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After nearly five centuries in the firearm business the Beretta family has learned a thing or two about planning for the future. With the "Partners for the Future" line of U.S.-made Model 3901 shotguns, Beretta is taking a bold step in securing shooting sports education for the next generation of Americans.

You don't become the world's oldest gun company-indeed, the world's oldest manufacturing concern of any sort-without planning ahead. Through nearly five centuries of family ownership, a Beretta has been at the helm of the Italian firm (long before there was even an "Italy" on the map). Starting with Bartelomeo Beretta-a barrelmaker in Gardone listed in a document dated 1526-up through Cavalieri Ugo Gussalli Beretta (14th generation), his sons Franco and Pietro (15th) and now Franco's son Carlo (16th generation), the future leadership of this worldwide icon is secure. But neither the Beretta family nor the Beretta company are likely to sit still and rest on their laurels. There is commitment to not only the company's future, but to the future of the shooting sports and to our firearm heritage as well. Back in 2001, through American subsidiaries Beretta USA and Benelli USA, Beretta donated $1 million to endow the National Firearms Museum. This year, Beretta has expanded its generous commitment through the establishment of the Beretta Youth Endowment within The NRA Foundation.

"I've learned that the museum is but one of the NRA's 178 national education and public service programs," said Ugo Gussalli Beretta. "As the NRA enters its third century, it, too, is planning for the future by working with The NRA Foundation to permanently endow these time-tested programs for America's future firearms users." Yet again, Beretta, in partnership with AcuSport Corporation (one of the nation's premier firearm distributors), has stepped up in a leadership role to do precisely that with the new endowment that is poised to raise $500,000 to ensure that future generations of young Americans receive the benefits of NRA's excellent and proven youth safety and education programs.

SO, WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

Beretta's stepping up with this groundbreaking commitment to endow the future of the shooting sports is to be applauded by each and every NRA member, but beyond keeping that in mind the next time you buy a gun or an accessory, what does it have to do with you? The answer is in how Beretta will raise the funds for the new endowment. Beretta, working in conjunction with The NRA Foundation, has created a line of its gas-operated Model 3901 semi-automatic shotguns embellished at three different levels and designed for everyone from the very well-heeled collector to the average hunter or clays shooter who wants a working gun. Regardless, of which Partners for the Future Model 3901 appeals to you, part of the proceeds from each gun go to the endowment. Not only do you get one of the finest semi-auto shotguns extant, but you get to do your part for the next generation of young shooters and hunters at the same time. Not a bad deal, really.

The gun chosen to be the basis for the Partners for the Future series is one of the best semi-automatic shotguns ever designed-the Model 390based 3901. Though perhaps overshadowed in recent years by the Model 391 Urika, the Model 3901 is now manufactured in Beretta's Accokeek, Md., plant, and it remains one of the most versatile and handsome shoot-anything 3" gas-operated autoloaders ever made. When we evaluated the 12-ga. AL390 in these pages (February 1997, p. 49), we summed up the then-new gun with the following: "The 390-series autoloaders exhibit high reliability and responsiveness, as well as the versatility offered by interchangeable barrels and an adjustable buttstock system. The AL390 not only retains these virtues, but, by trimming unneeded weight, enhances its handling qualities in the field." just like the parent design, the Partners for the Future guns have the interchangeable inserts between the buttstock and receiver that allow the user to adjust the drop at heel and comb, as well as the stock's cast. Interchangeable buttpads also allow length of pull to be reduced as short as 13" or as long as 14??".

The U.S.-made 3901s used for the series have the "round back"-as opposed to the A-5-esque squareback-receiver contour. Both the 12ga. and 20-ga. guns have 3" chambers and 6 mm ventilated ribs. Barrel lengths are 28" for the 12 gauge and 26" for the 20, and both come with Beretta MobileChoke tubes.

In keeping with the "Partners for the Future" theme, instead of offering just a single gauge, the guns will be offered in sets of 12- and 20-ga. guns (with matching serial numbers in the first two levels). The three levels are: the Exclusive Edition of 100 sets; the Limited Edition of 500 sets; and the Special Edition. Befitting their limitededition status, all come with a certificate of authenticity. Whether you want to keep one for yourself and give one to a son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter or favorite niece or nephew, is up to you. You can even keep both for yourself, but a portion of the proceeds go to the Beretta Youth Endowment regardless of who uses the gun.

AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB

The first of the limited-edition guns is the Exclusive Edition, of which 100 sets of 12- and 20-ga. guns will be made. The high-polish blue gun comes with a silver-sided receiver with gold-filled engraving. The left side features both the INTRA and Beretta logos linked by a banner bearing "Partners for the Future" surrounded by tasteful floral engraving. The right side of the 12 gauge features gold inlaid ducks flying and landing, as well as the NRA seal and the "PB"-for Pietro Beretta-logo in gold, again surrounded by scroll engraving. The Exclusive 20 gauge repeats the left side of the engraving of the 12 gauge, and the right side is similar, but features flying and flushing quail. An inlaid gold "NRA" monogram emblazons the grip cap, and the stock is of very high grade "EELL" walnut. The high-polish bolt and carrier are jewelled and left in the white. These guns come in handsome leather cases, embossed with the Partners for the Future logo. Serial numbers will be NRA-XXXA for the 12-ga. guns and NRA-XXXB for the 20 gauges.

TRULY LIMITED

If the Exclusive is too ornate for you, there's the Limited Edition of 500 sets. The Limited features a blued receiver with engraving similar to the Exclusive, again with goldfilled ducks (or quail on the 20) on the right, as well as the "PB" and NRA seal in gold, again surrounded by floral engraving of the same pattern. Like the Exclusive, the bolt and carrier are polished and jewelled. The Partners for the Future banner with the NRA and Beretta trident are in gold on left. An NRA gold medallion is present on the grip cap, and the walnut stock and fore-end are of beautiful 2.5-grade deluxe walnut. It's a tastefully, but subtly, decorated series that offers a very unique opportunity with its serial numbers. Instead of just getting whatever number is available, you can pick a serial number that corresponds to a significant date in your life or that of a loved one. I can't imagine a better way to commemorate a birthday, anniversary, first hunt, or college or high school graduation than with a Limited 3901-definitely beating out the watches I received for the latter two events. Also, the Limited comes with a custom ABS case adorned with the Partners for the Future logo on its top lid.

SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR THE COLLECTOR AND USER

The demand for commemorative and embellished guns is greater than ever. A quick glance in the pages of this magazine or the expansive sections in the Blue Book of Gun Values will show you that there have been commemorative guns made for just about every event, organization or persona that appeals to shooters. But if condition can be all important to many collectors, how do you justify "losing money" each time you shoot your gun or drop it on the bottom of your duck boat? What if you don't want gold on your gun? As if my calling isn't bad enough, light reflecting off a shiny gold duck on the receiver may reduce my chances of bagging the real thing even further.

While there are plenty of folks that won't own a gun they don't shoot, regardless of how pretty it is, there's a middle ground. The William B. Ruger Endowment Mark II .22 pistol is a great example of such a gun that many shooters wanted. That's just what Beretta is doing with the Special Edition version of its Partners for the Future 3901. It is joined in this by AcuSport as the exclusive distributor of the Special Edition, which will be matching the Beretta contribution to the Beretta Youth Endowment dollar for dollar. Bill Fraim, chairman and CEO of AcuSport said, "AcuSport is both pleased and honored to join with Beretta and The NRA Foundation to support the future of the shooting sports in this project."