Disappointed with my Beretta AL391

[LJ Barrero]

Last year (2002) just for the first deer season in IA, I purchase a beautiful AL391 Urika shotgun (made by Beretta).  Actually, it was a trade in.  I traded another Al391 regular for this one hard woods camouflaged.  Anyway,  After the first or second magazine full shooting, it began jamming.  I cleaned up at home and I try it again (3 shots) and seem to work fine.  Since then, it's been off and on jamming.  I follow the recomendations from the manual and it works for a few shots (any loads).  This year, during the deer season, I could not get a nice troffy buck due to the fact that the darn thing did not go into battery and the triger just clicked.  For the last couple of days, it's been the case the same.  

Does anyone knows who should I contact to get help?  Do I go to the store where I purchased? Or should I contact directly Beretta?

I am sold in the Berettas but this one is making me get angry about it.

Please help.  Thanks.
 LJ

[RandyWakeman]

You are a patient man, far more patient than I would be. Naturally, call Beretta . . . this is after a year, isn't it?

[LJ Barrero]

You are right.  I should have call Beretta last year.  

Last night I cleaned up the gun while observing what could have caused the jammings.  I observed the following:

1.  The chamber was pretty much clean.  (I had my suspicious here thinking that the chamber was dirty and therefore, the cartridges would not go in easily.  I was wrong here)

2.  The gas cylinder.  The gas cylinder was completely against the pump thing that pushes the action to open.  It would not move up and down the magazine rod.  It felt like it was binding up with something.

3.  Carefully actioned the cylinder to slide up and finally it did but you could tell that there was a pretty good friction there and was leaving some gunk marks.

4.  I read the Beretta manual to see if that is normal and Beretta says to use a brass brush to clean it up with Beretta oil.  I did and now the shotgun is feeling more smooth than before.  Although I have not fire the gun yet to see if that cures the problem.

5.  My old AL390 was so great that I could go through the entire pheasant season without cleanning the inside of the gun and NEVER had a jam.

6.  My new AL391 Urika seems to need cleaning every 5 shots or so.

I am still thinking about bringing it to Beretta. (Where do I bring it???)

Thanks.

LJ

[LJ Barrero]

I've made 3 fast shots from my AL391 to see how it would perform after the clean up I did.  The results:  It fire them just fine.  I wish I had regular shot cartridges instead of slugs so I can try a few more shots.  Anyway, I went home and I inspected the shotgun around the gas cylinder.  With only 3 shots, it was already getting sticky with gunk.  Oh well.  I like to try Beretta for help.  Anyone know where to call for Beretta service?

Thanks.

LJ

[RWH24]

LJB: I too traded for a very slightly used AL 391 camo. It jammed 65% of the first 2 boxes I fired. I scrubbed the barrel, gas ports and gas piston system until it looked new again. NOW she shoots Wally's Promos to 3" Win steel! No oil on the gas piston either.  Good Luck.

Try this site for Beretta Cust svc:

http://www.berettausa.com/customer/index.htm

Randy
 

[RandyWakeman]

The salvation for many a gas gun is a bottle of Breakfree CLP-- it keeps them running a long, long time.

Other than that, clean powder (such as Clays) burns very close to residue free. Factory Remington shells (STS / Nitro 27) used to be loaded with International Clays, and have been very clean for factory loads.

[LJ Barrero]

RWH24,

Thank you for the Beretta service information.  I will be sending it there as soon as I can.

I went today to the field with a new box of Winchester 2-3/4" shells of 1-1/4 Oz of #5's, 3-1/2 DRAM Equivalent.  The gun was nicely cleaned a couple of days before doing this test.  The results:  First shot fired and empty shell failed to eject.  Removed the FTE shelll and tried again.  It fired the next two just fine.  Loaded and try again:  FTE then ok.  To make the story short.  From the 25 shells I fired 8 (3-shot) groups of shots and only 3 out of the 8 (3-shot) groups did not jam.

Frustration is at maximum; therefore, I will be sending the gun to Beretta.  I am hoping that Beretta techs will make me smile again when I get it back.  I payed the high cost of Beretta guns because I wanted the same performance of my AL390 or better (preferable better).  

LJB

[RandyWakeman]

http://www.colegun.com/product_details.asp?ID=363&MenuExp=Parts

Have you tried the Cole Gunsmithing spring sets?

[LJ Barrero]

I called the Beretta service shop and I explained my situation.  The gunsmith (from the California location shop) asked me to look at the "hood" piece orientation.  This piece is the part of the rod where the gas valve spring is mounted.  The "hood" as the gunsmith called is what protrudes in the other side, where the gas cylinder comes in.  He said that the "hood" has to be located towards the barrel.  Mine was in the opposite side.  So I have assembled the gun as he mentioned.  He said that many guns that he get for repair from FTE/FTL is due to that piece and that it is easy to put it in wrong.

I can't wait to tray it again and see if that took care of that problem.  Otherwise, I will be sending it to them.  I will let you know how it works.  Thanks.

LJB

[LJ Barrero]

Finally,  I was able to go out and try a couple of box of shells.  The results:

1.  Much improvement from the last time I tried; however, I had 6 jams out of 25 shots from one box and 4 from the second box.
2.  That to me is a reliability problem.
3.  I want a Benelli now.

p.s  I must send this gun for repair.

LJB

[Ramrod]

LJ,
Beretta makes some of the best guns on the planet. The thing is, they are all doubles! The most reliable autos are the Remington 1100's, their trap and skeet record speaks for it self, the older ones are the best, and if you hit the gun shows you won't have any problem finding a good used one pretty cheap compared to a new benelli.

My :money:

Ramrod

[LJ Barrero]

Hi Ramrod!

I have to admit.  I do like the 1100 Remingtons except for the weight.  From some reports, a number of years back, I understood that the way to go was the 11-87 Rem over the 1100 Rem.  So, at that time I quit looking at the 1100's and definitely I did not want to get an 11-87.  Now I heard that there's more problems with Rem shotguns quality (is that true?).

I know the Benelli's are expensive.  But I heard a comment that made me think about it.  "...I am shooting 200 rounds and no cleaning and this thing keep on shooting fine..."  I like that.

LJB


p.s. Ramrod, you information is very valuable.  Now I will be checking the 1100 Rem more closely.  Thanks.

[commanche]

its hard for me to believe that being dirty from say 5 shots is causing this.. heck, i shoot 300 shots out of my sxw 1000 and no problems.. a cheap semi..i heard that beretta had problems with a CARRIER PIECE in the 391..i think there is something wrong in gun other than dirty..my gunsmith says some shells dont work good in some semi autos, i dont believe that also.. something is wrong in there other than dirty or sticky..

[Northern Savage]

Northern Savage here: I happen to own two of those and I can say I have never had a problem. I think the reason is I take them to a certified gun smith who totally strips them down and cleans them after each season. I shot trap with one I probably put 600 rounds through it. It has never failed me. It costs me about 125.00 per season to do this but man if it's between a game animal getting away or me able to shot it it is well worth the investment

[daddywpb]

Trade it for a Remington 11/87 - no more jams! I've had my SP since 1991, and have never had a single malfunction, and that is NOT an exaggeration. That's with everything from 2 3/4" dove loads to 3" turkey loads, including a couple of three day turkey hunting trips in a constant pouring rain. I was at the range a couple weeks ago, and the guy next to me was trying, and I repeat trying, to sight in a brand new Beretta semi auto slug gun that he had just paid $1200 for. That gun wouldn't feed two shells in a row no matter what he did or what brand of ammo he used. He was ready to leave it in the trash can by the time he left. Remingtons are the BEST!

[commanche]

did you find the problem on this gun?something is bent in there i think without loking at gun.. did you have carrier checked?? that cole gunsmithing is place to send the gun, forget about beretta..let us know..please dont go to benilli,good but not as good as gun you have, for sure..

[commanche]

what lenght barrel do you have on it?i just read where some shells will not cycle well in the 26 inch or less barrel..something to do with gas out the short barrel. they said 28 inch and up no problems.maybe thats why cole is offering a spring kit but i would check the carrier ..

[commanche]

any info on your problem?from what i am reading i bet its a BENT CARRIER.my NEW  al391 has BENT CARRIER but i have not shot it yet.some people dont have this problem until lots of shells are thru it.my gun was made in june 2004.carrier is piece that is chrome that lifts the shell up into the magazine .take a look .you shouls see if it is bent down on the right side of the gun.mine was very noticable that it was lower on right side than the left.take care :oops:

[Carphunter]

K, this is a way old thread...but I was going to add something...

If this was a used gun and had been shot a lot...and cleaned and oiled with the action pointing muzzle up, it's possible the recoil tube and spring are filled with gunk and crud.

On my used 391, I made it 1/2 a year before I noticed some slow ejects and ftl.  When I cleaned the recoil tube and spring, bingo, no probs.