Big Beretta 391 Problems! Damn thing will not cycle! Help

[Losthwy]

I have a 391 that has less than 1K rounds. After a year the bolt began sticking when I pulled it back instead of springing back. The gun hangs up in mid cycle. Now it will not eject trap loads. And worst of all when hunting the first round fires, second round loads, and the third one ejects from the magazine into the action jamming the gun. I have taken out the bolt and trigger cleaned and lubed it. But, that didn't help. Any ideas what could be the problem. I

[gunnut69]

Sorry but it sounds as if you've several problems.  The cartridge stop is failing and that's why the 3rd round feeds as the second is loaded.  Why?  COuld be several things.  Crud, too much oil, broken parts..  The failing to eject light loads is probably something else.  Something is slowing the bolt down.  Perhaps a buildup of oil and crud fouling the action. Has the shotgun been thoroughly cleaned??   If carefully cleaned and still failing I'd consider a trip to a smith.  These type problems can be difficult to remedy especially via email..  Is the action short cycling.  These actions are suseptable to short cycling and that could cause the shell stop problem and the ejection problems with light loads.  Perhaps all it needs is a good cleaning...Detailed!  Hope I've helped..

[Losthwy]

The only thing I haven't done as far as cleaning is taken the recoil spring out of the housing that is iside the stock ( did push the recoil spring up into the housing and sprayed about 1/3 can of Gun Scubber up into it while holding it upside down). Is ther a way to open the recoil spring housing to clean/check the spring?

[gunnut69]

The only parts diagram I have is for the A300-301 series.  Have you tried cleaning the gas system.  Sometimes carbon can build in the gas port and cause restrictions which limit bolt velocities and can cause cycling problems.  I've only worked on a couple of these weapons and they were pretty suseptive to short cycling problems.  A pipe cleaner is safe to use in the gas port to remove carbon buildup.  If the gun wasn't cleaned before its first use the preservative oil can be baked on and be very difficult to clean.  Carberator spray cleaner is the most effective thing I've found.  Be careful to avoid getting any on your woodwork as it will most assuradly remove the finish..  Use a cheap brand of carbcleaner, they have fewer additives and are usually acetone and toluene..  Also as usual they should be used outside, the vapors are harmful and very flammable.  The pipe cleaner is used as a mechanical cleaner for the gas port...  Could the recoil spring be kinked or perhaps just collapsed?  That would be unusual.  A bent recoil spring tube can also slow down the recoil motion and cause cycling problems.  Below I have a link to a diagram of what I presume to be a similar weapon...  Perhaps it can assist..   Let use know what you find.

http://www.urban-armory.com/diagrams/berettaa.htm

PS-After reveiwing my notes a bit I found a refernce to problems with one of the Berrettas I had worked on.  The bolt latch was 'bent'.  Was causing the bolt to lock open occasionaly.  I bent it back and fixed the problem for a time but eventually a replacement was required.  There was also a note in the journal about replacing the shell latch spring?  Although I didn't elaborate..sorry hope this gives you something further to look at..

[Losthwy]

The gun was not cleaned before use so maybe there gunk in the port. I did spray it with cleaner but didn't use a brush on it yet.  Is there another name for the bolt latch. The breakdown didn't list a part under that name.

[Losthwy]

With the trigger assembly out of the gun the bolt returns without a problem but, with the trigger assembly in it hangs up.

[gunnut69]

The bolt latch is the part that is activated buy the button on the side of the action.  It is called the carrier latch on the diagram..  If it is bent the drag on the shell carrier can cause symtoms as you described.  Unfortunately so perhaps can other problems.  The 'Carrier Latch' is attached to the receiver.  The carrier is a part of the trigger assembly.  Check it for damage or abnormal wear.  Can you find what is dragging on the trigger assembly?  Sorry this is such a process but normally in the shop it would take almost no time at all.  If the gas port is carboned up it will almost certainly take a mechanical cleaning to remove.  Pipe cleaners are the best thing I've found..  but if the bolt is hanging when manually operated and only when the trigger assembly is installed I would suggest we have at least located the problem if not yet identified it.