I have a Beretta 1201F 3-inch 12-gauge semi-auto that I purchased near the end of the previous millennium. It's in excellent cosmetic shape, has not hunted or competed, but has had probably a couple or three thousand rounds through it just playing and plinking. I love it and shoot it a lot. Over the years its gotten smoother and smoother, and now cycles just about any load except some brands of superlight target stuff. It's bone-stock except for an aftermarket operating handle, and a recently-added (i.e. yesterday!) Speedfeed pistol-grip stock.
But, while trying it out after the stock swap, I noticed a slight rattling sound that seems to come from the rear receiver area when the gun is tipped forward and backward. It occurs only when the bolt is locked back; bolt forward, either cocked or after pulling the trigger, and there's no rattle. I actually removed the stock again and snooped around inside for a cause, but there's nothing visible. The noise is still there if the gun is manipulated and cycled with the stock removed.
I'm not really worried, because I looked at my only other semi-auto shotgun, a Super Vinci with only a couple hundred rounds fired, and damned if it doesn't make the same sound at the same times!
I've literally never noticed this before. In checking all over the internet, I see responses ranging from "They all do that!" to "Don't shoot it, you'll die!" Several shotgun "experts" have suggested it's the gas piston...strange answer considering that they are both inertial guns...
It's gnawing at me; what is it?
But, while trying it out after the stock swap, I noticed a slight rattling sound that seems to come from the rear receiver area when the gun is tipped forward and backward. It occurs only when the bolt is locked back; bolt forward, either cocked or after pulling the trigger, and there's no rattle. I actually removed the stock again and snooped around inside for a cause, but there's nothing visible. The noise is still there if the gun is manipulated and cycled with the stock removed.
I'm not really worried, because I looked at my only other semi-auto shotgun, a Super Vinci with only a couple hundred rounds fired, and damned if it doesn't make the same sound at the same times!
I've literally never noticed this before. In checking all over the internet, I see responses ranging from "They all do that!" to "Don't shoot it, you'll die!" Several shotgun "experts" have suggested it's the gas piston...strange answer considering that they are both inertial guns...
It's gnawing at me; what is it?