Observations On The Beretta Shotgun Gas Operating System
BY Herschel Smith
2 years ago
These observations will be brief and to the point, and they apply to the A400 Xtreme Plus and 1301 (but I suspect to all their newest line of shotguns excluding over-unders).
The bolt carrier is very similar in design to that of an AR-15, with a firing pin held in place by a retaining pin, a cam, and the bolt carrier. There are differences of course including dimensions, the spring on the fire pin, and the lack of gas return to operate the bolt (the Beretta gas system follows the tube).
But it has the look and feel of maintaining and cleaning an AR-15 at times.
Either Beretta learned from Eugene Stoner’s design and liked it and decided that it would lead to increased cycling speed, or they wanted American buyers to feel more accustomed to the system (or both).
There are numerous YouTube videos on this design.
Their over-unders are absolutely beautiful, but very pricey.
On October 24, 2022 at 8:54 am, Drake said:
I really like my 1301. There is supposedly a piston in there. It is sure a lot easier to clean than an AR.
On October 25, 2022 at 9:47 am, Latigo Morgan said:
I know my A300 Outlander is a peach of a shotgun – the “poor man’s” Beretta at around $700.
I’ve used it for everything from sporting clays to upland hunting, turkey hunting, and duck hunting. Ammo has ranged from 2-3/4″ #8 to 3″ #5 steel and some buckshot in between.
The gun always does its part as long as I do mine.
I went to clean it after a shooting a case of Estate 7-1/2 at the sporting clays range and figured it would be pretty filthy. I was quite surprised to find it was relatively clean, requiring only a wipe down – nothing even remotely close to fouling inside the gun.
I’m hesitant to endorse a “self cleaning” firearm, but the Berettas really seem to be that.