I've owned a Beretta 391 for three years, like it a lot and recommend the 391 to anyone looking for a clay target gun. They are great guns in many respects but do have some idiosyncrasies. Here are some I've noted:
They need to be shot "wet." Don't be shy about oiling them. Break Free CLP is what I like but any good oil will do. Even when the gun becomes dirty just keep squirting in BreakFree and the gun will keep going for much longer than you'd expect.
The next point is the forend cap. It needs to be kept lubricated/greased otherwise it will seize to the point you might need channel locks to get it off. I loosen the forend cap a full turn before putting it away to prevent this from happening. You don't need to ratchet it down too tight either but when you do make sure that the forend is properly seated in the receiver.
The 391 can be a little tricky to reassemble. The breech block needs to be properly seated as the operating rod goes into the gun and the connecting rod has to go into the recoil spring guide at the back of the receiver. This can be a frustrating trial and error process. The trick here is to reassemble the gun without the trigger group in the gun and then put the trigger assembly back in last.
The 391 doesn’t need to be cleaned that often and mine will go a couple of thousand rounds before it needs to be taken down. However, there is a spindle that comes out of the magazine cap where carbon builds up. When a lot of it builds up the gun tends to recoil a little more. Even if I don't clean the entire gun I generally remove the carbon build up with a little BreakFree and a brass brush after each outing.
The 391 comes with either the older Mobile chokes or Optima chokes. Both are good but the extended Optima chokes are not notched in the end and come with a chintzy little choke tool that is largely useless. I quickly dumped it in favour of a Carlson's choke tube wrench which works well.
The extended chokes in the Beretta sometimes work loose when shooting. This isn't unique to Berettas by any means but finger tightening them may be necessary during a round. Please don't do so while the gun is loaded (I've seen guys do that and it gives me the willies.) I use Briley choke tube grease on the threads and it helps keeps them in place.
In three years I've had one part break on my 391. A piece of the cocking handle sheared off and while the handle was still usable getting a replacement wasn't a problem. Stoeger Canada has a reasonable service for parts and small parts can be ordered from Coles in the U.S.
(This is contrary to my experience with Remingtons. I have replaced link springs, action bars, extractors and other small parts on the 1100s I've owned. Currently I use a 28 gauge 1100 for introducing women to shooting and my 1100 kit includes a spare extractor, action bars, o-rings, link spring and other little parts. Thankfully, Western Gun Parts has a good supply)
All of the above shouldn't dissuade anyone from buying a 391. They are IMHO the best semi-auto for target shooting on the market followed by the Browning Gold. The 391 functions reliably with very light 7/8s ounce loads right up to 3" magnums. It is as at home on the clay fields as it is in the uplands or duck blinds.
There seems to be a lot more shooters using the Beretta 391 and leaving their more expensive o/u at home. What most of them will tell you is that they shoot the 391 as well if not better than their breaking guns (me too.) Maybe it's because the gun is softer shooting or because it's nicely balanced but my 391 is the only gun I've ever owned that I can leave in the safe for a month or two and then shoot a reasonable score with it.
I've owned all kinds of guns but truth be told if I could own only one shotgun it would be a Beretta 391.
Any other any comments or observations, pro or con, on the Beretta 391?
They need to be shot "wet." Don't be shy about oiling them. Break Free CLP is what I like but any good oil will do. Even when the gun becomes dirty just keep squirting in BreakFree and the gun will keep going for much longer than you'd expect.
The next point is the forend cap. It needs to be kept lubricated/greased otherwise it will seize to the point you might need channel locks to get it off. I loosen the forend cap a full turn before putting it away to prevent this from happening. You don't need to ratchet it down too tight either but when you do make sure that the forend is properly seated in the receiver.
The 391 can be a little tricky to reassemble. The breech block needs to be properly seated as the operating rod goes into the gun and the connecting rod has to go into the recoil spring guide at the back of the receiver. This can be a frustrating trial and error process. The trick here is to reassemble the gun without the trigger group in the gun and then put the trigger assembly back in last.
The 391 doesn’t need to be cleaned that often and mine will go a couple of thousand rounds before it needs to be taken down. However, there is a spindle that comes out of the magazine cap where carbon builds up. When a lot of it builds up the gun tends to recoil a little more. Even if I don't clean the entire gun I generally remove the carbon build up with a little BreakFree and a brass brush after each outing.
The 391 comes with either the older Mobile chokes or Optima chokes. Both are good but the extended Optima chokes are not notched in the end and come with a chintzy little choke tool that is largely useless. I quickly dumped it in favour of a Carlson's choke tube wrench which works well.
The extended chokes in the Beretta sometimes work loose when shooting. This isn't unique to Berettas by any means but finger tightening them may be necessary during a round. Please don't do so while the gun is loaded (I've seen guys do that and it gives me the willies.) I use Briley choke tube grease on the threads and it helps keeps them in place.
In three years I've had one part break on my 391. A piece of the cocking handle sheared off and while the handle was still usable getting a replacement wasn't a problem. Stoeger Canada has a reasonable service for parts and small parts can be ordered from Coles in the U.S.
(This is contrary to my experience with Remingtons. I have replaced link springs, action bars, extractors and other small parts on the 1100s I've owned. Currently I use a 28 gauge 1100 for introducing women to shooting and my 1100 kit includes a spare extractor, action bars, o-rings, link spring and other little parts. Thankfully, Western Gun Parts has a good supply)
All of the above shouldn't dissuade anyone from buying a 391. They are IMHO the best semi-auto for target shooting on the market followed by the Browning Gold. The 391 functions reliably with very light 7/8s ounce loads right up to 3" magnums. It is as at home on the clay fields as it is in the uplands or duck blinds.
There seems to be a lot more shooters using the Beretta 391 and leaving their more expensive o/u at home. What most of them will tell you is that they shoot the 391 as well if not better than their breaking guns (me too.) Maybe it's because the gun is softer shooting or because it's nicely balanced but my 391 is the only gun I've ever owned that I can leave in the safe for a month or two and then shoot a reasonable score with it.
I've owned all kinds of guns but truth be told if I could own only one shotgun it would be a Beretta 391.
Any other any comments or observations, pro or con, on the Beretta 391?
For your custom 391 that is
