matgriff Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 Hi, I just acquired a very nice Beretta A301, my first semi-auto... the guy I got it off said it cycles any cartridges, but I've read that some can be fussy with cartridges ? I currently use Llyalvale 67mm fibres in my Winchester 101 XTR, both 28g 7.5's and 30g 6's and Ely select 28g 7.5's Would I be better getting 70mm cartridges in the future for compatibility with both guns, or will this older Beretta be fine with what I already use ? Maybe someone else who has this gun could advise on what pretty much works reliably? Thanks Mat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 I know a few people who wont shoot express in their beretta semi autos. No experience of this though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 Just use the gun with the cartridges you normally use. You'll soon know if there is a problem. I don't think you will have any issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 As Motty says, start off with what you know, then work on from there if they present a problem, look to change one element at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Continental Shooter Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 I have 2 collections of Beretta 300 series, one in italy (with about 9 guns-barrels combinations) and on in UK with 3 guns and 5 barrels I shoot anything from 65mm to 76mm ... all in their right chambers (70 mm or 76 mm) with no issues. Couple of points i want to clarify: - you might have issues shooting 65mm in a 76 mm barrel, this is becuase the pressure tends to drop a bit and the powder won't generate sufficient gases - i reload all my cartridges so, i teend to prefer slightly higher pressures which might help. I had issues with my 76mm chambered barrell using gamebores 67 mm 25 g shots .... but i put that down as my errro; shooting 28 g i had no issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 I use a 303 auto, I use most things through it really, the only cartridges that I have had the OCCASIONAL jam with, have been Hull Comp X. I bought them to use in my O/U and had a couple of boxes in my bag. The gun will also cycle 24 gram Cheddites without a hitch. I used the Comp X's by putting a Superfast in the chamber and the Comp X in the magazine, no problems then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigeon Shredder. Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 I know a few people who wont shoot express in their beretta semi autos. No experience of this though. I only use Express Sporting in my SX3 and when out at clays the other week my mate a Beretta semi auto owner ran out of shells, gave him 10 of mine and he hit a 10-10. He will not be shooting Express Sporting again, not at my expense anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 I use a 303 auto, I use most things through it really, the only cartridges that I have had the OCCASIONAL jam with, have been Hull Comp X. I bought them to use in my O/U and had a couple of boxes in my bag. The gun will also cycle 24 gram Cheddites without a hitch. I used the Comp X's by putting a Superfast in the chamber and the Comp X in the magazine, no problems then. Comp X is a nice soft shooting shell but not that great in some semi auto's in my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 I must say that the 390 I use hasn't failed with any cartridges that I've put through it or any combination. The 300 series are largely the same throughout. A light 21g comp x is almost recoil free so may not cycle. I don't think I've tried them. Anything 67mm and above has gone through without issue. In the 6 plus years I've had it I can honestly say it's jammed less than 5 times and thats due to me being lazy and not cleaning it when I should. A wipe with an oily cloth goes a very long way. Use whatever carts you have and you'll find out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stimo22 Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 I had a 301 for years and it ran thousands of cartridges though it and never really had any problems, just make sure that the valve is clean and the vent hole in the barrel is kept carbon free and this will prove to be a well loved gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 I sold a 391 earlier this year and that cycled EVERYTHING I put through it, including 21 grams and subsonics, shame it was such a pain to clean, compared to the 303. That is why it went. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sishyplops Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 My 300's will do pretty much anything even 24g but I generally feed them 70mm 28g +, my 20guage 303 won't cycle 21gr but 24gr are fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 (edited) It's a few years since I shot an auto on a regular basis. Used many makes of shells, but the common denominator for any jamming / misfire was the length of the brass. Low brass - potential misfire - whereas higher brass - no jams / misfires. Edited October 7, 2017 by Gordon R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matgriff Posted October 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 OK thanks for the good info :-) I looked at the Lyalvale carts I had been using in my Winchester O/U, they are 30G#6 65mm and are noticably smaller than the 70mm ones. The 28G#7.5's I have are 70 mm I just bought some Pigeon Power 29G#6 70mm for the Beretta, I'll just use the short ones in the Winchester until they're used up, then just stick to 70mm as both guns can use them. Mat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 Good plan Mat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 It's a few years since I shot an auto on a regular basis. Used many makes of shells, but the common denominator for any jamming / misfire was the length of the brass. Low brass - potential misfire - whereas higher brass - no jams / misfires. I've heard a few reports of the older auto's stripping off the brass which causes a jam but not with the likes of the A400, A350. I have no idea why this might be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sishyplops Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 I don't have issues with brass length just cart length, 65mm is nearly always problematic , 70mm has the very occasional issue but that's about it on 28g, 30g plus never had a jam ever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 (edited) I don't have issues with brass length just cart length, 65mm is nearly always problematic , 70mm has the very occasional issue but that's about it on 28g, 30g plus never had a jam ever Agree👍👍 Edited October 7, 2017 by Whitebridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 in my semi i use 70m. no jams at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted October 8, 2017 Report Share Posted October 8, 2017 I don't have issues with brass length just cart length, 65mm is nearly always problematic , 70mm has the very occasional issue but that's about it on 28g, 30g plus never had a jam ever That`s what I found with my A303. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matgriff Posted October 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2017 70mm it is then :-) Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted October 9, 2017 Report Share Posted October 9, 2017 Had a 303 and only had odd issues if I tried something very light in it. My 371 has been fine with everything so far. Simply try the odd box before you invest in 1000's of anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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