Beretta 1301 Competition - Multi-Purpose

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Beretta seems to just get it right when it comes to a good semi-automatic shotgun. They know how to blend a mixture of mechanical reliability into a fast handling and great patterning gun. The 1301 Competition model has its name due to its short length and high magazine capacity, which make it ideal for competition. But more important is reliability, as semis today have to deal with a lot of new loads including light and heavy loads and steel, so Beretta’s gas-operated Blink system is a welcome addition.
Although primarily designed for practical shotgun events, the 1301 Comp has also found favour amongst vermin controllers, as the same characteristics that make it a good competition gun, also make it effective out in the field. After all, it’s short, light, and has a 9+1 capacity!
The great handling is also accentuated by the extended controls, such as the bolt handle and bolt release/mag stop for speedy operation, whilst the synthetic stock makes the 1301 a very practical ‘working’ gun.

The details
What you first notice when you pick the Comp up, is how light it is (3.2kg unloaded), and how short the stock is too! But it just points and shoots so well. The stock, with its black moulded polymer construction, has a tough and yet quite tactile black semi/crinkle finish and hold to it, as it is well constructed and sculptured. The forend is long at 13” and has a distinct, lower deep belly section for the palm of your hand. There is also some moulded-in chequering that does grip and a vented forend section to allow gases from the firing process to be released.
The butt section is short at only 13.25”, which is handy for barricades and practical shooting positions, however, it was too short for me, so I added some spacers between the stock and recoil pad, giving me a length of pull measuring 14.75”, which felt much better. The comb is low and slopes rearward, allowing the cheek to rest comfortably and the eye to line up along the rib very well.
For me, the cast was set perfectly, but Beretta has an adjustable system where inserts are placed between the stock and the action to alter the angle and cast to suit your stature. The pistol grip has the same unusual chequering, which is more serrated and very pronounced, and does what it is meant to do, making it perfect for wet weather or unusual shooting angles.

Action, trigger, and safety
The action is instantly recognisable, with its deep profile and rounded back, and is machined from a solid alloy billet. It is finished with some nice, black anodising that’s both practical and non-reflecting.
The bolt has a pleasant, blued finish and features a separate rotating head with a single claw extractor. This locates into the barrel abutments with two large lugs for a positive lock up, whilst ejection is via a spur on the inside wall of the action.
In keeping with the competition theme, the hollow bolt handle measures 1.5” in length and has six grooved rings of increasing size for grip. It really does make a difference when a speedy reload or cartridge change is needed.
The loading system has been worked on too, with a vented load ramp that has been extended and is made from steel. The access or profile to the ramp is enlarged for easy, snag-free loading. Well, unless you have gloves on. See the video on Gun Mart TV!

Here is the video:
Watch it here!

The extended bolt release catch measures 40mm in length and has an oblong profile. It pivots left and right on a stud, and when pushed right, it will release the locked bolt. Operating it left or rear drops a round from the mag onto the follower each time it is pushed, which is handy for emptying the mag with the loading ramp/carrier held down. Due to the 9+1 capacity, this model is classed as a Section 1/FAC-rated shotgun. A mag restrictor plug is included, and the polymer extended magazine is free-floated from the barrel.
Finally, the smooth trigger blade is easily accessible through a large trigger guard, and on test, broke at 3.35 lbs, so not bad at all. Just in front of the trigger guard is the push-through safety button. It is triangular in shape and is easily operated with the trigger finger.

The barrel
The barrels of Beretta’s guns are made with their proprietary high-tensile strength alloy, resulting in exceptional durability both inside and out. At only 24” long, the barrel is level with the extended mag tube, and as a result, it gives the 1301 a purposeful look and great handling qualities. The gun comes in 12-gauge, has a 3” chamber, is steel shot-proofed, and uses the Beretta Optima choke system. The long choke tube produces better patterns and less pellet distortion. However, I only had a full choke with the test gun.
Up top, the rib sits 10mm above the barrel and aids target acquisition and tracking. There is a silver bead at 10” and then at the muzzle, there is a red dayglo sight.
Beretta’s Blink gas-operated split ring valve system is simple yet super-fast and clean, as it lets less gas into the operating mechanism. It offers the efficient handling of 24-gram to 36-gram loads.

Field Test
Because the 1301 is a competition gun, I decided to just pattern one load at 30 yards, using the full choke provided. I would then trial it in different positions while testing its reliability and speed! Most Comp users use 28-grams of No. 7.5 shot, so using Winchester Parcours was a good idea, as these rounds pattern well and operate reliably in a semi-auto. We had a total of 340 pellets on the board, distributed with 187 inner hits and 153 outer strikes, creating a very dense and even pattern, as expected.
Next up, while still using the Parcours, I set up five clays at 20 ft. Then, from a standing position, I proceeded to shoot as fast and accurately as I could to bust all five clays and test reliability. The 1301 passed with flying colours and all the clays were busted. When shooting this shotgun, you will discover how flat the sightline is, as there is minimal recoil deflection, so the next shot is lined up almost automatically as the barrel comes to rest. The gun was light on the shoulder too, and we shot a lot of clays. Overall, great fun and no sore shoulder or cheekbone afterwards!
I also shot from a crouched position, squatting, over a rubble mound, and at oblique angles, and the 1301 Comp was a pussycat to shoot. I even managed to get a few rabbits that were running along an earth bank that they had burrowed into.
We also shot it with 24-gram Blue Diamonds and some Pro Fibre loads, which are a light competition/clay load. Initially, the 1301 struggled, but after a long shooting session we tried them again and they fed fine. This proves to me that a new semi does need a little shooting in to get it all smooth and performing at its best.
Overall, the gun was light, it handled really well, even when fully loaded, and the recoil was light. Being able to shoot one, two, five or nine rounds with minimal muzzle flip is a real bonus and makes the Comp ideal for targets and/or vermin. I did fit an A-Tec A12 sound moderator, but none of the subsonic rounds would cycle, which is a shame. The Eley Hushpower came the closest.

Conclusion
Forget about the obvious practical looks, this 1301 Comp is just as suitable for vermin as it is for practical shotgun target use. In the tests, it functioned flawlessly, even when my glove got stuck in the loading port. That was my fault, not the gun! Also, it is appealing at under £1500, but a full complement of chokes would be nice.

Here is the video:
Watch it here!