Older Benelli 121 military

[Owen Sparks]

I have an old (early '80's) Benelli 121 millitary shotgun that predates the Super 90 serise. I really like it and just wondered if any of you have had any experience with one. Unlike the Super 90, it has wooden stocks and the bolt head does not rotate upon lockup. It's major quirk is that it must be kept "locked and cocked" as there is no provision to release a shell from the magazine tube in order to chamber it. Anyway, It cycles every bit as fast as the more modern models.

Just curious, OS

 

[ShunZu]

Owen, if you're still around, I have one and absolutely love it. It serves well as a slug gun 'cause of its very nice "almost" ghost ring, (shoots 3" groups @ 100, no kidding), rabbit, pheasant, quail and dove gun. I had to have a gunsmith make me a plug a few years back so I could use it in the field.

That "quirk" you spoke of is actually the way the designers intended it to work -- you can extract a shell already chambered (say, a 7 1/2 light load for dove) and shove in a #4 high brass if a turkey attacks... OR a slug if a wounded buck is charging) without disturbing any of the sleeping rounds in the magazine tube. I actually like that feature.
You and I may be the only owners of these beauts. And I -have- shotguns.. but the 121 is one of my favorites. (But don't tell my Citori I said that, please.)