Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Beretta 303 20 gauge 3"chambers

I have a bud that hunts everything with a 303. Shoots all 2 3/4 and 3 inch with zero issue.

It depends on the shells used and the gun itself. Gas pressure and volume need to be high enough and long enough duration at the gas port for the action to work properly. That can be dependent on the individual gun as recoil spring tension can vary due to tolerances, use, and lube. Other factors can be slight differences in the gas port diameter (new vs old bit) amount/type of lube used and where applied, and amount/type of grit in the action whether from not cleaning or debris from shells or environmental factors. Assuming it is a 12 ga here is my limited experience with it.

Using 2 3/4" magnum and most high velocity 1 1/4 oz "hunting" loads should be no problem as the gas pressure and volume at the port should be adequate. Standard velocity (~1200 fps) have been nearly as reliable but I have seen some hiccups with some loads if the gun was not spotlessly clean, not correctly lubed, using newer recoil spring, and especially in temps under freezing. Loads using Blue Dot, HS-7, or other "dirty" burning powder were the least reliable, especially in cooler temps.

Handicap type target loads (1 1/8 oz , 1250+ fps) worked well as did most heavy trap (1200 fps) loads. Light trap (1145 fps or less) had some problems as gas pressure/volume was sometimes lower.

1 oz loads were mostly unreliable. The field loads of 1290 fps worked much of the time but it did vary. A weaker recoil spring, clean gun with proper lube, and a comparable powder and the gun worked well. If the powder was a bit dirty burning, the lube wore off or became gummy, or the recoil spring was new then these loads might act up by the end of a round. The field loads are manufactured with price in mind so they may work or not work depending on powder used in a particular lot. "Sporting clays" loads were not available back then but I would predict that if a particular brand/line of dedicated target ammo worked today the same one would work later as these are made to be consistent from lot to lot.

The 1 oz loads under 1200 fps were unreliable. They were great for trap as the need for a shell catcher was not necessary as the empties either did not eject or they barely made it out of the ejection port.

I saw these fairly regularly in the 80s and early 90s before the 390 came out. I've owned two 12 ga and one 20 ga mag model as the price was right but they did not stay long as other, newer models were more versatile.

As noted above, the problem with the 3" chambered barrels is they have smaller gas ports and most won't cycle cheap target loads. It's a quick fix to drill out the gas ports, or buy a spare 2 3/4" barrel.

The 303's are definitely worth buying as they are one of the smoothest and softest shooting semi auto shotguns ever built.