The Blue Book says the 300 and 301 were made 1977-82. I believe that most of that time it was the 300, with the 301 being made briefly near the end of that period. But I could be wrong - it has happened before.

It is easy to find out what year your gun was made. See http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=73492

 

Thanks!

I tried to date the gun from the chart but nothing is making sense. On the bottom of the receiver. I found stampings which appear to read XX7 and another right above which reads PSF

The Blue Book says the 300 and 301 were made 1977-82. I believe that most of that time it was the 300, with the 301 being made briefly near the end of that period. But I could be wrong - it has happened before.

It is easy to find out what year your gun was made. See http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=73492

 

That is very strange. XX7 is the same thing as XXVII, which is 1971, but in 1971 they had just started making the AL-1. Are you sure this gun really is an A-300? The AL-1 and A-300 are very similar.

PSF is a proof mark that appears on all of them.

 

Yes it is an A300. It is stamped "Mod A300 - Cal 12"

That is very strange. XX7 is the same thing as XXVII, which is 1971, but in 1971 they had just started making the AL-1. Are you sure this gun really is an A-300? The AL-1 and A-300 are very similar.

PSF is a proof mark that appears on all of them.

 

It is stamped "Mod A300 - Cal 12"

Where does that stamp appear - on the barrel or on the receiver?

You could have an AL-1 with an A-300 barrel on it. The barrels are fully interchangeable (AL-1, 2, 300, 301, 302, 303 and Browning B-80), and the factory makes no attempt to match the serial numbers. It is common to swap barrels - I have done it on 391's several times.

Look for another date code on the barrel. I don't know how they marked A-300 barrels, but I know the 391 has date codes on both the barrel and the receiver.

 

The A-300 is stamped on the bottom of the receiver. The barrel is also stamped XX7. The gun was my grandfathers. I have the original box and manual. It is for sure an A-300.

It is stamped "Mod A300 - Cal 12"

Where does that stamp appear - on the barrel or on the receiver?

You could have an AL-1 with an A-300 barrel on it. The barrels are fully interchangeable (AL-1, 2, 300, 301, 302, 303 and Browning B-80), and the factory makes no attempt to match the serial numbers. It is common to swap barrels - I have done it on 391's several times.

Look for another date code on the barrel. I don't know how they marked A-300 barrels, but I know the 391 has date codes on both the barrel and the receiver.

 

This is very interesting - and confusing.

I have done a little research in several books, and I think I am beginning to understand. The US importers of Berettas (Galef from 1952 until the early 60's, then Garcia until it went bankrupt in 1976, and later Beretta USA) did not always use the same model names that Beretta (Italy) did. When R.L. Wilson wrote "The World of Beretta", he got most of his data from the parent company in Italy, so he uses the Beretta nomenclature, not the importers' nomenclature.

Wilson says the earliest Beretta gas-operated semiautomatic shotguns were the models 60 and 61, apparently named for the years they were introduced. The 1961 Gun Digest does not use those model numbers, but describes the Beretta semi's imported by Galef as the Silver Lark, Gold Lark, and Ruby Lark (the differences were in the wood quality, vent rib, etc).

Wilson says Beretta introduced the A-300 in 1965, and continued to produce it through about 1979. However, the 1972 Shooter's Bible identifies the Beretta imported by Garcia as the AL-1. The Blue Book dates the AL-1 to 1971-73, AL-2 1973-75, and AL-3 1975-76. The BB describes the 300 and 301 as a "continuation of the AL-3 series" and dates them 1977-82.

Wilson also gives some confusing dates for the A-301 and A-302. It seems that some models were described in catalogs before they actually went into production, others were produced before their descriptions appeared in catalogs, and ome were sold in different countries under different model names.

Your gun clearly was made in 1971. At that time Beretta (Italy) was calling the gun an A-300, but the importer (Garcia) was calling it an AL-1. I would be interested in knowing whether the original box and manual appear to have been printed in Italy or the US (I would guess in Italy), and whether they have the Garcia name on them as well as Beretta's.

This is the second case I have seen of different model names being used in the US from those used elsewhere. I have a Beretta single-shot 20 gauge made in 1958 that is stamped on the receiver "Vittoria", but was sold in the US (by Galef) as the Beretta Companion. The 1961 Gun digest identifies it as Companion. Later, after Beretta took the importation rights away from Galef and gave them to Garcia, Galef imported and sold a gun called the Galef Companion, which was a copy of the Beretta Vittoria (Companion).

 

Thanks for all of your help!

The box labels and the manual were printed in Italy. I do not see Garcia printed on either of them. The scan at this address is of my manual:

http://www.stevespages.com/pdf/beretta_a300.pdf

This is very interesting - and confusing.

I have done a little research in several books, and I think I am beginning to understand. The US importers of Berettas (Galef from 1952 until the early 60's, then Garcia until it went bankrupt in 1976, and later Beretta USA) did not always use the same model names that Beretta (Italy) did. When R.L. Wilson wrote "The World of Beretta", he got most of his data from the parent company in Italy, so he uses the Beretta nomenclature, not the importers' nomenclature.

Wilson says the earliest Beretta gas-operated semiautomatic shotguns were the models 60 and 61, apparently named for the years they were introduced. The 1961 Gun Digest does not use those model numbers, but describes the Beretta semi's imported by Galef as the Silver Lark, Gold Lark, and Ruby Lark (the differences were in the wood quality, vent rib, etc).

Wilson says Beretta introduced the A-300 in 1965, and continued to produce it through about 1979. However, the 1972 Shooter's Bible identifies the Beretta imported by Garcia as the AL-1. The Blue Book dates the AL-1 to 1971-73, AL-2 1973-75, and AL-3 1975-76. The BB describes the 300 and 301 as a "continuation of the AL-3 series" and dates them 1977-82.

Wilson also gives some confusing dates for the A-301 and A-302. It seems that some models were described in catalogs before they actually went into production, others were produced before their descriptions appeared in catalogs, and ome were sold in different countries under different model names.

Your gun clearly was made in 1971. At that time Beretta (Italy) was calling the gun an A-300, but the importer (Garcia) was calling it an AL-1. I would be interested in knowing whether the original box and manual appear to have been printed in Italy or the US (I would guess in Italy), and whether they have the Garcia name on them as well as Beretta's.

This is the second case I have seen of different model names being used in the US from those used elsewhere. I have a Beretta single-shot 20 gauge made in 1958 that is stamped on the receiver "Vittoria", but was sold in the US (by Galef) as the Beretta Companion. The 1961 Gun digest identifies it as Companion. Later, after Beretta took the importation rights away from Galef and gave them to Garcia, Galef imported and sold a gun called the Galef Companion, which was a copy of the Beretta Vittoria (Companion).

 

Bringing up a really old topic to offer some info. I have the exact same gun with almost the same markings, and it was given to me by my grandfather. I could not figure out why it was not an AL-1. So, after some digging, it turns out that my uncle bought this gun in Italy while in the Army, stationed in Europe. He had it shipped back to the US as a gift for my grandfather in 1971. So, that is why mine is marked as an A300 and made in 1970. Hope this helps.

 

So is the model 300 as good a shooter as the AL2?

 

So is the model 300 as good a shooter as the AL2?

If we are talking about the original A300, yes. The new A300 Outlander, introduced in the US in mid-2012, is a different gun. I like them both.

The original A300 from the 1960-70's was mechanically the same as the AL-2, and how "well" they shoot depends on options like barrel length, ribs, etc.

The new A300 Outlander has a receiver like the 390/391/3901 series, and a gas system like the new A400. Actually, all the 3xx series have a lot of similarities, and many of the parts interchange.

BTW, I have learned a lot about the A3xx series since this thread was started in 2006, so don't pay a lot of attention to the dates I gave back then.

 

Seamus my AL-2 has the XX7 on receiver and barrel just FYI. I saw your post regarding the B-80 trigger solving the magazine release issue. I have been dealing with this since 1972 (20 gauge) at 12 and bought a 12 gauge new in box at a gun show in 1993! I am now using a 302 my father passed to me and a 303 I purchased used just to get past the magazine release issue. I turn the AL2 sideways and grab the stock with my left hand and hold the button with my thumb while loading. I also like having the 302 capability to keep the bolt open while leaving 2 shells in the magazine while hunting so I can unload one shell between hunts.

Anyway I don't know that I can solve both issues but would like to confirm which trigger assemblies I could install in my AL-2 to solve the magazine release issue? Also want to confirm if this is the correct B-80 trigger from MGW? http://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgw ... 6/PO405580

Thank you for all the time you put in to educate all of us!

 

I'm not sure what "magazine release issue" you are referring to. I don't recall that specific post. However, it should not be necessary to buy a new trigger group to solve the issue. It might be cheaper to send the gun to Cole Gunsmithing's Maine location and let Jim Bellegarde take a look at it. Call them before you send it.

Yes, that Browning B-80 trigger group was made by Beretta and will work in the Beretta A300 (original A300, not Outlander), AL-1, AL-2, A301, A302, A303, A304 (ever heard of that one before?), A390, A391, A3901, Breda Altair (original Italian-made Altair) and Singer-Nikko Gas Gun. It does not require holding the bolt release button while loading, no matter which model it is used in.

 

Yes I am tired of holding the bolt release button while loading! I did speak with Jim Bellegarde at Cole's and he was unfamiliar as to how he could solve the issue or that the B-80 trigger could resolve it. He said "that's good information" regarding the B80 trigger. I have located another B-80 trigger group but it has a different part number than the PO405580 mentioned above. It's PO13392-C and the seller said it is a factory part number. At the same time he said Browning only used one trigger group for the duration of production. I can save $50 on the PO13392-C but I thought I would run it by you first to see if you can clarify if one or both are options here?

I'm also curious if a 303 or other Beretta trigger will do the trick as well?

Thanks,

 

I think PO13392 is only the "trigger guard" (actually more than the guard - it is the frame that holds all the little parts together) and PO405580 is the complete group. That's why one is cheaper than the other. MGW's price is a pretty good one. I have bought a couple of those myself, and used one of them on an AL-2.

MGW has a B-80 service manual (viewable free on line) that includes a parts schematic http://midwestgunworks.com/field_servic ... 80_fsm.pdf

The trigger groups from all the models listed above are fully interchangeable, but as you know the earlier ones need to hold the button down when loading. The A303 and B-80 were the first that did not require that. So what you want is A303 or B-80.

BTW, I made an omission in the list of models above (senior moment). The trigger group of the A302 (that is A302, not AL-2) and a few early A303s will not interchange with the others, because they had a strange and unpopular lever magazine cutoff on the side of the receiver. MOST of the small parts within the trigger group are interchangeable.

 

Maybe just get a new or used Beretta SA that functions and keep your old gun for sentimental reasons and use occasionally.

 

Maybe just get a new or used Beretta SA that functions and keep your old gun for sentimental reasons and use occasionally.

I bought the B-80 trigger and plan to install it. I am really partial to the AL-2. My father and I had matching AL-2's back in 1972. He had a 12 and I had a 20. I shot the 20 until 1993 when I bought an AL-2 12 unfired at a gun show. I had Briley thread the barrel and bought Briley chokes. It is in great shape. I can't believe it's been 23 years! I especially like the engraving.

Now with this trigger I will not have to push the dang button since 1972! Love it! (beside shooting my dad's 302).

 

So the old A300 how is the recoil? I was told that it has hardly no recoil also due to cut condensate (I have absolutely no idea what that is). Due to jaw surgery I am looking for a semi-auto shotgun with little recoil and stumbled upon this
https://jagtimportlageret.dk/menu/422-b ... atic.html#

Thank you

 

So the old A300 how is the recoil? I was told that it has hardly no recoil also due to cut condensate (I have absolutely no idea what that is). Due to jaw surgery I am looking for a semi-auto shotgun with little recoil and stumbled upon this
https://jagtimportlageret.dk/menu/422-b ... atic.html#

Thank you

Least felt recoil to me is a Beretta A-400 with the KickOff.
Gas operated and the KO reduces it even more.
I have 10 A-400s with # 11 on the way.
The KO makes a HUGH difference in felt recoil.