Beretta 390 Advice/Opinions wanted

[f350drvr]

I am in the market for a new Semi-auto shotgun for trap/skeet shooting and the occasional duck hunting trip. Stopped by a local shop today and looked at a Beretta 390. It looked and felt nice, and was priced @ $750. After some research it looks like this model is no longer in production, and I am getting mixed info on the 390,A390, AL390, and 391.

The one I looked at was marked 390 on the side of the receiver and was rated up to a 3 inch shell. The receiver appeared to be steel, but I am not sure what markings to look for on the gun to determine exactly which model it was. I am trying to gather as much information as I can before I purchase anything, but I would like to stay in the $600-800 range for a shotgun. Anyone have any advice on what to look for on this particular gun?

Edit to add: This particular shotgun has black synthetic furniture.

 

[Young_Gun]

i have no personal experience with any of the ones mentioned. However my buddy's father has a Beretta A300 in wood (the whole receiver is made of aluminum) and its very light and shoulders nicely. Ive never shot it but they both say its smooth.

 

[stag0608]

My friend has one he hunts with and it's a fine shotgun he has no problems with it. The only thing is it a little harder to clean because its a gas operated gun.

 

[f350drvr]

The 390 was one of the best gas actions Beretta has ever produced. It was so good, they "brought it back" in the form of the 3901, currently in production.

I have a 390 which I use for HD, and a 3901 that is my back-up trap gun. They are simply excellent.

Every one I have seen had an aluminum receiver. Don't let that deter you. No less an authority than Louis Awerbuck holds the opinion that the 390 action is the most reliable AND durable gas action ever made. And if anyone would know that, he would.

.

I was hoping you would comment. Is there a way to tell if the receiver is aluminum? I just want to know exactly what i am looking at to figure out if the price is fair.

 

[JBP55]

A magnet will tell you, for sure.

As for "fair price", sorry, I'm not up on that. Take a look at Guns America/Gun Broker; that should give you an idea what they're going for. Personally, I would think $750 is a bit high (unless the gun is near-pristine).

BTW... be aware that the 391 is an entirely different action than the 303/390/3901. It too has been supplanted by the 400, just this year I believe.

.

The 3901 is less than $600 NIB.

 

[f350drvr]

The gun is brand new, which adds to my confusion. I was under the assumption that the 390 was out of production. I will stop and take a better look at it this week. Thanks for the help.

 

[Globallyoff]

The 390 is out of production. The 3901 is a less expensive version with a plastic stock. If you can get a "new" 390 at that price, I would jump on it. There are plenty of gunsmiths that support 390s. No worries for at least the next decade. I had one, and now have a 391. Great semi autos.

 

[Richard in LA]

$750 is high. Not too long ago, dicks had new 3901's for $599. Msrp on Beretta's site for a 3901 is $645. Did you notice if it had a guitar shaped magazine cutoff on the left side of the reciever? Did it have a hard plastic buttplate or a soft recoil pad? You can find a lightly used silver mallard 390 for much less than $750 if you look around. Id suggest that youcheck out the new 300 outlander, it mechanically is a 390 that looks like a 391 with the rounded reciever and slimmer forearm, and are sub $600 NIB at cabelas. They can be had in wood or synthetic, and even camo for $100 more.

 

[charliepapa]

BTW... be aware that the 391 is an entirely different action than the 303/390/3901. It too has been supplanted by the 400, just this year I believe.

what is your opinion of the 391? there is a Urika 2 at Dick's in BR for what appears to be a decent price, but I compared it side by side with an SX3 and the 391's finish was horrible.

 

[orphanedcowboy]

Look for a cutoff lever in the side of the receiver opposite the ejection port, if it has this, it is a Silver Mallard/AL/A390 version and would explain the $750 price tag, if it doesn't have this and just has 390 on the receiver, it is a Wal-Mart special, tops it would bring $550/$600 NIB.

I have bought both for less than $600, Silver Mallard LNIB for $600 and 2 Wal-Mart specials for $500 and $525 NIB.

Delivered by BNSF