I have a Beretta 1301 comp shotgun. It has never consistently cycled target loads. It will fire the first and sometimes the second but rarely more than two shells. It seems to work great with low recoil buck shot and slugs. When I say it doesn't cycle I mean after firing it locks the bolt back even though there are more shells in the magazine. I have tried a variety of shells including Winchester and STS. Any ideas what the issue might be or is this normal for this gun?

Which winchester loads?  What target loads have you tried specifically?

 

I found that my 11-87 requires higher FPS loads in order to cycle properly.  I use 1200+ FPS loads.  I have some Nobelsport NS27 and some Estate Upland loads that shoot 1250+ FPS and they cycle really well.

1301 should work with damn near every load. When it locks back are there any shells on the lifter? It sound to me like there are not in which case the shell's being target shouldn't matter, you probably have some form of feeding issue with round not being released from the tube.

Some of the shells I have tried are (all 12 guage - 2 3/4"):

1. Remington Premier STS Light Target 8 1/2 (1145 fps, DrEq=2 3/4, Oz Shot=1 1/8)
2. Winchester xtra-lite target load 8, 81/2, and 9 (1180 fps, Oz Shot=1)
3. Fiocchi White Rino 7 1/2, and 8 (1250 fps, Oz Shot=1 1/8)
4. Winchester AA Heavy Traacker 7 1/2 (1250 fps, DrEq=3, Oz Shot 1 1/8)

When it locks back there are no shells on the lifter.

 

I have taken it apart a couple of times and thoroughly cleaned and lubricated it.

 

I also added a +1 Nordic extension which had its own spring and same results (since then I removed the extension put back the original spring).

 

Is there anything in particular that I can look at?

Hmm... Have you tried a different follower?  I added a nordic teflon follower in my mag tube -feeds so much better.

I'm grabbin' at straws here tryin' to help ya, so if what I type sounds absurd, just bear with me.

 

Take a flashlight and look into the magazine to make sure that there aren't any hidden burrs that would "catch" the spring or the metal "pusher" at the end of the spring.  Because something is prohibiting the normal feeding.  The fact that you report to us that the semi-auto action is locking itself all of the way back means that the loads are probably powerful enough to cycle the action AND that you're not "limp-shouldering" a semi-auto action.  If the bolt comes all of the way back it usually means that the loads will cycle.

 

Does the spring go into the gun only ONE way?  Does the manufacturer say to install it only one way?  Are any parts missing that appear on the exploded view in the owners manual?  Obviously if I could see it screw-up I'd have more to say/try to make it work.

 

Let us know if you find anything and good luck!

 

Dave

Also, unless I'm mistaken, the 1301 feeds like a Benelli, which is to say that a new shell is released onto the lifter when you press the trigger, not when the action cycles, thus the actual recoil/power/energy/etc of the shells shouldn't come into the release of the shell from the tube. 

 

Try a couple of experiments, in a SAFE LOCATION:

 

1) If you press the shell release button in front of the trigger guard, with the bolt forward on a empty chamber,  does a shell release from the tube onto the lifter?

2) When the gun doesn't feed correctly, if you release the bolt, and then press the shell release, does a shell make it to the lifter?

3) When the gun doesn't feed correctly, if you release the bolt, and PRESS THE TRIGGER, does a shell make it to the lifter? (this is the one you need to make sure you do safely with nothing in the chamber)

Also take a look at this thread on Enos: http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=211909

 

You might not be the only person with this issue. 

Did you break it in with slugs first ? If you did then they will run the lighter stuff.....run a box of slugs then try again

I just ordered the Nordic Teflon coated follower. I am not sure if that is problem but it sounds like a good idea anyway.

Dave: I tried these things and they look OK. Thanks.

Vlad: Just to make sure I am looking at the right button: what you called the shell release button is called the carrier stop button in the manual (a small 1/4" metal button on the hinged end of the lifter).

 

I tried these tests and the shell is not being released either by the carrier stop button or by pressing the trigger (I used dummy shells to test this). I didn't even realize it was suppose to release a shell. I always loaded the first shell directly into the chamber. I can see the shell stop that holds the shells in the magazine moving but I think the shell is still caught up on it.

 

I checked the Brian Enos thread and that sounds similar to what I am seeing. I am going to try removing the part and as they suggested doing some light polishing with a stone on the cartridge latch. I will report back on whether that fixes the problem.

Yep, if the little button and the trigger don't release a shell you have a feed issue not related to the shell "power". 

 

Flip the gun upside down and press the little button and see if the shell intercept or whatever they call that bit that touches the shells move at all, not enough to clear a shell, dragging on the shell, etc. It could either not be moving AT ALL in which case something is actually broken, or it may have a lot of drag and polishing it may help. 

Yes I do see the shell stop move to the left but apparently not enough to release the shell. I am hoping the polishing will do the trick.

So I used a stone followed by some 400 grit emery cloth.

 

At least with dummy shells when I click the trigger or press the carrier stop button a shell is fed onto the carrier.

 

I am feeling like this was the problem.

 

The proof will be when I get to the range and try some light loads.

 

Thanks everyone for the help (particularly Vlad) and I will let you know how it goes.

Thats great news, I hope it works for you. 

Nice....hope she runs smooth now

Nice.  Enjoy better feeding with the nordic teflon follower too.

I tried the shotgun today and success!!

 

I tried a variety of shells and nothing hung up in the magazine. I did find that the really light loads (950fps) would not cycle the bolt back but the other +1150fps loads worked great.

 

There is no way I would have figured this out myself so a big thanks to everyone.

 

As advertised the gun is really fast. I could fire the 7 shells (6+1) as fast as I could pull the trigger The recoil is pretty light especially with the Limbsaver butt pad I installed.

Awesome......glad you worked it out