The 694 Pro Sporting with a TSK stock has been on my list for a while and I finally sprung for one so we could check it out and give it a review. Before reviewing the 694, I was able to get a lot of good hands-on experience, competing with it in the Minnesota State Sporting Clays Championship.

If you have experience with Beretta 694 shotguns please let us know your thoughts on the TFL COMMUNITY!   

The 694 was designed to be a sporting clays shotgun.

BERETTA 694 PRO SPORTING TSK

Here is what Beretta has to say about the 694 Pro Sporting:

• Specs

  • 12 gauge over/under shotgun.
  • 3" chamber.
  • 32" barrel (30" available) These are Berettas Steelium Barrels.
  • Comes with 5 extended chokes (Optima HP). Looking for aftermarket chokes? Check out Carlson's Chokes Use Code "targetfocused20" for 20% off.
  • The TSK stock is adjustable in just about every way.
  • The 694 Pro Sporting has ejectors.
  • 8lbs 8.6oz
  • We got an average trigger pull weight of 3lbs 12oz. 
  • Overall the inertia triggers felt quite crispy. The trigger is also adjustable for LOP.
  • The 694 Pro Sporting has lengthened forcing cones.
  • MSRP is $6,229

• Ergonomics

  • The balance of this shotgun is perfect, but if you disagree, weights can be added to the stock of the barrel to fit your preference. 
  • The feel of this gun is great.
  • This 694 has a palm swell that filled my hand nicely. 
  • The Beavertail forend size is perfect. Not too bulky, but not too small. Feels great.
  • The checkering throughout is subtle but very effective and easy on the eyes.
  • This shotgun has a flat vented rib with a small mid and front bead (white)
  • Top tang safety with barrel selectors. Note: To change the barrel, you must have the shotgun on safe.
  • In full disclosure, when we first received this gun (brand new) the barrel selector did not work. I can't imagine that this is a common issue, but we had to take it upon ourselves to fix the internal components that were preventing this from working. In short, the selector's linkage was outside of the inertia block. Let us know if you've had any issues like this with Beretta.
  • The overall looks of this shotgun are good. Modern, but with a classy appeal. We expect shotguns at this price point to look a certain way and this one meets expectations. The only thing that could be nicer is the wood. It looks food, but a lot of guns at this price have nicer-looking wood.
  • The receiver and top lever have some nice detail. The top lever was designed to be low profile so as to not obstruct your view. 
  • If you decide to go with the TSK stock, keep in mind it can be quite difficult to get it set perfectly by yourself. You're going to get the most out of this stock if you consult with an expert who can help you get the right fit.
  • The overall ergonomics and build of this gun are great. It feels great in the hands, has tight tolerance, and is balanced nicely.  

• Recoil and Reliability

  
  
  • Having shot the wood stock 694 as well as this TSK 694, I will say, the TSK stock presents noticeably more recoil.
  • We'd like to think that this added recoil is partially due to our current stock setup, but overall it's more recoil regardless. (Particularly into the face)
  • When we were shooting FITASC with 1 oz. loads I never once noticed the recoil, but when we shot 1 1/8 oz. it was noticeable.
  • This shotgun mounted and swung nicely, and I really enjoyed shooting it. So much so... I'd like to hang on to it, but we'll see.
  • When I used this shotgun at FITASC, the targets I struggled with the most were true, and report pairs. The added recoil did not help this. It makes me wonder why Beretta didn't port the barrels as this would help with recoil and muzzle jump.
  • If you can speak to the reliability of a 694, please let us know how it's held up on the  TFL COMMUNITY!    

• Breakdown/Quality of Build

  • The first note we have is that the steel inside the forend has recently been improved over the 692 (Apparently)
  • The overall construction is solid. 
  • You'll notice holes in between the barrels toward the breach end. This is part of their B-Fast system. If you so choose, you can add weights to these holes to adjust the balance to your liking. The weights are sold separately.
  • One gripe we have with the build quality is that we've had to re-tighten the stock adjustment screws multiple times. They seem to loosen up every once in a while.
  • The receiver is very nicely constructed. The hinges and overall tolerances are solid, but smooth.
  • Again, the one aspect of this shotgun that could be of higher quality is the wood. 
  • We like what Beretta has done in the TSK stock. We believe that gun fit is important and this stock allows shooters of all types to dial in the fit for them. 
  • We have no reason to believe that this shotgun won't hold up over time if properly cared for. 

• Shooting The 694

  • The more we became comfortable with the gun, the more we hit, and the more we like it. 
  • The weight was perfect, the trigger was crisp, and the 694 shot naturally. The only complaint we have has to do with the TSK recoil when shooting 1 1/8oz target loads. 
  • Overall this shotgun feels great in the hands. We thoroughly enjoyed shooting it.

In conclusion, this 694 Pro Sporting TSK is a great shotgun for sporting clays. Having shot the wood stock 694 with an adjustable comb, we're somewhat on the fence about which one we'd prefer. On one hand, we love the adjustability of the TSK, and on the other hand,  we love the lesser recoil of the wood stock while still having the ability to adjust the comb. But at the end of the day, if your target focused, recoil shouldn't be that much of an issue for you - especially if you're shooting 1oz. If you opted to purchase the B-Fast weights, this would become even less of an issue. The highlight of this gun is it's ergonomics and low-profile reciever. It looks and feels great in the hands. We'd definitely consider this a worthy option for sporting clays. 

Whether our targets in the field or our targets in life, we will only hit what we are focused on, so live the #targetfocusedlife