Beretta O/U 12 ga question

[kennymauser]

1st post here, so excuse dumb questions! :grin:
I have one of the Beretta over/under 12 ga. commemorative shotguns that has never been fired, but I would like to change that. I have quite a few muzzleloaders and also shoot an original muzzle-loading double, but I think I need to be shooting this shotgun! Do any of you have personal experience with using one of these guns? If so, what do you think I should do--shoot it?,look at it?, get rid of it? or trade or sell it to get a Trade Gun (which I love).
If any of have a helpful reply (or not so helpful) I would appreciate a response!
Thanks,
Ken
By the way, it does feel good and shoulders nice!!

 

[sixbull]

Welcome to the forum kencarl.

You said that you have and shoot an original muzzle-loading double, give the Beretta a try.
If it doesn't shoot like you think it should then use it (sell or trade) to get the Trade Gun which you love.

I sure love shooting my Betetta O/U :wink:


sixbull

 

[paulvallandigham]

If I remember correctly, you have a longer flash channel going to the lower barrel, and that has to be kept clean to get reliable ignition in that lower barrel. Have a nipple wrench with you at the range, and pipe cleaners, and Alcohol, to clean that long narrow flash channel.

You probably will want to replace those factory nipples with better ones, as they are soft, and peen over quite easily. And, check those hammers to make sure the surface of the hammer is striking the nipple squarely.

Put some lipstick, or marking black on the edge of the nipple, and lower the hammers down on the nipples. That will transfer dye to the faces of the hammers. If you have less than a full circle on the hammer face, you are not getting a square hit on the nipple. Grind away the high spots on the hammers,( where the marking dye is found, until you DO get a full circle.) final test is to put paper toweling over the nipple and drop the hammers by pulling the trigger. You should see a nice full ring almost cutting through the paper towels.

As with most Mlers, you want a range rod to clean those barrels, that is one-piece metal. It doesn't matter if its steel( treso) or Brass( October Country, Cain's, RMC) or aircraft aluminum.(Pro-shot). And you want a cleaning jag that is smaller than the tightest constriction of choke you have on that gun, so that cleaning patches , made of cotton, or muslin, or linen, slide over the crud, but blouse up and jam into the grooves of the jag when you pull the patches OUT of the barrels. You don't want to be jamming crud down to the breeches of either barrel, as this shoves blocker into the vent holes and flash channels. So, mark the Range rod to stop just an inch short of the bottom of the barrel, and pull the crud OUT. If its particularly humid out, you will want to then send a clean( new) patch all the way down to absorb any moisture in the breech area, and to dry off the breechplug and pull the residue out of the barrels.

If you follow that cleaning procedure the gun should shoot without a hitch. Just check those flash channels with a wire periodically, and perhaps with each reload in hot humid conditions. A bottle of rubbing alcohol, or isoprophyl alcohol should be in your range box or gear. Never hesitate on a damp day to flush out those channels with alcohol during a match. The alcohol will evaporate any moisture that has gotten into those narrow spaces, and and flush out the residue, leaving the channel clean and dry.

 

[patriot]

I very seldom sell guns ... seem to always buy. I own the Beretta O/U and have fired it. It is a nice shotgun and a beautiful gun. I restained the stock and it is 100% prettier. I did not buy it for a collector's item. So shoot it and enjoy it. If you sell it, how much would you get and what would you replace it with? And once you sell it and it is gone, could you buy another if you wanted another? :hmm:

Patriot

 

[Britsmoothy]

I really enjoyed mine and shot it well but I sold it.
The reason I sold it was because the previous owner had ruined the barrels and I had to hone them out just make loading bearable, if it was not for the neglect I would of most cert kept it and as others have said refinished the stock etc.
I never had any ignition probs for the lower barrel at all.
Nice handling gun but the rod is to fine. I made a stronger one from a 460 carbon arrow and saved the original one.
I'll look for a picture.

Brit.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Here ya go,

I also remember it was good with a 690 ball too :thumbsup:

Brit.

 

[kennymauser]

Hey, thanks for the replies to my questions!! Now that I know it is not only a good looking and feeling gun, it also seems to be a "user". Do either of you have any favorite loads that you would like to share? I would really like to go out and shoot a Rooster like the one in that nice pic of yours Brit, but I suppose I will wait until season opens again!
I guess I could try it out on Cottontails!
Thanks again for the encouraging comments, and I would like to know if there are any good loads that might work for me also!
Ken

 

[Many Klatch]

Ken, Britsmoothy says that a .690 ball worked well in his gun. I'd start shooting with 70 grains of 2f and a .010 patch for round ball. Thumb start should be good enough for the tightness of the patch ball combination.

Buy the round balls from someone online before you wind up getting a mold. You may have to use different charges in the barrels to make them print to the same place.

Many Klatch

 

[Britsmoothy]

I used linen patches around the ball greased with a beeswax mix with olive oil. Powder weight/volume don't matter as you will have to try your own gun but 70grn is a good start.
The rooster in the picture was shot with English no 7s shot and thats all I can remember but I am sure it was 1 1/8oz of shot and probably 7/8ths the volume of powder. Just a few OS cards for a wad.
Just watch that origanal rod!
Enjoy :thumbsup:

Brit.

 

[kennymauser]

This is a good forum and a bunch of good guys on it! Thanks guys for the good info on my Beretta. You have helped me make up my mind about using this gun or just looking at it! Of course, if you have any more info. to share on the shooting of this gun, I will always appreciate it! I knew I wouldn't use the ramrod Brit, but I hadn't thought any further than that! I just figured I would carry another one with me to use! :grin: :grin:
I will try to get out this coming weekend and shoot it and I will give a report on my success!!!
If I happen to have my camera with me, I will post some pics.
Thanks again,
Ken

 

[Britsmoothy]

If we were closer I could send you my rod made from a carbon arrow, still have it.

Brit.

 

[kennymauser]

Brit, Thanks for the thought! I think I can find the right carbon arrow from one of my archer buddies.
We got 6 inches of fresh snow today, and I imagine the rabbits will be out in the sun waiting for me to scare them if nothing else. :thumbsup:
Thanks again for your help'
Ken