3" magnums through a silver pigeon

[njc110381]

My local gun smith has just told me that I shouldn't fire 3" magnums through a beretta silver pigeon because it will shoot loose. What does he mean by that? Surely if a gun is proofed for 3" magnums, then they shouldn't cause any damage to it? He also didn't have any berettas in stock when I looked around, and wanted to sell me a lincoln instead. My other localish dealer, who I prefer and have ordered a SP through, couldn't find anything bad to say about the beretta. Neither has anybody else I know for that matter! What's this shooting loose thing anyway, and have any of you had this problem?

[Ferret Master]

My 20 bore Silver Pigeon is proofed for 3'' Magnums.

 

FM

[richie1606]

I've put 3" magnums through my SP3 with no problems either not sure what he means by "loose". I think he may be trying to put you off so you will buy a gun from him.

[pin]

The only thing I can think of he's trying to say, is if you use 3" heavy loads all the time it might prematurely age the gun. The barrels are proofed for the pressures involved, but he might be meaning the extra pounding the rest of it will be taking.

 

I have no idea if this would be the case, mind in theory it could be true (3" heavy carts don't half give out a belt compared to "normal" clay and game loads).

 

Given we know from what you have said previously, I wouldn't worry about this at all (if I remember you said this would be the odd 3" for geese etc?)

[kirky640]

[beatingisbest]

a loose gun is when it is easy to open and close the barrels, like it is worn, it is kinda like mileage on a car. I believe what this dealer was getting at is that if you reguarly put heavy loads though the gun it could cause it to get worn more due to the recoil, i wouldnt worry about what this dealer said

[njc110381]

The guy who lets me use his gun for clays thinks he's fired around 100,000 clay rounds through his beretta, and it feels fine to me. I get the idea though. I think maybe he was trying to put me off because he doesn't stock them, and didn't exactly tell a lie. Any gun will shoot loose eventually (now I know what it means I understand) because it will wear. A heavy load will do it quicker, but not any time soon with the number I will be firing! Thanks for the answers, very helpful as always

[dazza]

I shoot 3" mini magnums through mine

[henry d]

The pinks I shot recently were shot with 3" mags and they kick like fast clay cartridges IMHO.

 

Remember physics F=MA, a fast light load will kick like a slow heavy load.

[Whitebridges]

[P03]

A loose gun normally has worn stub pins (a Beretta anyway) these are the bits the barrels hinge on and they are replaceable. The danger with a loose gun is that the headspace (the distance from the breech face to the headstamp on the cartridge) is enlarged and causes excessive recoil (as the cartridge case moves backwards) and in bad cases can allow gases to leak back towards the shooter.......not nice.

 

There is no reason not to use 3" mags in your SP3 but over use will increase the wear rate.

 

PS Don't over choke when using steel mags (mod max)

[njc110381]

Cheers guys. I've got some lead 42g no.1 for the foxes, I have no plans for the geese for a long time yet because of my **** aim! I figured he was just trying to sell me the lincoln, and put me off of berettas. I'll stick with the beretta, it's a lovely gun and feels really nice. I'm glad these stub pin things are replaceable, sounds like they may be the first bit to wear if the gun is used enough. I doubt I'll come close to that though, I don't fire that many rounds.

[henry d]

I'll stick with the beretta, it's a lovely gun and feels really nice.

I have used and abused my 686(old banana barrels).........it repays me no end with faultless service

[grumpy gouse]

me thinks the dealer may be trying to make a sale on a lincoln as he has no SP's available.

 

I recently bought my first SP and can give nothing but praise, and would highly recommend.

[njc110381]

That's another couple of answers saying Berettas are good kit. I can honestly say I have never heard a bad word yet. More than I can say for most other top makers!

[deadeye]

a beretta 686/687 o/u is designed so that with some replacement parts it can be rebuilt or tightened if it ever got sloppy. the disks inside the receiver that the barrel pivots on when you open it and shut it are replaceable and the locking lugs can be replaced to make for a tighter fit if it gets too loose. i seriously doubt that you could shoot enough game (i would suppose ducks and geese) with 3" shells to ever have a negative impact on that gun. i know that you are not using 3" shells for clay target shooting and i can't imagine a person ever shooting that much game to have any negative impact. having that much shooting to wear out a beretta would be the kind of problem that i would like to have.

 

p.s. i would recommend using a quality gun grease sparingly where the gun opens and shuts. in short, apply just a small amount (about the size of a green pea) on the tip of your finger and apply it on the half moon slots on either side the barrel where it pivots on the disk inside the receiver. i got this tip from a top level competitive clays man who shoots berettas. this fellow shoots 1000s of rounds a year and he claims that he has never seen a beretta 600 series receiver wear out. things do break(springs, firing pins etc), but they are all replaceable.

[njc110381]

I don't think you can buy anything and expect it to last forever. It's the time it works before something gives that counts! I'll remember the grease tip, sounds like a good plan. When I buy kit, I'm happy to look after it and treat it well. As long as it repays me with good service I'll buy the same again if it ever does break. After reading all your comments, I get the feeling I'll die before the gun does!