DU AL303--Shoot it ot or not???

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rugerfreak

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Came across a 1987 DU Beretta 20ga. 26in barrel AL303 this afternoon----this gun has never been fired!!!

Bought it on the spot for $499.

It has a highly figured stock(no dings or scratches what so ever)---gold DU inlays on the receiver---a very nice DU hardcase with keys--choke tubes and wrench----jeweled bolt and shell carrier----special DU serial number---and all the paperwork from the DU banquet where it was won.

Overall this seems comparable to the 391 Urika Gold of today.

Got it home----cleaned all of the congeeled(sp?) oil from the mechanism---this is the original factory oil----no wear marks on any of the action parts---and no powder residue in the gas system---choke tubes and barrel had no blackness anywhere-----boltface was completely cherry.

Toothbrush and powder solvent removed what appeared to be wax in the checkering----then a quick once over with triple ought steel wool on the stock---I hate shiney stocks. It is now beautifull and classic looking.

Anyway---do I use it or leave it in the safe????
 
The 303 is the forerunner of the 391. A very good gun to shoot, low recoil, and handles nicely. You got the price right as a used gun. If you shoot it you won't loose any value, but as a mint unfired gun a it should bring more on the open market, especialy to collectors of DU equipment. It's your'e decision whether to shoot it or not. Are you going to shoot it just to shoot it or are you going to use it to break clays or hunt as a working gun. If the formmer I'd let it set and add value in the safe.
 
What is this "leave it in the safe" of which you speak? Individually, I recognize all the words, but put together like that, I don't know what they mean.
 
Don't waste gunsafe space waiting for some huge premium in firearms investment, won't happen. I'd've left the factory oil/grease in it if I was going to sell as new. I'd shoot it, but then that's what I'd've bought it for. Why did you buy it?
 
In my expeience, those fancy, limited edition, collector guns shoot about as well as your regular production pieces.:D
sometimes you have to shoot them for awhile till the guilt wears off. or you could just sell it as is to a collector and buy a new 391, then shoot away without the guilt.
 
i bought it for a shooter---but it cleaned up so nice---I wanted to make sure I wasn't making a mistake.
 
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