Beretta 1301 Tactical

[Ber1301TAC]

If you remove (pry out) the plastic retainer that captures the mag spring, you can get five in with room to spare.

What part is that exactly?

[GJM]

Pull the mag cap. Note spring is retained, with cap off, by a plastic piece. Pry that plastic piece out. Spring is no longer captive, but there is more space in tube.

[Ber1301TAC]

Thanks im going to try later today also can you ghost load this shotgun

[Ber1301TAC]

Pull the mag cap. Note spring is retained, with cap off, by a plastic piece. Pry that plastic piece out. Spring is no longer captive, but there is more space in tube.

you mean the piece that holds the spring in ? then every time I take the gun apart the spring comes out when I unscrew the cap ?

[DocGKR]

Yes--that is what is supposed to happen, just like on Benellis, Remingtons, Mossbergs, etc... You want to be able to easily access the spring and follower.

[Ber1301TAC]

Yes--that is what is supposed to happen, just like on Benellis, Remingtons, Mossbergs, etc... You want to be able to easily access the spring and follower.

Thanks guys I got it, scratched the bottom of my barrel a bit trying to shove that thing down though. Fits 5 shells now though, now I have to learn how to ghost load this thing

[DocGKR]

While I don't have much use for the technique, carrier (ghost) loading works the same on a 1301 as on a Benelli, for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf7agIzbTvs.

[DocGKR]

For three decades, Remington 870's have been my go to shotguns--typically using 18" or shorter cylinder barrels for duty/work use and 24" or longer choked barrels for sporting/game purposes. As noted earlier, in the past few months I've begun to play with Beretta 1301's. Below is a comparison of work and game 870's compared with similarly configured 1301's.



Each gun sports Briley magazine tube extensions with the Picatinny rail and sling swivel options, allowing mounting of a light and a convenient sling attachment point. In addition, each has BFG VCAS 2 point sling, Aimpoint H1 RDS, and uses SF EAG Fury lights in LaRue mounts.

Keep in mind that the 1301 Tactical has an 18" barrel w/3" chamber, ghost ring sights, 3" length receiver, and comes with the Pic Rail installed, while 1301 Comps have 21" or 24" barrels w/3" chambers, vent rib and bead sights, 3.5" length receiver (bigger loading port), receiver is drilled for pic rail but it is not included ($65 option from Beretta). The 1301's are softer shooting than the Benelli M1/M2, but not quite as soft as the Remington Versamax--however the Beretta is substantially lighter than the Versamax and is much quicker on target. The VersaMax has a larger loading port, but the Remington lifter often needs some work to rapidly load well; the Beretta loads fine out of the box.

Both the 1301 Comp and the 1301 Tactical have 5 round magazines, but a variety of vendors make magazine extensions. As I wrote earlier in this thread, I recommend the 1301 Tactical for a shotgun that is going to be carried a lot and primarily shot defensively using buckshot and slugs; the larger loading port on the 1301 Comp makes it much better for a shotgun that is going to get run hard and needs to be reloaded rapidly. The 1301 Tactical has a fixed cylinder choke, while the 1301 Comp's use the Beretta Optima HP Chokes, providing more versatility for sporting purposes--I tend to run extended Briley "light modified" chokes on my game guns, as this works adequately for everything from birdshot to slugs.

Below is a comparison of similarly configured 1301's, including the 24" barrel Comp, 21" barrel Comp, and 18" barrel Tactical.



Note that since the 1301's have very long forends, I use the 3 cel EAG Fury lights in order to move the push button a bit further back to ease activation, plus what is not to like about 1000 lumens! A better solution will be for Beretta to design a forend with built in attachment rails. Each 1301 also has a Wilderness Products rear sling adapter.

[Unobtanium]

At its price point, the 1301 looks killer! However, taking price out of the equation, I still lean to a properly configured Benelli M4, I think. However, the price difference between the two makes it like comparing a Savage M110 and a GA Precision rifle when the goal is 0-300m. Either will work just fine, likely.

[GJM]

At its price point, the 1301 looks killer! However, taking price out of the equation, I still lean to a properly configured Benelli M4, I think. However, the price difference between the two makes it like comparing a Savage M110 and a GA Precision rifle when the goal is 0-300m. Either will work just fine, likely.

Just personal opinion, but I prefer my two 1301 shotguns to the Benelli M4 I had, even if the 1301 cost more than the M4.