A 301 and a 301A are the same machine. They just added the A for Anderson, SC, I think. I own a Featherweight and a 301A. The 301A is considered the "big sister" to the FW. I love mine. I carried it cross country to a quilting retreat. It is bigger than the FW and weighs 5lbs more. BUT, you get a bigger bed and the spool pin isn't in the same position as the FW making me more comfortable traveling with it.
If you get one try to make sure there is a bobbin case in it. The replacement ones run $40 or so and I understand they don't work as well.