1st 'tacticool' shotgun: Beretta 1301

[sd_shooter]

I bought a 1301 on impulse a couple weeks ago! Must admit I've been heavily swayed by all the James Reeves videos YT started pushing on me
It came with a 'free' red dot, it really helped sell this. Plus the included Mesa stock + cheek rest feels super comfortable.

Bought a couple hundred rounds of Federal 00 'flight control', it will be mostly for function check since I don't want to burn through it. I'll use bird shot to break this in.

Lightly modded of course:
- GGG aluminum magazine cap + clamp (OEM was plastic)
- BCM M-Lok QD for front sling mount
- Mesa Tactical 'limbsaver' gel pad for the stock
- Magpul MS1 sling
- Removed the internal plastic magazine end cap (allows proper loading of longer shells when using full 7rd capacity)

[BOBGBA]

I don't think Beretta semi-auto shotguns need to be broken in.

[sd_shooter]

I don't think Beretta semi-auto shotguns need to be broken in.

Great - then I'll just put it right in my closet!

[DB2896]

I bought a 1301 on impulse a couple weeks ago! Must admit I've been heavily swayed by all the James Reeves videos YT started pushing on me
It came with a 'free' red dot, it really helped sell this. Plus the included Mesa stock + cheek rest feels super comfortable.

Bought a couple hundred rounds of Federal 00 'flight control', it will be mostly for function check since I don't want to burn through it. I'll use bird shot to break this in.

Lightly modded of course:
- GGG aluminum magazine cap + clamp (OEM was plastic)
- BCM M-Lok QD for front sling mount
- Mesa Tactical 'limbsaver' gel pad for the stock
- Magpul MS1 sling
- Removed the internal plastic magazine end cap (allows proper loading of longer shells when using full 7rd capacity)

Looks great! I also had impulse bought a 1301 Mod.2 recently. Unfortunately, haven't had a time to take it to the range yet. My LGS told me it did need to be lubed first then broken in. I didn't see that process in the manual from Beretta though.

Lots of cool mods out there for these, just wish there was more available on the secondary marketplace. I've been spoiled by all the P320 stuff I've been able to find great deals on. So far I'm not quite sure what mods I'm gonna do. Magpul stock is tempting, or anything to get a shorter LOP. I tried a pistol grip at the range and really didn't like it. Handguard and maybe a heat shield of some type is also something I'm interested in but not sure which one - plus new ones seem to keep coming out. I know Langdon Tactical recently released an interesting heat shield.

[BOBGBA]

Great - then I'll just put it right in my closet!

It may take a bunch of shells to familiarize yourself with it and to build muscle memory.

...My LGS told me it did need to be lubed first then broken in. I didn't see that process in the manual from Beretta though...

I'd probably clean and lube it first.


This is all I could find on breaking it in.
It came from a Beretta manual on line (see page #25). https://www.beretta.com/content/dam/...uto_Manual.pdf


"Beretta recommends: To immediately obtain superior firearm performance and optimum cartridge versatility from your shotgun , fire some medium power cartridges first (32 g / 1.1/8 oz)".


To me, that's more of a function check than a "breaking it in".
But I guess you could consider that breaking it in.


Hope you both post about what your first range sessions.

[DB2896]

Thanks Bob!

[valken]

Great - then I'll just put it right in my closet!

Nooooo. Get that to the range and train.

[oddball]

Congrats! I bought my 1301 Mod 2 late summer and it is my favorite gun right now, it has replaced my AR15 as H.D. long gun. One thing I did was to pattern the gun with different loads- #8 birdshot, Hornady Critical Defense 00 Buck, Federal FliteControl 00 Buck, Rio 00 buck, etc., at 7 rds and 15 yrds. The FliteControl is tight- 2" at 7rds, 4 inch group at 15. I was out with it on Thurs with my wife, shooting at a buddy's property and my wife loves it too. She doesn't like pumps, she has short-stroked them occasionally and appreciates semi-auto. And yes, muscle memory is important since it loads differently than a Mossberg 590. Excellent gun, you'll love it.

[Mute]

Looks great! I also had impulse bought a 1301 Mod.2 recently. Unfortunately, haven't had a time to take it to the range yet. My LGS told me it did need to be lubed first then broken in. I didn't see that process in the manual from Beretta though.

Lots of cool mods out there for these, just wish there was more available on the secondary marketplace. I've been spoiled by all the P320 stuff I've been able to find great deals on. So far I'm not quite sure what mods I'm gonna do. Magpul stock is tempting, or anything to get a shorter LOP. I tried a pistol grip at the range and really didn't like it. Handguard and maybe a heat shield of some type is also something I'm interested in but not sure which one - plus new ones seem to keep coming out. I know Langdon Tactical recently released an interesting heat shield.

If you need a shorter LOP and you don't mind losing the pistol grip, the Magpul stock is an excellent choice. When I got my 1301 I got it directly from Langdon with all the fixings and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

[tacticalcity]

Way cooler than my first Tacticool Shotgun, which was a Remington 870. Looking forward to some range reports. Enjoy.

[DB2896]

If you need a shorter LOP and you don't mind losing the pistol grip, the Magpul stock is an excellent choice. When I got my 1301 I got it directly from Langdon with all the fixings and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Mine currently has the regular stock, the pistol grip I tried was a range rental. Initial impression was that I did not like the pistol grip. Need to get some time with the regular stock and see how much I feel I want a shorter LOP or different fit. But even for other reasons the Magpul seems like a nice upgrade.

One of my biggest gripes is the color though. My 1301 is FDE and the Magpul FDE is a drastically different color. Not sure if I just go with black furniture and lose a little of the look I prefer or maybe try using RIT dye to darken the Magpul pieces.

[Mute]

Mine currently has the regular stock, the pistol grip I tried was a range rental. Initial impression was that I did not like the pistol grip. Need to get some time with the regular stock and see how much I feel I want a shorter LOP or different fit. But even for other reasons the Magpul seems like a nice upgrade.

One of my biggest gripes is the color though. My 1301 is FDE and the Magpul FDE is a drastically different color. Not sure if I just go with black furniture and lose a little of the look I prefer or maybe try using RIT dye to darken the Magpul pieces.

I hear you on the coloring. FDE is always different shades from everyone. As worse, you can try to color match the stock on your own. Also, going two tone may not look as bad as you think. Check out this link to see what it looks like: https://www.calguns.net/forum/firear...eretta-1301-g2

Regarding pistol grips and shorter LOP, I find that most people have LOP too long on their shotguns and would benefit a great deal from reducing that. Like you, I personally dislike pistol grips on shotguns and often find my shotgun students do better with a traditional stock over one with a PG. Try to find someone with a shotgun with the magpul stock and try it out. I may find it very much to your liking.

[WOODY2]

[QUOTE=BOBGBA;n54429743][SIZE=16px]

It may take a bunch of shells to familiarize yourself with it and to build muscle memory.

Yep, good advice. Don't want to be in a SHTF event in the dark under pressure.

[JohnCCW]

I would put the butt sling mount on the same side as your M-Loc sling swivel.
The red dot is pretty useless unless you sight it in for slugs. Iron sights are more than adequate for effective range of slugs. Otherwise, you don’t aim a shotgun, you point it when using shot.

[DB2896]

I hear you on the coloring. FDE is always different shades from everyone. As worse, you can try to color match the stock on your own. Also, going two tone may not look as bad as you think. Check out this link to see what it looks like: https://www.calguns.net/forum/firear...eretta-1301-g2

Regarding pistol grips and shorter LOP, I find that most people have LOP too long on their shotguns and would benefit a great deal from reducing that. Like you, I personally dislike pistol grips on shotguns and often find my shotgun students do better with a traditional stock over one with a PG. Try to find someone with a shotgun with the magpul stock and try it out. I may find it very much to your liking.

Yeah, my Sig M17 and M18 are all sorts of shades of FDE 😂 It doesn't have to look bad. But the Magpul and Beretta FDE's are SO, SO very different and the pics I've seen don't look like a great combo. I've seen the black furniture on the FDE shotgun and do like the look but it's not top of the list. It'll most likely be the route I'll go.

This is my first shotgun, first long gun actually (other than my grandfather's Winchester 94) so I don't have the experience to know what kind of fit I like or works best for me. Gonna have to work on figuring that out But yeah, my initial impression of the Gen1 I rented at the range was that I didn't like the pistol grip at all and felt like shorter LOP would be nice. This is purely a HD gun so I figure smaller and more maneuverable can't be a bad thing.