25-Sep-2026
Beretta sells more competition over-and-unders in Britain than any other maker, and the reason is simple: there is a Beretta at almost every price point between a good club gun and a world-championship gun. The problem for a buyer is that the three current competition models look similar in the rack, share a family resemblance in the hand, and are separated by a few thousand pounds that are not always easy to justify from the catalogue.
This guide compares the Beretta 694, the 692 it replaced, and the flagship DT11 for the UK shooter searching for a Beretta 694 for sale, a used 692, or a DT11 that fits the budget. It explains what actually changed between the models, which one suits sporting, skeet and trap, and what to look for when buying used.
Three guns, two action designs
The most important thing to understand is that the 692 and 694 share one design lineage and the DT11 belongs to another. The 692 and 694 are built on the wide, low-profile action that Beretta developed from the 682 and 686 family: a monobloc barrel construction, replaceable hinge pins, and the familiar conical locking lugs that have made Beretta over-and-unders famously durable. The 694 is a refinement of the 692 rather than a new gun, with changes to the action shape, the trigger, the fore-end, and the stock geometry that were driven by feedback from Beretta’s competition shooters.
The DT11 is a different proposition. It descends from the DT10 and the ASE line of dedicated competition guns, with a heavier, wider action, a detachable trigger group, and a level of hand-finishing that the 69x series does not attempt. It is built in smaller numbers in Beretta’s premium workshop, and its price reflects that. If you are comparing a 694 and a DT11, you are not comparing two grades of the same gun; you are comparing two different philosophies of how a competition gun should be built.
Browse: Beretta 694 · Beretta 692 · Beretta DT11 · Beretta DT10 · All Beretta shotguns
Beretta 692: The gun that set the template
The 692 arrived in the early 2010s as the replacement for the 682 Gold E, and it was a step up in almost every respect. Its action is wider than the 686/687 family, which lowers the barrels in the hand and helps the gun sit steadily on the target; it uses Beretta’s Steelium Plus barrels with long forcing cones for softer recoil and more consistent patterns; and it was one of the first mid-range Berettas to offer an adjustable comb and B-Fast balance system as options rather than aftermarket additions.
On the UK used market, the 692 is now the value pick of the three. It is a proven gun with a long competition record; spares and service are straightforward, and because the 694 replaced it, clean used examples sit at a noticeable discount to a new 694 for a gun that is, in practical terms, ninety per cent as good. The things to check on a used 692 are the same as on any Beretta of its era: tightness of the action on the face, the condition of the hinge pins and shoulders, and whether the adjustable comb hardware (if fitted) is original and moves freely.
Browse: Beretta 692 · Beretta 682 · Beretta 686 · Beretta 687 · Browning B725
Beretta 694: What actually changed
The 694 was launched in 2019, and its changes are subtle but meaningful for a competition shooter. The action was reshaped with a slightly higher profile and a new, more open top lever and safety, which Beretta says improves the gun’s feel on the swing and makes it easier to mount consistently. The trigger was redesigned for a crisper, lighter pull. The fore-end was slimmed, and its iron reshaped so the front hand sits closer to the barrels. And the stock geometry was revised with a more pronounced palm swell and a different grip angle, which most shooters find more comfortable through a long day of sporting.
The 694 is offered in Sporting, Trap and Skeet configurations, with fixed or adjustable combs and a choice of barrel lengths; the Sporting with an adjustable comb is by far the most common specification in the UK, and the one most listings will describe. It is also available in the black DLC-finished action that many buyers ask about; the finish is cosmetic and has no bearing on performance, but it is more resistant to marks than the standard bright action.
Is it worth the premium over a used 692? If you are buying new, the 694 is the better gun, and the one Beretta will continue to support. If you are buying used, the answer depends on the price gap; the 694’s improvements are real but incremental, and a 692 in excellent condition with an adjustable comb is very hard to beat on value.
Browse: Beretta 694 · Beretta 692 · Beretta 690 · Beretta 686e EVO · Miroku MK38
Beretta DT11: The flagship
The DT11 is Beretta’s top competition gun and has been since it replaced the DT10 in 2012. Its action is noticeably wider and heavier than a 694’s, which gives it a very steady, planted feel on the target, and it uses a detachable trigger group that can be removed for cleaning or swapped for a spare. The barrels are Steelium Pro, the stock is walnut of a higher grade, and every gun is hand-finished in Beretta’s premium workshop.
In the UK, the DT11 is the gun to beat in Olympic Trap and is very widely used in sporting and skeet at the top level. It is offered in Sporting, Trap, Skeet and Black Edition configurations, and unlike the 69x series it is also available in a left-handed version straight from the factory. The used market for DT11s is strong; because top-level shooters change guns often, well-kept examples with modest cartridge counts appear regularly, and a used DT11 can be had for not much more than a new 694 if you are patient. The DT10 that preceded it is also worth a look: it shares the same basic design and many shooters prefer its slightly slimmer feel.
Browse: Beretta DT11 · Beretta DT10 · Perazzi High Tech · Krieghoff K-80 · Blaser F3
Which one for sporting, skeet and trap?
For English Sporting, the 694 Sporting with an adjustable comb is the sweet spot of the range: it is lighter and faster-handling than the DT11, the new stock geometry suits the sport’s varied mounts, and it is the gun most UK sporting shooters at county and national level are choosing now. A used 692 Sporting does the same job for less. The DT11 Sporting is a superb gun but heavier, and some shooters find it more of a trap gun in sporting clothing.
For skeet, all three are available in skeet configurations with shorter barrels and flatter shooting. The DT11 Skeet is the choice of most serious Olympic Skeet shooters for its stability, but the 694 Skeet is a genuine competition tool, and the 692 Skeet is a bargain on the used market.
For trap, the DT11 Trap is the benchmark, and there is a reason it dominates Olympic Trap. The 694 Trap is a good gun for DTL and ABT, particularly for shooters who do not want the weight of a DT11, but if trap is your main discipline and the budget allows, the DT11 or a used DT10 is where the value lies.
Browse: Beretta 694 · Beretta DT11 · Perazzi MX8 · Perazzi MX2000 · Caesar Guerini Invictus
Buying used: What to check on all three
Beretta competition guns are robust, but they are shot hard, and a used example from a keen competitor may have seen tens of thousands of cartridges. The good news is that Beretta designed all three to be rebuilt: hinge pins, locking shoulders and firing pins are all replaceable, and a Beretta specialist can bring a loose gun back to tight for a reasonable cost. What you want to establish is whether that work has already been done or is about to be needed, and to price accordingly.
Check the action closes with the top lever slightly right of centre; a lever that sits well left indicates wear. Look for any play between the barrels and the action face with the gun closed. On a DT11, drop the trigger group and check for rust or damage. On any gun with an adjustable comb or B-Fast balance weights, make sure the hardware is complete and original, because replacements are expensive. Finally, ask for the cartridge count if the seller knows it; competition shooters often do, and an honest answer tells you a lot.
Browse: Beretta 694 · Beretta 692 · Beretta DT11 · Gun parts and accessories · Safes and cabinets
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Beretta 692 and 694? The 694 is a refinement of the 692 with a reshaped action and top lever, a redesigned trigger, a slimmer fore-end, and revised stock geometry with a larger palm swell. The barrels, locking system, and basic mechanics are the same. The 694 handles a little more sharply, and the trigger is better, but the 692 remains an excellent competition gun and a strong used buy.
Is the Beretta 694 a good sporting gun? Yes. The 694 Sporting with an adjustable comb is arguably the best-value new competition sporter Beretta makes, and it is the model most often seen at UK sporting competitions below the elite level. It is lighter and quicker than the DT11 and suits the varied targets of English Sporting well.
How much does a Beretta 694 cost? The 694 sits between the 690-series guns and the DT11 in Beretta’s range, with the adjustable-comb Sporting and the DLC-finished versions commanding a premium over the base model. Rather than quote a figure that will date, compare current asking prices for new and used 694s on the Rightgun.uk listings, where dealers and private sellers list them with full specifications.
Is the DT11 worth the extra over a 694? For an elite trap or skeet shooter, or anyone who wants a detachable trigger and the extra stability of the heavier action, the DT11 justifies its price and holds its value well. For most sporting shooters, the 694 delivers the majority of the performance at a fraction of the cost, and the money saved buys a great many cartridges and lessons.
Compare Beretta 694, 692 and DT11 listings on Rightgun.uk
Rightgun.uk brings together new and used Beretta competition guns from UK dealers and private sellers in one place. Browse the Beretta 694, Beretta 692 and Beretta DT11 listings to compare configurations, barrel lengths and asking prices, and if you are moving on a competition Beretta, listing it here puts it in front of the UK clay shooters who are searching for exactly that gun.
Further reading: Beretta DT10 vs DT11, Beretta DT11 UK buyer’s guide, Beretta 682, 686 and 687 second-hand compared, Best shotgun cartridges for clay shooting in the UK and Trap vs skeet vs sporting clays.
