Over a year ago having just acquired a 1301 off Gunbroker for $850 w/ full Extended tube & case. I got all jiggy and sent it out for complete a Cerakote job before I even shot it because I had a credit there anyway. Like they say, that's when the fight started.
First the slide lever screw broke. Maybe it was from being apart and put back wrong. Then it would intermittently shoot 1 oz but not 7/8 oz... and then neither consistently. The whole reason I got another Beretta is I have a neck problem and I sold my M2 because it definitely has more felt recoil for me than my 391. So here is what I went thru to make it run.
1) Took it all apart and sanded all Cerakote out of every single orifice inside. Ever try removing Cerakote- even overspray? 2) Took entire trigger assembly apart and lapped every contact surface. Cocking pressure was 12# when started and now is 6.5# (rearward bolt travel to cock). Trigger pull is now about 4.5# from about 9#
3) Lapped each and every gas port. The large 2 into the barrel and all the tiny ones inside the gas block. Used a long wooden q-tip chucked into a hand drill and lotsa lapping compound incl. diamond lap. Every few minutes the gun was cleaned, reassembled and shot w/ Win Low noise/low recoil 960 fps,personal load chron'd 1080 FPS, 1100 fps, 1150. Until it now cycles all but the 960. It ejects the 960 but is not consistent. I'm good with that.
In this process I noticed that the gas ring had been cut unevenly. I called Beretta tech support as there was a nub that prevented the ring from closing flush. They sent me a new ring. As I awaited the new one I filed the edge flush and square. That's when the gun began to run consistently.
The new gas ring is visually different dimensionally than the one in the gun. The flat part of the ring is .005 lower than the one it came with on purchase. Even though the gun was running I replaced the ring and o-ring. There is a noticeable improvement in the cycling rate as well as a noticeable improvement in the reliatbility of the low noise/ low recoil... they are now about 1 failure in 20 rather than 1 for 12-14.
Everything else runs in it flawlessly including 7/8 oz 1080 FPS which is my fave practice load.
For the load port I took it to a buddy who has a mill and we made a video of the opening of the load port incl. a warning about the clearances around the mag tub insertion. Be very very careful in this area. It is thin and hollow.
I load weak hand so one issue I kept having is the 2nd stack kept catching on the overlap of the forend on the reciever. I took some vinyl, built the area up to level the width of the forend and then expoxied it so there is no edge to catch the 2nd stack... smooth as silk. The edge around the mag port was hand sanded until a shell can't catch the lip as it lays on the loading gate. I didn't find that the loading gate needed any welding at all.
From bolt locked open, gun on target, with safety on: click off safety; Load 1 from Matchsavr and close bolt; do quad load; back to target; pull trigger.... 4.5 sec par time. If/ when I learn how/ where to post pics and vid I'm glad to do it if anyone wants to see it.
