Beretta A303

[opto55]

Just tried a 1 oz and 1 1/8 loads and neither will cycle in the gun. The barrel is marked 2 3/4 and 3 inch. I want it to cycle 1 oz for sporting clays. Any ideas in a fix?
Thanks.
Beretta A303 28 inch barrel

 

[madtrapper143]

You would need a A303 Skeet or target barrel or a 2 3/4" only field barrel. DO NOT let anyone tell you to alter the ports in your magnum barrel. That will ruin the barrel for it's intended use. Also make sure the ports are clear and the piston is spotless. Check your return spring in the butt to make sure it is clean and not full of grease and weed seeds etc.

Darryl

 

[struff55]

Madtrapper nailed it end of discussion

 

[brybenn]

You need a 2.75" only barrel and it will cycle light loads. Mine runs flawlessly on 3/4oz loads. My 3" barrel won't cycle 3dram 1 1/8oz loads

 

[opto55]

Thanks. So where would I buy a field or skeet barrel?

 

[hunter5425]

Back in the 80's I had the same issue and a gunsmith who has long passed drilled out my ports and made simple inserts from 6-48 screws. One is drilled to 1/16" one is drilled using a #60 bit and one is undrilled. The 1/16 insert cycles 1-1 1/8 shells, the #60 insert cycles 1 1/4 - 1 3/8 shells and the undrilled one is for 3" shells. its a bit of a pain but the gun isn't torn apart by drilling the ports and using heavy shells . ( sorry for the out of focus screws but the macro wouldn't work)

 

[brybenn]

The original a301/302/303 barrels all interchange. They come up on the secondary market occasionally. Most are fixed choked while others have choke tubes

 

[Falconflyer]

As everyone else has stated, a barrel stamped 3 inch will not cycle the light loads and a barrel marked 2 3/4 is needed. I'd start my search by phoning Western Gun Parts in Edmonton.

 

[madtrapper143]

Hard lesson learned when buying used semi auto shotgun barrels. Have the shop or seller confirm that the factory ports have not been monkeyed with.

Darryl

 

[ScreaminSpeed]

There is a fix for lighter loads in your 303, you need a skeet spacer shim. It is installed between the rear forend plate and the receiver. I have one here somewhere...as I took it out when I gave my B80 to my uncle. Browning B80 parts are interchange .

 

[opto55]

Thanks.