Benelli 121m1 -- What exactly is this?

[Amish_Bill]

I have a chance at a Benelli 121m1 semi 12g.

What kind of Shotty is this?
Any good?
Comparisons to any shotguns I might have heard of?

Thanks,
AB

 

[Amish_Bill]

x

 

[Preacherman]

I don't recognize the model designation. Are you sure you got it right?

 

[stinx]

The Benelli M121 were the first generation of Benelli shotguns imported into the U.S.. My agency still has 6 in the armory. They are all beat to hell and long sice been taken of the line. Occassionally I will take one out to the range just for the heck of it. I believe my agnecy first got them around 1982 or so. They were originally imported by H/K. About 5 years ago I went to a Benelli armores class.HK was still involed at this time. I brought an M121 with me. The instructor had no idea how to disassemble the gun, and stated he had never even seen one before!! IF the gun is in good shape and priced right, go for it!!

 

[Amish_Bill]

decent shape, rifle sights, wood furniture, full length mag tube

I'm not a fan of Shotty's in general, but this looks to be most of a super90m1 without the pistolgrip and at least a third cheaper.

 

[Jeff White]

I have a Benelli M121 M1. It's a good reliable shotgun. The only thing wrong is there is a design flaw that was later corrected in the M1 Super 90. There is a button on the right side of the receiver that you have to depress to get the shell lifter to raise when you load. This makes loading with the support hand while keeping the weapon on target a tad difficult. It can be done, but it's not as smooth as with the Super 90 or a Remington or Mossberg. Supposedly at one time there was a modification made to fix this problem, but the kit is pretty much unavailable now.

You have to hold it tight against your shoulder for it to function. If it doesn't have a solid surface to recoil against it will malfunction. Of course that's not really a problem, you need to provide a solid platform to shoot any shotgun well.

I like mine. If you can get into it for a good price go for it. They are good guns. I used mine in Louis Awerbuck's Stage 1 Shotgun course back in 2003. It held up well. It was a pain fumbling with that button though.

Jeff