FreeZey Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 I've just brought an A400 semi-auto and had my first shoot today. The problem is that I discovered my local ground (Newport) isn't licensed for 32g cartridges so I had to shoot lighter ones even though the retailler and manual says use 32 when breaking it in. Most went through fine but I had a couple of jams on low traps (shooting rabbits below me). Now I'm not sure what's best. How import is it for the gun action to be broken in? Is it worth going to another ground to use the heavier cartridges for a couple of hundred? That aside it is a great gun and a joy to shoot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon123 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Many people just break them in with 24g / 28g cart's eventhough the manual say's to use 32g. P.S. Cant imagine that it would do any damage to your gun when using carts which are lighter than 32g :good: Personally i think you and your gun will be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 I've just brought an A400 semi-auto and had my first shoot today. The problem is that I discovered my local ground (Newport) isn't licensed for 32g cartridges so I had to shoot lighter ones even though the retailler and manual says use 32 when breaking it in. Most went through fine but I had a couple of jams on low traps (shooting rabbits below me). Now I'm not sure what's best. How import is it for the gun action to be broken in? Is it worth going to another ground to use the heavier cartridges for a couple of hundred? That aside it is a great gun and a joy to shoot What kind of jams did you have I've never needed to shoot in an auto but if you feel the need to why not just use 32grams of 7 1/2, if the shot size is OK the volume of it is irrelevant with regards to safety. I've seen allsorts of larger size cases in the bins at clay clubs mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
point and shoot Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 The 'breaking in' of a semi is much the same as a new car. The heavier loads are recommended to be sure that the action cycles properly. Any jams of course can put strains in the action where they shouldn't be, hence correct cycling in the early days is important to bed everything in, thus avoiding problems in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 All breaking in would do is make a gun that has tight tolerances cycle and so generate that tiny bit of wear that allows the gun to operate more easily. You wont harm a gun by not breaking it in if it doesn't need it and lighter cartridges certainly wont damage it either way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MK38 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 I've just brought an A400 semi-auto and had my first shoot today. The problem is that I discovered my local ground (Newport) isn't licensed for 32g cartridges so I had to shoot lighter ones even though the retailler and manual says use 32 when breaking it in. Most went through fine but I had a couple of jams on low traps (shooting rabbits below me). Now I'm not sure what's best. How import is it for the gun action to be broken in? Is it worth going to another ground to use the heavier cartridges for a couple of hundred? That aside it is a great gun and a joy to shoot I assume the gun is brand new, in which case it might be worth stripping it right down and cleaning any protective oil/grease off the internal mechanism.... some come quite heavily covered with the stuff. A proper clean and sparse lube job should sort it out. You could also search on http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewforum.php?f=57&sid=591a64600d81d135d1d8a119eedc7c4b they might have something or you could ask there. Although they say to use heavy cartridges to break in , not all auto's need it... and as you only had a couple of jams yours might just need ridding of the grease to help it cycle. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickmep Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 used mine on clays and just used normal 28gram cartridge from new. never had a problem/jam with it, but i did sytrip it and degrease it before the first outing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeZey Posted April 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Personally i think you and your gun will be fine Thanks, that's nice to hear. What kind of jams did you have I think the problem was that the recoil force of the cartridge wasn't sufficient so it caused: -The cartridge to eject but the bolt didn't make it all the way back to lock when the gun was emptied. -The cartridge to be trapped by the returning bolt, pinning it in the breach. I've never needed to shoot in an auto but if you feel the need to why not just use 32grams of 7 1/2, if the shot size is OK the volume of it is irrelevant with regards to safety. I've seen allsorts of larger size cases in the bins at clay clubs mind. I was told heavier loads travel further and the boundary line around my local ground isn't very far out. I was actually wondering if I could say "can I shout a 100 at one of the rabbits?" since that's down into a dip and against the ground. ... and as you only had a couple of jams yours might just need ridding of the grease to help it cycle. It was pretty grease when it arrived. I brought a cleaning kit on the way home so it's since been cleaned and oiled. --- Thanks for the feedback everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Clay grounds operate under clay rules the weight of shot isnt actually important if your worried run it in on 28g 7.5 but something like ELEY VIP FITASC/Victory V1 Sonic which have huge load behind the shot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Thanks, that's nice to hear. I think the problem was that the recoil force of the cartridge wasn't sufficient so it caused: -The cartridge to eject but the bolt didn't make it all the way back to lock when the gun was emptied. -The cartridge to be trapped by the returning bolt, pinning it in the breach. I was told heavier loads travel further and the boundary line around my local ground isn't very far out. I was actually wondering if I could say "can I shout a 100 at one of the rabbits?" since that's down into a dip and against the ground. It was pretty grease when it arrived. I brought a cleaning kit on the way home so it's since been cleaned and oiled. --- Thanks for the feedback everyone. Heavier pellets travel further due to the extra mass, pellets of the same size will lose energy at an equal rate and so travel the same distance as each other regardless of how many there are in a pattern. The Beretta failure to feed issue is specific to the 391 series and what happens is that the front of the cartridge hooks up on the breech at 3oclock due to the shell lifter being twisted and pointing the next cartridge in that direction rather than straight into the breech. Often fixed by fitting a shell lifter from an earlier model. The recoil springs inside the stock can be an issue on berettas because they can be coated in packing grease and aren't as easily accessble as the rest of the gun so are often left as is. Don't know if this gun has the same issues as it's more based on a Benelli. I would either strip it completely and give it a good clean or send it back but if it was working properly it maybe just needs a thorough service. Oil can pick up debris so be very sparing with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Don't lose any sleep over it, nature and time will take its course, and frankly it's just another Get out of Jail Free Card for the manufacturers anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
point and shoot Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Seems odd! If it doesn't matter/make any difference why do all manufacturers tell you to do it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Seems odd! If it doesn't matter/make any difference why do all manufacturers tell you to do it? So they can blame YOU if something goes wrong under warranty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeZey Posted April 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Clay grounds operate under clay rules the weight of shot isnt actually important if your worried run it in on 28g 7.5 but something like ELEY VIP FITASC/Victory V1 Sonic which have huge load behind the shot! I thought there may be something like this available, i.e. a lighter than 32g cartridge that could provide greater recoil to help the semi's action. I shall see if my local retailer has any in stock this weekend. I need to stop in there anyway because the Jag they sold me doesn't quite fit on my cleaning rod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlistairB Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Try Claybusters, cheap and very punchy, that's what i used on my M2 and it's been fine ever since. AB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 The recoil springs inside the stock can be an issue on berettas because they can be coated in packing grease and aren't as easily accessble as the rest of the gun so are often left as is. Don't know if this gun has the same issues as it's more based on a Benelli. The A400 has the spring in front of the action, the stock houses the kick-off instead. The spring can get a bit dirty from gases getting past the piston but it takes a lot of use to do it. The only bit of the A400 I can see that would need running in is the metal piston ring, it does actually look like an engine part, it's quite thin so shouldn't take long to bed in. What cartridges were you using ? Were they 21g or 24g ? I have found two types that won't cycle mine even though it's well run in. They are Hushpower Subsonics and Express 21g High Velocity . The Express HV have very low recoil, bought for my son who is disabled with joint problems but wants to shoot clays. Fortunately even with 28g loads the A400 is soft enough for him to shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 The A400 has the spring in front of the action, the stock houses the kick-off instead. The spring can get a bit dirty from gases getting past the piston but it takes a lot of use to do it. The only bit of the A400 I can see that would need running in is the metal piston ring, it does actually look like an engine part, it's quite thin so shouldn't take long to bed in. What cartridges were you using ? Were they 21g or 24g ? I have found two types that won't cycle mine even though it's well run in. They are Hushpower Subsonics and Express 21g High Velocity . The Express HV have very low recoil, bought for my son who is disabled with joint problems but wants to shoot clays. Fortunately even with 28g loads the A400 is soft enough for him to shoot. Strangely enough the only 21gram loads I have tried in my 12g Urika Light are Express HV, little red 65mm things, and they cycled perfectly. As you say, no recoil to speak of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Strangely enough the only 21gram loads I have tried in my 12g Urika Light are Express HV, little red 65mm things, and they cycled perfectly. As you say, no recoil to speak of. Little pink 2.5" jobbies. Very sweet through a light S/S . My A400 is the Unico 3.5" model, so I don't get upset if it won't cycle the light shells. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Make sure you use 67 or 70mm cartridges, not 65mm. Light recoiling loads in 65mm cases can cause a failure to cycle. Never had a problem with 67mm+ cases though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Make sure you use 67 or 70mm cartridges, not 65mm. Light recoiling loads in 65mm cases can cause a failure to cycle. Never had a problem with 67mm+ cases though. It does actually say in the specifications that it will handle 2.75", 3" and 3.5" shells. Mine works just fine with Express Supreme Game, which are 2.5", but they do pack a punch, especially the 34gm fibres. This talk of light loads shouldn't put anyone off, I just happened to have them around and gave them a go. You can fire any normal load and have very low recoil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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