Beretta Semi Auto Shotgun Question

citori · #1 10-25-2010, 09:51 AM

I bought a 301 Beretta semi automatic a few months ago. At the time, I was under the impression this gun was not modified, so only lead shots were used.

The seller also threw in a box full of shotgun shells...which I didn't bother looking at until yesterday. While going through the bag I found several high velocity Steel shells.

So now I have no clue if this gun has been modified.

Is there a (good) shop I can take my gun to, to figure it out? I'm in Edmonton.

FYI, there are no chokes, the gun looks like it just came out of the factory.

Okotokian · #2 10-25-2010, 10:42 AM

No Chokes? The 301 manual shows screw in chokes. I'd check with Beretta directly.

citori · #3 10-25-2010, 11:36 AM

Are you sure?

This is the Beretta A 301 Semi-automatic 12 gauge. The gun is like 30 years old...I've seen quite a few of them and none have screw in chokes.

bagwan · #4 10-25-2010, 12:18 PM

Take a run to Bashaw and get Pud to make the decision for you. If not modified he can do it or advise you accordingly. It may be okay but it was built before steel was mandated and by the sounds of it you have a beaut. They have a web sight and aren't open on Mon. I beilieve. I wouldn't trust phone calls and get it measured.

bobinthesky · #5 10-25-2010, 12:28 PM

A301's were available with choke tubes that had a knurled nut that held the tube in the barrel but they're fairly rare. These were pre Mobil choke era and all 301's I've seen and/or owned had fixed chokes.

Generally speaking, most people will put steel through a fixed choke if it's constricted no more that Modified, that is to say, 20 points of constriction.
I'm not in any way saying you should do that, just that it's commonly done.

301 barrels are interchangable with A300's through A304's, so picking up a barrel that has mobil chokes that are steel rated should pose no problems or large expense. These are very well built guns that last a long time and are worth putting a bit of money into if you plan on keeping it for a while. I plan to never sell my A303 and I've had guys with brand new 391's try to trade me straight across for it!

oilngas · #6 10-25-2010, 01:00 PM

I have a 301 (why do i want to say 301 A) that will take 3" shells. It did have a fixed choke, as others have stated if you get the bbl. to Pud in Bashaw Sports he will install a choke. He did a great job on mine, I now use the gun as a standby for the Benelli.

Okotokian · #7 10-25-2010, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by citori

Are you sure?

This is the Beretta A 301 Semi-automatic 12 gauge. The gun is like 30 years old...I've seen quite a few of them and none have screw in chokes.

I may be confused. The last page of the manual shows the knurled screw-in chokes that were referred to by bobinthesky, but there is actually no mention of teh chokes in the body of the manual, so who knows?

Is a modified choke the only thing tht stops an old gun from firing steel safely?

bagwan · #8 10-25-2010, 03:11 PM

The size of the constriction (barrell) Oko whether it is choked with screw ins or a plain barrell. Older lead barrells were a full (tight) choke and shooting hard steel may bulge them. This weapon is one of the best. An older model that any of us would be proud to own.

bobinthesky · #9 10-25-2010, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okotokian

I may be confused. The last page of the manual shows the knurled screw-in chokes that were referred to by bobinthesky, but there is actually no mention of teh chokes in the body of the manual, so who knows?

Is a modified choke the only thing tht stops an old gun from firing steel safely?

The unwritten rule is that you should use steel in nothing tighter than Mod choke. Mod is ok.
Having said that, I would caution against taking that to heart. Browning lists older guns that can be used for steel and ones that cannot. Even those which are approved by Browning are advised to only shoot smaller than BB sized shot.
If Beretta publishes such information, I'm not aware of it. My own feeling is, buy a Mobil Choke equipted barrel with a MOd choke tube for the 301 and shoot steel worry free!

citori · #10 10-26-2010, 06:36 AM

Okotokian, I think that last page might have been an ad...because every other page had an english translation. Who knows though?

Thanks for all the info guys! Very useful!

Bob I like your idea of buying another barrel to shoot steel with. My only problem is myself...I have no clue where to get one. I've tried a few sites...American ones won't send anything here and Canadian ones don't have any. I'd be very interested in keeping my current barrel for upland and getting a new barrel for steel, if someone could guide me in the right direction.

BTW, the gun is most definitely a beaut. It does take 3 inch shells and I plan on keeping it as long as possible. My favorite way of describing the gun to friends is, "the gun is older than me, and has less scratches than I do." I'm 26, I really think the gun is older than me