[incursion]

What's the difference?

[PJR]

Optima chokes are for Beretta's recently introduced backbored barrel which is has a larger inside diamater than Berettas that come with Mobile chokes. Optima chokes are thinner as a result and longer which is supposed to reduce pellet deformation. Optima choked barrels are also lighter.

Browning went the same route several years ago when it switched from Invector to Invector Plus chokes.

[incursion]

How much would you value the optima version over the older style? I have two 391s that I'm looking at getting.

[incursion]

BTT, can anyone provide any more insight on this?

[PJR]

The Optima would have higher value because it is newer and deemed "better" because is is newer. Beretta went to Optima barrels in their 68(X) series shotguns a few years ago and it's considered in improvement.

Using value as the only determinant, if the prices were the same I'd take the Optima. If the Optima were ten to 15 percent more expensive I'd flip a coin. If the difference was greater I'd go with the older style system. My criteria would be influenced by the fact that I already have a gun with Mobilechokes.

However value is only one measure. If the Optima gun felt barrel light, didn't fit, had lousy wood and didn't handle as well as the older gun I know what my choice would be.

Paul

[incursion]

hmm... how much would it be to retrofit the old style with the optima barrel and chokes?

[PJR]

From what I've seen, the only difference between the two guns is the barrel. The cost would be the price of a replacement barrel. For me it wouldn't be worth the bother but your mileage may vary.

Paul

[Gila Jorge]

Twenty some years ago I had custom barrel work done on my competition Perazzim
Mirage skeet gun. I had the corcing cones lengthened on both ends.
I also had a long (full barrel length) taper put into the barrel. It cust the dickens out of recoil and improved chokes immencely. Was expensive as I recall
about $ 600 for the choking work. But then I was having a bunch of other stuff done as well. All in all it was certainly worth the investment: I went ffrom A class to AA class and AAA in regional shoots.

[Gila Jorge]

Twenty some years ago I had custom barrel work done on my competition Perazzi
Mirage skeet gun. I had the forcing cones lengthened on both ends.
I also had a long (full barrel length) taper put into the barrel. It cut the dickens out of recoil and improved chokes immencely. Was expensive as I recall
about $ 600 for the choking work. But then I was having a bunch of other stuff done as well. All in all it was certainly worth the investment: I went from an A class to AA class and AAA shooting class in regional shoots.