Condor Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 Saw a very attractive Beretta AL390 today, special edition Lioness, with fancy leather motor case included- it was available to try at the shop and I'm so glad I did, haven't had as much fun in ages!! Took it out on a few Sporting stands and just hit everything, light as a feather and almost no recoil, it really boosted my confidence, which has really been knocked about in recent weeks, no end!! I gather the AL 390 is quite well thought of, and this seems to be a limited edition gun, I'm told only 1576 were ever made, worldwide. Great condition, obviously well-looked after. Did a part-exchange on my Browning Medallist, my "first" gun, which I never use. Watch out Beretta World next year (hahaha...not!) I'm chuffed with it, its good-looking and seems to do the business!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter De La Mare Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 This thread is useless without pics. Congrats on the new toy. I was considering getting a Urika 2 for myself having recently used one and (much to my chagrin) enjoyed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Condor Posted July 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 Sorry about the lack of pics PDLM, will take some tomorrow and post them when I collect the new toy from the shop.....I didn't have the Medallist with me when I bought it, so am returning to collect!!! It is a gun of great beauty, I must say (not biased of course!). Never thought I'd wax lyrical about a guns "good looks" , but hey, we surprise ourselves sometimes!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anni Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 I was there when you bought it haha small world hey Lovely gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Condor Posted July 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 Small world indeed, shooters live in an even smaller one! Were you looking at an O/U in the shop at the time? Say hello next time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anni Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 I was the tall scuffy unshaven guy in the black jumper who was there when you took it out to shoot. I was trading me mirook in. I had a good look at the lioness last week fantastic looking gun will have a cuppa nex time i see you there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Condor Posted July 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 What did you buy in place of the Miroku?? (Just nosy!!) Can't resist looking around the guns sometimes, glad the Lioness waited for me! It'll be a lot better used than the old faithful Medallist , that's for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anni Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 (edited) Well believe it or not I traded my miroku mk38 for a miroku mk38 I had a 32 inch miroku but changed it for a 30 inch I got to wait a week thought till they get one in I should have got the 30 inch in the first place ....you live and learn as they say. Also looking at one of them benelli crio supersports That lioness did temp me. Im glad you bought it. saved me a fortune Edited July 11, 2009 by Anni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munst Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 I've got a 28" al391 urika 1, excellent gun, best I have ever owned. If you want a semi for clays or rough shooting/decoying etc I'd defiantly look at a Beretta semi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 I agree the AL390 is cracking It just feels so right somehow Looking forward to your SE version Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Condor Posted July 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Right.....have taken a few pics of the engraving and the wood.......will do some more when I'm out shooting on the weekend. Be nice now, its my first efforts at attaching photos!!!! As a matter of interest, why are top-notch semi-autos relatively "cheap" compared to good O/Us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 ooh that's lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter De La Mare Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Ya, very pretty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted July 18, 2009 Report Share Posted July 18, 2009 Very nice indeed What sort of money does a gun like that cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Posted July 18, 2009 Report Share Posted July 18, 2009 Very Nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swift4me Posted July 18, 2009 Report Share Posted July 18, 2009 Great shotgun. I'm sure they made a limited number of the Lioness version, but there are many 390's in the world. It is an easier gun to clean than the 391 without the additional parts on the gas shroud, and virtually all the recoil reduction. It is a cult favorite clays gun of many in the US as well. Good buy. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Condor Posted July 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2009 I believe the limited edition was made around 1998 or so and they cost around £1000 then, which was an awful lot more than £1000 today. I've seen advertised prices in the US and here on one or two sites, given that there aren't many of these around, for around £1800. I paid £895 and was very happy with that as it is in excellent condition and is an absolute joy to use. The accessories and chokes /manual are also still with it, only thing missing is the actual paper certificate stating it is number 438/1526. I think if Beretta made something similar today they would sell for a few grand new, bearing in mind that the semi-auto's are not the most expensive guns new in any case. Tried DTL for the first time today since I started shooting approx 6 months ago and the Lioness completely vapourised some targets using only 21g loads - no felt recoil, which is also great given the bad time I had initially with cheek and shoulder bruising with my O/U!!! I know DTL guns have raised ribs and long barrels and all that, but this flat-ribbed 28" semi-auto certainly did the business. It didn't seem to realise that it isn't a Trap Gun!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.