Beretta Urika II Deluxe

The Beretta range of semi-autos is justly famous. We have tested many in these pages over the years and few, if any have been found wanting in any significant way. It is also no secret that I have done much of my own competitive shooting with a 32” Beretta 303 gas-gun and I have taken that old gun to many a far flung corner of globe to shoot clays, birds and other quarry. Shamefully, I have to admit to rarely cleaning it - but my old 303 just seems to keep on going. Once, very recently, I thought that I had finally succeeded in killing it, but it was just that the build up of crud had become so great within the receiver and gas shroud that it briefly stopped functioning until this was scraped out. I have, frankly, been amazed at how that old gun keeps going in spite of my abuse. It must have shot more than 100,000 clays (not to mention hundreds of birds and a snake amongst much else).

Prejudice?

So, I am impressed with Beretta semi-autos - just as I have noted elsewhere in this issue that I am impressed with Kemen KM4s. Enough eulogy, the test Urika is the latest version of the 391 - the Urika II. The test gun, moreover, is a deluxe model with gold birds inlayed on its smart black receiver.  Gold does not really do it for me on guns, but this new Urika II does look smart - much smarter than some inlaid guns - and should appeal to many. It would not, I might add, look out of place on a game shoot - though it might not be welcome. Which leads me to note that I have never really agreed with the silly prejudice against repeaters on game shoots in the UK. Usually it is justified by some blimpish comment about other Guns not being able to see that your gun is
unloaded - but that is all it is, justification of a prejudice. Gas-operated repeaters are excellent, low recoiling, guns well suited to both game and clays.  They are as safe as any other if pointed in the right direction. This gun, with its game scenes, just might help to break the prejudice in some quarters. 

Nevertheless, I would advise you never to take a repeater to a formal game shoot without first seeking the permission of the shoot captain or shoot owner. This gun, however, would be ideal for double service on clays and ducks and/or pigeon.

First Impressions

This seems like a really well made and well finished piece of kit - a cut well above some of the cheaper semi-autos on offer today. The machining and finish of the receiver and its components are exemplary. I have seen the robots making the receivers in the Beretta factory - clearly the firm are real masters of computerised production now. It allows one to achieve quality
and economy. The Urika II certainly gives an impression of quality throughout. It has gold inlays, but these are not over-done. You already know my opinion about gold on guns, but these are - as the late Kenny Everett might have put it, “all done in the best possible taste”.

There are few surprises on the gun as far as form and function are concerned. It looks much like the older 391s, though I would note that the stock is made from very superior wood - dense and with good figure. The laser cut chequering on both butt and elegant, long and relatively slim forend, is sharp and provides good purchase for the hands. The chequering panels are neat and not too modernistic. The grip radius is quite tight, but the grip itself feels comfortable as does the comb when you bring it to the face.

The gun feels quite lively for a semi-auto, certainly livelier than some other Beretta gas-guns. This may be put down to a relatively light overall weight of 7 pounds or so and the 28” barrel with narrow and ventilated (and therefore light) sighting rib. The barrel itself is cold-hammer forged - and it always fascinates me to see these made at the Beretta plant - a slug of steel goes in one end
of the machine and a perfectly formed barrel is created by the application of enormous hammering force. The barrel passes all visual inspection. It is extremely well finished inside and out, perfectly straight and without any distortion relating to the attachment of the rib (as one sometimes sees on cheaper guns). The Urika is proofed - in Beretta’s own branch of the Italian Proof house - for 3” (76mm) loads; potentially useful in a gun that might be used on the marsh - though I am not otherwise a fan of Roman Candle loads.

The Urika II is Opti-bored too. In other words this means the bore is wider than the old norm (being marked at 18.6mm - equating to .732"). The test Urika is also equipped with concealed Optima Plus multi-chokes. These are longer than the older Mobil choke. And, I might add, that it has been my experience that the combination of the Opti-bore and Opti-chokes really does seem to work well -  producing some of the best and most forgiving patterns that I have ever seen.

The Urika II (like it’s previous incarnation, other 391s, the 390 and 303, etc.) is a gas-operated gun as discussed. When fired, gas is vented off from two small holes into a chamber beneath the barrel and directed towards a piston. The pressure causes it to slide backwards pushing a sleeve with a cocking bar attached. This operates the working parts. The Beretta mechanism is extremely
efficient and reliable but one improvement incorporated in the Urika II is a redesigned gas piston which Beretta claim will make the gun even more reliable and less subject to the build up of residue on the piston and in the gas collar. Who am I to knock further innovation - but the guns are already extraordinarily reliable and the bench mark by which all other manufactures judge their semi-autos.

Another feature of the Urika II is a slim forend. This was also a feature of the Mark I model; the forend on previous models being marginally wider. The big advantage of the 391 versus the 390, though, is that the gun is less complex to take apart; the sprung venting mechanism attached to the front of the gas collar - the means by which excessive gas pressure is blown off when one uses heavy loads - remaining in place on the later 391 guns but not on the earlier 390s. The 303 and earlier guns do not have this feature at all - which I have to say makes them better in my opinion because of the simplicity.

I have already noted that I liked the stock on the Urika II. It is a sensible design in all respects with sensible dimensions. The butt is also worthy of comment because the fit of it may be changed so easily. First, there is a range of recoil pads that allow for easy extension without any gunsmithing.
Drop and cast may be modified by means of two shims - one positioned between the back of the action and the head of the stock, and another beneath the recoil pad and attached to the tube that accommodates the long return spring that is a feature of all Beretta 300 series guns.

Shooting Impressions

The great thing about these guns is that they are so predictable to use. They have a very characteristic soft-shooting feel. The trigger pull is not especially refined, but this does not seem to matter. It is hard to shoot any Beretta semi-auto poorly if it fits you reasonably well. This was certainly the case with our Ulrika II. I did not shoot it that much because I have put so many rounds through so many similar guns. I immediately felt that it was right after a few shots on a skeet field. One thing I did especially like about this gun was the relatively light weight which would make it particularly suitable for certain applications - like pigeon shooting. Because of reduced frontal weight, this field model with 28" barrel and narrow rib would also make an excellent lady’s gun for sporting clays, which is not to say that this would not be a popular gun with the boys too. Well up to standard, no surprise that over a million and a half Beretta semi-autos have been sold.

My thanks to Lyalvale for the 28 gram HV cartridges used in the test and to the Braintree Shooting Ground.