Beretta AL391
Encyclopedia
The Beretta AL391 is a semi-automatic
shotgun
. It is manufactured, marketed, and distributed by Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta
, in Gardone Val Trompia
, Italy
.
The AL391 is most often used for hunting birds, and for clay target games such as trap
and skeet
. There are several different models, each with multiple variations. The AL391 is chambered in either 12 gauge
or 20 gauge.
The AL391 has a self-compensating gas-driven recoil system. This lacks the mechanical simplicity of some other recoil systems. However, it provides the advantage of automatically adjusting for shot shells
with different charges and therefore different amounts of recoil. It is designed to cycle the action reliably when using a wide variety of shells, while minimizing felt recoil.
Semi-automatic firearm
A semi-automatic, or self-loading firearm is a weapon which performs all steps necessary to prepare the weapon to fire again after firing—assuming cartridges remain in the weapon's feed device or magazine...
shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
. It is manufactured, marketed, and distributed by Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta
Beretta
Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta is an Italian firearms manufacturer. Their firearms are used worldwide for a variety of civilian, law enforcement, and military purposes. It is also known for manufacturing shooting clothes and accessories. Beretta is the oldest active firearms manufacturer in the...
, in Gardone Val Trompia
Gardone Val Trompia
Gardone Val Trompia is a town and comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. It is bounded by other communes of Marcheno and Sarezzo. It is located in the Trompia valley. It is well-known for being the base of the major small arms manufacturers FAMARS and Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
The AL391 is most often used for hunting birds, and for clay target games such as trap
Trap shooting
Trap shooting is one of the three major forms of competitive clay pigeon shooting . The others are skeet shooting and sporting clays. There are many versions including Olympic trap, Double trap , Down-The-Line, and Nordic trap. American trap is most popular in the United States and Canada...
and skeet
Skeet shooting
Skeet shooting is one of the three major types of competitive shotgun target shooting sports . There are several types of skeet, including one with Olympic status , and many with only national recognition.- General principles :Skeet is a recreational and competitive activity where...
. There are several different models, each with multiple variations. The AL391 is chambered in either 12 gauge
Gauge (bore diameter)
The gauge of a firearm is a unit of measurement used to express the diameter of the barrel. Gauge is determined from the weight of a solid sphere of lead that will fit the bore of the firearm, and is expressed as the multiplicative inverse of the sphere's weight as a fraction of a pound . Thus...
or 20 gauge.
Features
The Beretta AL391 is mechanically similar to its predecessor, the AL390, but has a slimmer fore-end and a different shaped stock. It has an aluminum receiver, which reduces the weight of the gun. The magazine holds three rounds, providing a total capacity of four rounds, which can be reduced using a magazine plug. The gun has a magazine cut-off, which can be engaged to remove or replace a chambered shell without feeding a new round from the magazine.The AL391 has a self-compensating gas-driven recoil system. This lacks the mechanical simplicity of some other recoil systems. However, it provides the advantage of automatically adjusting for shot shells
Shotgun shell
A shotgun shell is a self-contained cartridge loaded with lead shot or shotgun slug designed to be fired from a shotgun....
with different charges and therefore different amounts of recoil. It is designed to cycle the action reliably when using a wide variety of shells, while minimizing felt recoil.
Models
- AL391 Urika — The standard model, available with a variety of features and finishes.
- AL391 Teknys — A more upscale version of the Urika, with upgraded finishing and fancier engraving.
- A391 Xtrema — Designed for hunting waterfowl, the Xtrema accepts shells up to 3-½ inch magnums and has been produced in 12 gauge only.