-under, bringing the standard weight to about 3 kg and, for purists of classic lines, a more modern aesthetic detail, but Beretta's technological efforts in this version allow enthusiasts to use the Ultraleggero not only as a specialised gun for walked-up hunts, but also in other contexts and types of hunting, shooting without fatigue cartridges with greater comfort and accuracy, even those with heavier or magnum loads. The Ultraleggero over-and-under comes at a retail price of approximately 2,900 euro.
For more information on the Ultraleggero over-and-under please visit the Beretta website.
