Beretta 1301 Tactical help?

[DLWinner]

I picked up a new 1301 Tactical at the beginning of the year. I took it out to the range and noticed the entire front sight post was canted left. I contacted Beretta and sent it in. I received it back still canted.
I sent it in a second time and received it back with a new barrel(front sight still slightly canted)
I’m really sick of sending in my thousand dollar shotgun so I figured I would just deal with it and shoot it and enjoy it.
Nope! Not going to happen. After running about 50 rounds through it, I noticed the front sight it just flopping around and loose.
I have the correct wrench, So I attempted to tighten it back down. No luck. It just spins. Am I doing something wrong? Any suggestions?

[BobLoblaw]

There's a nut under the sight. Similar to regular bolts and nuts, you have to hold one in place while you screw the other in.

[TCinVA]

The front sight post itself has to be held in place while you tighten the nut on the underside. You have to be careful on how you tighten it so that when the nut is tight you don't end up with the sight canted to one side or the other. (Depending on how you tighten it down) I use a pair of needle-nosed pliars wrapped in electrical tape (to prevent marring the sight) to hold it in place while I tighten the nut on the bottom. Works pretty good.

It can be tricky and sometimes the factory doesn't always get it right. I'm surprised they sent you a new barrel over that.

[DLWinner]

The front sight post itself has to be held in place while you tighten the nut on the underside. You have to be careful on how you tighten it so that when the nut is tight you don't end up with the sight canted to one side or the other. (Depending on how you tighten it down) I use a pair of needle-nosed pliars wrapped in electrical tape (to prevent marring the sight) to hold it in place while I tighten the nut on the bottom. Works pretty good.

It can be tricky and sometimes the factory doesn't always get it right. I'm surprised they sent you a new barrel over that.


I will give it another try today.
They sent me a new barrel because the whole post itself was canted.

[DLWinner]

Yeah.... tried everything. The nut just spins. I’m not happy. This shotgun has been nothing but problems. It’s been off for repair more than I’ve had it. I will send Beretta another email asking what I’m supposed to do. I have also had about 10 malfunctions in 50 rounds. I had none before getting the new barrel. It sucks because I really like the looks and feel of this shotgun. Very smooth shooter. Just a screwed up front sight.

[Guerrero]

Yeah.... tried everything. The nut just spins. I’m not happy. This shotgun has been nothing but problems. It’s been off for repair more than I’ve had it. I will send Beretta another email asking what I’m supposed to do. I have also had about 10 malfunctions in 50 rounds. I had none before getting the new barrel. It sucks because I really like the looks and feel of this shotgun. Very smooth shooter. Just a screwed up front sight.

I'll give you $10 for it.

;)

[GJM]

Mine was canted, and I used those German pliers every PF member in good standing bought a year or so back. Then for good measure, I put an Aimpoint micro on, and have never looked at the front sight post again.

[GJM]

I'll give you $10 for it.

;)

The irony is he could easily sell it for a profit on Gunbroker, given current circumstances.

[DLWinner]

Mine was canted, and I used those German pliers every PF member in good standing bought a year or so back. Then for good measure, I put an Aimpoint micro on, and have never looked at the front sight post again.

I have a Holosun 407 on mine. I still see the canted front sight.

I sure hope Beretta can make it right. It’s been sent back twice now. That’s absolutely ridiculous for a $1000 shotgun to have these issues. At this point I’m hoping for a replacement. Pretty sure this thing is cursed.
Probably won’t happen, but I can hope.

[GyroF-16]

Yeah.... tried everything. The nut just spins. I’m not happy. This shotgun has been nothing but problems. It’s been off for repair more than I’ve had it. I will send Beretta another email asking what I’m supposed to do. I have also had about 10 malfunctions in 50 rounds. I had none before getting the new barrel. It sucks because I really like the looks and feel of this shotgun. Very smooth shooter. Just a screwed up front sight.

That really sucks.
If the nut holding on the front sight is spinning, it sounds like it got stripped somehow.
If you can get them to send you a new front sight post, including the nut, you may be able to get it on straight.
I’ve found that this front sight:
https://www.blitzkriegcomponents.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BNCFSW
is easier to put on straight. Also easy to pick up quickly. It sits a little higher, but the ghost ring can be raised enough to make it work.

Hope you are able to work out what’s causing the malfunctions, too.

[sigfla]

That really sucks.
If the nut holding on the front sight is spinning, it sounds like it got stripped somehow.
If you can get them to send you a new front sight post, including the nut, you may be able to get it on straight.
I’ve found that this front sight:
https://www.blitzkriegcomponents.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BNCFSW
is easier to put on straight. Also easy to pick up quickly. It sits a little higher, but the ghost ring can be raised enough to make it work.

Hope you are able to work out what’s causing the malfunctions, too.

Buy the Blitz front. Get a set of feeler gauges and find one or a combination that fits in the space between the front sight and the housing. Then tighten as needed. Your sight will be perfect. Honestly I am kinda amazed you sent the gun back for that. Plenty of us have straightened the front post. They put them on quick at the factory and the tolerance is a little wide. Simple 1 minute fix. If you are having other problems that’s different.

[DLWinner]

Buy the Blitz front. Get a set of feeler gauges and find one or a combination that fits in the space between the front sight and the housing. Then tighten as needed. Your sight will be perfect. Honestly I am kinda amazed you sent the gun back for that. Plenty of us have straightened the front post. They put them on quick at the factory and the tolerance is a little wide. Simple 1 minute fix. If you are having other problems that’s different.

I sent it in because the whole post itself was canted. That’s why they replaced the barrel.

[GyroF-16]

I sent it in because the whole post itself was canted. That’s why they replaced the barrel.

Sounds like you’re talking about the whole assembly on the front end of the barrel that the front sight with the dot mounts onto. Is that correct?

[DLWinner]

Sounds like you’re talking about the whole assembly on the front end of the barrel that the front sight with the dot mounts onto. Is that correct?

Yes.
The first time I sent it in they claimed they adjusted the barrel extension.

[DLWinner]

It’s boxed up and ready for UPS to pickup. I really hope they fix it or replace it. It’s really ridiculous to have to send a $1k shotgun in for repairs 3 TIMES.

[Balisong]

That really sucks.
If the nut holding on the front sight is spinning, it sounds like it got stripped somehow.
If you can get them to send you a new front sight post, including the nut, you may be able to get it on straight.
I’ve found that this front sight:
https://www.blitzkriegcomponents.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BNCFSW
is easier to put on straight. Also easy to pick up quickly. It sits a little higher, but the ghost ring can be raised enough to make it work.

Hope you are able to work out what’s causing the malfunctions, too.

I got the Blitzkrieg sight a while back myself, and due to working out of state most of 2022 I'm just now trying to install it. I easily took off the old sight with the 5.5mm wrench, but no matter what I can't thread the nut onto the damn sight. I've even tried without doing it on the shotgun and it won't thread onto this piece of shit. Have you guys had similar problems? Do I need a replacement nut or does the Blitzkrieg sight just suck?

[WobblyPossum]

I got the Blitzkrieg sight a while back myself, and due to working out of state most of 2022 I'm just now trying to install it. I easily took off the old sight with the 5.5mm wrench, but no matter what I can't thread the nut onto the damn sight. I've even tried without doing it on the shotgun and it won't thread onto this piece of shit. Have you guys had similar problems? Do I need a replacement nut or does the Blitzkrieg sight just suck?

Damn. I just ordered one of those front sights yesterday. I hope it’s a one-off issue on yours and not common the the product line.

[Pnut]

My Blitzkrieg sight dropped in fine with the factory nut. I did need to buy a low profile wrench to tighten the nut. I did have a hell of a time starting the nut because there is no room to move around in there unless you have baby fingers.

I ended up placing a piece of masking tape over one side of the wrench to hold and support the nut. I also placed a magnet on the wrench to hold the nut just in case. I’ve dropped and lost too many small part over the years.

I only wish Blitzkrieg provided the ny-lock nut like the factory nut. I have a Benelli M1 that I want to throw a Blitzkrieg on but the Benelli’s front sight is secured with a regular nut and star washer… 2 more tiny things to monkey around with in a tiny space!!!

[GyroF-16]

I got the Blitzkrieg sight a while back myself, and due to working out of state most of 2022 I'm just now trying to install it. I easily took off the old sight with the 5.5mm wrench, but no matter what I can't thread the nut onto the damn sight. I've even tried without doing it on the shotgun and it won't thread onto this piece of shit. Have you guys had similar problems? Do I need a replacement nut or does the Blitzkrieg sight just suck?

I wish I could tell you what’s going on… when installing my Blitzkrieg sight, it was a challenge to get the nut started on the gun (but I was using needle-nose pliers. When off the gun, it threaded just fine). Did you try the nut in both orientations?

[Pnut]

My factory nut is was a nylok style nut… one side has a nylon washer built into it as a locking device. It should thread onto the bolt metal side first.
100192

[GyroF-16]

My factory nut is was a nylok style nut… one side has a nylon washer built into it as a locking device. It should thread onto the bolt metal side first.

That’s sort of what I was remembering…. So wondering if it was being installed with the right orientation.

[HeavyDuty]

That’s sort of what I was remembering…. So wondering if it was being installed with the right orientation.

This is 2023. There is no wrong orientation anymore.

Ahem.

I have one of these, and the only way I was able to mount it was by buying a cheap thin wrench set: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FB2XDXF

[Pnut]

I bought the same exact set of wrenches… but only metric!

[Pnut]

Here’s a pic of my factory nylok nut. The gun was purchased in 2022 but I don’t know if they changed the hardware over the years.
100195

One other tip I have BEFORE disassembly is to draw a hash mark on the front sight housing. When you install the new front post, just line up the mark to help simplify sight alignment. You still might have to adjust the sights after, but this will keep you in the right ballpark
100196

And HeavyDuty, I just got your joke after I composed this reply!!! :)

[Balisong]

Thanks y'all. I was wanting to see if this is a known issue and if so, shine some light on it. Just pisses me off I spent an hour and a half fiddlefucking around with what should have only been a 5 to 10 minute swap, even for someone with my nonexistent mechanical aptitude. I did primarily try with it oriented as Pnut says, but just to rule it out I tried it the other way too. When I go to thread it onto the original post, I can barely get it started and then will only make a couple turns before stopping and then becoming very resistant to more. So I've gone ahead and ordered a replacement nut from MGW. Then added a HK P30 mag to help justify paying more for shipping than the replacement nut cost. If the new nut won't thread onto them then I will see if BK can exchange me another sight. I did see in someone's review on the MGW page for the nut that they stated one of these nuts is only good for one or maybe 2 installs. I will update everyone as it goes, thank you for the tips and insights.

[Pnut]

Just another tip with nylok nuts… they will thread easily UNTIL you reach the nylon section of the nut. Threading into the nylon section requires a little more torque. But that’s the purpose of them. The nylon portion acts as a thread locker, like Loctite.

[Balisong]

Just another tip with nylok nuts… they will thread easily UNTIL you reach the nylon section of the nut. Threading into the nylon section requires a little more torque. But that’s the purpose of them. The nylon portion acts as a thread locker, like Loctite.

Thank you! That's the kind of thing I like to know before I start forcing things. So maybe it is working fine on the factory sight post but not the BK sight. Dang. If thats the case it is probably my BK sight and not the nut. We'll see what happens with the new nut.

[Pnut]

To check the threads of both sights, you can put the sight posts side by side and nest the threads into each other. If they fit into each other, they are the same thread pitch.