I am seeing these appear for the $12-1300 range. Is it worth it and what are the differences? I know about the fixed-removeable chokes, but what else. It's my first semi (long time wingmaster guy). No one does 3 gun around here but The Barrie club does some action shotgun from what I've heard. The gen 2's seem almost non existent in black and about $400 more
Beretta 1301 tactical gen 1
- Thread starter dogzilla
- Start date
Other than the chokes, serial number located in a different spot for the people that remove more material around the loading port that is slightly larger already, they modified the shell release to prevent accidentally releasing multiple shells at once and jamming the action if bumped the "right" way in Gen 2. The There is a cover a few companies make to prevent it in Gen 1 guns. Aridus Industries makes great accessories for the 1301, including this latch cover mod. Beretta makes a plastic guard too for about $10 US on their site for the cost effective option that does the same thing. I did a bit of reading on this before I bought my Gen 2 a while back, and people who shoot the gun in competition a lot also say the issue is overblown. I'm one of those people that doesn't like something that could happen in the back of my mind - marketers love me.
The 1301 is my favorite shotgun...
But there is one drawback that I hope they adressed. Occasionally a shell will hang up in the ejection port. This is because, even though its a 3 inch action, the ejection occurs at 2.75 and a slightly long hull can get hung up.
I believe that little bump on the left side of the receiver should be back maybe 0.030" to make sure all hulls clear at ejection.
Might be one day I'll get in there with a die grinder and move it back a bit.
But there is one drawback that I hope they adressed. Occasionally a shell will hang up in the ejection port. This is because, even though its a 3 inch action, the ejection occurs at 2.75 and a slightly long hull can get hung up.
I believe that little bump on the left side of the receiver should be back maybe 0.030" to make sure all hulls clear at ejection.
Might be one day I'll get in there with a die grinder and move it back a bit.
This. Buy the Gen1, use the savings over a Gen2 to upgrade the latch and order bunch of Ammo. The 1301's will be in very limited supply over the next year or two, one, because they tend to sell out quick. And two, Covid hit Italy hard and Beretta production was delayed quite a bit.
