Anyone have a review on Beretta A303 shotguns?

Had a DU edition A303 for a while. Shot fine. Was only 2 3/4 though.

A303’s are very high quality guns. They were made in the 80’s and early 90’s and were Beretta’s top of the line automatic in their era. Most of them have FAR better wood than subsequent 390/391/400’s. They’re not as slim as inertia guns, or even later Beretta gassers, and they’re heavier, which is the trade off for that beautiful wood and steel.

A few quirks: the gas system is dependable, but it’s simpler than newer guns and didn’t have the same compensation for shooting lighter loads, thus they’re chambered for either 2 3/4” or 3” shells and whichever the chambering is for equated pretty much to what you can shoot. There is a process for drilling/tapping a 3” gun to cycle lite 2 3/4 lite loads though, and most any decent gunsmith can do this. Later models have the Mobil-Choke interchangeable system but early guns were fixed choke. Finally, parts are getting a little harder to come by but there are still good options - Midwest Gun Works for one.

Great guns overall that are beautiful to look at. An A303 12 gauge with 30”, Mobil-Choke barrel is still the choice of a lot of trap shooters because they’re so well balanced. I’d hate to carry one on a long walking hunt with anything over a 26” barrel due to weight, but at worst you’d be getting good, dependable shooters worth $4-500.

I had a rough looking, but dependable A303 12 gauge with 30” barrel, fixed full choke, with 3” chamber and modified gas system that I never had any issues with, cycled well with lighter shells that I enjoyed shooting. I traded it and some cash for a high condition A303 20 gauge that is one of the best looking guns I currently own. Shoots like a dream in the limited use I’ve given it so far and compliments my 391 12 gauge nicely.

Very smooth and dependable guns. A few tournament guys will swear it’s one of the smoothest actions ever made

I believe Browning copied the 303 when it made their B80. I know the barrels were interchangeable.

Thought the B80 was a copy of the Pintail which is an inertia model

B-80 is a direct copy of the beretta 303.

I own the browning, and it’s a great gun but as others have said what you see is what you get on the chambering. The barrels are relatively easy to come by and take seconds to swap. It was not made with shooting low brass 2 3/4 in mind, and even a barrel made for 2 3/4 will struggle with skeet/dove loads if the gas ports aren’t spotless. Excellent gun otherwise.