A TIP for Beretta A400 users (for when you've fired thousands of r

[Redditch]

Right, another tip for all Beretta A400 owners.

As the gun gets older (many thousands of shots later), you will notice that when cocking the bolt back, it sometimes seems to "grab" just as the shell carrier plate comes up,

This ISN'T caused by the shell carrier plate, but is the spring retainer sleeve catching on the metal bolt slide over the magazine tubing (this CAN cause sporadic jamming of cases .... Half ejected and then caught by the bolt as it comes back, due to insufficient inertia to eject the case fully. This IS only intermittent, and takes ages to work out if you don't know it)

The simple fix for this is take the gun apart as for normal cleaning, then remove the cocking handle to allow removal of the bolt/spring assembly.

NOW, comes the tricky part. CAREFULLY take the spring OUT, and be careful, or it will fly off to parts where you might not want it.

NOW, take the plastic OFF the metal slide and tube of the bolt mechanism, and at the FRONT TOP, between the two lips, you will see the round of the tube is flat. This is what's catching. Get a knife or Dremel, and give a slight chamfer on it JUST BETWEEN THE TWO LUGS, so it no longer catches.

Once that's done, the REALLY DIFFICULT BIT COMES, reassembling.

Getting the spring back in, compressed, and then the bolt slider assembly back in is a B******D of a job LOL.

But once done, you will find the action is back to being smooth as silk.

It's caused by the plastic peening over (due to thousands of rounds hammering at the end of it), every time it's fired it gets another blow.

[Oh carp]

Thanks for the tip, it has to be the best auto I have owned.

[browning123]

And me - the best I've used and owned!

[Mitchiet123]

Good tip, I figured that out when I first took EVERYTHIN apart to give it a major strip down and clean. Thought I was clever as its the first time ive ever disassembled a gun anywhere near that much. then came the reassembly........

 

Had no-one to help me hold the tube while I got the spring back in. Kept getting the front end of the spring in, and BOING the middle or the back end pops out again!!! Cue lots of naughty words and headaches!

 

Was sooo much crud in there though I was glad to get it nice and sparkly!

[figgy]

Be good to see some pictures for the rest of to follow

[jam1e]

Does anyone know if that's the case for the A302 as well? Although mine has never jammed as yet...

[dazb1967]

The springs are a bit fiddly to put back in but when you've done it once it gets easier

[Redditch]

Here is a photo of the relevant piece (forehead and barrel removed, action cocked back.

What you need to do is take the bolt and slider off the forend, and then remove the spring. Failing to do so means bits of plastic will end up in the action and possibly cause jamming too.

To remove the bolt, press the bolt face back to the circular line, and then pull the bolt handle outwards and it should just pop out (reassembly in reverse order) allowing you to then slide the bolt, follower, and spring off the magazine tube.

THEN comes the nice bit, wrap a piece of rag around the spring at the back, and SLOWLY prise the spring out. Once that's done it all comes apart. Then take a knife (or a Dremel) and but a chamber of about 45 degrees on the INSIDE of the lip that's protruding (where the arrow is pointing). Ensure all surfaces are smooth, and then reassemble in reverse order, and everything will be smooth again. A little TF2 oil on the magazine tube, and on the runners of the bolt, smeared between the fingers is more than enough. Then a drop on the bolt rotating lug. ONE DROP, no more.

Put the forend and magazine cap back on and try it now, like a hot knife through melted butter

[Redditch]

Good tip, I figured that out when I first took EVERYTHIN apart to give it a major strip down and clean. Thought I was clever as its the first time ive ever disassembled a gun anywhere near that much. then came the reassembly........

 

Had no-one to help me hold the tube while I got the spring back in. Kept getting the front end of the spring in, and BOING the middle or the back end pops out again!!! Cue lots of naughty words and headaches!

 

Was sooo much crud in there though I was glad to get it nice and sparkly!

Wrapping a rag around the spring tube helps stop it jumping out from the middle or rear Edited July 30, 2015 by Redditch

[Cosd]

Great post!!

 

The gubbins of my A400 Extreme are a little different to that of the Unico

[Mitchiet123]

Wrapping a rag around the spring tube helps stop it jumping out from the middle or rear

Nice tip! Cheers mate

[browning123]

Thanks for posting!

[Redditch]

 

Another thing to remember when cleaning.

KEEP ALL oil and grease off the trigger mechanism, and the shell carrier plate. If you don't, every time you fire a cartridge, unburnt powder, smoke, and general crud WILL get onto the mechanism, and stick there. You would be amazed the crud that comes out even after just 100-150 shells.

The easiest to clean the mchanism I found is "brake and clutch cleaner spray" and a brush, followed by a blow off its an air gun.

Once clean and dry, put it back into the gun.

Only place ANY oil or grease should be, is on the bolt carrier rails (this should be one drop each side, and then rubbed along the rails so there is only a sheen of oil, not a runny amount.

On the rotating lug of the bolt, one drop also, and move the bolt back and forth so it gets all around the bolt.

NO OIL OR GREASE ANYWHERE ELSE, or you will get jams sooner or later due to crud building up