By Philip Bourjaily

The machine pictured above is one more interesting things I saw at the Beretta factory: the shotgun break-in machine.

Every A400 Xplor action gets a turn on the machine. Two barreled receivers go in the rests at a time and metal arms clamp onto the bolt handles (the break-in machine operator is about to put a second barreled action in the machine. You can see the arm that will fit over the bolt). The other end of the arm is attached to a wheel which spins very fast, working the arm back and forth, slamming the actions open and shut. It loolks like an old-fashioned steam locomotive  when it gets going.

In two minutes on the machine the action cycles 500 times --  the equivalent of running twenty boxes of heavy ammunition through the gun.

A lot of people recommend ... breaking-in a semiautomatic shotgun by firing four or five boxes of heavy loads through it. The break-in process smooths burrs in the action, lets metal parts wear in, and generally imroves the gun’s performance. It’s a good idea. After a little breaking in, some semiautos -- especially the newer models -- will perform impressive feats of functioning. A couple of summers ago I had a Browning Silver on extended loan. Atlhough the manual recommended nothing lighter than one ounce loads, it would cycle my 1200fps, ¾ ounce 12 gauge reloads all day long after I shot three or four boxes of heavy hunting loads through it.

Breaking in a gun isn’t that tedious a job.  I certainly don’t mind doing it myself, but I still thought it was pretty cool that Beretta had a machine that did it for you.

Comments (13)

from Mjenkins1 wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

Interesting, I've never once though about breaking in a shotgun, guess ill try that out

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from chadlove wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

Man, I never thought I'd see the day when Beretta would stoop to passing off used shotguns as new...

I kid, merely kid...cool machine.

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from NolanOsborne wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

Never had a semi, but that looks cool!

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from duckcreekdick wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

So much for the days of the skilled craftsman doing the final fitting and inspection of a well-made shotgun. My chainsaw would have more character and soul that this latest scattergun marvel. As an old fud, I like Remington 11-48's, Winchester 50's, and Browning A-5's.

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from Big O wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

When's "your's" getting delivered Mr. Bourjaily ?

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jeffo52284 wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

I have never owned a semi and didnt know it would have to be broken in. what a cool machine

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from PbHead wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

Wow! Think about the money that machine saves. If 500 rounds were put through each gun, that would be a bill to remember.

I use all of my old heavy duck and pheasant loads to break in a new gun. It gets rid of the old ammo and toughens the shoulder.

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from JD wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

I think the guy in the blind next to me had that machine, he was filling the sky with steel all day at a rapid fire pace. Not sure what shells he used, every once in while it sounded like a log chain going through the barrel!

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from kyka1865 wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

pretty cool, does it have any nagative affects ont he actions, seems like that is a lot of stress ont he springs and everything

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from ChevJames wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

Actually, I think it's a great idea. Even a $120,000 fine double needs some breaking in! And an automatic with all of those moving parts--definitely! That break-in machine will save jams down the road!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Jere Smith wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

I think its a good idea for all guns, working the action consistently without having to fire should not harm a thing and will smooth it out.

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from Carney wrote 2 years 26 weeks ago

My father in law didn't know any better when he bought a new autoloading rifle and sent it back to the factory, because it jammed twice on the first box of cartridges he put through it. He looked stunned when I said, "Sometimes you have to break 'em in a little to get a smooth action." I guess they "broke it in" back at the factory as I never heard any more about it...

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from Ralph the Rifleman wrote 2 years 26 weeks ago

It doesn't seems to be cycling that quickly? Anyway, interesting none the less that the guns are this way. Granted, all the parts are new and not subjected to the elements over time. It would be interesting to see them test similar models aged over a few hunting seasons.

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from chadlove wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

Man, I never thought I'd see the day when Beretta would stoop to passing off used shotguns as new...

I kid, merely kid...cool machine.

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from NolanOsborne wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

Never had a semi, but that looks cool!

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Mjenkins1 wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

Interesting, I've never once though about breaking in a shotgun, guess ill try that out

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Big O wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

When's "your's" getting delivered Mr. Bourjaily ?

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Jere Smith wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

I think its a good idea for all guns, working the action consistently without having to fire should not harm a thing and will smooth it out.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Carney wrote 2 years 26 weeks ago

My father in law didn't know any better when he bought a new autoloading rifle and sent it back to the factory, because it jammed twice on the first box of cartridges he put through it. He looked stunned when I said, "Sometimes you have to break 'em in a little to get a smooth action." I guess they "broke it in" back at the factory as I never heard any more about it...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from PbHead wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

Wow! Think about the money that machine saves. If 500 rounds were put through each gun, that would be a bill to remember.

I use all of my old heavy duck and pheasant loads to break in a new gun. It gets rid of the old ammo and toughens the shoulder.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from duckcreekdick wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

So much for the days of the skilled craftsman doing the final fitting and inspection of a well-made shotgun. My chainsaw would have more character and soul that this latest scattergun marvel. As an old fud, I like Remington 11-48's, Winchester 50's, and Browning A-5's.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from kyka1865 wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

pretty cool, does it have any nagative affects ont he actions, seems like that is a lot of stress ont he springs and everything

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Ralph the Rifleman wrote 2 years 26 weeks ago

It doesn't seems to be cycling that quickly? Anyway, interesting none the less that the guns are this way. Granted, all the parts are new and not subjected to the elements over time. It would be interesting to see them test similar models aged over a few hunting seasons.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from ChevJames wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

Actually, I think it's a great idea. Even a $120,000 fine double needs some breaking in! And an automatic with all of those moving parts--definitely! That break-in machine will save jams down the road!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from JD wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

I think the guy in the blind next to me had that machine, he was filling the sky with steel all day at a rapid fire pace. Not sure what shells he used, every once in while it sounded like a log chain going through the barrel!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jeffo52284 wrote 2 years 27 weeks ago

I have never owned a semi and didnt know it would have to be broken in. what a cool machine

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.