Shotgun help needed!

Doug Smith

Doug Smith

Member
My buddy hunts with a Beretta 391 Urika and has run into a couple problems. Hoping there's an 'expert' out there that might have a suggestion or two...

There are two problems with the gun - don't know if they're related - that are driving him crazy.

The first is once in a while the gun won't fire! It doesn't seem to dimple the shell primer enough to discharge. Most of the time it works, but every once in a while, nothing happens.

The second issue, which just cropped up yesterday, is after firing the first shot the gun allows both shells in the magazine to come back into the action, jamming everything up. Again, it doesn't happen all the time.

Oh, he bought the gun new 2 - 3 years ago and it's always worked well until this year.

Any thoughts?
 
Not sure about the double feed issue but I have seen the firing pin hitting not hard enough to dimple the primer on berettas and benellis before. Almost always was do to improper weapons maintenance i.e. crud built up in the firing pin/firing pin spring area or WAy to much oil in the bolt. Use a LIGHT coat of lubricant in these areas. as alot of lube gathers trash and unburnt powder. A light wiping of break free is all thats needed. I have also had water from rain that turned to snow gel up in there and cause the same thing. Not knowing where you all are hunting at in the country, be sure if it freezes there to do your best to keep water out of the action and from running down inside the barrel and leaking into these areas on cold nasty days. Hope that helps a little!
 
Thanks Kino. Sorry - I forgot to mention I'm hunting in Vermont on Lake Champlain. No snow yet, but the mornings have been in the 20's. I'll pass on the suggestion about cleaning well and then using just a 'touch' of Breakfree.
 
Thanks Robert. Are you talking about the spring that goes down the stock? I had an 11-87 with a rusted spring one time and the gun wouldn't eject well. Does the Beretta have a similar mechanism?

As for the gas seal, I'm not sure what / where that is. I thought the Beretta had a 'collar' piston that activated the action?

Doug
 
Rich Cole is just over in Maine. He is THE Beretta guy in the NE. give him a call. It sounds like you are looking at a weak strike which may be caused by a cleaning issue or a spring. Prob. the first in such a new gun but could be the part. Double shell sounds like the catch is not working in the magazine. Again could be a cleaning issue or the part. Follow this link, there is a complete parts breakdown for the 391 and others. Good luck.
http://www.colegun.com/beretta_parts.php
 
I had these same problems with my old Mossberg 9200, but it 12 years old and had several thousand rounds run through it so it was just worn out. Unless this gun has been shot ALOT, it sounds like a gun that could use a good cleaning, including pulling the bolt. Likely there is some kind of gunk in there. The problem with the shells both coming out of the magazine at the same time has to do with the clip/latch that holds the shells in the tube. Not sure of the mechanism on the Beretta, but it is likely either a piece of spring steel or a piece of steel and a spring. Check this to see if it is worn or damaged.
 
There is a lond spring that the connecting rod goes into that may be weak but I doult thats the trouble . He would have to do a heck of lot of shootong. I would think more in the line of cleaning and giving it a drink of oil. A shot on the firing pin should do the trick. Good luck.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions! Sounds like a real good cleaning is at the top of the list. I just talked with my friend, and he's been using WD-40 to clean his gun. I don't want to bad-mouth any product, but I don't think that's the best choice for cleaning a gun! I've used Breakfree for years and haven't had any gun troubles at all. Shooting, yes but I can't blame the gun :)

If cleaning and Breakfree don't work, I'll be baaaack...

Thanks again.
 
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