1301 - anyone try bear bangers or rubber slugs?

G

G.Mitchell

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Hey folks,

I heavily use a shotgun for bear deterrent and protection on my rural property.

I want to move from my 870 setup to a 1301 but I’ve got a question.

Right now when I deal with a bear I have the 870 tube loaded with slugs and manually load in non lethal loads to drive the bear off but have slugs loaded just in case things go even more badly.

That works with a manual shotgun. In the 1301 a rubber load or bear banger load won’t cycle the action fully; due to this will it cause a jam? What happens in the 1301 if a load can’t fully operate the gas system and bolt?

My hope is I could still manually load in non lethal loads and keep the mag tube full of slugs.

Anyone run their 1301 in a similar role?
 
G.Mitchell said:
My hope is I could still manually load in non lethal loads and keep the mag tube full of slugs.
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This is not gonna happen. In order to eject the spent casing the action has to be fully cycled. That will cause the action to pick up a fresh round from the mag. Unless you figure out some kind of magazine cutoff, you can't keep the mag full while you manually feed and cycle low powered rounds.

What makes you think a semi-auto is an improvement over your 870? The semi has a smaller mag and as noted above won't cycle lightweight rounds.
 
Yes know you could dump the round that comes out of the mag but as we are dealing with a close encounter with a BEAR, juggling rounds in and out of the action is wildly stupid plan and eventually will end badly ... for you.

Stick with the 870.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
This is not gonna happen. In order to eject the spent casing the action has to be fully cycled. That will cause the action to pick up a fresh round from the mag. Unless you figure out some kind of magazine cutoff, you can't keep the mag full while you manually feed and cycle low powered rounds.

What makes you think a semi-auto is an improvement over your 870? The semi has a smaller mag and as noted above won't cycle lightweight rounds.
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I’ve wanted a semi auto 12ga for years and with fancy socks banning everything I got thinking maybe it’s time to move up to a semi.

Don’t think it can replace a manual shotgun for my needs though. Just wanted to inquire and see if my thinking was right.
 
You will have a straight-pull at best. Being gas operated the gun hasn't got a chance in hell with such low pressure shells. I would suggest buying a dedicated launcher for bear bangers while keeping your 1301 loaded with nothing but lethal ammunition. I wouldn't waste money or time shooting anything with rubber slugs or buck so I don't know what to say there.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
Yes know you could dump the round that comes out of the mag but as we are dealing with a close encounter with a BEAR, juggling rounds in and out of the action is wildly stupid plan and eventually will end badly ... for you.

Stick with the 870.
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I fully agree. I think it’s a juggling act that’s unwise.

870 I shoot and partially pump presse the next she’ll back into the mag tube. Eject the shell. Load in another banger or rubber load. Repeat as needed. This works but I’m a sucker for a semi auto. Just can’t see how I can make it work for my needs though.
 
B said:
You will have a straight-pull at best. Being gas operated the gun hasn't got a chance in hell with such low pressure shells.
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Yeah, the straight pull would load another shell though right? I know the 1301 has a feature that makes it so you can do load swap over without it ejecting from the mag tube. Pulling the trigger though won’t allow this to function that way?

Curious if the banger/rubber will run the action at all or enough to cause issues.

I think it’s too much juggling with a semi, pump gun is best I think for my needs.
 
G.Mitchell said:
I’ve wanted a semi auto 12ga for years and with fancy socks banning everything I got thinking maybe it’s time to move up to a semi.

Don’t think it can replace a manual shotgun for my needs though. Just wanted to inquire and see if my thinking was right.
Click to expand...

Not suggesting you shouldn't have a semi, only that for the application you are asking about, a semi wouldn't work and would potentially be a big liability. The 1301 is a nice gun. I contemplated one myself but the price combined w the 5 round limit turned me off. I've had my 870 more than 30 years and with the mag extension it holds 8 rounds of full power loads and is 100% reliable and tough as nails. It also cost 1/3 what the 1301 costs.
 
G.Mitchell said:
Yeah, the straight pull would load another shell though right? I know the 1301 has a feature that makes it so you can do load swap over without it ejecting from the mag tube. Pulling the trigger though won’t allow this to function that way?

Curious if the banger/rubber will run the action at all or enough to cause issues.

I think it’s too much juggling with a semi, pump gun is best I think for my needs.
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There is no chance rubber buckshot etc will cycle a recoil operated shotgun.

Even if the 1301 has some fancy method of swapping out rounds, the stress and potential panic associated with a bear close encounter is virtually guaranteed to induce a fumble while swapping rounds. Like B above, I'd never carry around non-lethal ammo for use in a bear encounter. IF you need to shoot, it should be a 100% lethal round from the get-go.

One potential complication w a recoil operated shotgun, is that the thing has to be on your shoulder to function. Years ago I saw a vid of a photographer who purchased a Benelli without understanding how the gun works. He caught a Polar bear stalking him. He fired a warning shot from the hip and luckily scared the bear off because the gun had failed to cycle and jammed the empty hull in the ejection port. Had that bear not been so easily dissuaded, that photographer would have ended up as bear poop. There is a lot to be said for a simple, straightforward and rugged pump action. Pump that ##### like you hate her and it will run just fine. ;)
 
B said:
You will have a straight-pull at best. Being gas operated the gun hasn't got a chance in hell with such low pressure shells. I would suggest buying a dedicated launcher for bear bangers while keeping your 1301 loaded with nothing but lethal ammunition. I wouldn't waste money or time shooting anything with rubber slugs or buck so I don't know what to say there.
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Good points. I’ve got grizzlies all around us. Each year they kill livestock around me. Each year they unsuccessfully try to trap them. Each year I have the same chat regarding what I can do. 12ga rubber slugs and ball and bangers is all I can do.

Black bear here is a different story altogether.

Your suggestion of a dedicated launcher is a good one. Unfortunately I do need the ability to use non lethal ammo. Grizzlies have gotten into coops and been too close to people to use bangers. Rubber loads do wonders though.

Being on a migration path and food source path keeps me well practiced in driving off bears.
 
You can buy a pen flare launcher as a dedicated unit for bangers. No rubber shells of course but it's an option. If your situation is as rigid as it seems you may have to just look at using a pump-action. Be sure to pump with authority, a short stroke will be a big deal...
 
G.Mitchell said:
I’ve wanted a semi auto 12ga for years and with fancy socks banning everything I got thinking maybe it’s time to move up to a semi.

Don’t think it can replace a manual shotgun for my needs though. Just wanted to inquire and see if my thinking was right.
Click to expand...

Might be just me, but I've always believed a bear shot gun should be manually operated, for dependancy.

Grizz
 
B said:
You can buy a pen flare launcher as a dedicated unit for bangers. No rubber shells of course but it's an option. If your situation is as rigid as it seems you may have to just look at using a pump-action. Be sure to pump with authority, a short stroke will be a big deal...
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Yeah I’ve got a pen launcher here for when I’m not home.

I’ve run pump shotguns for 30 years so I’m very familiar with running them with authority. :)
 
OK, I have actually done this - rubber slug, followed by buckshot, followed by Foster slug. The rubber round does not have enough energy to cycle the action BUT haul back the handle and she'll eject the hull, load the buckshot and you're off to the races. How to actually do it. Chamber load the rubber slug, then load the mag with what you want. Incidentally, the rubber slug will load from the tube because loading from the mag is a function of the dimensions of the cartridge, not its power. It won't eject, but it will do everything else.
 
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