Beretta ASEL
Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta · Shotgun · Discontinued · 1949
Also known as: Beretta AS-Series, Beretta ASE-L
Overview
The Beretta ASEL is a boxlock over-and-under double-barreled shotgun produced from 1949 into the 1960s as part of Beretta's AS-line of hunting guns. Offered in 12 and 20 gauge, the ASEL was the mid grade of a three-tier family (ASE, ASEL, and ASEELL), each hand engraved and hand fitted. It paired Beretta's boxlock action with light field-gun weights, fixed chokes, and either double or single triggers, and is regarded by collectors as among the finest boxlock over-and-under shotguns the company ever built.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3090 g (109.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1146 mm (45.12") |
| Barrel Length | 701 mm (27.60") |
| Action Type | Break Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Trigger |
| Magazine Capacity | 2 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 400 m/s (1312 fps) |
| Effective Range | 40 m (44 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 12 Gauge · primary — also known as 12ga, 12 Bore
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Break Action Barrels
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Over Under Barrels, Boxlock Action, Hand Engraved, Hand Fitted, Double Triggers, Ejectors, Fixed Chokes
Variants
- Beretta ASE - Base Grade
- Beretta ASEELL - Premium Grade
Production
Production years: 1949-1964
Produced as a hand-fitted hunting gun; superseded by the S5x boxlock series in the early 1960s
Origin
Country of origin: Italy
Discontinued: 1964
Notes
Barrels were offered in 25, 28, and 30 inch lengths with fixed chokes (commonly Improved Cylinder/Modified or Modified/Full). A 1956 12-gauge ASEL with 27-5/8 inch barrels weighed about 6 lb 13 oz; 20-gauge examples weighed around 5 lb 7 oz. The AS-grades were superseded in the early 1960s by Beretta's S5x and BL boxlock over-and-unders.
Background
Many serious Beretta collectors consider the AS-grade boxlocks to be the finest over-and-under boxlock shotguns Beretta ever produced, prized for their hand engraving, hand fitting, and graceful field-gun balance.