Beretta SL2 Sport Adjustable shotgun review

In the competitive world of high-end clay shooting, Beretta has long been a dominant force, with the DT11 serving as the benchmark for shooters seeking silverware. However, with the release of the SL2, the Italian manufacturer has coined an entirely new category: the “Hypergun”. The idea is to merge the competition pedigree of the DT11 and the high-end craftsmanship you usually only see in their Custom Shop. The result is “a machine designed to win”, offering a bridge between Beretta’s competition line and the exquisite hand-finishing of their “Pietro Beretta Selection” grade.

A futuristic silhouette

The first thing that strikes you about the SL2 is that it defies traditional shotgun aesthetics. It doesn’t look like a standard walnut-and-steel over-and-under; instead, it possesses a modern, almost futuristic appearance. This is largely due to the Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating. This industrial treatment, more commonly found in the high-performance automotive and racing sectors for its extreme resistance to chemicals and scratches, allows for a striking visual contrast on the receiver.

The finish provides a beautiful interplay between matte, anti-glare surfaces and mirror-polished accents. This is most evident on the hinge pins, which feature a high-polish finish that provides a striking contrast against the dark DLC receiver. Inverting the gun reveals further mirror-polished accents flanking a matte central section, which is neatly engraved with the Beretta logo, the ‘SL2’ designation, and a discreet ‘Made in Italy’ stamp. It is an exceptionally handsome arrangement. Ultimately, this is a functional choice as much as an aesthetic one, intended to withstand the rigours of a busy competition season while maintaining the appearance of a piece of art.

The receiver itself has undergone significant architectural changes. Beretta has slimmed down the top profile specifically to widen the shooter’s peripheral view of the target. To ensure a clear sight picture regardless of the sun’s position, the top surface features a laser-etched texture of tiny pyramids. This design choice is specifically engineered to scatter light and eliminate glare entirely, ensuring nothing distracts the eye from the clay.

In a high-end competition gun, ergonomics are as important as aesthetics. The safety catch incorporates an integral barrel selector; moving the slider forward reveals an ‘F’ to indicate the ‘fire’ position, while sliding it rearward engages the ‘safe’ mode. By shifting the selector to the right, two dots are exposed, allowing you to quickly verify and adjust the firing order.

The mechanical soul of the SL2 is a Boss-type locking system derived from the SO10 game gun. By positioning the locking lugs at the same height as the hinge pins, Beretta has successfully lowered the gun’s centre of gravity. This translates to a remarkably neutral balance, with any perceived weight sitting perfectly between the firing and support hands. If you put two fingers under the hinge pin, the gun balances perfectly. In theory, and in practice, this results in a smoother swing and significantly reduced muzzle flip.

The SL2 features a detachable trigger unit, allowing for quick maintenance or enhanced security during travel. The removal process is simple: with the gun closed, you push the safety forward beyond its normal ‘fire’ position until it clicks, then move the top lever across to break the gun. Another click signals that the unit is ready to be pulled free.

The trigger blade itself flares out like the tip of an oar and is notably wide in the centre. It features a smooth, polished finish and offers fore-and-aft adjustability to suit the shooter’s reach. This sits within a stylish, bright-finished trigger guard that complements the gun’s modern looks.

Crucially, the unit utilises leaf springs rather than coil springs. This is a hallmark of high-end triggers, preferred by competitive shooters for the consistent, crisp, and instantaneous break they provide. To complete the top-side aesthetics, Beretta offers a choice of top levers: solid, hollow, or a version featuring the iconic three-arrows logo.

The sporting configuration on test is fitted with 12-bore, 32″ barrels, though 30″ and 31″ options are available for those who prefer a shorter gun. The top rib is ventilated and features a progressive taper, starting at a broad 11mm at the receiver end and narrowing to 8mm at the muzzle to draw the eye naturally toward the target. Sight alignment is handled by a silver mid-bead and a white bead at the muzzle, while the mid-rib is also ventilated to aid cooling. While the barrels are crafted from Beretta’s signature Steelium tri-alloy steel, the real breakthrough lies in the ‘Pro X’ internal geometry.

This isn’t just marketing spiel, as Beretta has fundamentally redesigned the forcing cones with a smaller diameter compared to previous generations. According to Beretta’s data, this profile improves terminal energy and manages recoil more effectively than even the Steelium Pro barrels found on the DT11. Furthermore, the 3” chambers provide essential future-proofing for high-performance steel loads, a vital consideration these days if you want to use the shotgun for a variety of tasks.

To complement this new profile, the SL2 introduces OCXP chokes. These are significantly longer than standard offerings, measuring 90mm, a 20mm increase over the standard DT11 chokes. This extra length allows for a more gradual constriction of the shot column, reducing pellet deformation and improving pattern density for both lead and steel shot. The demo gun arrived with five chokes, ranging from Cylinder to Full, with ¼ and ½ providing the ideal performance compromise for the targets I was shooting.

The SL2 comes dressed in Grade 4 walnut with hand-cut chequering, and the wood-to-metal fit is obviously incredibly good throughout, as one would expect from a shotgun of this stature. The ergonomics are particularly well-considered; the rounded fore-end measures approximately 28 centimetres in length and is secured via a beautifully inset Anson-type latch, which proved precise and tight during operation. This fore-end features a specific finger groove sculpted into the wood, mirroring the flowing lines where the grip meets the receiver. It’s a subtle touch that guides the leading hand into a consistent position, and I found the angled tip of the fore-end particularly comfortable in use. Moving back to the grip, there is a very slight palm swell on the right side which, along with the left, features high-quality diamond chequering to ensure a secure, repeatable hold.

At the rear, a 20mm Microcore recoil pad handles the recoil, while the B-Fast adjustable comb features two Allen keyholes on the right-hand side. You can adjust it laterally and you can adjust the height to achieve perfect eye-rib alignment. The system also allows for the addition of weights to alter the overall balance of the gun.

As a ‘Pietro Beretta Selection’ grade shotgun, the customisation options are extensive. Owners can commission a made-to-measure stock, upgrade to Grade 5 walnut, and select from various oil finishes, including natural, glossy, or Tru-Oil. The barrel surfaces and some components are hand-polished by gunsmiths rather than just machine-finished, ensuring the fit and finish are beyond reproach.

Now, performance on clays is, of course, ultimately down to the shooter, but I was pleased to find that I tuned in to the SL2 remarkably quickly, which is always a promising sign when using a new shotgun.

While it can often be difficult to quantify the specific benefits of a new design during a short-term test, the SL2’s revised action genuinely makes a difference. Because the centre of gravity has been kept so low, muzzle flip is virtually non-existent, and I never felt as though I was fighting the gun’s 8.5lb mass; instead, it felt incredibly planted, effortlessly gliding from target to target with a neutral, obedient swing.

Beretta claims the Pro X barrel geometry manages energy more efficiently, and I am certainly inclined to believe them. When using 27g, No.7.5 cartridges, the recoil impulse was exceptionally mild and, crucially, entirely free of any residual vibration. It translates to a very clean, premium shooting experience. As a result, I would be happy to use 28g cartridges on a high-volume, simulated day, for example.

I did note that the action was quite stiff to open and close, but I won’t be losing any sleep over that. Given that this is a demo gun that has likely seen a lot of cartridges, I consider this a reassuring sign of the action’s inherent durability and tight tolerances.

The Beretta SL2 is a substantial shotgun in every sense. With a price tag sitting north of £18,000, it enters a rarefied atmosphere, going toe-to-toe with heavy hitters like the Krieghoff K-80 Parcour or a well-specced Perazzi High Tech. However, for that investment, you are receiving the absolute pinnacle of Beretta’s current technology.

The gun arrives in a dedicated SL2 hard case with internal stitching that wouldn’t look out of place in a Bentley, reinforcing the ‘Selection’ grade prestige. It is a rare blend of ‘Custom Shop’ hand-polished refinement and cutting-edge ballistic engineering.

If your budget allows for the best of both worlds, the SL2 is an absolutely lovely tool for the
serious competitor.

Name: Beretta SL2 Sport Adjustable

Calibre: 12-bore

Barrel Length: 32″ on test, 30″ and 31″ also available

Weight: 8.5 lbs

Length of Pull: 14.5″

Price: From £18,900

Contact: GMK – www.gmk.co.uk