Options for Lowering POI On Beretta A400 XCEL PT

dreadpirate · Aug 27, 2017

My Beretta A400 XCEL Parallel Target seems to shoot 4 to 6" high at - I don't know - 20 to 30 yards with modified choke shooting trap. I am using the 45mm spacer with cast out (DX) on top for the back and front spacers (i.e., 45mm drop at heal). I think that's as high as she goes. I am shooting right handed, FWIW. Should I try a higher sight bead?

Boom Boom · Aug 27, 2017

What load shoots high? 1-1/8oz? Less?

Does the shotgun shoulder properly for you? If not, you might be looking high over the receiver down towards the bead instead of straight down the barrel, which would explain shooting high.

That said, close shots should shoot high since the pellets travel a parabola not a straight path. Barrels are slightly tilted up for that purpose. Otherwise you wouldn't see a target at longer distance because it would be below the barrel.

dreadpirate · Aug 27, 2017

Boom Boom said:
What load shoots high? 1-1/8oz? Less?

Does the shotgun shoulder properly for you? If not, you might be looking high over the receiver down towards the bead instead of straight down the barrel, which would explain shooting high.

That said, close shots should shoot high since the pellets travel a parabola not a straight path. Barrels are slightly tilted up for that purpose. Otherwise you wouldn't see a target at longer distance because it would be below the barrel.

I think #7 1/2 shot and 3 dram and 2 3/4 drams powder, one of each. Both shot high.

Boom Boom · Aug 27, 2017

Good. Standard loads. Same as what I use. Has anybody else shot any rounds through the gun to verify it shoots unusually high? Are you sure you're looking straight down the barrel, since it doesn't take much to throw off the POA/POI relationship?

No matter what, 20-30 yards is very close. If I'm shooting clays at that distance, I'm floating them well above the bead.

dreadpirate · Aug 27, 2017

Boom Boom said:
No matter what, 20-30 yards is very close. If I'm shooting clays at that distance, I'm floating them well above the bead.

That's what I have to do in this case.

STeveZ · Aug 27, 2017

Changing the shim to increase the drop / lower the comb (50 or 55 mm) should lower the POI. Seems pretty simple, am I missing something?

I guess maybe that defeats the purpose of a PT shotgun. In fact, what is the purpose of a PT configuration? I've had two and hated them, as mentioned I had to float my targets over the barrel.

Augie · Aug 28, 2017

Trap guns are usually set to shoot high, all trap targets are rising targets, further back I move the higher I adjust the gun to shoot. You want to float the bird just above the bead.

Mack C-85 · Aug 28, 2017

Most target guns are set to place the pattern 60% above the line of sight, 40% below. 35 yards is pretty much the standard for sighting. Hunting guns are usually 50/50 and Trap guns can be 70/30 due to the rising/going away targets.

Redcobra · Aug 28, 2017

Are beads stacked, or do you see rib between them?
Most PT guns are built to shoot high. Designed for trap where you need to float the bird.

Redcobra · Aug 28, 2017

Augie said:
Trap guns are usually set to shoot high, all trap targets are rising targets, further back I move the higher I adjust the gun to shoot. You want to float the bird just above the bead.

They rise till they start to fall. I have seen many newbies wait too long to shoot.

dreadpirate · Aug 28, 2017

STeveZ said:
Changing the shim to increase the drop / lower the comb (50 or 55 mm) should lower the POI. Seems pretty simple, am I missing something?

I guess maybe that defeats the purpose of a PT shotgun. In fact, what is the purpose of a PT configuration? I've had two and hated them, as mentioned I had to float my targets over the barrel.

I have the lowest drop in it already at 45 mm.

dreadpirate · Aug 28, 2017

Redcobra said:
Are beads stacked, or do you see rib between them?

Actually the mid and front bead do stack are if I hold the barrel parallel to the ground.

fabsroman · Sep 11, 2017

dreadpirate said:
I have the lowest drop in it already at 45 mm.

The others already covered the point I was going to make. It is a parallel target and is intended to shoot high. With that said, the more of the rib you can see when you mount the gun, the higher it will shoot. The higher the comb, the higher it will shoot. On my trap gun, there is very little drop at comb and it floats the clay for me. On my sporting clays/skeet guns, there is more drop at comb and if the target is a rising target I have to cover the bird to break it. On my sporting clays/skeet guns, I cannot see the rib, just the bead, when I mount it. On my trap gun, I can see the entire top of the rib and I can see some rib between the mid bead and front bead when I mount it.

I use a 30 shim in my sporting clays/skeet 391. I use the same spacer on my hunting semis. The o/u guns don't have any shims. I would recommend you try more drop at comb and see if this gets you where you want to be. Albeit, not what the gun was really designed for, but if it meets your needs, it does not matter.

Edit to add: Went back and noticed you are using the 45mm shim. You might be SOL on this unless you buy another stock.

dreadpirate · Sep 16, 2017

Thanks for the info guys - I will shoot more trap this Fall and see how it goes. It's a super comfortable 12 gauge to shoot, so I would like to make it work.

JDH146 · Sep 16, 2017

http://www.fieldsportltd.com/dr_shotgun/dr_shotgun.php

I tried to delete this but do not see that option under EDIT.

dreadpirate · Sep 17, 2017

JDH146 said:
http://www.fieldsportltd.com/dr_shotgun/dr_shotgun.php

I tried to delete this but do not see that option under EDIT.

Why do you want to delete this post??

JDH146 · Sep 17, 2017

The content was already covered by others ,but if you found it helpful, all the better.

EliteContent · Sep 26, 2017

I think your gun is broken.

give it to me and I will dispose of it for you.

dreadpirate · Sep 26, 2017

EliteContent said:
I think your gun is broken.

give it to me and I will dispose of it for you.

Right

Options for Lowering POI On Beretta A400 XCEL PT

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

Ultimate Member

Hold my beer. Watch this.

Ultimate Member

Hold my beer. Watch this.

Ultimate Member

Thank you, Abelard

Ultimate Member

R.I.P.

Senior Shooter

Senior Shooter

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

jdh146

Ultimate Member

jdh146

Banned

Ultimate Member

Users who are viewing this thread

Log in

Forum statistics