Benelli 121 M1

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FoMoGo

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Ran across a benelli 121m1 today while I was out and about.
Hadnt heard of it before today, got home and did some research.
I think I will be calling them tomorrow and seeing about putting a hold on it.
$475 for a used shotgun seemed steep at the time, but since reading up some on it... what little I was able to find... it actually looks like it is a steal.
Anyone have advice or info to pass along to me on them?


Jim
 
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Ive heard of it before. Its just another recoil operated gun of Benellis. It was one of the earlier ones if Im not mistaken. Supposedly has the capability of very rapid fire even faster than todays Benellis. I really dont have anything nice to say about Benellis in genreral so I will stop here.
 
It is the predecessor to the M1 Super 90. It should have wood furniture instead of plastic and a two piece receiver like a Super Black Eagle, IIRC. I think the manual for the SBE may be more representative of the 121 than the Super 90's.
 
I handled it today, very fast handling shotgun.
Reading up on it, it holds 7 in the magazine, 1 in the chamber and 1 on deck.
It does have the wood furniture and has factory sling swivels.
Also, it seems to fire faster then the triggerman can push it.


Jim
 
I have one I got for 400 quite a few years ago, Kicked like a Mule so I add a recoil pad. If I didn’t already have one I would pay 475
 
I have a M1 super90--with the black plastic field furniture, a 26" field barrel, the 18" slug barrel, and the 7-shot extension tube.

I, too, added an aftermarket recoil pad.

There's a video somewhere, from that early Nineties time period, of the Benelli factory shooter running out 7 shells--of varying types, from birdshot to 00 buck, as fast as he can pull the trigger.

It's a fine shotgun--fits me perfectly; never wanted anything else.

Jim H.
 
Called and put it on hold.
Tomorrow we will head down and look at it again and see about slapping down some cash on it.
Looks like it will replace the remington 1100 LT20 on my wifes side of the bed. :D


Jim
 
Good buy for a good price. Let us know how it shoots. I don't shoot mine much, probably have about3 or 4 hundred rounds through it over the years with out one problem.
 
FoMoGo

My heart jumped when I saw M121. I had one many many years ago and I had to sell it when I got divorced. It, as you know by now, can fire very fast and was banned from import shortly after reaching the US because of their ability to be fired rapidly. Once that happened the SPAS 12 was the shot gun to have, then the Super 90 arrived and that was the shot to be had, if my memory serves me correctly.

Have fun and keep it!!!...


Semper Fi
 
Took it to the range today and gave it a small workout.
This is the first semi auto shotgun I have not outrun on the trigger.
This thing is FAST.
Not only is it fast, it stays on target.
Straight back recoil and minimal muzzle rise.
Fairly compact and well weighted, swings smooth.
I am impressed with my purchase.
And having it next to the bed with 9 rounds in it is a nice feel.


Jim
 
Lucky

When I bought mine, mid 80's, I sanded down the stocks and then lightly burned in a tiger stripe design and then re stained it. I would see about spare parts for future use because they are rare. They are Fast, Light and Accurate.

Lucky $%&$@#
 
Yea, I have been keeping my eyes open for furniture... the cupboards are rather bare, and calling Benelli and getting new ones sent from Italy sends sharp pains to my hip pocket. :D


Jim
 
Hi FoMoGo. I am a bit late on this thread, but glad you went ahead and purchased. I have one of these; owned 3 over my lifetime. They are of course a Police and Military style shotgun, so not really good for hunting or other activities. BUT, if the stuff ever does hit the fan, that would be one of the first items I will grab. I have added a light mount (forgot who made it) so I can now mount a weapon light forward of the fore grip. I recall it was very tight to slip this mount down over the tube. I think I had to oil it up good to ease it over. :)

One of the features I love about the gun, but you need to practice it, is that with a full or even a partial mag, nothing will load into the chamber. You have to manually load the first round and then she cycles all the rest upon firing (with a pull of the trigger for each shot). I like this as a safety feature for the unknowing. They might grab your gun, but unless they know to drop a round in the chamber, they can cycle the bolt handle all they want and no shell will release from the magazine tube. I used to just put a shell craddled between the barrel and the magazine tube with a heavy rubber band. Or, you could add a buttstock shell holder and grab it from there.

Mine definitely needs heavy loads to cycle. It just doesn't like light game loads. You have inspired me to pull mine out of the safe and do some shooting. Thanks!
 

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Rumor is, the M1-121 was the fastest autoloading shotgun period. It is the only Benelli I have owned and it is the only Benelli I have liked. Its applications are limited so I sold it and do not regret it. It is true that the gun does not like lighter loads. That is something that Benelli has somewhat worked out since then at least.
 
Well, I have been living with this shotgun for a while... and am more impressed with it every time I use it.
I have had 1 malfunction... but that was with 1 round out of a case of cheap light field loads. She likes to be used hard and like the heavy loads.
With slugs, buck, buck n ball... you can run it as hard and fast as you can, and the only drawback is that you will get it too hot to handle.
My wife blistered her hand on the barrel after a rounds on target run.

I cant say enough good things about this weapon.


Jim
 
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