Beretta 1301 Tactical MOD2 capacity lowered?

banish

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I recently bought a Beretta 1301 Tactical and tried loading it with some A-zoom 12 gauge snap caps at home. I thought it was supposed to have 5+1 capacity, but I can only get 2 of them in the tube. Did I buy a dud, or am I just being an idiot? Did I miss some new capacity regulation?
 
If the tube is standard length, then there will be an internal plug. Waterfowl hunting regulations have no more than three shells in the gun when hunting.
The standard mag tube should be able to hold 5 shells once the plug is removed. States side, they have full length mag tubes to the end of the barrel, and competition guns even beyond the barrel.
 
Thanks Painkillers ! There was indeed a plug and I was just being a noob. Weird how I didn't find any info on it coming from factory with a plug installed in numerous searches. 🤷‍♂️ Hopefully this post helps someone else with the same question.
 
Thanks Painkillers ! There was indeed a plug and I was just being a noob. Weird how I didn't find any info on it coming from factory with a plug installed in numerous searches. 🤷‍♂️ Hopefully this post helps someone else with the same question.
Good to have a factory one. Making my own, I used to get ridiculously fretful about my gun being tested by some hostile game warden and failing because the plug flexed a bit or something. Then I got worried that the wooden dowels I used would absorb rain and promote rust, so I went around looking for suitable plastic rods....
 
If the tube is standard length, then there will be an internal plug. Waterfowl hunting regulations have no more than three shells in the gun when hunting.
The standard mag tube should be able to hold 5 shells once the plug is removed. States side, they have full length mag tubes to the end of the barrel, and competition guns even beyond the barrel.
Please provide exact measurement of what you refer to as "standard length". New mod 2, M-Lok with plug removed, still only taking 4 x 2 3/4, for some reason. Maybe some restricive follower now or something else built in? Assumed it would hold 4 x 3", without any added extention.
 
Please provide exact measurement of what you refer to as "standard length". New mod 2, M-Lok with plug removed, still only taking 4 x 2 3/4, for some reason. Maybe some restricive follower now or something else built in? Assumed it would hold 4 x 3", without any added extention.
Sometimes it's best to read all of a threads comments before posting, new guy.
 
Please provide exact measurement of what you refer to as "standard length". New mod 2, M-Lok with plug removed, still only taking 4 x 2 3/4, for some reason. Maybe some restricive follower now or something else built in? Assumed it would hold 4 x 3", without any added extention.
Fair. I'm not going to bother giving and exact measurement as finding one of my dozen tape measures is a bit of a pain in the as s, but the term "standard length" is vague, opaque.

I should have used the term Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), or factory stock. A term that would have lead the reader to understand that whatever length of magazine tube the gun originally came with is designed to hold no more than 4 shells of whatever the gun is chambered for. 3" chamber in the case of the Beretta 1301. So 4+1=5

From factory, there will, or ought to be an installed plug, a long plastic rod that restricts the magazine to no more than 2 shells of whatever the gun is chambered for. This is done to comply with migratory bird hunting regulations that themselves are in place to mitigate the injuring of birds while hunting. This "plug" I refer to as a "hunting plug".

From factory, there will or ought to also be a magazine spring retainer. This prevents the spring from resting on the magazine cap, permitting the removal of said cap without concern of the spring pressure launching the cap into someone's face, across the field, or lodged into drywall. The spring retainer also assists with being able to thread the cap back on without having to fight with, struggle against spring pressure.

Personally, I take these retainers out and store them with my magazine plugs (as well as caps if/when I put extensions on the magazine). In my mind it allows a little relaxation in the spring which equates to longevity and freedom of movement in the magazine.

If you can't put 4, 3" shells in the OEM magazine with the hunting plug removed, try to carefully remove the spring retainer. Shotgun shell hull length is measured from expanded or opened, not crimped, and there are variances in crimping. These variances can result in a really tight fit when loading the magazine to it's designed maximum. The tolerances in the magazine can be less forgiving than the tolerances in the hull crimps. The 1/4" to 1/2" gained by removing the spring retainer can be the difference needed.

Now, if you want to forgo all that bullshi t, get a Canadian legal +1 extension and use it to replace the OEM magazine cap. The extension allows you to remain compliant while allowing an additional 2.75" shell.

I hope that helps...officer.
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Fair. I'm not going to bother giving and exact measurement as finding one of my dozen tape measures is a bit of a pain in the as s, but the term "standard length" is vague, opaque.

I should have used the term Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), or factory stock. A term that would have lead the reader to understand that whatever length of magazine tube the gun originally came with is designed to hold no more than 4 shells of whatever the gun is chambered for. 3" chamber in the case of the Beretta 1301. So 4+1=5

From factory, there will, or ought to be an installed plug, a long plastic rod that restricts the magazine to no more than 2 shells of whatever the gun is chambered for. This is done to comply with migratory bird hunting regulations that themselves are in place to mitigate the injuring of birds while hunting. This "plug" I refer to as a "hunting plug".

From factory, there will or ought to also be a magazine spring retainer. This prevents the spring from resting on the magazine cap, permitting the removal of said cap without concern of the spring pressure launching the cap into someone's face, across the field, or lodged into drywall. The spring retainer also assists with being able to thread the cap back on without having to fight with, struggle against spring pressure.

Personally, I take these retainers out and store them with my magazine plugs (as well as caps if/when I put extensions on the magazine). In my mind it allows a little relaxation in the spring which equates to longevity and freedom of movement in the magazine.

If you can't put 4, 3" shells in the OEM magazine with the hunting plug removed, try to carefully remove the spring retainer. Shotgun shell hull length is measured from expanded or opened, not crimped, and there are variances in crimping. These variances can result in a really tight fit when loading the magazine to it's designed maximum. The tolerances in the magazine can be less forgiving than the tolerances in the hull crimps. The 1/4" to 1/2" gained by removing the spring retainer can be the difference needed.

Now, if you want to forgo all that bullshi t, get a Canadian legal +1 extension and use it to replace the OEM magazine cap. The extension allows you to remain compliant while allowing an additional 2.75" shell.

I hope that helps...officer.
View attachment 1040047
OK; just couldn't figure why something advertised and sold as a 5+1, 3" chambered gun, won't take (Re-edit, sorry I meant 5 in the tube not 4; it took 4 2 3/4) 4 x 2 3/4" Federal Tactical Flight Control 00 Buck, in the tube...... Very misleading, to say the least. Didn't try 3", as it came, as I don't intend to use those unless that it all I have left....... Already skipped ahead of your reply today, ( reading your mind telepatcically already ), but according to the "Painkillers", I did the right thing! Took it back & they just sold me more stuff. ;) They found 5 different 2 3/4 snaps and undersized blank reloads to squeeze in & show me that it would hold 5 x 2 3/4. Wasn't amused. Said, well, the you agree then it won't hold 5 x 3"? So, bought the extension.... All good now, until time/$$$ for a red dot.
 

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OK; just couldn't figure why something advertised and sold as a 5+1, 3" chambered gun, won't take 4 x 2 3/4" Federal Tactical Flight Control 00 Buck, in the tube...... Very misleading, to say the least. Didn't try 3", as it came, as I don't intend to use those unless that it all I have left....... Already skipped ahead of your reply today, ( reading your mind telepatcically already ), but according to the "Painkillers", I did the right thing! Took it back & they just sold me more stuff. ;) They found 5 different 2 3/4 snaps and undersized blank reloads to squeeze in & show me that it would hold 4 x 2 3/4. Wasn't amused. Said, well, the you agree then it won't hold 4 x 3"? So, bought the extension.... All good now, until time/$$$ for a red dot.
Do you mind me asking which store you got your 1301 from?
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& I'll just add for today, that it has always been only 3 shells total in a shotgun in Ontario, for huning whether hunting migratory birds, small game or large game. Just not planning to use 1301 for that, so plugs that came with it can rest in the case, for the day when I may hunt with it. No grouse left in southern ON. It would be great for that. Shopped for years for a Remington Special Field straight stock, 21". But with no grouse left here anymore so don't need one of those now. So, many of us shotgun hunters are pretty quick at restoking the 3 round guns already.... Dad's buddy use to keep one or 2 hanging out of his mouth when a flock was coming in. I just use my right pocket. ;)
 
Thanks Painkillers ! There was indeed a plug and I was just being a noob. Weird how I didn't find any info on it coming from factory with a plug installed in numerous searches. 🤷‍♂️ Hopefully this post helps someone else with the same question.
Helped me, but still had to use DR Google to figure out how to get it out. Nothing in online manual.........
 
& I'll just add for today, that it has always been only 3 shells total in a shotgun in Ontario, for huning whether hunting migratory birds, small game or large game. Just not planning to use 1301 for that, so plugs that came with it can rest in the case, for the day when I may hunt with it. No grouse left in southern ON. It would be great for that. Shopped for years for a Remington Special Field straight stock, 21". But with no grouse left here anymore so don't need one of those now. So, many of us shotgun hunters are pretty quick at restoking the 3 round guns already.... Dad's buddy use to keep one or 2 hanging out of his mouth when a flock was coming in. I just use my right pocket. ;)
From Ontario Hunting Regulations 2025. "A shotgun must be plugged so that it cannot holdmore than a total of 3 shells in the chamber andmagazine combined." Pg 29.
 
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