I plan on picking up one of the two this month. The 391 is going to cost me about $250 bucks more. Is it worth it?

Not in my opinion, but make sure which version of the 390 you are buying. Lately I've seen cheapend versions being sold at Wal-Mart without some of the features like the magazine cutoff and only in synthetic. However there is very little difference between the 390 and the 391.

Actally the 391 has a thinner forearm and the gas system is one piece that's difficult to take apart to clean. The 391's handle lighter loads a little better also.

Bob257

How do you figure that the 391's handle light loads better? You can change the springs that bleed off the excess gas on either one so they are both just as versatile.

IMO, the 390 will perform just as well as the 391. The 391 just looks a little nicer. I shoot a 390 and it performs flawlessly with all loads, whether I am shooting BB for geese or the lightest trap loads I can find. Never had any trouble at all with light loads in the gun.

We had guys come in the shop and say that their 390 wouldn't do well with 1 oz and 7/8 ounce loads. The rep at the time for Beretta, said the same thing. Maybe their guns were the odd ones or something. I have a 391 (actually, my wife does), and I've never had a problem.

Bob257

I've shot 1oz loads almost exclusively from my 390 and never had any problem. It is easy enough to remedy the problem however with a bit stiffer spring so not as much gas is bled off. Beretta says that you should find your empties about 5-6 feet from you...any more then you need to use a lighter spring to prevent any undue strain to the gun and if the shells are closer then you need a stiffer spring to direct more gas to functioning the action and making it more reliable. I know that Rich Cole's shop used to carry the spring set...I assume that he still does.

You could solve the gas problems with a Benelli M1 field.
I find the cast and cant kit and the way it points the best of any semi. For me anyway.

I have a 391 and I bought it because of the reputation of the 390. It is a died in the wool trap gun. 390's have been (and by implication, the 391's, too) shot for a many as 40,000 rounds with simple cleaning and proper lube. In a gun that gets a lot of use, they will change a few parts, but that is all. Consider getting a trigger job, too.

I have a friend that purchased a 390 recently and he had ejection problems with light trap loads the first time he shot it, I would suspect that a thorough cleaning and perhaps spring work would correct this. My 2 boys and I have 5, 391's in the closet and also an Extrema and we love them and have never had a problem.

Doug

Biggest difference is weight and feel. Try both. I have a 390 that I really like, and my girlfriend has two 391s, so I've shot both. The 391 is lighter and slimmer.

I THINK the 391 has an aluminum receiver, while the 390 is steel. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

In my opinion, if the 390 feels good to you, buy it.

BTW, we've had all sorts of cycling trouble with both 391s, from light to real heavy loads, and none whatsoever with the 390...FWIW.

There are some pre-optima versions of the 391 that barely weigh in at 6.5 lbs. My wife shoots a Gold like that, and just TRY to talk here into carrying another gun in the field. It's basically a 12 ga. that shoots 12 ga. payloads, but carries and recoils like a 20. Pretty hard to beat. JMO, Dutch.