[axeman_g]

All,

I acquired one of these over the weekend for HD and therapy. I have pulled it apart somewhat and started getting use to the loading/unloading process. It currently sits with a load of #7.5 Remington Field Loads. I have already called Beretta for a manual, thank you for the suggestion. In addition, I realize this gun is a cousin of the Benelli M1/Super 90 ... part of the reason why I bought it.

Two questions ... I am planning on using a classic European Game gun for grouse hunting the mountains of Georgia this season, but only when it is nice. I have gone in the rain and wet, and come home absolutey filthy, scratched and banged up. I have damaged a couple of guns on these messy day hunts and dont want to damage this new little beaut. (I am being a little snobby ... my apologies)

Will the 1201 work well in the field. Does anyone know the exact choke, bareel length etc? Has anyone used one for trap or birds. I bet it would be a great slug gun for deer, bear etc in those areas where a rifle just isnt allowed.

Also, will a Benelli aftermarket barrel fit and be easy to put on this gun for moments when I would like to use it for field work.

Once again, thank you in advance. I wish I had more knowledge to share at times like this ....

Axe

[mete]

The 1201 is made by Benelli. My M1/90 with plastic stock was bought for field use , with 24" barrel and interchangeble chokes. I doubt that the benelli barrels would fit the 1201 but you might ask both beretta and benelli. If the 1201 doesn't have chokes you might be able to add them.

[Big Arm Hannigan]

My 1201 FP is cylinder choke. I like it alot, but it kicks like a mule with slugs! Would like to know a way to reduce recoil on it. Any ideas anyone? I use it for tactical matches.

[Dave McCracken]

Never owned or even shot a 1201, but....

A short barreled and open choked repeater oft makes an outstanding game gun for those kinds of hunting where shot opps run under 30 yards and the prey isn't armored. Grouse, woodcock and bobwhites come to mind.

And handling this thing in short time frames and under less than ideal conditions in the field will aid greatly in those sphincter affecting Zero dark 30 crises.

Darn near ANY reliable shotgun holding at least two shots is a good HD weapon, the shooter is the weakest link. Use begets expertise, and hunting definitely is use under real world conditions.

I've had the pleasure of seeing some quail hunters try practical matches for the first time and they hit the ground running, at a definite advantage over other newbies.

As for choke, good shotguns like these can be retrofitted with tubes if they're not already so equipped.Not cheap, but a good idea for a GP/HD scattergun.

Big Arm, there's stuff in the Archives on reducing kick. Research will give you tons of good input.

[Ohen Cepel]

I have one of these.

Kicks like h*ll!!!

The only downside I know of the gun is the difficulty I had in finding accessories for it. I had no luck after much searching so I quit. Put a Surefire on it, ammo pouch on the stock, and put it next to the bed. Great use for it.

I don't think the Benelli barrels will fit it. There are pistol grip stocks out there if your's didn't come with one and you want one.

I think it's a cylinder choke. If I had plans to hunt with it I would send it out to have chokes put in it. Would really increase it's usefullness.

Let us know what you do with yours and how it handles your field time. May give me a way to spend more money:D

[axeman_g]

I quess I have been nominated guinea pig ...

I am going to use the 1201 fp for bad weather hunting, shooting during field trials and some trap. Maybe I will get some choke tubes for it ...

This could be fun ....maybe.

[Dave McCracken]

Not Guinea pig, Axe, field tester and researcher. You may wear a white lab coat if you wish...

Hold off on trap until you can screw a Modified or tighter tube into it. Skeet, however, is a close range game this should work for. Again, multiple small fast targets moving in different directions is good training for more important stuff like defense.

Besides those Remington loads, try the AA light target stuff in 9s for skeet. Depending on how many rounds this shotgun has seen, you may get a few glitches at the outset. Disregard unless it continues past a few hundred rounds.

Also, do some patterning for establishing POA/POI and see if the thing fits you. Good grouse and quail hunters get even more obsessive about fit than I do.

HTH...

[BigG]

My 1201FP works like a charm with all loads, incl. light target, however, as others have noted, it kicks like a missoura mule. Probably due to the light weight and vigorous recoil mechanism. Enjoy your new piece!

[CZF]

The 1201 FP was designed as a Police Shotgun. Should you look at
the Manual. You will see that the shotgun will accept other longer
barrels. This gives the 1201 FP a sporting ability.

1201s are very sought after by S. African police personnel who admire
auto shotguns for urban police work.

I'm told the Washington State Patrol also uses them.

For those that think the Benelli is superior..I tell them that it is
the Benelli action with Beretta markings.

Mine also has heavy recoil. The pistol grip stock has a thick recoil
pad, but is unlawful on a post ban 1201 FP that hold six shots:(

The LimbSaver recoil pad might be a worthwhile investment.
I tend to use low base loads for practice. S&B Buckshot for
serious applications.

I've owned other shotguns and 'assault ' type rifles..the sleek
Beretta auto remains my favorite.

Nice to see that other THR members own these fine guns.

[axeman_g]

A quick question ... Can you describe the pattern you get with S&B? I am going to take this weapon out and pattern it next weekend with some different loads, S&B was not going to be one of them due to concerns I have read about the spread being wider then normal due to the felt cap, not the usual plastic cup.

This annoyed me because I have a good source for S&B products.

Mine is a pre-ban I believe .. it holds 6 shells and has really small rifle sights. How else can I tell?

Axe

[cslinger]

I am going to dissent on one issue.

I have a 1201FP and think it is a pussycat in the recoil department.

Now maybet that comes from the fact that I shoot a lot of pump gun with 3 inch or 3.5 inch or maybe it is my 8mm Mauser or whatever but I honestly don't feel the Beretta has all that much bite.

Ok so maybe I am a masochist, I dunno. I mean if most of you feel it has heavy recoil, maybe it does and maybe I am just not sensitive to it.

Other than that cylinder choke, Benelli barrels don't fit, love mine, blah blah blah see above.

Great shotty.

Chris

[BigG]

Cslinger: I say heavy recoil IN COMPARISON to autoloading shotguns of similar configuration/weight. I think the Benelli/Beretta action is harsher than, say, an 1100 autoloader. Not that it is some kinda monster as I shoot heavy recoil stuff as a rule in the rifle dept. 375 H&H, 376 Steyr, 458 Win Mag, etc.

I also like the fact that the Beretta is as reliable as a Glock 19. So I'm sold! :)

[cslinger]

I would agree that the Beretta is a bit harsher then say an 1187 or Extremea but I feel like mine shoots softer then my buddy's Benelli M1S90 set up in the same way.

I would assume gas guns to be softer to recoil guns so the 1187 and Extrema should be softer.

I don't have any experience with any other recoil semi autos other then the Beretta/Benelli so I might not know any better.

Chris

[axeman_g]

I actually am not worried about recoil because nothing could recoil more then my Stevens 311, without a pad which is only a little more intense then a Mossbarg 590 I had and sold. So, recoil is the least of my worries.

Cslinger ... have you seen choke tubes for it or any replacement barrels at all?

[cslinger]

I haven't really looked for barrels or chokes for my 1201fp because mine is really just kind of a fun giggle gun for me.

I had read that one of the big shotgun people, maybe Vang but I don't remember, was doing barrels for the 1201 that were set up to take chokes.

Sorry I don't really have much more info than that.