Home Index Search Handguns Visual Selection British North American Italian German Belguim French Spanish Austrian Russian Czechoslovacian Turkish South African Hungarian Brazilian Israeli Competition Firearms Shotguns References Links Gunsite SAGA PAAA SAAACA Contact E-mail me!

Fabbrica D' Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A. is the oldest manufacturing firm in the world. Since 1526 the Beretta tradition of excellence has taken the prestigious Beretta sporting and military arms from the oldest factory in the world to the four corners of the world. Amazingly a single family has controlled the company throughout its history, which has spanned from ancient guilds to computerized robotics. Experience, innovation, respect for tradition--these, combined with ongoing design studies, technological advancements, and improved production methods are the fundamentals that established Beretta as the foremost firearms company in the world. Beretta semi-autos are gas fed. As the wad and shot travel up the barrel small ports in the tube allow high-pressure gas to flow into a cylinder and piston assembly inside the fore end. The piston is connected by rods to the mechanism within the receiver, and as it moves to the rear it first unlocks the bolt, then moves it backwards. An extractor claw on the bolt face withdraws the spent case until it is clear of the chamber, and a mechanism then flips it sideways and ejects it through the loading port. As the bolt moves back it re-cocks the hammer for a second shot, while a fresh cartridge is lifted from the magazine tube and placed in front of the bolt. The bolt then moves forwards under the pressure of a spring, chambering the new cartridge. With the cartridge fully home, the bolt locks and the second shot can be fired. This model A300 is designed, from experience gathered from the development of the BM59 military rifle. During firing 0.75 % gas is bled from the barrel to push a piston, for a short stroke, down a cylinder. The piston in the gas cylinder is linked to the action-bar which carries the bolt. There is an automatic load adjuster to vary the amount of gas bled off to the gas cylinder. This is to ensure that the rifle will cycle with all weights of shot. The gas piston has 4 pedals that open under gas pressure, in the cylinder to slow the speed of the action with hot ammo. The action bar cocks the hammer during cycling. The Beretta action’s bolt locks on the barrel extension and the recoil spring is in the stock. The design of the trigger mechanism, safety, bolt and disconnector that blocks the trigger until the bolt is locked. The Beretta’s gas piston has a short stroke unlike the Winchester 1500’s long piston stroke in my collection. This shotgun was distributed by Musgrave in SA as the Beretta agent. (Ref: Dictionary of Guns and Gunmakers p68 by John Walter)

102112