A400 Lite Issues

fuzzy39

fuzzy39

CGN Regular
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
146   0   0
Location
Saskatchewan
I picked up a new A400 lite 12 ga a couple years back. Had issues with it cycling right from the start. First issue appeared to be the piston and I had my LGS order me a new one. This helped a bit but would still not cycle target loads.

My LGS sent it back to Stoeger Canada and they sent it back saying it was perfect! Well, it still did not cycle light target loads. So, I bought some heavy target loads and that worked well. I went back to light loads to see and had issues with stovepiping and failure to cycle again. Today I put through a box of size 4 steel and had no issues. One of the veteran shooters at the range had a look and noted that only one of the gas ports was open. From what I have read, this may be the way they are made. He did mention how some smiths with touch up the gas ports to optimize cycling.

Just wondering if the norm is for both the gas ports to be open in the 12 ga A400s or if only one is open. Second, would anyone recommend tinkering with the gas port to optimize cycling.

Thanks
 
I'd get a heavier gas piston spring. A stiffer spring will help retain more gas to to cycle the action. Coles Gunsmithing in Maine sells a spring kit for the A400 Xplor and Xcel target gun...it is the same kit as the AL391. I have included their description.
391-G: Cole Custom Gas Valve Spring for Beretta Semi-Auto (2-spring set)
$ 17.60

Share:
This part replaces part #117

Beretta Gas Valve Spring Set -2 Springs

works on 12ga & 20ga models AL391. 12ga A400 Xcel and Xplor, also the A300 Outlander
 
Seems weird that a gas port comes plugged from the factory. In any event it sounds like your gun doesn't like light loads, which is normal for gas guns that aren't designed for sport shooting.

the "Lite" in the name has no relation to the loads it shoots btw ;0 lol
 
fuzzy39 said:
I picked up a new A400 lite 12 ga a couple years back. Had issues with it cycling right from the start. First issue appeared to be the piston and I had my LGS order me a new one. This helped a bit but would still not cycle target loads.

My LGS sent it back to Stoeger Canada and they sent it back saying it was perfect! Well, it still did not cycle light target loads. So, I bought some heavy target loads and that worked well. I went back to light loads to see and had issues with stovepiping and failure to cycle again. Today I put through a box of size 4 steel and had no issues. One of the veteran shooters at the range had a look and noted that only one of the gas ports was open. From what I have read, this may be the way they are made. He did mention how some smiths with touch up the gas ports to optimize cycling.

Just wondering if the norm is for both the gas ports to be open in the 12 ga A400s or if only one is open. Second, would anyone recommend tinkering with the gas port to optimize cycling.

Thanks
Click to expand...

The lite will handle even the lightest target loads. Don't touch the gas ports other than to clean them
Did the gun have a real good cleaning soak the piston etc and I mean real good. Not leaving oil on these parts are you after cleaning
I don't have a lite but have a a400 and when this starts it is all from cleaning not enough. Like running a torch cleaner tip through the ports , soaking the piston etc
AND the gas vent ports (not just the ports to the barrel) inside the valve assembly will still fill with debris but it is as soft . A higher power shell will usually blow those out light loads will not. Make sure the the split ring on the piston isn't twisted. If it is the ends of the ring will not align with one another.
 
Falconflyer said:
I don't know about the A400 but some manufacturers of semi auto shotguns used to recomend several boxes of heavy loads to break in the gun so it would cycle light loads.
Click to expand...

Fairly certain the manual for my A400 stated this. Mine is a 20 gauge and would reliably cycle cheap Winchester target ammo. After a couple of boxes of 3" steel and seems to cycle them fine now.
 
what mine says right to 7/8 oz

The Beretta A400 Xplor semi-automatic shotgun has different cartridge chambers, depending on the version. The shotgun does not require
adjustments or interventions to shoot from 70 mm (2 3/4 in) /24 g (7/8 oz), to 76 mm (3 in) /57 g (2 oz) cartridges.
 
3macs1 said:
what mine says right to 7/8 oz

The Beretta A400 Xplor semi-automatic shotgun has different cartridge chambers, depending on the version. The shotgun does not require
adjustments or interventions to shoot from 70 mm (2 3/4 in) /24 g (7/8 oz), to 76 mm (3 in) /57 g (2 oz) cartridges.
Click to expand...

Looks to be from page 25 of the user manual. On the same page its states • Beretta recommends: To immediately
obtain superior firearm performance
and optimum cartridge versatility from
your shotgun , fire some medium power
cartridges first (32 g / 1.1/8 oz).

Not looking to nit pick just stating that I experienced difficulties with my A400 until I did this. Never have had to do this with any other auto loader I've owned, this one just might have been moody off the start.
 
sigarms226 said:
Looks to be from page 25 of the user manual. On the same page its states • Beretta recommends: To immediately
obtain superior firearm performance
and optimum cartridge versatility from
your shotgun , fire some medium power
cartridges first (32 g / 1.1/8 oz).

Not looking to nit pick just stating that I experienced difficulties with my A400 until I did this. Never have had to do this with any other auto loader I've owned, this one just might have been moody off the start.
Click to expand...

Not in the one I have and not page 25 . May have changed it god knows . IMO one should NEVER have to do that with any new gun . Mine had no issues with any ammo other than it would not feed right which drove me nuts until I bent a few things :( Works fine now
Cheers
 
My xplor I bought with supposedly 50 rounds thru it. No fouling on the inside of the foreend and i could not tell it had even been fired. I tried my 7/8oz reloads and it worked flawless for a couple rounds of skeet then I ran several boxes of 1.25oz heavy field loads thru it as recommended and years later it's still flawless
 
3macs1 said:
Not in the one I have and not page 25 . May have changed it god knows . IMO one should NEVER have to do that with any new gun . Mine had no issues with any ammo other than it would not feed right which drove me nuts until I bent a few things :( Works fine now
Cheers
Click to expand...

Buddy of mine purchased some version of Beretta a number of years ago now, it was a hunting gun, 3 inch, camo, that sort of thing and I remember him showing me in the manual where it said to run some heavy loads through it before using light loads. I can't remember what version of Beretta it was.
 
Even if a requirement now he said he bought it some years ago. By now surely to god it would have had the required rounds through it to wear in if there is such a thing
Not the issue IMO
 
3macs1 said:
Even if a requirement now he said he bought it some years ago. By now surely to god it would have had the required rounds through it to wear in if there is such a thing
Not the issue IMO
Click to expand...

The op says in the original post that it wouldn't cycle light loads right from the start and after some heavy target loads it still wouldn't cycle, then he put a box of steel loads through and still it won't cycle. Nowhere does he state how many loads were put through it so I'm not assuming anything about how many he has shot in the gun to date.


I'm not saying it is the issue.... my point is only that the manufacturer has been known to state in the manual that it was required on some models.
 
Falconflyer said:
The op says in the original post that it wouldn't cycle light loads right from the start and after some heavy target loads it still wouldn't cycle, then he put a box of steel loads through and still it won't cycle. Nowhere does he state how many loads were put through it so I'm not assuming anything about how many he has shot in the gun to date.


I'm not saying it is the issue.... my point is only that the manufacturer has been known to state in the manual that it was required on some models.
Click to expand...

?? No he said it had a bad piston from the start and would not work with anything then changed it and then it was just target loads the way I read it
Doesn't matter someone that knows these has to take a look at it and not the dealer. They had their chance
Cheers
 
3macs1 said:
Not in the one I have and not page 25 . May have changed it god knows . IMO one should NEVER have to do that with any new gun . Mine had no issues with any ammo other than it would not feed right which drove me nuts until I bent a few things :( Works fine now
Cheers
Click to expand...

I agree about not having to do anything special. My Xtrema and Maxus shot 1 oz loads just fine, not sure why my experience with this A400 was like this or WHY I even cracked the manual.
 
Sorry for the late reply. Thanks for all the advice. I did the break-in as the manual stated and have fired about 200 rounds through over the years. I did cycle an entire box of size 4 steel without a hiccup then a box of light target loads with only one stove pipe. I though it was all good so I took it out for canadas on Friday…. Well we had 2 more failure to eject in only about 18 rounds fired… so tired of this gun, lol.

I used my Winchester 101 o/u on Saturday and limited on ducks and never had a misfire, lol.

So the gun has been checked by Beretta and they say it’s perfect, it has been shot clean and with a few shells through it and it still hiccups… I don’t know… I guess she will go back to the local gun store and back to Beretta. I honestly feel I may just stick with my over unders for waterfowl now! Anyone have a camp Browning cynergy they want to trade me for a 90% functioning A400? Lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom