``Shotguns--Autoloaders
It's a bit of a misnomer, (click here) as "autoloading" shotguns don't actually load themselves. They reload themselves. Most autoloaders have a tubular magazine that will hold three or more shells. Combined with a shell in the chamber, this means quite a lot of firepower.
Autoloading shotguns are either gas operated or recoil (inertia) operated. In gas operation, a port in the barrel allows some of the rapidly expanding gasses from the shell's firing to escape and operate a piston that operates the automatic loading action. In an inertia/recoil system, the force of shell being fired drives the action. Recoil operation, in a well-made shotgun, is ultimately more reliable than gas operation, but can feel a little more sharp to the shoulder. If a repeating gun is the right tool for the job, but the shooter has any worries at all about the reliability of an autoloader (or the price feels a little steep), a pump-action gun is a solid choice, if not always as elegant.
``American Arms
``American Arms/Franchi Black Magic 48/AL
``Benelli Bimillionaire
``Benelli Black Eagle Competition Auto Shotgun
``Benelli Cordoba
``Benelli Executive Series
``Benelli Legacy Model ``Benelli M1
``Benelli M1 Defense
``Benelli M1 Tactical
``Benelli M1014 Limited Edition
``Benelli M2
``Benelli M2 Field Steady Grip
``Benelli M2 Practical
``Benelli M2 Tactical
``Benelli M2 American Series
``Benelli M3 Convertible (The gun has a limited number of shells when fully loaded. So while the semi-automatic is intact, it cannot conduct mass killings. Kindly note the demand of the manufacturer to "Read the Owner's Manual Before Operating" engraved right into the barrel of the shotgun." It is more than likely a legal protection, but, it also a good habit to respect the gun and operate it safely.)
``Benelli M4 Models Vinci Steady Grip
``Benelli Montefeltro Super 90 20-Gauge Shotgun
``Benelli Montefeltro Super 90 Shotgun
``Benelli Raffaello Series Shotguns
``Benelli Sport Model
``Benelli Super 90 M1 Field Model
``Benelli Super Black Eagle II Models
``Benelli Super Black Eagle II Steady Grip
``Benelli Super Black Eagle Models
``Benelli Super Black Eagle Shotgun
``Benelli Super Black Eagle Slug Gun
``Benelli Super Vinci
``Benelli Supersport
``Benelli Two-Gun Sets (12 and 20 gauge set - below - this particular set is sold out - click here)
``Benelli Ultralight
``Benelli Vinci
``Beretta 390 Field Auto Shotgun
``Beretta 390 Super Trap, Super Skeet Shotguns
``Beretta 3901 Citizen
``Beretta 3901 Rifled Slug Gun
``Beretta 3901 Statesman
``Beretta A-303 Auto Shotgun
``Beretta A400 Series
``Beretta AL-2 Models
``Beretta AL-3 Deluxe Trap
``Beretta AL390 Series
``Beretta AL391 Teknys Gold
``Beretta AL391 Teknys Gold Sporting
``Beretta AL391 Teknys Gold Target
``Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Camo AP
``Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Camo Max-4 (NEW SCS SPIN-CLEANER SELF-CLEANING) VALVE PISTON - for $1620.00 online - click here)
``Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Classic
``Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Gold
``Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Gold Sporting
``Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Parallel Target SL
``Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Sporting
``Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Synthetic
``Beretta ES100 Pintail Series
``Beretta Model 1200 Field
``Beretta Model 1201F Auto Shotgun
``Beretta Model 300
``Beretta Model 301 Series
``Beretta Model 302 Series
``Beretta Model 60
``Beretta Model 61
Note: The date code is not a part of the serial number. Read the paragraph below to learn where to find the date code.
In recent years the two-letter code has usually been enclosed in a rectangle. On shotguns, the mark is usually found on the bottom of the barrel. It may be necessary to remove the forearm, and sometimes to remove the barrels from the receiver, in order to expose the mark. I have also seen the date code on the bottom of the frame (receiver) of a semi-automatic, but I have never seen it on the receiver of a break-action gun.
On recent pistols the mark is usually located on the frame near the trigger guard, and for older pistols the mark is on the slide or on the frame behind the grip area.
In some cases the actual date in Arabic numerals may be used, or a combination of Roman and Arabic numerals. For example, 1972 is usually represented by XXVIII, but in a few cases it may be written XX8 or as 1972. Also, during the years 1945-1953, some Berettas may be marked with Arabic numbers 1-9 rather than Roman numerals I-IX.
During the years 1935-1943, before the National code system was enacted, some Berettas were marked with the Roman numerals XIII (1935) through XXI (1943). Thus, guns bearing those Roman numerals may need additional evidence to establish the year of manufacture. Beretta used no date code in 1944.
It is not clear to me when firearms by Italian manufacturers other than Beretta began to be marked with date codes - it may have been as late as 1954, with Roman numeral X.
``Beretta Model A304 Lark
``Beretta Model AL391 Series
``Beretta Model TX4 Storm
``Beretta Silver Lark
``Beretta UGB25 Xcel
``Beretta Vittoria Auto Shotgun
``Beretta Xtrema2
Breda is an Italian manufacturer (click here) They have produced automatic weapons for WWII. They have a long history of automatic and semi-automatic weapons.
``Breda Altair
``Breda Altair Special
``Breda Aries 2
``Breda Astro
``Breda Astrolux
``Breda Echo
``Breda Ermes Series
``Breda Gold Series
``Breda Grizzly(below)
``Breda Mira
``Breda Standard Series
``Breda Xanthos
``Brolin BL-12
``Brolin SAS-12
``Browning A-500G Auto Shotgun
``Browning A-500G Sporting Clays
``Browning A-500R Auto Shotgun
``Browning Auto-5 Light 12 and 20
``Browning Auto-5 Magnum 12
``Browning Auto-5 Magnum 20
``Browning Auto-5 Stalker(below, sold online for $790.00)
``Browning B2000 Series
``Browning BSA 10 Auto Shotgun
``Browning BSA 10 Stalker Auto Shotgun
``Browning Gold Series
``Browning Maxus Series
``Charles Daly Field Grade Series
``Charles Daly Novamatic Series
``Charles Daly Tactical
``Churchill Regent
``Churchill Standard Model
``Churchill Turkey Automatic Shotgun
``Churchill Windsor
``Cosmi Automatic Shotgun(below - for sale online for $7500.00)
``CZ 712
``CZ 720
``CZ 912
``Escort Escort Series [[Page S2605]]
``European American Armory (EAA) Bundra Series
``Fabarms Ellegi Series
``Fabarms Lion Series
``Fabarms Tactical
``FNH USA Model SLP
``Franchi 610VS
``Franchi 612 Series
``Franchi 620
``Franchi 712
``Franchi 720
``Franchi 912
``Franchi AL 48
``Franchi AL 48 Series
``Franchi Elite
``Franchi I-12 Inertia Series
``Franchi Prestige
``H Model 512
``H Manufrance
``H Model 403
``Hi-Standard 10A
``Hi-Standard 10B
``Hi-Standard Semi Automatic Model
``Hi-Standard Supermatic Series
``Ithaca Mag-10
``Ithaca Model 51 Series
``LaSalle Semi-automatic
``Ljutic Bi-matic Autoloader
``Luger Ultra-light Model
``Marlin SI 12 Series
``Maverick Model 60 Auto Shotgun
``Model AL-1 ``Mossberg 1000
``Mossberg Model 600 Auto Shotgun
``Mossberg Model 930 All-Purpose Field
``Mossberg Model 930 Slugster
``Mossberg Model 930 Turkey
``Mossberg Model 930 Waterfowl
``Mossberg Model 935 Magnum Combos
``Mossberg Model 935 Magnum Flyway Series Waterfowl
``Mossberg Model 935 Magnum Grand Slam Series Turkey
``Mossberg Model 935 Magnum Turkey
``Mossberg Model 935 Magnum Waterfowl
``New England Firearms Excell Auto Combo
``New England Firearms Excell Auto Synthetic
``New England Firearms Excell Auto Turkey
``New England Firearms Excell Auto Walnut
continued later
It's a bit of a misnomer, (click here) as "autoloading" shotguns don't actually load themselves. They reload themselves. Most autoloaders have a tubular magazine that will hold three or more shells. Combined with a shell in the chamber, this means quite a lot of firepower.
Autoloading shotguns are either gas operated or recoil (inertia) operated. In gas operation, a port in the barrel allows some of the rapidly expanding gasses from the shell's firing to escape and operate a piston that operates the automatic loading action. In an inertia/recoil system, the force of shell being fired drives the action. Recoil operation, in a well-made shotgun, is ultimately more reliable than gas operation, but can feel a little more sharp to the shoulder. If a repeating gun is the right tool for the job, but the shooter has any worries at all about the reliability of an autoloader (or the price feels a little steep), a pump-action gun is a solid choice, if not always as elegant.
``American Arms
``American Arms/Franchi Black Magic 48/AL
``Benelli Bimillionaire
``Benelli Black Eagle Competition Auto Shotgun
``Benelli Cordoba
``Benelli Executive Series
``Benelli Legacy Model ``Benelli M1
``Benelli M1 Defense
``Benelli M1 Tactical
``Benelli M1014 Limited Edition
``Benelli M2
``Benelli M2 Field Steady Grip
``Benelli M2 Practical
``Benelli M2 Tactical
``Benelli M2 American Series
``Benelli M3 Convertible (The gun has a limited number of shells when fully loaded. So while the semi-automatic is intact, it cannot conduct mass killings. Kindly note the demand of the manufacturer to "Read the Owner's Manual Before Operating" engraved right into the barrel of the shotgun." It is more than likely a legal protection, but, it also a good habit to respect the gun and operate it safely.)
``Benelli M4 Models Vinci Steady Grip
``Benelli Montefeltro Super 90 20-Gauge Shotgun
``Benelli Montefeltro Super 90 Shotgun
``Benelli Raffaello Series Shotguns
``Benelli Sport Model
``Benelli Super 90 M1 Field Model
``Benelli Super Black Eagle II Models
``Benelli Super Black Eagle II Steady Grip
``Benelli Super Black Eagle Models
``Benelli Super Black Eagle Shotgun
``Benelli Super Black Eagle Slug Gun
``Benelli Super Vinci
``Benelli Supersport
``Benelli Two-Gun Sets (12 and 20 gauge set - below - this particular set is sold out - click here)
``Benelli Vinci
``Beretta 390 Field Auto Shotgun
``Beretta 390 Super Trap, Super Skeet Shotguns
``Beretta 3901 Citizen
``Beretta 3901 Rifled Slug Gun
``Beretta 3901 Statesman
``Beretta A-303 Auto Shotgun
``Beretta A400 Series
``Beretta AL-2 Models
``Beretta AL-3 Deluxe Trap
``Beretta AL390 Series
``Beretta AL391 Teknys Gold
``Beretta AL391 Teknys Gold Sporting
``Beretta AL391 Teknys Gold Target
``Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Camo AP
``Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Camo Max-4 (NEW SCS SPIN-CLEANER SELF-CLEANING) VALVE PISTON - for $1620.00 online - click here)
``Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Classic
``Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Gold
``Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Gold Sporting
``Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Parallel Target SL
``Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Sporting
``Beretta AL391 Urika 2 Synthetic
``Beretta ES100 Pintail Series
``Beretta Model 1200 Field
``Beretta Model 1201F Auto Shotgun
``Beretta Model 300
``Beretta Model 301 Series
``Beretta Model 302 Series
``Beretta Model 60
``Beretta Model 61
Berettas have markings on both the receiver and the barrel.
All firearms made in Italy (click here) are required by law to be tested by the Government Proof House, which marks the firearm with several symbols, one of which is a code identifying the year in which the firearm was proofed. A key to the code is shown below.
Note: The date code is not a part of the serial number. Read the paragraph below to learn where to find the date code.
In recent years the two-letter code has usually been enclosed in a rectangle. On shotguns, the mark is usually found on the bottom of the barrel. It may be necessary to remove the forearm, and sometimes to remove the barrels from the receiver, in order to expose the mark. I have also seen the date code on the bottom of the frame (receiver) of a semi-automatic, but I have never seen it on the receiver of a break-action gun.
On recent pistols the mark is usually located on the frame near the trigger guard, and for older pistols the mark is on the slide or on the frame behind the grip area.
In some cases the actual date in Arabic numerals may be used, or a combination of Roman and Arabic numerals. For example, 1972 is usually represented by XXVIII, but in a few cases it may be written XX8 or as 1972. Also, during the years 1945-1953, some Berettas may be marked with Arabic numbers 1-9 rather than Roman numerals I-IX.
During the years 1935-1943, before the National code system was enacted, some Berettas were marked with the Roman numerals XIII (1935) through XXI (1943). Thus, guns bearing those Roman numerals may need additional evidence to establish the year of manufacture. Beretta used no date code in 1944.
It is not clear to me when firearms by Italian manufacturers other than Beretta began to be marked with date codes - it may have been as late as 1954, with Roman numeral X.
``Beretta Model A304 Lark
``Beretta Model AL391 Series
``Beretta Model TX4 Storm
``Beretta Silver Lark
``Beretta UGB25 Xcel
``Beretta Vittoria Auto Shotgun
``Beretta Xtrema2
Breda is an Italian manufacturer (click here) They have produced automatic weapons for WWII. They have a long history of automatic and semi-automatic weapons.
``Breda Altair
``Breda Altair Special
``Breda Aries 2
``Breda Astro
``Breda Astrolux
``Breda Echo
``Breda Ermes Series
``Breda Gold Series
``Breda Grizzly(below)
``Breda Standard Series
``Breda Xanthos
``Brolin BL-12
``Brolin SAS-12
``Browning A-500G Auto Shotgun
``Browning A-500G Sporting Clays
``Browning A-500R Auto Shotgun
``Browning Auto-5 Light 12 and 20
``Browning Auto-5 Magnum 12
``Browning Auto-5 Magnum 20
``Browning Auto-5 Stalker(below, sold online for $790.00)
``Browning BSA 10 Auto Shotgun
``Browning BSA 10 Stalker Auto Shotgun
``Browning Gold Series
``Browning Maxus Series
``Charles Daly Field Grade Series
``Charles Daly Novamatic Series
``Charles Daly Tactical
``Churchill Regent
``Churchill Standard Model
``Churchill Turkey Automatic Shotgun
``Churchill Windsor
``Cosmi Automatic Shotgun(below - for sale online for $7500.00)
``CZ 712
``CZ 720
``CZ 912
``Escort Escort Series [[Page S2605]]
``European American Armory (EAA) Bundra Series
``Fabarms Ellegi Series
``Fabarms Lion Series
``Fabarms Tactical
``FNH USA Model SLP
``Franchi 610VS
``Franchi 612 Series
``Franchi 620
``Franchi 712
``Franchi 720
``Franchi 912
``Franchi AL 48
``Franchi AL 48 Series
``Franchi Elite
``Franchi I-12 Inertia Series
``Franchi Prestige
``H Model 512
``H Manufrance
``H Model 403
``Hi-Standard 10A
``Hi-Standard 10B
``Hi-Standard Semi Automatic Model
``Hi-Standard Supermatic Series
``Ithaca Mag-10
``Ithaca Model 51 Series
``LaSalle Semi-automatic
``Ljutic Bi-matic Autoloader
``Luger Ultra-light Model
``Marlin SI 12 Series
``Maverick Model 60 Auto Shotgun
``Model AL-1 ``Mossberg 1000
``Mossberg Model 600 Auto Shotgun
``Mossberg Model 930 All-Purpose Field
``Mossberg Model 930 Slugster
``Mossberg Model 930 Turkey
``Mossberg Model 930 Waterfowl
``Mossberg Model 935 Magnum Combos
``Mossberg Model 935 Magnum Flyway Series Waterfowl
``Mossberg Model 935 Magnum Grand Slam Series Turkey
``Mossberg Model 935 Magnum Turkey
``Mossberg Model 935 Magnum Waterfowl
``New England Firearms Excell Auto Combo
``New England Firearms Excell Auto Synthetic
``New England Firearms Excell Auto Turkey
``New England Firearms Excell Auto Walnut
continued later
