Breaking in and use of Beretta A400

I

Island_Craig

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Beretta A400 Xtreme Unico with the 3.5" chamber. I've had a semi M2 about 6 years ago and it didn't seem to mind what I fed. The manual says to run medium loads first then doesn't specify and states the gun can shoot anything.

My questions are: how many heavy loads does it need, and have people been okay with eating crappy tire bulk boxes for targets after this break in period?

Also plan to get into ducks and turkeys... Any suggestions on loads before I give into modern advertising and buy the fanciest most expensive stuff out there?

Thanks
 
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I have never broke in a modern shotgun and that includes my a400.
They work with everything out of the box after an initial cleaning
Years ago I did this and had to with some models but not today with the modern manufacturing tolerances
Cheers
 
Island_Craig said:
Thanks that's a great start to not stressing out about this.

Was planning to strip it down today and give it a clean.
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Stripping down a new gun and giving it a good cleaning is always something I do and many times the gunk I find makes me keep doing it
I have a a400 but honestly don't shoot it much since it is just one of the many semi shotguns I own so others will chime in that use them on a regular basis to let you know what they did when theirs was new
Bottom line I would not stress about it and IMO the break in is BS on a shotgun today and real old school
and this is from an old fart ;) that bought his first new semi shotgun a 1100 in 1965 which I still have I may add ;)
Cheers
 
Island_Craig said:
I wish. I bought the shot gun to replace the heirloom Beretta that was sold off as part of an estate sale from the family collection back in 1994. Needless to say I'm happy to restart the chain of custody in the family with a new gun.
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Yep it is sad but that being said I have many of my grandfathers and fathers guns but when I pass despite the fact there is 10 children in this next generation 9 of which are boys youngest 14 and the oldest 26 none of which want anything to do with guns, hunting etc so all of mine will be sold off also. Real sad when 3 of the boys are yanks state side and my brother who has them is a nra true gun nutz
In fact my daughter who is 24 just got her rpal and when I asked her why she promply said so mom will give me all of your guns when you die and I will make some money :(
 
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Nice kid... Hopefully she comes around and I guess if nothing else another female with an RPAL is a good stat. LOL. We had four guns for four grandkids... One of them turned out to be "unsuitable for firearms ownership" so I guess it wasn't a terrible idea.
 
I have an A400 as well and haven't had a lot of luck with trap loads. I have probably about 15 boxes of 2 3/4" and 3" waterfowl loads through it, but it won't lock the bolt back with federal 1 oz trap loads but will lock back with 1 oz hunting loads. I haven't tried to load up the mag with the top gun loads to see if it will run them through yet. I tried 1 1/8" trap loads and they wouldn't lock the bolt back but low brass 1 1/8" game loads are no problem. I did buy the gun as a waterfowl hunting gun and it does that well. I have found that I have some cycling issues when it is super wet out with water gumming up the oil in the action. I need to find a better oil, a buddy uses G96 and never has any issues. I want to be able to shoot sporting clays with it in the off season so want to be able to use light trap loads in it. I am not sure if I need to send it in for warranty though.
 
As mentioned, give the gun a good cleaning and go out and enjoy it. The best way to break in the gun, it to just shoot it. Im sure it will reliable feed anything you chamber. If for what ever reason it doesnt, just keep shooting it.
 
Island_Craig said:
Bought me a new scattergun yesterday, a Beretta A400 Xtreme Unico with the 3.5" chamber. I've had a semi M2 about 6 years ago and it didn't seem to mind what I fed it.

Guy at the LGS said to break it in with some heavy magnum loads and then shoot no less than 3dram as a matter of keeping the gun running. The manual says to run medium loads first then doesn't specify and states the gun can shoot anything.

My questions are: how many heavy loads does it need, and have people been okay with eating crappy tire bulk boxes for targets after this break in period?

Also plan to get into ducks and turkeys... Any suggestions on loads before I give into modern advertising and buy the fanciest most expensive stuff out there?

Thanks
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I would trust the manufacturer over the LGS. YMMV.
 
Cdn-Redneck said:
I have found that I have some cycling issues when it is super wet out with water gumming up the oil in the action. I need to find a better oil, a buddy uses G96 and never has any issues.
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I run an A391 Xtrema2 for waterfowl, which is almost the same shotgun. I've found using a water-soluble oil like Ballistol eliminates that issue completely. Give it a try.
 
Claven2 said:
I run an A391 Xtrema2 for waterfowl, which is almost the same shotgun. I've found using a water-soluble oil like Ballistol eliminates that issue completely. Give it a try.
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Thanks I will have a look at that. I hunt with 4 different guys and we all use berettas.
 
I use a spray solvent and the beretta oil that came with the gun. Keep in mind I am in BC near Vancouver and when I have had issues it was raining really hard and we were in muddy corn fields and had dirt transferring from our hands into the action. Regular days we have been fine. Do not over oiled the action. I did that like I would with my pump and the oil absorbs dirt and powder residue, just a few drops on the bolt and smear it around and no trouble with it then.
 
Sounds like this gun likes to run dry ish, your not the first person to tell me that.

Noted on the conditions, and if ever in that scenario I would probably be hunting which would have a heavier load that the action would be forced to cycle.
 
Island_Craig said:
Sounds like this gun likes to run dry ish, your not the first person to tell me that.

Noted on the conditions, and if ever in that scenario I would probably be hunting which would have a heavier load that the action would be forced to cycle.
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The problem I have found under these conditions is the feeding of the next round. It won't push up onto the bolt face. The carrier pushes it in place but the gunk in the action won't allow the bolt to push it into the chamber as I said it as pouring rain loading shells with muddy hands. So I says when it comes to oil less is more. I am going to give the G96 a try it is a synthetic oil and cleaner.
 
With my A-400 Xtreme Unico I cleaned it then I fired a half box of some old 2 3/4 inch lead 1 1/2 oz lead loads I had left laying around followed by a box of 3 inch steel loads and then I cleaned it again...I have had no problems with shooting anything from 2 3/4" trap loads to 3 1/2" mag goose loads. I have probably put 300/400 rounds through it so far without a hiccup of any kind no matter the type of round used.

Jim
 
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