Not sure but a friend of mine just got one and his is the same way. He thought maybe it fell out---guess not!

 

I went through the same quandary. As was your experience, Beretta could not explain why the gun was built that way but went so far as to send me some plugs that they thought were the right part. As you might expect, the Beretta plugs where too small to fill that hole. My theory is that the plugged holes are threaded for a optic mount and the open hole is a locating pin hole for the machining process. With those simple push in plastic plugs, they will not stay in place unless the hole is threaded. If my theory is correct, the big question is why in the heck would you put an optic on a sporting clays gun??? I guess if you trim your guns with smurf blue or lime green you can do any other dumb thing without need for excuses.

 

Based only on your picture i would hazard a guess that the plugs are protecting threaded holes and the tapered divot doesn’t need it. Besides i cant see how anything would stay. Probably for a proprietary mount of some sort. Off on return to zero sort of thing maybe.

 

Yeah, I wonder if the same basic receiver is also used in some sort of tactical gun, and there's an extra-duty optics rail for that application which includes a recoil lug stud to reduce the shear force on the mounting screws? And they drill and tap them all the same to make production more uniform?

I looked at the walnut Monte Carlo sporting at The Grand, and it had the full compliment of holes, too. Looked even more visually out of place on that gun, with its engraving all over the sides of the receiver.

 

Thanks everyone for the replies. I agree that Beretta probably machines all of the receivers the same, so they can be used for different models. And yes, the tapered blind hole is probably for a locating pin. But it still doesn’t explain why they couldn’t install a plug in that
hole on the sporting models. It would probably cost them an extra $ .50 at most. As K804fun
correctly stated, they do some dumb things.
Thanks again.

 

Thanks everyone for the replies. I agree that Beretta probably machines all of the receivers the same, so they can be used for different models. And yes, the tapered blind hole is probably for a locating pin. But it still doesn’t explain why they couldn’t install a plug in that
hole on the sporting models. It would probably cost them an extra $ .50 at most. As K804fun
correctly stated, they do some dumb things.
Thanks again.

Just curious but how would you keep a plug from coming out of that tapered hole exactly? Glue? Nothing for a plug to hold on to.

 

Yes, adhesive would work. Or some plugs are a press fit with fingers ( for lack of a better word) that expand out after inserting. The tapered hole on the receiver doesn’t have much of a taper.

 

I have 2 A300 Ultima camo field models, a 12 and a 20, and neither one has any holes in the top of the receiver. You would think they would be more useful on the field models than the sporting. Maybe they changed since mine were made. I bought one of them in September of this year though.

 

I have 2 A300 Ultima field models,a 12 and a 20, and neither one has any holes in the top of the receiver. You would think they would be more useful on the field models than the sporting. Maybe they changed since mine were made. I bought one of them in September of this year though.

Thanks for the information. There goes my assumption that Beretta machines all of the receivers the same! (You know what happens when you assume something!)

 

Me, I would just pass on a gun with that many holes in the rib. Looks way too "Bubba" for me. Italian factory Bubba?

 

Agreed, however I already purchased it. The
A300’s are made in the USA.

 

They may have started doing it on all of them after they came out with the snow goose version since it states it is optics ready. That gun has gone on sale since I bought mine. How long have all of you had your sporting models?

 

Your guess is as good as any! I got mine at the beginning of December. Thanks

 

The reason I own 3 classic Beretta 390s. I don’t want to put up with the Beretta of today’s strange ways. To me those “optic holes” are a distraction on a bird gun or clays gun.

 

I just purchased an A300 Ultima Sporter (Black) and noticed the same thing. The plug that is missing on mine is the 4th hole back from the barrel. I would think this would be something that could collect moisture, especially when using it on a rainy day. It doesn't make sense that Beretta would leave a hole open!

 

You are correct, it doesn’t make sense that they would leave a hole open!
On the positive side, the gun works great and I believe that you will like it.

 

Those of us who just wingshoot may not be aware that a huge number of people today buy a shotgun so they can mount an optic and/or laser, a bayonet lug and a door breaching choke tube to get ready for the zombie apocalypse. I’m guessing the bright green controls are attractive to these folks.

 

It's down to either Cole's or Briley for the trigger work. I was told by a gunsmith (Oshkosh, WI, The Firearms Specialists), who specialize in trigger work that "Unfortunately because of the design of the A300 trigger we are unable to perform work on it". For some reason, that's the case with every gunsmith in the region. They won't touch it.​

​

Also, anyone know the size of the unfilled hole in the top of the receiver. I may just venture to see if I can find anything. I have contacted Beretta, but who knows if they will even respond, and if they do, when?​

 

I’ve been looking hard at the 20ga A300 Ultima Sporting. However, with the bad trigger that only Cole’s and Briley will touch (probably for a couple hundred bucks), the stupid extra holes and the ugly green trim, not so sure now that I want one.

 

I hear you. I may try getting used to the trigger, but it is not what I would like. The hole in the top of the receiver just leaves me shaking my head. All the Beretta customer service representative would say is, "They're all made that way".
???????

 

Does anyone have any idea as to what size plug/screw is needed to plug an A300 receiver hole? Brownell's has kits available, but a person needs to know what size is needed. Beretta has been little to no help in this matter.

 

The hole is 3/16” dia.. I bought a plastic hole plug at the local hardware store, painted it black and inserted with some adhesive. Not perfect but it looks better than the open hole.

 

The hole is 3/16” dia.. I bought a plastic hole plug at the local hardware store, painted it black and inserted with some adhesive. Not perfect but it looks better than the open hole.
View attachment 152461

The hole is 3/16” dia.. I bought a plastic hole plug at the local hardware store, painted it black and inserted with some adhesive. Not perfect but it looks better than the open hole.
View attachment 152461

Thank you!

 

Yes the bright green is hideous.
Beretta did offer a few with black instead of the green. My 12 ga. Sporting is one of the black ones.

 

Yes the bright green is hideous.
Beretta did offer a few with black instead of the green. My 12 ga. Sporting is one of the black ones.

View attachment 152509

Your black sporting is very nice.
I painted the stock spacers and grip cap black, and bought a black Briley bolt release and weighted mag. cap. Now everything is black. No more leprechaun green!

 

"American factory "Bubba". They're built in Tennessee."

I should have known that. I live in Tennessee too. If you need something Bubba'd Tennessee is a good place to go to.