Beretta AL391 Urika-2 Sporting 12 Ga review
- Thread starter Zedshawnh
- Start date
AL 390 is pretty well thought of. More metal less plastic.
I have an AL391 teknys gold sporting. Action is the same. I find it very reliable. I have maybe $10k rounds through it and no problems with anything so far. It did have a manufacturing issue when I purchased it in the mid 2000’s which was fixed under warranty.
As for price without knowing a lot about the particular shotgun I’d say $900-$1200.
As for should you buy the A400, if you’ve got the money sure. There are improvements over the AL391. But a well looked after 391 is still a great shotgun.
As for price without knowing a lot about the particular shotgun I’d say $900-$1200.
As for should you buy the A400, if you’ve got the money sure. There are improvements over the AL391. But a well looked after 391 is still a great shotgun.
I've got two 391 Sportings, a 12 gauge Optima bore and a 20 gauge. The 20 is a Urika-2. The only difference that I can see between the two is a slightly different gas piston that is supposed to reduce breakage. I know several 391 shooters and none of us have broken a gas piston.
The 391 is super reliable. Mines gone 2,000 rounds between cleanings with 100% reliability. In almost 20 years I've probably put over 30 thousand rounds through the 12 gauge and only needed to replace a connecting rod and recoil spring.
My biggest gripe with the 391 is take-down. It's can be a tricky gun to put back together if you don't know a couple of tricks. Seating the connecting rod and getting the bolt in is finicky but easier with the trigger assembly removed. The trigger assembly is easier to remove and reinstall if you push down on the bolt release while doing so.
The forend cap is a pain in the arse. If not loosened when the gun is stored it can seize. I've seen more than one used 391 with channel lock marks on the forend cap because it had to be wrenched loose. Disassembling the forend cap to clean is not easy. Internal snap ring pliers are required and I've got a special tool from Angle Port that makes the job easier.
I've shot several A400s and like them a lot but not so much that I'd trade my 391. The 391 fits me better, the A400 pistol grip is more open and doesn't fit my hand as well. If I didn't already have the 391 I'd probably get an A400.
On the used market I've seen the 12 gauge sporting models in very good to excellent condition for around $1,500.
The 391 is super reliable. Mines gone 2,000 rounds between cleanings with 100% reliability. In almost 20 years I've probably put over 30 thousand rounds through the 12 gauge and only needed to replace a connecting rod and recoil spring.
My biggest gripe with the 391 is take-down. It's can be a tricky gun to put back together if you don't know a couple of tricks. Seating the connecting rod and getting the bolt in is finicky but easier with the trigger assembly removed. The trigger assembly is easier to remove and reinstall if you push down on the bolt release while doing so.
The forend cap is a pain in the arse. If not loosened when the gun is stored it can seize. I've seen more than one used 391 with channel lock marks on the forend cap because it had to be wrenched loose. Disassembling the forend cap to clean is not easy. Internal snap ring pliers are required and I've got a special tool from Angle Port that makes the job easier.
I've shot several A400s and like them a lot but not so much that I'd trade my 391. The 391 fits me better, the A400 pistol grip is more open and doesn't fit my hand as well. If I didn't already have the 391 I'd probably get an A400.
On the used market I've seen the 12 gauge sporting models in very good to excellent condition for around $1,500.
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I have an A400 Xplor in 12 ga and a 391 Urika in 20 ga that I use for busting clays. I also have a 391 extrema in 12 ga that I use for hunting. All are reliable and will cycle just about anything I shoot through them with the exception of 20 ga Challenger that don't work in any of my 20 ga guns.
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Some of the early 391’s had shell carrier problems but after that they are a fine gun! I purchased two of them early on for a great price but resold them for a small profit before getting a chance to shoot them.
I do know a couple of guys who shot sporting clays with them and bragged that they only cleaned them once a year and they never had cycling issues, that’s a reliable semi when you can go thousands of rounds in between cleaning!
I do know a couple of guys who shot sporting clays with them and bragged that they only cleaned them once a year and they never had cycling issues, that’s a reliable semi when you can go thousands of rounds in between cleaning!
We had a couple of people shooting 391s at my previous club, they were very reliable, and could go a lot of rounds without cleaning, before they started to have issues. One guy only cleaned his when it started to malfunction, and that would take 2000 to 3000 rounds or more. The A400 is less sensitive about ammunition, and seems softer recoil wise, so if the price is similar I would go with an A400. Then again ,neither fits me properly, so I shoot Browning/Winchester for semi autos.
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I haven’t seen one for sale for a long time, I don’t know if that’s because people like them and don’t offer them for sale or what the reason might be but then I’m not a semi guy so I’m never really looking for them either. If memory serves when they first came out they were around $1300 to $1400 but that would have been the Urika 1 not 2.
As above, people tend to hold on to their 391's. The current price would depend somewhat on the features such as adjustable comb and Kick-Off recoil absorber. With all the bells and whistles, and in VG condition, a fella might expect to pay 14 to 1500 $. Otherwise, a field grade 391 might go for 11 to 1200$, which has the same internals as the sporting model.
NZClaybuster
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta
I bought (Stole) mine for $650 8 years ago, possibly one of the best buys i have ever made.
