Beretta 1201FP

TRguy · August 8, 2010, 04:51 PM

Picked up a State Highway Patrol trade in:

Beretta 1201FP, originally purchased and issued to the highway patrol in the mid 90s.

$299 and functionally is fine, as it hasn't been shot much, but it is a beast to shoot. Recoil seems worse than my 12 ga pump. Regardless it is a keeper at the moment

Found this little write up. http://www.thegunzone.com/1201fp.html

zippy13 · August 8, 2010, 11:33 PM

And you expected a 6 1/4 pound recoil-operated semi-automatic shotgun to recoil softly? You might try some reduced recoil SD/HD loads. Some added mass would help, too.

TRguy · August 9, 2010, 06:15 AM

Never said I expected anything. Just making an observation.

oneounceload · August 9, 2010, 07:26 AM

What Zippy was alluding to is that a light gun with heavy loads, regardless of the action, is going to thump you pretty hard. Using lighter loads, adding mass (weight), getting a better recoil pad, and making sure it fits will all aid in reducing the actual and perceived recoil effects

TRguy · August 9, 2010, 08:18 AM

Agreed, I have got a 5" Beretta Limbsaver on order.

JNewell · August 9, 2010, 11:38 AM

Quote:

And you expected a 6 1/4 pound recoil-operated semi-automatic shotgun to recoil softly? You might try some reduced recoil SD/HD loads. Some added mass would help, too.

I owned one of the 1201FPs briefly and really didn't like the recoil. The comment about relatively light weight being a factor is probably right on. However, you can't fix that by adding mass to an inertial gun like this or the similar Benelli M1/M2. You will pretty quickly get into reliability issues.

BigJimP · August 9, 2010, 12:35 PM

Adding a pound or two - to it is possible as well --- and will help a lot.

If you go to a "golf" store - they sell lead tape in packages for weighting golf clubs - and its pretty easy to put 8oz in the forend / under the barrel and on top of the mag tube. Then put 8oz inside the butt stock -- and make sure you mark the balance point before you start / so you don't change the handling between your hands ....

An additional one lb will reduce the recoil about 20% ... / I've made the same changes on my current models of Benellis.

mete · August 9, 2010, 05:24 PM

This is actually ,with a few minor details, a Benelli M1 90 ! Very easy to take apart and clean . Recoil is no problem for me .

JNewell · August 9, 2010, 06:09 PM

BigJim, you had no troubles with reliable cycling with another pound of weight on the gun?

BigJimP · August 9, 2010, 06:28 PM

No, my Benelli's are both Super Sport models / and I have one in 12ga and one in 20ga ....and they're both cycling just fine with the additional weight ...as long as the loads are 1200 - 1225 fps / they won't cycle loads down to 1150 fps reliably. ( and I keep them real clean / and well lubed ..)

Because I've encased the "lead tape" - in a casing / it comes in and out real easily --- if for any reason I want to remove it ( like one of the grandkids is shooting the gun / and they don't like the extra weight ). The 8oz I put in the butt / just insides the stock ( my butt pads on the Super Sport peel right off and on )... so it only takes 30 sec to take it out / or put it back in.

August 8, 2010, 04:51 PM	#1
TRguy Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2008 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 682	Beretta 1201FP Picked up a State Highway Patrol trade in: Beretta 1201FP, originally purchased and issued to the highway patrol in the mid 90s. $299 and functionally is fine, as it hasn't been shot much, but it is a beast to shoot. Recoil seems worse than my 12 ga pump. Regardless it is a keeper at the moment Found this little write up. http://www.thegunzone.com/1201fp.html __________________ Two is One, One is None

August 9, 2010, 06:15 AM	#3
TRguy Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2008 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 682	Never said I expected anything. Just making an observation. __________________ Two is One, One is None

August 9, 2010, 08:18 AM	#5
TRguy Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2008 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 682	Agreed, I have got a 5" Beretta Limbsaver on order. __________________ Two is One, One is None

August 9, 2010, 05:24 PM	#8
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	This is actually ,with a few minor details, a Benelli M1 90 ! Very easy to take apart and clean . Recoil is no problem for me . __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

August 8, 2010, 11:33 PM	#2
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	And you expected a 6 1/4 pound recoil-operated semi-automatic shotgun to recoil softly? You might try some reduced recoil SD/HD loads. Some added mass would help, too.

August 9, 2010, 07:26 AM	#4
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	What Zippy was alluding to is that a light gun with heavy loads, regardless of the action, is going to thump you pretty hard. Using lighter loads, adding mass (weight), getting a better recoil pad, and making sure it fits will all aid in reducing the actual and perceived recoil effects

August 9, 2010, 12:35 PM	#7
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Adding a pound or two - to it is possible as well --- and will help a lot. If you go to a "golf" store - they sell lead tape in packages for weighting golf clubs - and its pretty easy to put 8oz in the forend / under the barrel and on top of the mag tube. Then put 8oz inside the butt stock -- and make sure you mark the balance point before you start / so you don't change the handling between your hands .... An additional one lb will reduce the recoil about 20% ... / I've made the same changes on my current models of Benellis.

August 9, 2010, 06:09 PM	#9
JNewell Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2000 Posts: 1,092	BigJim, you had no troubles with reliable cycling with another pound of weight on the gun?

August 9, 2010, 06:28 PM	#10
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	No, my Benelli's are both Super Sport models / and I have one in 12ga and one in 20ga ....and they're both cycling just fine with the additional weight ...as long as the loads are 1200 - 1225 fps / they won't cycle loads down to 1150 fps reliably. ( and I keep them real clean / and well lubed ..) Because I've encased the "lead tape" - in a casing / it comes in and out real easily --- if for any reason I want to remove it ( like one of the grandkids is shooting the gun / and they don't like the extra weight ). The 8oz I put in the butt / just insides the stock ( my butt pads on the Super Sport peel right off and on )... so it only takes 30 sec to take it out / or put it back in.