Are you sure you aren't looking at a 390 Sporting Diamond? If so the price isn't bad. A regular 390 Gold Sporting didn't have silver sides. 100% value on the 390 Gold is $950. 98% value $825. Full retail was $1145. As per Blue Book.
Note: The 391 Gold Sporting did have some with silver sides.

All golds in US had silver sides with gold birds, a few rare black golds were made, mostly in Europe.

By golly, you're right! They did have a silver side on those guns, and they're fine looking guns too! Here's a pic of one. https://www.icollector.com/Beretta-Mode ... i18328653#



If I had one that looked that nice, I'd sure be careful about what cleaner/solvent I used on those silver sides.

The elusive black gold 390:

Odd that Beretta has yet to put out a deluxe or lusso version of the A400, black with engraving and/or gold birds, and better wood.

No Sporting Gold 390's with silver sides listed in the Blue Book. An oval nameplate on the original receiver was only on the Diamond Sporting. I only mention this because the values differ in a big way between the two. The value of a 390 gold with or without silver sides is well below the value of a A400. A Diamond is a different story. Silver sides are called out on other Beretta Semi's like the 391. For some reason not on the 390.

I would not buy an A400 black. I don’t like the idea of a carbon rib whatsoever.

The A400 has lots of plastic. But they seem to hold up ok.

Good news is you can have a black A400 without the carbon fiber. Coles usually stocks several coated versions of the standard A400. They turn the smurf blue into a variety of interesting view points.

My A400 is a coated black from before Beretta offered a factory Excel that wasn't blue. It has been a great gun for me...and no carbon fiber rib.

Thanks for your inputs, I went for the 390. At the end of the day, the 390 gunstock fits my niece’s hand better. The A400 grip length seems to be designed for shooters with oversized hands.

I also looked at the A400 Multitarget but found the rib to be a solution looking for a problem for most shooters.

Good deal I sold my A400 Excel because I didn't like the grip, like the 390 much better.

Congrats to the OP for choosing the Gold 390...

Many say it represents the pinnacle in Beretta semiauto design.

I own several 390’s and can attest to their durability...shoot on my man...shoot on!

Fit is the best reason to pick between two guns. I am sure she will love it.

Thanks - I will have to look at what one I SHOULD be replacing from the instructions in the kit.
We have 3 of the A400 Xcels, a 391 Urika II in 12 (30" stepped rib barrel with a sporting stock), and a 20ga 391 30" sporting. All great guns.

I own a 390, a couple of 391s, and an A400. All are great guns, with slight differences in fit and function in my opinion... find what fits you best and enjoy your Beretta!

I have several 390s including a couple of Gold guns. I wouldn't trade a new A400 for a decent 390. The 390s just work. Change the recoil spring every 10,000 or so rounds and keep shooting.

I've averaged over 14000 shells a year through one 390 Gold for the last three years. Two recoil springs replaced. I think three FTF in tournaments in three years all from reload issues. One of the guys on my squad shoots a Fabarms, he's had two broken rings on the slide assembly. My gun is 20+ years old with some round count before I got it, I'm still not trading.