Beretta AL391 Teknys Gold Sporting

Sounds like a good choice to me. You might also consider the Remington 1100/1187 due to longevity of design and manufacture. Remington has been making the 1100 for about 40+ years and show no signs of stopping. Beretta, OTOH, has been making the 391 about 3 years and has already brought out a new model (the 391 Optima). As far as I know, most of the parts are interchangeable between the two guns, but how long will it be before Beretta decides to bring out a completely new and "improved" version which doesn't have interchangeable parts? :?: It might be another 3 to 4 years (just a guess). Of course, that wouldn't stop your kids from keeping their guns for a lifetime, but they just might not be able to get replacement parts for them in another 8 or 10 years. But then again, any of us might step in front of a concrete truck tomorrow and what occurs after that is irrelevant, so perhaps it's best not to worry about what might happen 10 to 40 years from now. Buy them something they like and will enjoy for the present time. The Beretta 391 (or Optima) certainly is a good choice.

I bought the AL 391 Optima a few weeks ago and have about 500 rds thru it.
It bye far is the softest shooting out of the box 12 Ga I have ever shot.
The Optima barrel is 5" long forcing cones, extended choke tubes, and over bored. I did add 10 oz in the stock and 8 oz in front of the forend aslo.

I also have a 1187 I use to hunt with from Ducks to Deer, for 10 years + and can't say enough good things about it. It does tend to kick a little more than the Berreta but no big deal.

Three most importaint tips: Gun Fit, Gun Fit, Gun Fit!!!!!!!
If it fits good it will shoot good...

Good Luck
Bill

I purchased my Beretta AL391 12g 28" Teknys Gold Sporting Edition (Blue Ceramic) with real walnut stock.

You have an option for wood or the "wood x-tra" the difference is that the real wood is just that REAL wood with a nice polish finish. THe "x-tra wood" is a cheaper walnut stock with less pretty pattern, then they factory dip it like they do to pattern a synthetic stock. THe dipping adds the appearance of a nicer qwuality wood stock, without the price for the higher value wood. THe difference is then then dip coat the xtra in multiple layers of a thick clear varnish on it. Its a resin that hardens the hell out of the finishing coat. Making it less chip and scratchable.

I personally perfer the real wood look. Depends on what you want to shoot with it. Might not want to drag your pretty gun through thick brush while dragging a deer.

I paid about $1244 for mine. 28" 12g, real wood.

You shouldn't have to pay more that $1250 + tax

Good luck!

The standard Teknys field gun comes with the Xtra wood. If it has extra wood it willl say Xtra Wood on the pistol grip. The Xtra finish kinda looks like it has chocolate swirls in it and if you ask me it looks very nice (I have one). The finish tends to rub off after prolonged use though. It's coming off right below the trigger guard on mine because of where my finger is rubbing it. However, Beretta will redip it for you if you send it back to them (It may be a while before you get it back though). The standard Teknys does have real wood on it, just a very different finish. They dip it and heat it. The heat causes the finish to shrink to the stock. It's a very good gun.

The Teknys Gold field, Teknys Gold Sporting, and the Teknys Gold Trap all have real finish on them and high grade wood. This finish isn't about to rub off. They all come with various engravings and the Sporting and Trap guns both have mercury recoil reducers in the stock. I just purchased the Gold Trap from Angleport last week. It's very nice. I needed a bigger gun than the standard Teknys because my head doesn't even touch the stock when I mount it where I need to be mounting. I got the Trap version because the comb is higher and adjustable plus it has the raised rib. The raised rib keeps me from having to put my head down so much and I really like it.

Both guns come with 5 factory chokes which are all pretty good. You should be able to get the standard gun for about $950, the Gold Field for about $1050, the Gold Sporting for about $1250, and the Gold Trap for about $1350. They're all excellent guns and I wouldn't have anything else.

I purchased a Teknys Gold Sporting (30") earlier this year and love it. Michael_ is correct that the "Gold" versions have the "real" high-grade walnut which Beretta calls "Select". Typically, the grain is very nice.

If you are going for value, it is very hard to make sense out of the Teknys Gold Sporting. The Urika Gold and other 391 variations make much more value sense. Theoretically, they will shoot the same.

However, I fell in love with the look of the Teknys Gold Sporting model and can tell you that it does make an emotional difference everytime I shoot. I don't have to wish I had paid the extra for the gun I really wanted everytime I take my gun out to shoot. I think my enjoyment level is higher because I love the look and fit of the gun. From that standpoint, I think the extra $ were worth it!

On the other hand, I also have two boys, and there are plenty of times I choose the "value" route because of it. One suggestion might be to offer to pay for a Urika 391 and let them pay the difference if they "must" have the Teknys Gold.