First Shotgun a 391 Teknys Gold Sport

[Wolfy]

Went looking for one of these and was told 6-8 month backorder from the factory by a Galyan's manager. Called a local store and they had one in a 28" barrell I wanted a 30" but took it anyway. I get to pick it up tomorrow because NICs shut down before I decided I wanted it.

This is a sweet looking gun with all the right features can handle the lightest loads up to 2oz magnum loads. Gel tek recoil pad, in the stock is a Spring Mass recoil reduction system and a self adjusting gas system all work together to make this a very fun gun to shoot. Now all I have to do is wait for the weekend.

So did I make a smart choice for a first gun?

 

[rugerfreak]

A lot of gun for a newbie-----but --yes----it is a goood gun.



Guess my line of thinking is---getting a cheaper one first-----to see if you even like shotgunnin---then stepping up to the gun you bought.

But if you like it -----you bought right the first time.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Very good shotgun. Enjoy..

It is a lot of shotgun for entry level. However....

First, the recoil reduction of this will aid getting through the form hump. You'll be able to learn how without conquering pain to do it. Immensely better progress results.

Second, if you decide (Gasp!) that shotgunning's not your thing, it has mucho resale value.

Now BA/UU/R, and maybe get a lesson or six from a qualified instructor.

 

[Wolfy]

Hey guys thanks for the replies. It is alot of gun for a beginner but I am usually a quick learner and wanted a gun I could grow into not grow out of.

Dave what is a BA/UU/R?

 

[Fastlane]

Wolfy, what kind of shotgun is a 391? I'm new to shotguns too and I would like to start shooting trap. ba/uu/r is one of Daves best pieces of advice and he has a lot of great advice on shotguning. It means 'Buy ammo" "use up" "repeat".

 

[Wolfy]

Fastlane thanks for the help. The 391 is made by Beretta it seems a favorite among trap/skeet guys. Heres a link to the one I got

http://www.beretta.com/home_2002.asp

 

[Dave McCracken]

Fastlane, the Beretta 391 gas auto succeeds their 390, one of the best target and sporting autos ever made. Possibly, the 391 is THE best.

Among other things, it has a set of shims from the factory that enable one to "Fit" the gun to themselves. The importance of this cannot be overemphasized.

If I HAD to get an auto, it'd be a 391. The owners thereof are a a happy, trophy winning lot.

 

[PJR]

It's an excellent choice and the auto I'd own if I were to give up my o/us. I owned an earlier Beretta A390

I don't agree however that it's lot of gun for a new shooter. Having gone through the trading and upgrading route in hindsight I would have probably been better off to go into debt and buy the best possible gun I could right at the beginning. Undoubtedly I'd be a better shooter. OTOH, I sure learned what I liked and didn't and why.

You have arguably the best semi-auto target gun on the market today. Enjoy it to the fullest.

 

[Fastlane]

Dave, Wolfy thanks for the information on the 391. Sounds like it would make a fine shotgun for shooting trap. But do you need to mortage the homestead to purchase one ?

 

[Dave McCracken]

I think MOST of the 391 variants come in under $1K, tax, title and all.

Saw one recently for $650, used, near new.

Haven't paid much attention to the prices, they raised tuition 20% in MD colleges and are talking about doubling it next year.

 

[Wolfy]

Fastlane the 391 starts at $750 and goes as high as $1300 (What I paid for the Teknys Gold).

I picked it up last night but have been to busy to even look at it :banghead: . But will have time tomorrow night to read manual clean and prep for Saturday morning.

 

[TrapperReady]

Very nice gun. When I got my Urika 391 Sporting, I looked hard at the Technys. My wife was actually pushing me to get it, but the particular model they had didn't have the extended Optima chokes, while the Urika did.

The only thing I've found is necessary is to keep the gas piston well lubricated. If dry, while I've found no problem with function, it gets really caked with carbon and is a bear to clean. I usually make sure it's got a thin film of FP-10, and the crud tends to just wipe off.