Beretta

ATRADITION OF EXCELLENCE SINCE 1526

serie А 303

Istruzioni per Puso

Instructions for operation
Mode d'emploi
 CONTENTS
Illustrations on pages 5, 34, 35, 36. Page

DESCRIPTION 16

Caution: read this manual carefully before handling and loading the gun. a. Packing 17

WARNING: Always ensure that the safety is fully engaged until ready to fire. Asa- b. Main component parts 17
fety is fully engaged only when the safety "off" red marking (ring) is completely
covered and when the safety can move no further into the safe position.
C. Assembly 18

The commandments of gun safety d. Loading 18

1) Treat every gun with respect and caution.
2) Keep your eyes on the muzzle. Keep the safety on until ready to shoot.
e. Use ofthe cut-off (optional device) 18
3) Unload guns when not in use; keep the actions open.
4) Be sure the barrel is clear of obstructions.
f. Unloading 19
5) Be certain of the target at which you are going to fire. Know how to recognise
the game you are hunting. g. Disassembly 19
6) Never shoot at a flat surface or water.
7) Never climb a tree or fence or jump a ditch with a loaded gun. Don't take a gun h. Cleaning and Oiling 20
by the barrel.
8) Never point a gun at anything you don't want to shoot. Avoid all horseplay i. |Magazine capacity 21
while handling a gun.
9) Store guns and ammunition separately, beyond the reach of children. Guns |l. | Reassembly 22
should always be unloaded.
10) Avoid alcoholic beverages before or during shooting.
m. Mobilchokes* 22

Shooting glasses and earplugs: shooting glasses are a must; chances of gas, n. Drop Adjustement 23
gunpowder and dirt particle blow-back are remote but to exist. Earplugs reduce
the chance of temporary or permanent loss of hearing when shooting.

Warning
As the interchangeable barrel of the automatic has a different serial number to that
stamped on the receiver, it may be necessary, when referring to the gun, to specify
also the serial number of the barrel/s.

15
DESCRIPTION a. Packing
The Beretta A 303 gas-operated automatic shotgun introduces some engineering The Beretta series A 303 automatic shotguns are shipped from the factory with
barrel taken down from the stock receiver fore-end assembly.
and functional novelties:
— The cut-off push button (optional device) is now placed in the lower part of the
fore-end thus allowing an easier insertion and disconnection. b. Main components parts
— The interchangeable choke (A 303 Mobilchoke" version) is now screwed directly Before proceeding with the assembly of the barrel to the stock receiver fore-
inside the barrel: the traditional line of the gun is not altered and the choke to end assembly, study carefully illustrations 1 and 2 in which the main
tube alignment is remarkably accurate. components parts are indicated and check them with the following
nomenclature:
— The newly designed receiver shows a simple decoration and a new shape: the
lower corners are now chamfered to allow an easier movement of index finger A. RECEIVER
towards the trigger. The trigger guard is enlarged for a better look and a more A1. Trigger AT. Feeding port
practical winter use of the gun. A2. Safety button А8. Breech bolt
— Stock and fore-end have been redesigned. A3. Trigger plate retaining pin A9. Cocking handle
The new A 303 automatic maintains all the basic mechanical characteristics of the А4. Cartridge latch button A10. Extractor
A 302 model and the interchangeability of barrels with those of the previous AS. Carrier A11. Ejection port
models. A6. Carrier stop push button А12. Connecting rod
The features and the advantages which have made the Beretta automatics famous
B. BARREL
all over the world are:
B1. Gas cylinder B3. Barrel extension
e The possibility of utilizing Standard chamber (2 3/4 in.) barrels or Magnum
B2. Piston
chamber (3 in.) barrels on the same receiver.
e Rapidly interchangeable barrels to allow a large variety of barrel lenghts and C. STOCK
chokes. D. FORE-END
e The possibility of firing cartridges which range from minimum pressures up to D1. Cut-off push button (optional device)
700 kg/cm?, without any kind of adjustement.
E. MAGAZINE TUBE
e The very high accuracy and stability during fire ensured by a fixed barrel.

e Extremely low recoil. F. MAGAZINE TUBE CAP WITH SHAFT

e Absence of vibration during firing due to the presence of the recoil spring inside G. FORE-END CAP (with swivel)
the stock.
H. OPERATING ROD WITH SLEEVE
e Reliable and safe cocking and firing mechanism.
N.B.: The barrel receiver for-end assembly is packed with the breech bolt A8
e A special locking mechanism to ensure that the gun can fire only with the bolt
closed and hammer uncocked.
completely engaged in the barrel.
— If the breech-bolt is closed check the hammer is uncocked by pulling the trigger
e High durability of all components in contact with combustion gasses being made
A1.
of either stainless or special steel.
— If, for any reason, the breech-bolt is open, close it operating as follows:
e Easily adjustable stock drop.
Holding the cocking handle A9 with the index or middle finger of the left hand,
e Easy field stripping for cleaning and inspection.
press the cartridge latch button A4 and allow the breech-bolt to slide forward
e Easy loading and unloading of magazine. slowly until it stops (ill. 20).

16 17
c. Assembly et. Put safety on SAFE position (see point d2).
c1. Unscrew (anticlockwise) and take off the fore-end cap G from the stock Holding the gun with the left hand, pull completely back the breech bolt
receiver fore-end assembly (ill. 3). operating on the cocking handle with the index finger of the right hand.
Then, keeping pressed the cut-off push button (push on the PB marked
c2. Slide fore-end D forward off magazine tube (ill. 4). part) with the index finger of the left hand, shortly release the breech bolt
c3. Slide piston B2 forward off magazine tube cap shaft (ill. 5). until it stops in the open position and remove finger from the cut-off.
During the rearward movement of the breech bolt the chambered and
c4. Insert piston into gas cylinder B1 (ill. 6). unfired shell is extracted and ejected through the ejection port (ill. 16).
c5. Pull the cocking handle A9 rearward to lock the breech bolt open (ill. 7). Insert another shell (of your choice) into the chamber.
c6. Insert barrel extension B3 into the receiver A, holding the barrel and gas Keeping fingers away from the ejection port, push the cut-off button (push
cylinder with the right hand to prevent dropping the piston. During this on the front hollow part) in order to disinsert the cut-off itself and let the
operation take care that the magazine tube cap shaft F, enters the piston breech bolt close rapidly (ill. 17).
hole (ill. 8). The gun is now ready for use. In order to fire put the safety off.
C7. Force the barrel into the receiver as far as it will go (ill. 9). N.B.: If the shotgun is to function properly, it is recommended that the cut-
off is used as described above. In particular it must be remembered that
c8. Assemble fore-end over gas cylinder and magazine tube E (ill. 10). the breech bolt - when held open by the cut-off - can be closed only
c9. Screw the for-end cap clockwise onto the magazine tube cap shaft which operating on the cut-off lever itself.
protrudes at the front end of the fore-end. Make sure it is screwed up
tight. Unloading (gun supplied with cut-off)
fi. Follow the instructions given in points el, е2, e4.
с10. Close the breech bolt by pushing the cartridge latch button A4, being
careful not to get fingers caught in the ejection port A11 (ill. 11). f2. Whilst pushing in the carrier and pressing in at the same time the
cartridge latch button in the direction of the shotgun's stock, allow the
11. Whilst always taking care where the gun is pointing, even if unloaded, shells to come gently out of the magazine (ill. 18).
holding the breech bolt open about one centimetre, pull the trigger to
f3. Put safety off and operate as described in point c11.
uncock the hammer (ill. 12). This makes for maximum safety by means of
a visible check of the cartridge chamber to see if it is empty (ill. 12). (gun without cut-off device)
f4. Put safety on SAFE position (see point d2)
Loading (breech bolt closed)
f5. Whilst always taking care where the gun is pointing, even if unloaded, pull
di. Pull back cocking handle (see point c5). back the breech bolt in order to extract the unfired shell from the
d2. Push safety button A2 on SAFE position so that red marking disappears chamber and eject it through the ejection port.
(which, when visible, indicates that the gun is ready to fire) (ill. 13). Remember that the breech bolt does not remain locked in the open
N.B.: Gun goes on safety only when the hammer is cocked. ‚position. Quickly release the cocking handle and let the breech bolt close
rapidly.
d3. Through the ejection port insert the first shell into the chamber (ill. 14).
f6. Repeat operation described at point f2 (fig. 18).
d4. Close the breech bolt (see point c10). f7. Make sure magazine tube is empty and follow operation described at
d5. Raising the carrier A5 with the shell itself, insert a further two shells into point c11 with safety off.
the magazine through the feeding port A7 until they snap on the shell
latch (ill. 15). Disassembly
BARREL
d6. The shotgun is now ready for use. In order to fire put safety off.
gi. Make sure that the gun is unloaded (chamber empty, magazine tube
Use of the cut-off (loaded shotgun with chambered shell) empty). If it is not unloaded, unload the gun following the instructions
The cut-off D1 makes it possible to lock the breech bolt open to replace the given in points fi, #2, #3, when the gun is supplied with the cut-off optional
chambered shell while interrupting at the same time the shell feed from the device. If weapon is not supplied with the cut-off device, follow
magazine. instructions given in points f4, f5, f6, f7.

19
92. Pull back the breech bolt (see point c5). quite long time, it is necessary to clean carefully the above mentioned parts,
spraying them liberally with Beretta detergent or an equivalent.
93. Put the safety on (see point d2).
— Give the detergent a few minutes to take effect, remove then the detergent
g4. Unscrew (anticlockwise) and remove the fore-end cap.
and all the combustion gas residues with a phosphorous bronze brush and
g5. Slide the fore-end forward off magazine tube. with a cloth soaked with detergent.
96. Grasping the barrel at the height of the gas cylinder, hold the piston — Dry the parts carefully with a soft cloth.
inside the gas cylinder with the right thumb to prevent dropping it; slide
barrel assembly forward off stock-receiver-fore-end assembly (ill. 19). N.B.: There is no need to oil these parts.

BREECH BOLT
BREECH BOLT
— Every 500/800 shots clean the component parts carefully with a small brush
g7. Holding the cocking handle with the index or middle finger of the left
and Beretta detergent or an equivalent.
hand, press the cartridge latch button and allow the breech bolt to slide
slowly to a rest (ill. 20). — Dry carefully with a soft cloth and lightly oil the parts with Beretta oil or an
equivalent.
98. Remove the cocking handle with a jerk (ill. 21).
TRIGGER PLATE
99. Hold the stock receiver assembly on a flat surface, with the feeding port
facing upward, with the left hand; with the right hand grasp the operating — Follow instructions as given for the breech bolt.
rod H and slide it forward off the magazine tube to detach the breech bolt INSIDE OF RECEIVER
assembly from the receiver (ill. 22). — Follow the same instructions as given for cleaning the breech bolt.
g10. The breech bolt assembly no longer held by the action bar will divide into — Lightly oil the bolt slideways with Beretta oil or an equivalent.
its two main components (ill. 23).
OUTSIDE OF MAGAZINE TUBE
— breech bolt slide with connecting rod and pin — Clean using Beretta detergent or an equivalent and soft cloth.
— breech bolt assembly, locking block, firing pin extractor. — Lightly oil the tube with Beretta oil or an equivalent.
TRIGGER PLATE
Magazine capacity
g11. Press in carrier stop push-button A6 (ill. 24).
The capacity of the A303 magazine tube (which hold three shells) is limited, in
912. Detach the trigger plate retaining pin АЗ by pressing with the point of a observance of the hunting regulations in force both in Italy and other countries,
drift or some other pointed object (ill. 25). to two shells by a shortening device called a reducer. This reducer limits the
913. Keeping the cartridge latch button pressed, slide the trigger plate forward use of the A303 to three shells (two in the magazine and one in the chamber).
and downwards (ill. 26). Beretta includes the reducer in the A303 directly in the factory.
In some areas only hunting with shotguns with a capacity of two shells is
It is not advisable to carry out any further disassembly of the shotgun. If
any should be necessary it should be entrusted to a competent
permitted. To be able to use the A303 in such areas it is necessary to limit the
gunsmith. capacity of the magazine tube to just one shell. Such an operation should only
be carried out by a competent gunsmith.
Cleaning and oiling For use in countries where hunting with shotguns with a capacity of more than
BARREL three shells is permitted, it is possible to increase the magazine tube capacity
to three shells. Again this operation should be entrusted to a competent
— After some use carefully clean the inside of the barrel by passing a soft cloth
(flannel) through the barrel in order to remove combustion residues. gunsmith.
To reduce the capacity of the magazine tube:
— Pass another clean soft cloth through the barrel.
it. Unscrew (anticlockwise) the magazine tube cap with its shaft, at first
— Oil it lightly by passing a clean soft cloth soaked with Beretta oil or an
keeping pressed in with a sharp point the head of the locking spring of the
equivalent through the barrel.
cap itself (ill. 27).
GAS CYLINDER - PISTON WITH BUSH - MAGAZINE TUBE CAP SHAFT N.B.: Pay attention with the magazine spring which will be compressed (it
— At the end of the hunting season and always before storing the gun for a rests against the reducer, coloured yellow).

20 21
 i2. Insert the second reducer into the first (the solid part into the hollow part)
m3. Should, after long use, the internal screw thread need to be cleaned,
(ill. 28).
carefully screw inside the barrel the threaded head of the multiple
13. Screw (clockwise) the magazine tube cap onto the magazine tube, making spanner supplied, paying special attention not to damage the barrel
sure that the head of the locking spring is inserted into the right hole, that thread.
is, blocking the cap.
má. Fit the desired choke in the barrel, checking it is perfectly clean.
In order to increase the capacity of the magazine to three shells, simply
take out the reducer/s. m5. Screw on clockwise the choke and tighten it to the end with the multiple
spanner.
Reassembly N.B.: Check while hunting wheter the choke has in any way become
loose. Should this happen, the choke must be tightened to the end again.
TRIGGER PLATE
Be sure, before operating that barrel chamber and magazine are empty.
11. Carry out in reverse order the instructions given in point g13, making sure
that the hammer is cocked and the carrier stop push-button is pressed in. WARNING: Remember that the use of the barrel without choke inserted is
not allowed. Should this happen, the internal screw thread could be
I2. Insert the trigger plate retaining pin taking care that the hole of the trigger
damaged.
plate is perfectly aligned with that of the receiver.
BREECH BOLT
n. Drop adjustment
13. Reassemble the breech bolt assembly by fixing the breech bolt slide with The Beretta automatic is packed with drops varying from 45 to 65 mm.,
connecting rod to the breech bolt body (ill. 29).
depending on models and circumstances. To adjust the drop there are special
14. Insert the rear of the operating rod into its slot on the breech bolt (ill. 30). metal spacers numbered according to the drop desired, and are used as
I5. Press in the carrier stop push-button (if not already pressed). indicated in the following diagram and as per ill. 35.
16. Holding the receiver on a flat surface with the ejection port facing upwards,
slide the operating rod sleeve onto the magazine tube and partially insert DROP mm.
the breech bolt assembly into the receiver (ill. 31). DROP ADJUSTMENT
45 50 55 60 65
17. Holding the stock-receiver assembly absolutely vertical, slide the operating
rod sleeve downwards compressing the recoil spring, until the breech bolt 1. Remove mm. 1 0,5 STAND) 0,5 1
remains fixed in an open position (ill. 32). 2. Adjust in B DROP C
N.B.: If the operation, described in point I7, is to be carried out with ease
the head of the breech bolt connecting rod must slide into its recoil spring 3. Fit the required metal spacer into the butt.
guide slot. This will occur only if the rod is exactly coaxial to the breech
bolt assembly and centered properly in the cocking handle slideway.
18. Insert the cocking handle in the breech bolt.
BARREL
I9. Follow the instructions given in points c6, c7, c8, c9, c10, c11.

Mobilchokes” (A 303 Mobilchoke" )

REPLACEMENT, CLEANING
m1. Unscrew the choke anticlockwise, using the multiple spanner included (ill.
33).
m2. Clean perfectly the choke chamber. If necessary, use Beretta detergent
and a brush. Dry carefully with a soft cloth.

22 23
 NOTE
NOTES

Piega base
Standard drop 55 mm.
Pente standa

ine of sight
Ligne de mis
4 Piastrina
Metal spacer.
Entren

с Indicarione piega
б Number ofthe spacer
Indication de la pente.
35
STROZZATURE/CHOKES Le illustrazioni e descrizioni di questo opuscolo si intendono fornite a titolo indicativo. La Casa si riserva pertanto il
diritto di apportare ai suoi modelli, in qualsiasi momento e senza preavviso, quelle modifiche che ritenesse ш
migliorarli o per qualsiasi esigenza di di carattere costruttivo e commerciale.
The illustrations and descriptions given in this brochure are intended as a general guide only, and must not be taken
as binding. The Company, therefore, reserves the right to make, at any moment and without notice, any changes it
o LA EA! thinks necessary to improve ¡ts models or to meet any requirements о! manufacturing or commercial nature.
000 M 1/2 Les illustrations et les descriptions contenues dans ce prospectus ne sont données qu'à titre indicatif. La Maison se
0000 Ic 1/4 reserve le droit de modifier, à tout moment et sans préavis, ses modeles pour les ameliorer ou pour n'importe quelle
C0000 С 0/0 exigence de caractere constructif et commercial.
L S (Skeet) 5 SK
SB (Skeet Beretta) Beretta Pubblicità - cod. 60646 Printed in Italy
5/95 (5) batan - Gardone V.T.

36
 ATRADITION OF EXCELLENCE SINCE 1526

Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A.

Via Pietro Beretta, 18 - 25063 GARDONE VAL TROMPIA (Brescia) Italia
Tel. (030) 8341.1 - Telex 301523 PB BS I - Fax (030) 8341.421