The Shooter’s Companion

Shotguns·makers·models·history

An independent reference on sporting shotguns, for shooters, collectors, buyers and sellers.

Beretta
303

A gas-operated semi-automatic with interchangeable barrels

A 303A303303

Drawing of a Beretta 303 from the right: one barrel, a rib, a receiver with chamfered lower corners, an ejection port and bolt handle, a large trigger guard, a capped pistol-grip walnut stock and a walnut fore-end.
Drawing: 12 ga Mobilchoke, 26 in, right side

he Beretta 303 is a shotgun.1 Beretta added and target configurations to the range in 1985.2 The 303’s optional cutoff button sits in the lower fore-end.3 The receiver has chamfered lower corners and an enlarged guard.4

The A303 keeps the A302’s basic mechanical characteristics and still takes earlier barrels.5 One receiver accepts barrels with standard 2¾-inch or magnum 3-inch chambers.6 On the Mobilchoke version, the screws directly inside the barrel.7

Specifications

12-bore

Introduced19858
Bore12-bore
Chambers76 mm (3 in)
Barrels26 in
ChokesMobilchoke; removable

9, 10, 7 Compare specifications

Specifications

ConfigurationBoreChambersBarrels, inRib, mmGradeChoke systemStock
Mobilchoke test gun9, 10, 712-bore76 mm (3 in)267Mobilchoke test gunMobilchoke; removable with cap grip

Scroll for more columns.

Identify and date

The optional cutoff button is marked PB.11 The interchangeable barrel carries its own serial number, different from the receiver’s.12 On the A304 that followed, the cutoff moved to the receiver side.13

The 26-inch gun that Randy Wakeman tested carries the AS code.14 The code records the year of proof.15 In the Conarmi table, AS stands for 1987.10

WhereMarkings
Receiver and interchangeable barrelDifferent serial numbers12
Cutoff push buttonPB11

Proof date

The stamp gives the year of proof. CZ applies up to 31 May 2020, and 20 from 1 June 2020. The later stamp encloses the year’s last two digits in a rectangle.15, 10, 16

Proof date codes

Before you buy

  1. Read the fitted barrel’s specification; standard 2¾-inch and magnum 3-inch barrels fit the same receiver.6
  2. Record the receiver and barrel serials separately when identifying the gun or additional barrels.12
  3. Check that an optional cutoff operates from the fore-end; the A304 moved it to the receiver side.3, 13
  4. With the chamber and magazine empty, check that a Mobilchoke tube is tight.17
  5. Inspect the gas cylinder, piston with bush and magazine-tube cap shaft for combustion residue.18, 19
  6. These gas parts need no oil.18, 20

History

Ducks Unlimited dates the A303’s debut to 1985.8 The A303 retained the A302’s basic mechanics and barrel interchangeability.5 Ducks Unlimited chose the gun for its 1986–87 and 1987–88 Gun of the Year programmes.21

According to Shooting Times, the next variation, the A304, followed in 1992.22 The A304 moved the cutoff to the receiver side and added spacers for and .13 In 1994 the A304 became the AL390.23

Sources

  1. Beretta A303 instruction manual — identification and maintenance, model-and-system. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual · Archive
  2. The AL 391: Beretta’s Best — A303 and A304 chronology, target-versions. Shooting Times, 2005. magazine · Archive
  3. Beretta A303 instruction manual — identification and maintenance, cutoff-location. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual · Archive
  4. Beretta A303 instruction manual — identification and maintenance, receiver-and-guard. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual · Archive
  5. Beretta A303 instruction manual — identification and maintenance, predecessor-and-barrels. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual · Archive
  6. Beretta A303 instruction manual — identification and maintenance, chamber-options. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual · Archive
  7. Beretta A303 instruction manual — identification and maintenance, mobilchoke. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual · Archive
  8. Modern Classics — Beretta A303, introduction. Ducks Unlimited, 2023-09-01. magazine · Archive
  9. Classic Review: Beretta A303 Twelve Gauge Autoloader, name; test-configuration; stock-and-finish; pistol-grip; walnut. Randy Wakeman Outdoors. magazine · Archive
  10. Conarmi: Italian proof marks and year codes, code-table. Consorzio Armaioli Italiani. magazine · Archive
  11. Beretta A303 instruction manual — identification and maintenance, cutoff-mark. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual · Archive
  12. Beretta A303 instruction manual — identification and maintenance, separate-serials. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual · Archive
  13. The AL 391: Beretta’s Best — A303 and A304 chronology, a304-changes. Shooting Times, 2005. magazine · Archive
  14. Classic Review: Beretta A303 Twelve Gauge Autoloader, test-configuration. Randy Wakeman Outdoors. magazine · Archive
  15. Beretta USA catalogue 2004: National Proof House Year Stamp Markings, proof-year. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2004. maker catalogue · Archive
  16. Cambio marchio anno di prova, numeric-stamp. Banco Nazionale di Prova, 2020. proof house · Archive
  17. Beretta A303 instruction manual — identification and maintenance, tube-tightness. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual · Archive
  18. Beretta A303 instruction manual — identification and maintenance, gas-parts. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual · Archive
  19. Beretta A303 instruction manual — identification and maintenance, gas-cleaning. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual · Archive
  20. Beretta A303 instruction manual — identification and maintenance, gas-oil. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual · Archive
  21. Modern Classics — Beretta A303, du-editions. Ducks Unlimited, 2023-09-01. magazine · Archive
  22. The AL 391: Beretta’s Best — A303 and A304 chronology, next-model. Shooting Times, 2005. magazine · Archive
  23. The AL 391: Beretta’s Best — A303 and A304 chronology, al390. Shooting Times, 2005. magazine · Archive

Revised