Pattern Testing with the A391

[Savhmr]

As per title, tried some pattern testing after a dismal few days on crow control where I may as well have thrown the gun at them. Not a prob with the Silver pigeon which I don't miss much with, but thought I'd taken the A391 semi auto for a change and this is where the problems lay. Fit is spot on so it's not a fit issue. Decided to try a few cartridges from batches of some I have here which included:

 

Lyalvale Express Nr 6s

JC-Extreme game (32g);

Lyalvale Super Express Nr 1s (36g)

Tincknell Nr 6s (30g)

Clear pigeon Nr 6s (32g)

 

Using 3/4 choke, all bar the Nr 1's resulted in truly dreadful patterns at 40 yds with a fair few strung shot clumping in 2's and 3's. Pattern had a 4 to 5 inch concentrated and consistent density towards the centre at 30yds and a few inches under at 40yds with what looks like a fairly random and poor pattern towards the edges out to 30 inches.

 

Using 1/2 choke, things weren't a whole heap better but JC Extreme game gave the best groups with notably more consistent patterns than the other carts.

 

It wasn't until 1/4 choke was used that things began to get more even, but at 40 yds the pattern at 1/4 choke was just starting to get a little marginal density wise (about closest distance from cover to where the crow settle).

 

The Silver pigeon using Optima chokes seems to provide far more consistent (better) patterns at all chokes. The Mobil chokes of the A391 don't seem to work well for me. Has anyone else found this?

 

Is there a recommended/well known alternative that people HAVE EXPERIENCE OF used in the A391 that offer a notable improvement over the standard Mobil chokes?

Edited April 17, 2016 by Savhmr

[TONY R]

As far as i know Beretta mobil choked guns are around a .725 bore or there abouts, quite a small bore, i have a B80 Browning same as the 300 series barrels and it can be choke sensitive to such an extent i noticed it.

Now with your Beretta optima choked gun, it will be back bored .730 or there abouts, now if Beretta just churn out chokes with the same constrictions guns with back bored barrels will be effectively running more choke than the smaller bored gun.

With my Browning*same as Beretta barrel* i wont generaly run less than the MOD where i would be happy running a ic or even skeet in say a Remington 1187. A couple of moments measuring the bores and choke constrictions could be time well spent, and help you work out in your own mind whats behind your aparent shartfalls.

[Savhmr]

Good points Tony. It does seem to be very choke sensitive. I'll do some further testing using skeet, & light modified

[Westward]

Just for the record Beretta Optima chokes are matched for Optima bores of a nominal .732" whereas Mobil chokes are matched for the old standard Italian bores of .724". In other words Optima chokes are about 8 thou bigger at any specified designation.

[Savhmr]

Thanks. Yes, having measured mine, that's about right. Mobile chokes shoot tighter patterns BUT that's not the real issue. Maybe I haven't explaiened well enough. The patterns I'm getting are inconsistent, it's not the tightness of the pattern, but the pretty poor pattern. Thanks for the replies. I'll be searching out an alternative for this gun if there is one, otherwise it's a visit to Nigel.

[TONY R]

Try some Briley chokes they work pretty good and are available over here.

[Savhmr]

Try some Briley chokes they work pretty good and are available over here.

[Wilts#Dave]

Only ever used half choke in mine and my old mans al391's which we had from new and shot thousands of pigeons with no problems....don't obsess over pattern playing to be honest but never had a reason to with ours. I've got a new a400 action now and that does the business exactly the same, Dad still has the al391 !

[Savhmr]

It's more an issue at tighter chokes Dave. Had the Improved modified choke in it when bought and that was ok but patterns are still less consistent that any other gun I use. It's not really obsessing when you start to miss birds, there's a good reason. Pattern testing this, that reason became clear. For now, I'll use Improved modified or skeet and leave it at that but will be trying other chokes I think as and when. It's a tool and has to work properly for me otherwise if there's no confidence in it, it wont get used. I like the gun, it's robust and cycles everything fed to it (whether or not it's meant to!).

[wymberley]

How many shots did you fire with each load at each distance?

[TONY R]

It's more an issue at tighter chokes Dave. Had the Improved modified choke in it when bought and that was ok but patterns are still less consistent that any other gun I use. It's not really obsessing when you start to miss birds, there's a good reason. Pattern testing this, that reason became clear. For now, I'll use Improved modified or skeet and leave it at that but will be trying other chokes I think as and when. It's a tool and has to work properly for me otherwise if there's no confidence in it, it wont get used. I like the gun, it's robust and cycles everything fed to it (whether or not it's meant to!).

An often overlooked aspect .

[Savhmr]

How many shots did you fire with each load at each distance?

 

5 shots each cart brand/type but that doesn't mean that I haven't had a bad batch of ammo or carts that the gun just doesn't favour, hence testing over several brands/types. Point is, 391 Mobil chokes from moderated to tighter just seem pretty poor to me.

 

Did the same with the Silver pigeon and groups were significantly better on consistency with much less stringing or random shot concentrations irrespective of cartridge used. Extreme game seemed to pattern test the best in the Silver pigeon which is why I'll continue to use them.

[wymberley]

 

5 shots each cart brand/type but that doesn't mean that I haven't had a bad batch of ammo or carts that the gun just doesn't favour, hence testing over several brands/types. Point is, 391 Mobil chokes from moderated to tighter just seem pretty poor to me.

 

Did the same with the Silver pigeon and groups were significantly better on consistency with much less stringing or random shot concentrations irrespective of cartridge used. Extreme game seemed to pattern test the best in the Silver pigeon which is why I'll continue to use them.

Yep, that's just about enough to be confident about the results obtained for practical use. It's not unheard of that Bloggs did a pattern test firing 2 shots and acted on the results which in reality were meaningless.

[littlerob]

The 391 urika i had optima plus chokes and the pattens where fantastic

[Savhmr]

Mine's an A391 Urika but it uses Mobil chokes. Must be an earlier model. No probs though as some decent chokes are available.