Beretta o/u ML Shotgun

[clayman49]

I am thinking og purchasing an anniversary Beretta ML shotgun, but I have heard that some were not made by the factory and so were of poor quality! How can I tell which is a Beretta factory made one and what are your comments on this shotgun? Thanks guys :v

 

[shortbow]

I owned one of these for a time.

It was a good shooter, but I sold it after a while.

Not my favourite gun, here's why.

The stock finish was some modern plastic stuff, which looked cheesy. The barrels were browned real nice, the overall architecture was neat, but the stock finish jarred in a major way.

The locks were not good. They functioned alright, but when removed from the gun the innards were very light and rough.

And, most distressingly, when for the first time I poured hot water into the barrels for a cleaning, all the water flowed out the bottom of the lower barrel. It's been awhile since I owned that gun, but as I remember, I could not figure out where that opening was: not a good deal. I continued shooting the gun for a while after that, and got no escaping gases, so I don't know what was going on, but 'twas freaky.

Hope I'm not raining on your parade too much, but IMHO, I think you could do lots better for a double percussion shotgun, especially considering the price these things bring now. Folks seem to have great luck with the Pedersolies.

 

[clayman49]

Hi There Shortbow,
Thanks for the reply, I have shot the standard o/u ML Beretta (belonged to a fellow shooter)and did quite well with it. I already own a 12g sxs Pedersoli I got last year to hunt geese with and havent done too bad last season, 30 in total. The reason for my interest in the Beretta is, it has 30" barrels and has some choking. I'm also keen as I've bin given the opportunity to shoot some skeet and the o/u does it a little better for me than a SxS.
Happy Shootin

 

[DCF]

Nice gun but......long flash channel down to the bottom barrel which means ignition can be a bit "iffy" especially when they are fouled and you need to make sure the previous owner paid attention to keeping this area clean (it's a good place for the corrosion to start).

 

[MikeC]

I owned one back in the late 80's and sold it shortly after purchasing it. It didn't have the quality I look for or want to own, especially the locks. It was getting some bad things said about it at the time so I figured might as well sell it while I can get most of my money back. I do remember it came with accessories at the time and I think a case of some sorts but can't remember. The lower barrel could as mentioned above be iffy if the flash channel is not kept clean.

 

[AJFedak]

I might as well give my "2-cents" here. I have owned 3 of the Beretta's. I sold one to a friend and still have the other two.

As for the firearm itself, I have probably 5000+ rounds through one of them and the other is unfired in the display case with all the accessaries. I regularly shoot skeet 2-3 times a week using it. This thing is a real clay buster. Spent time on sporting clays courses and I can hold my own. I have never had any issues with it firing.

I've hunted rabbit, squirrel, dove, pheasant, ducks and geese. My freezer is always full during the seasons.

ASM made a repo-kit long time ago. You can tell the difference real easy by looking at the barrels. The ASM barrels are thicker and of course heavier and it does not say Beretta on the barrel. Also had one of them, sold it to another bunny hunter. I was going to have the bottom barrel jug-choked 0.015 but I was talked out of the gun.

Yes, the bottom flash channel is longer, but you keep her clean and there shouldn't be any problems.As of now I haven't had any problems. I would have expected them by now.

As for pouring water down the barrel and having it leak out the bottom, my guess is that the water was coming from between the barrels and not the breech. If the breech leaked water in sure it would be very noticeable when fired.

My only issue is the same issue I have with SxS, the wrist burns from the left side cap. I have to wear a gaunlet.

 

[shortbow]

Nope, it was for sure from the lower barrel. Been messin' with ML's for 30 years, would know the difference. How it could leak water and not gases is a huge mystery. Any how, anybody that owns one that it works well for is doing good. The gun shot real well and the stock fit was dandy.

 

[varsity07840]

I built one from an ASM kit. The barrels were pretty thin on it, so I'm wondering how thin they must have been on the Beretta. The ramrod was useless, way to thin, and one lock would trip on half cock, although you really had to yank on the trigger.Having said that, it shot pretty well, pointed nicely. I eventually put a turtle blade front sight on it. For a rear I epoxied an old TC
dovetail primitive sight adapter and leaf. At 50 yards it would put shots from both barrels right on top of each other. Sold it to a guy who wanted a buck and ball gun.

Duane

 

[mckutzy]

i have been looking for this shotgun for a wile now, i havent found any pics on the net about them, can u post a few for us. :thumbsup:

 

[clayman49]

Hi Mike C,
Thank you and all the other guys who have repondered to my qestion. I have located a card board boxed anniversary Beretta o/u with all the accoutrements and hope to view it next Sunday, hope to have a go with it if the guy will let me. Any on else shot one of theses shotguns?

 

[AJFedak]

These are a few pictures. Enjoy

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[clayman49]

Thank you VERY much for the pictures, I've scanned them and put them in a file. I hope to see a shotgun of similar quality, thank you again.

Regards

clayman49

 

[mckutzy]

yes thanks for the pics. :hatsoff: :thumbsup:

 

[44-henry]

One thing to keep in mind if you want to buy it to hunt waterfowl is the issue of non toxic shot. Bismuth is rather difficult to get these days and I wouldn't advocate shooting steel in that beast. Pedersoli offers their side by sides with interchangeable chokes which do allow the use of steel (at least with the cylinder bores). If lead was still legal for waterfowl I would hunt with either of the two original English guns I own which are a heck of a lot more pleasing to the eye than any of the modern repros will every be.

 

[clayman49]

Thank you for the reply, fortunately for those of use who use muzzleloaders and modern shotguns of 16g and less, we in the land of the long white cloud "New Zealand" are still allowed to use lead when shooting water fowl over water. I was fortunate to shoot three Paradise ducks, a black swan and thirty Canadian Geese with my trusty Pedersoli SxS 12gthis last season. I would like to get a reasonably priced SxS flinter at some stage. I've just finished a new blind on a lake and will give my 14g flint lock trap gun a go next season, but I like to have that second shot though.

Happy Shooting

 

[44-henry]

Sorry, I didn't look closely enough at your location. You are lucky indeed to be able to hunt with lead. I wish the US would make us a deal that would allow the use of lead in muzzleloaders. Even though I don't advocate breaking the law it would appear to be almost cheaper to pay the fine ($100 non criminal violation) for getting caught with lead shot than it is to obtain bismuth these days.

 

[clayman49]

Hi Alexander,
I hunt with a small group of fellow hunters who both use moderen auto shotguns, one of them uses 3&1/2inch shells, admitedly they can take game further away than I can attempt, but it is a well known fact using steel shot causes more wounded birds than lead (I've never seen bismuth shot shells in NZ Over here we are only allowed one shotgun each in a blind (we call them a Mai Mai). But as I get on well with the "Fish & Game wardens" I can have two single barreled shotguns, this way I can use my 14g flinter (would love to find a sensably priced double flinter but when shooting on grain fields I use my double perc as the geese can come in thick and fast. Geese are a pest over here and Fish & Game organise culls using boats, planes and choppers to drive them onto waiting guns.

Happy Shooting

 

[Britsmoothy]

Yes our canada geese have recently been deregulated to pest status over here. Suposed to use non-tox shot too :haha:

 

[Britsmoothy]

Clayman, did you get that Beretta?
I ask as I have got my eye on one now! :hatsoff:

 

[clayman49]

A deposite has been paid and I'll pick it up in the new year :grin: . Thanks for asking.