Beretta 391 Urika Sporting (First Impressions)

[TrapperReady]

Some of you may be aware of the fit problems I've been experiencing with my Browning 425. In short, it has been pounding my face in a horrific fashion. I've tried shimming, moleskin on the comb, changing my position, voodoo, etc... all to no avail.

Three weeks ago, I had to shoot a few rounds of trap for league. I gritted my teeth and shot the required rounds. While my scores were decent, by the third station of the second round, I had blood streaming down my cheek, and I still had to complete that round and one more.

In a fit of anger, I purchased a Beretta 391 Urika Sporting in 12 gauge with a 30" barrel. I figured "A gas gun has GOT to be better than this." To be totally truthful, I added a number of non-forum-friendly words at the start of that sentence.

Due to the Memorial Day weekend, there was no trap league until this week. With my face mostly healed, I took the new boomstick out to the range for a test run. The first round was extremely promising. Twenty-five targets flew into the sky, and twenty-five targets came to the ground in little tiny pieces. All but two were dusted. The other two were well hit, but had a couple larger chunks fly off. I'll settle for that. The gentleman to my right was shooting a sweet-looking Krieghoff, and I would have felt quite smug, had he not also run a straight.

During the first round, I got the impression that the Beretta was shooting just a little lower than my Browning and my Benelli. I spent the second round doing some "seat of the pants" patterning, and verified that it does shoot lower. I would guess it's around 50/50 or maybe 60/40. I'll have to hit the pattern board to find out for sure. Anyway, with the exception of those targets I missed while bracketing and determining POI, every other clay burst as before. I'm a very happy camper.

As far as recoil, it is substantially less than the Browning, and slightly less than my Benelli Montefeltro. I was shooting my standard reloads, consisting of 1 1/8 oz of #7.5 shot over 18.0 grains of Clays with a Remington STS hull and figure-8 wad. Functioning was flawless.

The only thing that was slightly odd was the T&S shell-catcher. I was unable to simply drop the shell in, and instead had to thread it in backwards, and rotate the shell once the brass was in the chamber. This is not necessary with the shell-catcher on the Benelli. It's not a problem in any way, just something different.

Some other notables...

The gun uses Beretta's new extended chokes. They are 3/4" extensions and have a sharply-cut pattern to aid grip while tightening. Even with some choke-lube and twisting them in quite tightly, they would loosen a little after a handful of shells. I merely got in the habit of checking it between stations.

Cleaning is not difficult, but certainly more labor-intensive than with the O/U or recoil-operated autos (or the 870 Dave ).

BTW, with the 30" barrel and the extended chokes, the gun is SERIOUSLY long. I had to adjust the top shelf in the safe just to get it to fit.

I'm visiting some friends this upcoming week, and will have an opportunity to shoot a lot of sporting clays. I hope to post some more info sometime next week after I've got a few hundred rounds through it.

In case you are wondering, the Browning has taken up residence in the back of the safe until such time that I can get down to Wenig's and get fitted for a new stock.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks for posting that,TR. Info like this helps make this forum the wonderful resource it is.

A coupla things...

391 owners seem a happy and good shooting lot. Outside of a trigger job, little needs to be done to please the most finicky.Over on Shotgun Report, Bruce Buck has written some things about the 391 you may find helpful.

That shooting low thing can be remedied with the shim kit, but if I ran the first 25 with a new shotgun and smoked 23, I'd be greatly tempted to leave well enough alone(for once). Also, you've probably got a good SC shotgun there cleverly disguised as a trap gun.Shoot other games and see how things go.

Also,before packing off that 425 for their excellent though uncheap restocking, you may want to try some oz loads. Here's what I'm using, and it's a softer kicker than most.

STS hull.

Win 209 primer.

17.3 gr Clays.

Claybuster clone to the WAA12SL wad.

Oz of hard shot.

The last issue of Shotgun Sports mag has an article on 1 oz loads you may find interesting.

HTH....

 

[TrapperReady]

I'll try the shot combo you are using, as I've got all of those components at my reloading bench.

If my subsequent outings are anything like the first, I'm not going to change a thing about the 391. Since I shoot SC pretty often, I think the lower shooting setup will be a little more versatile. We'll see this week, since I'll probably go through 5 or 6 rounds of SC and some more trap.

As far as the trigger goes, I may have gotten lucky. It's actually the lightest I've ever felt on a new shotgun. There is a bit of creep, but I'd wager that the pull weight is under 4 pounds (maybe well under).

Prior to the purchase (at least a couple weeks in advance) I'd gone through every bit of info on the 391 I could find on Shotgun Report. It's probably one of the things that made my impulse buy easier.

 

[Dave McCracken]

If you research it in advance,Paul, is it REALLY an impulse buy(G)?...

Good news on that trigger. I've shot a few rounds through others folk's 391s and they felt a bit uncrisp and heavy. Maybe 870s have spoiled me.

SWEG,that recipe runs maybe 20% less kick than yours.Core density should be around as tight.

In the unlikely but possible event I ever get a gamer gas gun, chances are it'll be just what you have. Enjoy....

 

[Kingcreek]

a couple years ago I bought a 390 sporting model with 28" tube at a close-out price. I like it. No problems whatsoever and it also came with a decent trigger. I shoot skeet and SC. rarely trap.
Now I gotta get one in 20g with a 26" tube for shooting feathered targets.
enjoy!

 

[TrapperReady]

I'm not sure where you picked up the name Paul -- it's actually Mike. As far as an impulse buy... consider it a well thought out impulse. I considered it one because I finally gave up in disgust with the Browning, and bought the Beretta while I was still mad. Hopping mad as a matter of fact.

I had tried some lighter 1 oz factory loads from Winchester, and still had some problems, although that was during the first few weeks that this problem appeared. My face was pretty raw and painful and pretty much everything hurt.

No time this week, but I'll be doing a marathon reloading session next weekend. I'll whip up a few boxes of your mix and see how I like them.

BTW, my wife (who appropriated my Benelli) broke 20/25 for the first time on Tuesday night. That had been a goal of hers for the last couple weeks, and her grin was noticable from a couple hundred feet away as she came off the line. I'd be willing to lay some money down that she'll run a straight by the end of the year.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Sorry, Mike, us old types have memory probs.

Just for grins, measure the drop on both the 391 and 425 and see how they compare. Bet there's a bit more on the Browning. Building up the comb a bit may help. Try a temp job with a piece of mouse pad and tape, see how things go.

And congrats to your spouse. She'll be running them soon....

 

[HSMITH]

The 391 is a darn fine shotgun, and you can get a 30" barrel that the other makers of decent autos won't give you. I think they are a great buy.

Keep that woman away from the 391 unless you want to buy another one.......

 

[Spider]

Trapper - I understand the 391 comes with 2 thicknesses of recoil pads - is that the case and do you happen to know what the thicknesses are? I am planning on purchasing a 391, and am trying to figure out if I will have to get a thicker pad mounted to get to the LOP I want.

Thanks - enjoy your new gun.

 

[TrapperReady]

Spider - You are correct. They come with two different thickness pads.

Just having measured it, the LOP with the thicker pad is 14 1/2".

The thicker pad is 7/8".

The thinner pad is 5/8".

You are also provided with a few shims to alter both drop and cast. Fortunately, mine seems to have come set up perfectly for me. The only thing I may do is switch to the thinner pad in the late fall and winter when I'm wearing a heavy jacket.

 

[TrapperReady]

One other general comment about the 391. The stock just seems a little thicker (broader, wider... whatever you want to call it) than most other guns I've handled. This is less noticible in actual stock, but more pronounced in the forearm.

For me, for its intended purpose (clay games) it is fine. For a hunting piece, I prefer something a little more slender and quicker to point. This particular 391 (with its 30" barrel) borders on the ponderous. However, in trap and most sporting clay situations, that's not a bad thing.

Additionally, the sporting model comes with a relatively wide rib, featuring a very nice white bead sight, with a small silver mid-rib bead as well. That is my favorite setup... far more appealing than a big fat glow-worm on top of your barrel. Although some disagree, I really like having a mid-bead on anything I use for trap.

 

[Spider]

Thanks - that is exactly what I wanted to know. I tend to use a LOP of 14 7/8 - 15, so I will have to plan on some spacers or a thicker pad. The 30" barrel sounds right for me, as I have a bad case of stoppingmyswing-itis at times, and prefer a barrel-heavy gun. Ditto on the large forearm as it seems to fit my dimensions/shooting style a little better.

One more question since you have been so kind with your answers - 2 3/4" or 3" chamber on the sporting model"? I know the field model has 3"

Muchas gracias

 

[TrapperReady]

3" chamber on the sporting model.

 

[Spider]

Trapper - yet another satisfied 391 customer posting at shootingsportsman.com. Not that you need any validation given your results to date, but it is always fun to read about fellow enthusiasts...