22-Sep-2026
The Beretta SL3 is the gun that filled a gap Beretta had lived with for decades. Below it sat the 687 EELL, the dressed-up version of the everyday 686 action; above it sat the SO sidelocks, hand-built in Gardone at prices that put them in the same conversation as London guns. The SL3, launched in the late 2010s from Beretta’s Premium workshop, was designed to be the gun in between, a hand-finished, best-quality over-and-under with its own action, at a price that a serious game shot can justify. UK interest in it has grown steadily since, and searches for the SL3 have jumped again this month as the 500 Years anniversary editions have started to appear. This guide explains what the SL3 actually is, how it stacks up against the 687 EELL and the SO5, and what to look for if you are buying one new or used.
What the Beretta SL3 is
The SL3 is a premium over-and-under game gun built and finished by hand in Beretta’s Premium Guns division rather than on the main production line. It has its own action design, distinct from both the 686/687 family and the SO sidelocks, with a slim, low profile and a rounded, sculpted receiver that shows off the engraving. It is offered in 12, 20, and 28 bore, with barrel lengths and stock dimensions to order on new guns, and in game and sporting configurations.
Where the SL3 differs from the 687 EELL is in the depth of the handwork. The action is polished and fitted by hand, the wood is selected from a far higher grade of walnut, and the engraving is executed by Beretta’s in-house engravers rather than applied by machine. Where it differs from the SO5 is that it is not a sidelock: it is a modern design engineered for strength and consistency, then finished to a best-gun standard. That is the whole point of the SL3: best-gun finish, modern mechanics, and a price that reflects both.
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SL3 engraving grades, the Field Game Scene and the 500 Years edition
Most of the UK search interest is in three versions. The standard SL3 carries a fine floral and scroll engraving on a coin-finished action, restrained, classic, and the version most often seen on driven days. The EELL grade steps up to deeper, hand-cut engraving with game scenes and a higher grade of walnut; the “Field Game Scene” SL3 EELL, with pheasants, partridges, and woodcock across the action and sideplates, is the one people ask for by name, and its prices reflect the hours of engraving involved.
The 500 Years limited edition marks Beretta’s five centuries of gunmaking and is produced in strictly limited numbers with dedicated engraving and presentation. These guns are as much collector’s pieces as working shotguns, and if you are considering one, you should expect to pay a premium over the EELL and to find them harder to locate. Where an SL3 500 Years does appear for sale second-hand, provenance and the completeness of the presentation case and paperwork matter to its value.
The important thing for a buyer is that the grade changes the decoration and the wood, not the action. A standard SL3 and a Field Game Scene EELL will handle and shoot identically if the dimensions are the same. You are choosing how much of a work of art you want to own.
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SL3 vs Beretta 687 EELL Diamond Pigeon
The 687 EELL is the gun most SL3 buyers are trading up from, and it remains an outstanding shotgun. It is built on the 686/687 action, the same one that has made Beretta’s Silver Pigeon the best-selling over-and-under in the country, with sideplates, game-scene engraving, and selected walnut. It is proven, easy to service anywhere, available in every bore and barrel length, and plentiful on the used market at prices well below a new SL3.
What the SL3 gives you over the 687 EELL is the hand finish: a slimmer action, better wood, engraving with real depth rather than a machine-cut pattern, and the feeling of a bespoke gun. What the 687 EELL gives you over the SL3 is value and availability. If you shoot a lot of days a season and want a beautiful gun that you will not be precious about, the 687 EELL makes a very strong case. If you want the best Beretta short of a sidelock and you plan to keep it for life, the SL3 is the answer.
On the used market, a good 687 EELL Diamond Pigeon will generally cost a fraction of a used SL3, and the 20-bore versions of both are the ones that attract the strongest interest from UK game shots.
Browse: Beretta 687 · Beretta 687 12 bore · Beretta 687 20 bore · Beretta SL3 · Beretta Silver Pigeon
SL3 vs Beretta SO5 and the SO sidelocks
At the top of Beretta’s range sit the SO guns: the SO5 (usually configured for sporting and competition), the SO6 (game), and the higher SO grades, true sidelocks, hand-built in Gardone, with detachable locks and the kind of finish and fit you associate with London best guns. They are the guns Beretta has made in small numbers for the best part of a century, and they are priced accordingly, new and used.
The SL3 is not trying to be an SO. It is a hand-finished modern action rather than a hand-built sidelock, and it costs considerably less. For most shooters, that is the right trade: the SL3 delivers almost all of the SO’s presence and handling in a gun that is simpler mechanically and easier to live with. For the collector or the shooter who specifically wants a sidelock, nothing in the range below the SO5 will do, and a used SO5 or SO6 can sometimes be found for less than a new SL3 EELL, worth knowing before you order.
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Buying an SL3 second-hand: What to look for
SL3s are new enough that most used examples have led easy lives, but the price justifies a careful look. Check that the gun is on the face and that the top lever has not drifted past centre. Inspect the engraving under good light for any signs of buffing or refinishing, which lowers the value of a hand-engraved gun considerably. Look at the wood-to-metal fit at the head of the stock and around the trigger guard; on a hand-finished gun it should be flawless, and any proud or shy edges suggest a replacement stock.
Ask about the stock dimensions. Many SL3s were ordered to measure, which is wonderful if the measurements suit you and a costly problem if they do not; a bent or altered stock on a high-grade gun is not a small job. Ask for the original case, the choke set if the gun is multichoke, and any paperwork from Beretta’s Premium division, all of which matter to resale.
Finally, price the gun against a new one. Because the SL3 is still in production and dealers often hold stock, the discount for a used example is sometimes smaller than buyers expect. A near-new SL3 at a modest saving is a good buy; an older one that has been shot hard should be priced accordingly.
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FAQ
How much does a Beretta SL3 cost in the UK? It depends heavily on grade and bore. The standard SL3 sits well above the 687 EELL; the EELL and Field Game Scene versions cost considerably more, and the 500 Years limited edition sits above those again. Used prices track condition and specification; check current listings for what sellers are asking today.
Is the Beretta SL3 a sidelock? No. The SL3 has its own modern action, hand-finished in Beretta’s Premium workshop. Beretta’s sidelocks are the SO series, SO5, SO6, and above.
What is the difference between the Beretta SL3 and the SL3 EELL? The mechanics are the same. The EELL grade adds deeper hand engraving, usually with game scenes, and a higher grade of walnut. The “Field Game Scene” EELL is the most sought-after version in the UK.
What is the Beretta SL3 500 Years edition? A limited-production SL3 marking Beretta’s 500th anniversary, with dedicated engraving and presentation. Numbers are small, prices carry a premium, and complete examples with their original case and paperwork hold their value best.
Find a Beretta SL3 on Rightgun.uk
Rightgun.uk lists new and second-hand Beretta SL3 shotguns from dealers and private sellers across the UK, alongside the 687 EELL and SO guns you might be weighing it against. Compare grades, bores, barrel lengths and prices in one place, then arrange to handle the gun before you buy.
Browse Beretta SL3 listings, the Beretta 687 and Beretta SO5 pages, or see every Beretta shotgun for sale.
Further reading: Beretta SO5 review, Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon III, Beretta shotguns UK range guide, Purdey vs Holland & Holland compared, and How much is my gun worth?.
