I saw a few people using the 1301 Comp at the Rock Castle Pro Am this year, and none of them worked this way. Unless the tactical model operating system is different, there is no problem loading shells with a partially empty gun.
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With the TX-4, which I believe to be functionally the same as the 1301 Tactical, you can get a shell on the lifter my manually pushing the spring loaded latch at the rear of the action. That blocks the magazine. The reason I do that is so I can carry it condition 3, and only work the charging handle to load a round (otherwise from condition 3 you need to depress the spring loaded latch and work the handle). In normal operation, it is like a Benelli, where the action of firing releases a round from THE TUBE, not the lifter, leaving the magazine up encumbered for loading.
Perhaps it's when you pull the trigger that the next round jumps into the carrier vs jumping in as the bolt goes back?
Please excuse my ignorance,besides the price difference why this gun as compared to a M4?
I bought a 1301 on GJMs advice and it came in the other day. It shoots soft and cycles everything I've fed it from light dove/trap loads to slugs and even a mixed bag of some ancient stuff I've had lying around for over 15 years. I've owned a few Benelli social shotguns and the reason I got rid of them is they have all been ammunition finicky, especially with lighter loads.
Another reason I went with Beretta is that I have friends who go dove hunting in Argentina where it's common to shoot 1000s of rounds a day bird hunting. According to my buddy, the loaner guns are all Berettas. When asked why their guides said that after trying various models they have found Berettas to be the most reliable and durable semi autos out there.
I have my 1301 Tactical with the 18" barrel and 5 round mag tube. The mag tube can definitely be topped up in any condition, fired or other wise as long as one knows how to operate the controls correctly. I had originally planned on getting a Versamax, but am quite pleased with the 1301--this new Beretta is nothing like the abysmal 1201. The 1301 is softer shooting than the Benelli M1/M2, but not quite as soft as the 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 lifter needs some work; the Beretta loads fine out of the box.
The only thing I am not digging is the difficulty in adding a good sling and light to the 1301, although Briley and Nordic have solutions I am hoping to try in the next week or so.