[Carbon_15]

I went to my local Wal-mart to take a look at the $550 Beretta 390's I remember seeing there a while back. I tried the only 2 Wal-mart's around that carry guns and no Beretta. Did I miss the boat on ths incredible buy?
Jason

[cratti]

They might be able to special order it, or maybe they were just out of stock.

[ArmedBear]

Cabela's has had them lately, off and on.

[Snarlingiron]

Just got a Bass Pro flyer a few days and they had it for $549.00. That's where I bought mine.

[Glock_fan]

I thought they stopped making the 390 and introduced the 391 as its replacement. The 390s you are finding might be the last remaining 390s they are trying to sell off, then again I could be completely wrong, but that is what I understand from my reading online.
Best wishes,
Kurt

[ArmedBear]

They've been selling them off for a very long time.:)

And the last NIB 390 I saw, a few weeks ago, was marked "Made in USA." My 20 Gauge is Made in Italy. So it seems that Beretta has made, or is making, new 390s in the US (at least 12 Gauges).

Never try to figure out Beretta.

[oneounceload]

The 3901 is the US made one, and, IIRC, was made to sell at wally world only. Guess maybe now they're at other outlets???

[ArmedBear]

This was NOT a 3901. I know what those are.

It was a "Wal-Mart 390", marked Made in USA and "390" on its semi-humpback receiver.

The 3901 is not a Wal-Mart-only gun, and never was. It's a cataloged shotgun, Made in USA, with the round receiver, and 390 internals. It's available through regular distribution channels, just like a current 391 -- insofar as certain models are available at all, at any given time, just like Ruger.

The Wal-Mart 390 is a semi-humpback 390, marked as such, with a matte black finish, including on the trigger and bolt. It's not a cataloged Beretta shotgun, and I don't believe it ever was. It appears to be available only through certain retailers.

You're trying to figure out Beretta. Like I said, that never works.:D

[RetiredLawman]

The only thing that has kept me from buying one is the gas piston. It is a pain to clean. Neglect it and you will regret it. I am used to a long recoil action gun that can, if need be, somewhat neglected and still be reliable.

The gas piston on the Beretta is an education in "do not neglect" or you will suffer.

[greyling22]

saw one at walmart near austin, tx today. it was closer to 600 than 550 though. I just can't remember the exact price. build quality seemed higher than the mossberg, the remington baikal, and about the same as the 1187. nowhere near that of an older wingmaster.

[ArmedBear]

Build quality of mine is excellent.

The finish is spartan, but everything is smooth and fits perfectly. Actually, the 11-87 Sportsman's finish is junk, like the Express (which I own), not in the Beretta's class unless you get the camo version.

There's a difference between finish and build quality.

I've had pretty good impressions of the Mossberg 930 and SA-20 (Turkish-made), but haven't owned any.

[Snarlingiron]

The only thing that has kept me from buying one is the gas piston. It is a pain to clean. Neglect it and you will regret it. I am used to a long recoil action gun that can, if need be, somewhat neglected and still be reliable.

The gas piston on the Beretta is an education in "do not neglect" or you will suffer.

I own an A390, made in Italy in the 90's. Wood furniture. I recently bought one of the AL390s from Bass Pro to use for hunting. The AL390 is marked "Made in USA" on both sides of the receiver. The barrel is marked "Made in Italy". It has the humpback receiver, the A390 has the rounded one.

My experience with the gas piston has been nothing like RetiredLawman's. These are the most reliable auto loading shotguns I have ever used. I have gone as much as ~750 rounds without cleaning on the A390, because I use it for clays, and there have been a couple of times that I just didn't have time between sessions.

I drop the piston in a jar of Ed's Red for 30 or so minutes and brush off the carbon with a brass brush. Big deal.

These are not 3901s, technically, but actually they are. I expect the 3901 sports a better finish. All parts interchange as do most parts for the 391s.

In my opinion (whatever that's worth), this is the best value available anywhere for a quality auto loading shotgun.

I have shot many thousands of rounds through these guns (mostly through the A390), and have never had a failure of any kind. Ever.

[ArmedBear]

My experience with the gas piston has been nothing like RetiredLawman's. These are the most reliable auto loading shotguns I have ever used. I have gone as much as ~750 rounds without cleaning on the A390, because I use it for clays, and there have been a couple of times that I just didn't have time between sessions.


That's the consensus among everyone I've ever known who's had one. It's also what appears in the few reputable rags that review guns in print or on-line (the non-reputable ones write great things about every gun :)).

Maybe his was a lemon. Or maybe his idea of "neglect" is an order of magnitude greater than mine.

I've had my 1100 dirty enough that the bolt wouldn't lock open, but I just cleaned it and it was fine again. No big whoop. And I think the 1100 is a bit of a POS, especially compared to the 390, when it comes to design. (The 390 design ought to be better, as it's what, 30 years newer?)