OPINIONS: Beretta 390, 301, 302, 303, etc vs Modern A400 Trap reliability Trap Sorting Clays - SCTP

Your opinions please on the older Berettas vs the newer. I have recently seen some older models in like new condition. Grandson is in the SCTP Program. He shoots sporting clays and trap. Occasionally skeet.

I am not interested in buying new. tia

 

Find a Beretta 303 (or a 390, which is slightly newer but still in that "old school" family) with a 28" or 30" barrel. The 28" is great for a growing kid for sporting clays; it's maneuverable but still swings.

 

I have several 390’s and you can’t beat them for reliability.

 

I second (third?) the 303, 390, 391 choice over the A400. As much as I am recoil sensitive and the kick-off really helps with that the basic A400 design bothers me.Two reliable, careful friends have had significant issues with theA400 that would be expensive to fix . Particularly the rotary bolt has a hardened steel pin rotating in a hardened but alloy carrier and when it wears the carrier the gun stops working. New that part is $600 if available and lubricating it is not outlined in general maintenance for that gun, although doable. When faced with the same situation I went with a clean 391 and have been very happy.

 

was a time when a 302 was everywhere. they were our club loaners and i had to clean them every sunday. boy did they get dirty from heavy use. but they did last.

 

303 parts are getting hard to find and they had a problem with the action bolt breaking the right rear leg off. no parts available. 391 is the best bet for the money. works all the time