doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Help identifying a Beretta

One source I have says the 424 was not imported until 1977. Here's a good clue to a GR model: Look at the profile of the receiver where it meets the head of the stock. Rather than a straight back to the receiver, there will be a rather shallow C-shaped profile. And I believe that the receiver was blued on all the GR-series guns. A GR-3, according to one source I'm looking at, should have a single trigger and extractors. That'd be my bet based on the information provided to date. If everything else matches with what I posted above, I'd say it's 99%.

Focusing on Garcia imported guns to the US is not relevant. The OP is in Canada. Secondly, there are many routes for the gun to arrive since production.
The 424 was produced 1971 to 1982, and was without a third locking bite.
Confirmation will come with better pictures.

I have a GR3 12 ga and it is definitely not cross-bolted, but is ST and ejectors with blued frame. I also have a 425 12 ga, and the frame profile is identical to the GR3, and the wood is interchangeable between the two guns. I also have a 426E 20 ga, and it is ST with ejectors and a cross bolt. The 425 and the 426E have coin finished frames, and the 426E has pretty nice engraving, appears to be hand cut. All are 2-3/4" chambers. OP's gun appears to have 3" chambers.

I have just emailed a few more photos of this gun to Ted who kindly offered to put them on the board for me. I measured the barrel length and it is 76 cm which is 30" so perhaps the 76 stamped on the underside refers to that rather than the chamber length although it does say " CAM 76 ). I don't have any 3" ammunition but a spent 3 1/2 " casing with the crimp folded back in almost fits in the chamber. There is about 1/2 " that still sticks out when the casing bottoms out in the chamber. I sure do appreciate all the help you are all providing me on this. Cheers; Twogone

3 inch chamber for sure
Now have you looked on the barrel side of the WOOD forearm for any stampings?
Mike

More photos. Has the right lines for a serious clays or waterfowl gun, me thinks:












Best,
Ted

I don't think that is a GR3. Single trigger and vent rib look right, but the lack of engraving on the breech balls tells me it's a lower grade. Frame profile and wood fit look like my GR3 and 425. This one looks like it has no grip cap, and the few GR3s that I have seen all had grip caps. Another indication that it is probably a lower grade.

I'm not sure what a grip cap is but there is a plastic cap (with the Beretta logo) screwed to the bottom of the pistol grip.
It's light, it's balanced and swings like a dream. The Russian snows, the Canada honkers and the local mallards are going to be is some serious trouble next season. In the interim I'll warm it up on some sporting clays.
Thanks for your help & Cheers;
Twogone

Monobloc style breech? Did you ever pull the forend wood to see if the Modell was penciled under it?

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

Other than the serial number there are no markings under the fore-stock on the fore-stock it's self or on the barrel.
Twogone