I am getting my hands on a never fired Beretta AL-2 12 gauge today and was wondering if anyone has any kind of information on this shotgun. I can't find much information on the internet about it. I was wondering what the value is in case I ever wanted to put it up for trade(doubtful), and if they are finicky at all. Thanks. I will upload pictures when I get a chance.
TSheaffer
Beretta AL-2
inertia driven probably means it's near bulletproof with 3 DRAM shells. I think this was one is from the early sixties/seventies. Look on shotgunworld for some info but I would think it uses a system
similar to the Browning auto 5.
OOPs not inertia driven, it's similar to the 300 series. This is what I found in a SGworld post:
The model names of AL-1, AL-2, and AL-3 were used only in the USA and were applied by the importer, Garcia Sporting Arms Corporation. In doing that, Garcia continued a practice used by the previous importer, Galef. Mechanically, the AL series were models 300/301, with details such as engraving patterns, finishes, and available options made by Beretta to Garcia's specifications.
Garcia's 1971 advertisement in the American Rifleman says that they introduced the AL-2 the previous year (1970) at a price of $217 (Skeet and Trap models $227) and added the AL-1 to the line in 1971 at a price of $178. The biggest differences between the models are that the AL-2 had a ventilated rib barrel and what Garcia described as genuine hand engraving on the receiver, while the AL-1 had a plain barrel and receiver. There may have been some difference in the grade of the wood, but it would take someone with a better eye for wood than mine to define the difference - wood varies in all grades, anyway.
There was also an AL-3, which seems (I'm guessing a little bit) to have superceded the AL-2 in 1975 and was made only in '75 and '76. Garcia must have sold very few of them, because I have never even seen one offered for sale. Garcia was going through some financial difficulties during this time, and went bankrupt in 1976. Beretta decided not to replace Garcia with another importer, but imported their guns themselves, using several company names before the creation of Beretta USA. The guns imported by Beretta were identified as Models 300 and 301 rather than the AL-series.
The whole AL- and 30x series are basically just variations of a single design, and most parts are fully interchangeable among the models. For that matter, many parts also interchange with the later models 390, 391, and 3901 (but not Xtrema). It is this similarity that leads me to conclude that the AL-2 is just as good a gun as the famous 303. The AL-2 usually sells for $100-200 less than a comparable 303, and in my opinion it is more attractive. The only disadvantage of the AL-2 is the bolt release button must be pressed to load the second shell: at first that seems to be a nuisance, but once you learn the technique it is no trouble at all. Trigger groups can be interchanged among all the 3xx series (except for the 302 and Xtrema) so it is possible to use a newer trigger group in the AL-2 if pressing the bolt release bothers you. I had planned to do that, but after getting used to loading an AL-2 I have decided there is no need for it. Choke tubes were not available in the AL series, and adding tubes now usually requires the use of thin-wall tubes.
similar to the Browning auto 5.
OOPs not inertia driven, it's similar to the 300 series. This is what I found in a SGworld post:
The model names of AL-1, AL-2, and AL-3 were used only in the USA and were applied by the importer, Garcia Sporting Arms Corporation. In doing that, Garcia continued a practice used by the previous importer, Galef. Mechanically, the AL series were models 300/301, with details such as engraving patterns, finishes, and available options made by Beretta to Garcia's specifications.
Garcia's 1971 advertisement in the American Rifleman says that they introduced the AL-2 the previous year (1970) at a price of $217 (Skeet and Trap models $227) and added the AL-1 to the line in 1971 at a price of $178. The biggest differences between the models are that the AL-2 had a ventilated rib barrel and what Garcia described as genuine hand engraving on the receiver, while the AL-1 had a plain barrel and receiver. There may have been some difference in the grade of the wood, but it would take someone with a better eye for wood than mine to define the difference - wood varies in all grades, anyway.
There was also an AL-3, which seems (I'm guessing a little bit) to have superceded the AL-2 in 1975 and was made only in '75 and '76. Garcia must have sold very few of them, because I have never even seen one offered for sale. Garcia was going through some financial difficulties during this time, and went bankrupt in 1976. Beretta decided not to replace Garcia with another importer, but imported their guns themselves, using several company names before the creation of Beretta USA. The guns imported by Beretta were identified as Models 300 and 301 rather than the AL-series.
The whole AL- and 30x series are basically just variations of a single design, and most parts are fully interchangeable among the models. For that matter, many parts also interchange with the later models 390, 391, and 3901 (but not Xtrema). It is this similarity that leads me to conclude that the AL-2 is just as good a gun as the famous 303. The AL-2 usually sells for $100-200 less than a comparable 303, and in my opinion it is more attractive. The only disadvantage of the AL-2 is the bolt release button must be pressed to load the second shell: at first that seems to be a nuisance, but once you learn the technique it is no trouble at all. Trigger groups can be interchanged among all the 3xx series (except for the 302 and Xtrema) so it is possible to use a newer trigger group in the AL-2 if pressing the bolt release bothers you. I had planned to do that, but after getting used to loading an AL-2 I have decided there is no need for it. Choke tubes were not available in the AL series, and adding tubes now usually requires the use of thin-wall tubes.
I've had an AL2 20ga since the mid 70's, bought it when JC Penny was getting out of the sporting goods end of the retail business... this was my first exposure to a 20ga and I fell in love with that gun... although it's a 20ga 2¾" chamber, full choke I've used it for everything from small game up to ducks, geese, and turkey... never looked back, never regretted a moment of owning it... the only thing I would change with it is to have the option of changeable chokes and maybe a 24" barrel... do not hesitate to get it if the price is right... I'd buy another one if I could find one for the right price...
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