Looking to get my first semi-auto shotgun. From everything I read, the Beretta A300 is a nice value. Is there anything I should know about it? I'm just looking for a reliable gun with decent fit & finish. It will mostly be used for skeet shooting at the range, so I just need something reliable and lighter recoil is a plus.

I'm looking at the model with a wood stock. Does anyone know if it comes with a blued or stainless bolt? Pictures online seem to vary. If it comes blued, would there be any issue with me using some birchwood casey blue remover and leaving it raw?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Don't remember about the bolt, but if it were blued I would leave it that way.

They are excellent shotguns and if they fit me I would still own one. They just don't fit me.

Thanks for the reply. I'm not interested in a completely dull gun. This will be the nicest shotgun I own by a mile (the others I own are a 1940s pump 12, a 1980s Sears SxS 20, and an old Mossberg bolt 410), so I'd like it to look good. I figured removing the blue would be easy and not cause any issues.

I've never picked one up. But I held an A400 yesterday and I liked it quite a bit. I know that's a different level of firearm though.

The A300 is a field gun. It is good quality and will serve you well but just know that Beretta didn't intend for these to be "pretty".

can't go wrong with the beretta

Do you have a suggestion for a reliable, good-looking firearm in the same price range? If I have to choose between looks and function, I'm always going to choose function. But I figure at that price point, I would hope to be able to get some of both.

I hunt and shoot sporting clays with an a300, wood stock. The bolts are blue, the euro version comes with a chrome bolt. They are a "field" gun 28" barrel, uses the Beretta mobil choke. Mine has decent wood, runs really well, I clean maybe once a year. It will come with 3 chokes. Awesome guns. Some do have decent wood.

It will come a shim to adjust cast and drop

Not in that price range for a semi-auto B gun. I had an A300 plastic model and it was great, think it was $500 or $550. No issues, felt great. I ended up selling because I already have 3 other 12gauges and didn't need it. I've been out of the shotgun buying mode for awhile now but if I were looking for a new one, I'd probably be looking at the A300 again. Especially based on the pics that Ju993rnaut just shared.

Agreed, that's a pretty gun. Thanks Ju993rnaut, and thanks for the info about why some pics show a blued bolt and some show what looks to be a stainless steel bolt.

Local gun shop offered to order one for me for $730 plus tax if I paid with cash or check, and that's the best price I've found. So anything in that price range that looks good and shoots good would be an option for me.

For about 900, you can get a benelli montefeltro. It will take some shopping but it can be had for that.

As many have said, it's a solid shotgun. IMO, I think the best if not one of the best for the price. It's not a bad looking gun either. I think it's a win/win for what you want. If you want the looks, step up and get the A400 and be done with it.

Thanks. Unfortunately, that's way, way out of my price range.

Thanks, I'll look into it.

OK .... you said "Mostly for skeet".

I duck hunted with a Beretta A303 for years. Wore the finish off of it and it never once failed me. But it wouldn't be my choice for a skeet gun. Nor would any of the Beretta or Benelli variants.

My son has shot competitive skeet for 8 years. I reload 12, 20, 28, and 410. He competes with all of them. We went through almost every semi gun out there before we got smart and went with O/U guns. If I were in your shoes, here's my advice ... and it comes from wasting a ton of money trying to learn.

If there is a skeet club close by, put out the word that you are looking for a NICE used Remington 1100. Not the 11/87 variant, but an 1100. They will run forever if you change the $3 o-ring every 1500 rounds or so. A nice used version can be had for $500-$600. Some will argue otherwise, but for a strictly clays gun they can't be beat and the gas system has a proven track record. The best part is that they will shoot even the lightest target loads. That is something that few other semis can do with consistency.

Another option is to seek out a nice example of the old Winchester SX1. They are a heavyweight gun that is made from mostly metal parts instead of the plastic that has become the norm. Recoil is also extremely mild, they run flawlessly, and will digest 1 ounce skeet loads consistently. I own one and I sometimes leave my O/U guns at home because the SX1 is so easy to shoot.

And some of the best advice is to stay FAR away from the bargain O/U guns like Stoeger, Yildiz, and others. They will NOT stay with you for 1000's of rounds. Yeah, some will get lucky and use them without incident, but I have seen them literally fall apart on the skeet field. Literally.

If you are serious about shooting skeet, and see it becoming something that you do regularly, I'd strongly suggest that you find a nice used Citori and be done with it. It will last a lifetime with very little maintenance outside of cleaning, and since there is no bolt or gas system involved they aren't picky about the loads that you feed them. We shoot 3/4 ounce loads with regularity and the recoil is practically nothing. A good extremely nice Citori can be purchased for $1200-ish and you'll have a gun that lasts far longer than any semi-auto out there. Not to mention that they're PRETTY, too.

Just noticed that there is a SKB for sale in the classifieds for a VERY good price. I'd entertain that gun also. It would make you a lifetime shotgun if it is in the condition that it appears to be.

FWIW.

It is possible that you can have the bolt "jeweled", it is not uncommon and the Beretta bolt is hard quality steel, so it should stay "pretty" for quite some time.

I had one done on a 3901 I had that I put sporting wood on.

Thanks Creedmoor and David.

I might PM that guy about the SKB. That's a heck of a nice looking shotgun. I've honestly never heard of SKB before. Hadn't considered an O/U and really had my heart set on a semi, but if I can get a nice looking O/U for the same price as a dull-looking semi, then I'll definitely consider it. He's fairly close to me, so it wouldn't be the end of the world to go check it out in person. What do those SKB 585 models normally go for? Not many listed on gunbroker.

I'll keep an eye out for a Remington 1100 as well.

David knows his stuff. You asked if there were any other shotguns in your budget. The Weatherby SA-08 Deluxe and Upland are very nice shotguns. The fit is quite a bit different than A300. They fit me very well. If you shoulder the Weatherby and the Beretta, one of them should feel better to you. That is the one to buy. The wood stocked Affinity is another great shotgun but might be a little over your budget. Will also have more recoil since it is not gas-operated.

Go over to www.shotgunworld.com and browse the SKB forum. Tons of info there about anything related to shotguns. Nice group of guys and they'll help you out. You can also find out the truth about different brands and form an opinion based on 1000's of owners rather than 1 or 2.

As for the O/U vs Semi thing ....... just remember that there are FAR fewer moving parts on an O/U, and outside of keeping the action greased (not oiled) there's not much to go wrong. Quality O/Us retain their value and last forever. All we've ever had to do to any of ours was replace a firing pin or two.

Go to the skeet field and ask an O/U owner if he minds if you shoot a couple of targets with his gun. Most will be more than happy to let you.

Shotgunworld is about the best place. I also read all of Randy Wakeman's reviews on his website.

http://randywakeman.com/

I gotta go with Creedmoor on this and the SKB could be a fine choice in its price range. If you get serious about Skeet you will eventually want to shoot the smaller gauges, (and .410) and there's absolutely no sense in running several different guns,, trust me, I've been there. (While saving for a tube set I shot my 20 Citiri in the 12 and 20 events and 1100's in the 28 and 410). P_102

Just reread your post and noticed you will be mostly shooting skeet. In that case I would definitely be wanting a heavier shotgun, i.e. 1100 in a semi or a sporting clays O/U, not a field gun.

Thanks again for the responses.

For the record, when I say "shooting skeet", it's worth noting that this will be purely recreational. Church has a gun club and just going out with buddies, stuff like that. Maybe 2-4 times a year. I liked the Beretta because I had read it would be reliable and light-recoiling. I don't know that a few ounces of weight will be noticeable enough for someone of my skill level to make a difference. I just want a 12 gauge that can shoot at least 2 shots reliably and if I have to pay >$500 for it, then I'd like for it to look good too. My old pump 12 inadvertently engages the safety when I cycle it, and my other two shotguns are a 20 and 410.

As others have said, the Beretta A300 is a great all around type shotgun... very good for recreational skeet and hunting. I bought a camo one for my son, and liked it so much after shooting it that I went back and bought myself one with the wood. It fits me well and I really like it. However, it is not a pretty gun IMO. The barrel is matte black, not blue. The wood is ok, but not beautiful. If I lay it next to my 870 Wingmaster or my 40 year old Beretta B4 O/U, it looks every bit like an economy gun. But it is the gun that I have grabbed for opening day of dove season the past 3 or 4 years, so that should tell you something!

Thanks cypher. That's my impression as well from pictures online. I'm just not interested in spending $700+ on a shotgun that I feel that way about.

Found that cabela's normal price on a Montefeltro is $999 for the RH, 12 gauge, 28" model. How does that set up work for recreational skeet shooting?